Short Talks: An Architecture for Everyone | University of Arkansas - University of Arkansas Newswire

Sep. 02, 2022

Mark Jackson

Marlon Blackwell

Short Talks from the Hill is now available wherever you get your podcasts. Download episodes and listen anywhere, anytime.

This month's podcast features Marlon Blackwell, Distinguished Professor and the E. Fay Jones Chair in Architecture. Blackwell discusses his design philosophy and what it meant to receive the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, following in the footsteps of his friend and mentor Fay Jones.

"For me, it confirms the validity of what we've been trying to do here for the last 30 years, which is to demonstrate that architecture... The highest aspirations can happen anywhere at any scale, at any budget and for anyone — that architecture is for everyone not just for a few," he said.

Blackwell says he likes to listen to his clients' stories and not just a laundry list of what they need.

"I think it's really important to understand their aspirations," he said. "They tend to be mostly optimistic and hopeful. We like to try to channel that into the work, and I think people feel that, that maybe that's where some of the joy comes from."

You can listen to Blackwell by clicking on the link above or visiting arkansasresearch.uark.edu, the home of research and economic development news at the U of A.

And remember, you can now listen to Short Talks programming wherever you get your podcasts, including at the player below.

Short Talks from the Hill highlights research, scholarly work and creative news. Previous podcasts can be found at the link above or by visiting arkansasresearch.uark.edu.

Thank you for listening!