NEB Concepts | DigiNEB Podcasts

Andrew Dubber in conversation with leading architects, educators, and project leaders

Topic: Human-centered design

Aase Højlund Nielsen pt 3 – Aesthetics, Green Transition, and Making Change Desirable

How do we make sustainability the preferred choice? Aase Højlund Nielsen discusses the role of aesthetics in urban transformation, the power of art in community building, and the different approaches taken across Europe to integrate beauty and function into sustainable development. She explores how design can create spaces people actively want to engage with rather than feel obligated to support.

Sustainability Community engagement Climate change and adaptation Co-creation and participatory design Human-centered design Local and regional solutions

Andreja Kutnar pt 3 – Digital Twins, Smart Forestry, and the Data-Driven Future of Wood

Can forests have digital twins? Andreja Kutnar explores how technology is revolutionising forestry and timber construction, from tracking trees via satellite to embedding sensors in buildings. She explains how digital tools help ensure sustainable forest management, prevent illegal logging, and provide real-time data on material performance.

Digital twins and simulations Sustainability Interdisciplinary approach Education innovation Human-centered design Technology integration

Francesca Rizzo pt 1 – Design, Participation, and the New European Bauhaus

Francesca Rizzo, professor at Politecnico di Milano, explores the role of design in the New European Bauhaus. She discusses how participatory methods can empower citizens to shape their environments, why sustainability must be both functional and aesthetically appealing, and how designers can bridge the gap between policy and everyday life.

New European Bauhaus Sustainability Inclusion Human-centered design Community engagement Ecosystem approach

Francesca Rizzo pt 2 – Multidisciplinary Thinking and the Future of Urban Innovation

What happens when architecture, urban studies, and design come together? Francesca Rizzo reflects on her unconventional path from multimedia communication and electronics to design-driven urban transformation. She highlights the importance of breaking down silos between disciplines and how cities can benefit from a more systemic, collaborative approach.

Human-centered design Urban design and development Nature-based solutions Community engagement Cultural heritage and diversity Interdisciplinary approach

Frank van der Hoeven pt 3 – Citizen Participation, AI, and the Power of Visualisation

Should everyday citizens have a say in urban planning? Frank van der Hoeven challenges the idea that only architects and planners are the experts, arguing that those who live in a place are, in many ways, more knowledgeable than those designing it. He also explores how AI is changing architectural design, the rise of co-creation, and his own experience working on the iconic Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam.

Community engagement AI and digital tools Co-creation and participatory design Architectural education and practice Digitalization and innovation Human-centered design

Markus Reymann pt 1 – Art, Advocacy, and the Ocean

Markus Reymann, co-director of TBA21, shares his journey from theatre to contemporary art and marine conservation. He discusses the transformative power of art, the role of storytelling in advocacy, and how his organisation integrates science, policy, and artistic practice to engage with pressing environmental issues.

Art and culture Aesthetics Accessibility Environmental conservation Human-centered design Data-driven decision making Social renewal and societal change

Markus Reymann pt 4 – The New European Bauhaus, Inclusion, and the Ocean as a Continuum

The New European Bauhaus isn't just about architecture. Markus Reymann discusses how the initiative can redefine inclusion—not just for people, but for non-human species and ecosystems. He explains his work on coastal governance models that incorporate "speakers for the living," ensuring that marine environments have a voice in decision-making.

New European Bauhaus Inclusion Sustainability Human Centered Design Ecosytem approach Nature-based solutions

Markus Reymann pt 5 – Digital Technologies, Data Sovereignty, and European Alternatives

How can we rethink our relationship with technology? Markus Reymann explores Europe's distinct approach to digital sovereignty and sustainability, contrasting it with Silicon Valley’s extractive model. He discusses the role of digital tools in mapping, storytelling, and ecological planning, while questioning whether technology should lead or follow human thought.

AI and digital tools Human-centered design Data-driven decision making Nature-based solutions European collaboration and policy Art and culture Aesthetics

Matti Kuittinen pt 4 – Beyond Borders: The New European Bauhaus and a Global Perspective

Is the New European Bauhaus a uniquely European movement? Matti Kuittinen challenges the idea of national boundaries in design, arguing that the initiative must address planetary-scale challenges. He considers how the movement can influence global construction culture, how European policies compare with international efforts, and what role architecture might play in the far future—even beyond Earth.

Sustainability Resource management and efficiency Lifecycle thinking and long-term planning European collaboration and policy New European Bauhaus Human-centered design

Mia Roth-Čerina pt 2 – Designing with Nature and the Built Environment

What does it mean to design for more than just humans? Mia Roth-Čerina explores how architecture can create spaces that respond to natural environments rather than dominate them. She discusses her work in the wetlands, the idea of "post-human" design, and how structures can serve both ecological and human needs while maintaining a delicate balance between presence and invisibility.

Sustainability Climate change and adaptation Interdisciplinary approach Human-centered design Nature-based solutions Ecosystem approach

Sheela Patel pt 1 – Informality, Migration, and the Right to the City

Sheela Patel, founder of SPARC and a leading voice on urban informality, shares how decades of work with migrant communities in Mumbai shaped her understanding of survival, resilience, and the structural barriers facing the urban poor. She discusses the politics of displacement, the failures of city planning, and why informal settlements should be seen as solutions rather than problems.

Urban design and development Community engagement Inclusion Social renewal and societal change Human-centered design Quality of life and well-being

Sheela Patel pt 2 – Collective Power, Feminism, and Changing the Rules

What does real empowerment look like? Sheela Patel explains how grassroots women’s networks have transformed not only their own communities but also the way governments and institutions engage with the urban poor. She reflects on how solidarity, rather than charity, leads to lasting change and how redefining leadership can challenge entrenched power structures.

Community engagement Inclusion Social renewal and societal change Human-centered design Technology integration Local and regional solutions