A new crop of content creators is at the forefront of envisioning and producing some of today's most commonly consumed forms of media. Individuals on various internet platforms, namely YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, tell their stories covering a limitless range of topics.
While not nearly generating the same astronomical viewership as some of the medium's top stars, there is a large community of creators whose work centers on the built environment, covering architecture, design, urban planning, and construction subjects. Through a diverse array of perspectives and ways of communicating information, their content serves as a resource for students, professionals, and enthusiasts alike while making these subjects more accessible to wider audiences.
For this particular showcase, we focus on YouTube and its most exciting creators within this niche. While there are plenty of noteworthy genre-specific channels on this platform, here is our pick of fun, informative, and engaging channels (and their creators) to check out.
Eric Reinholdt: 30X40 Design Workshop
"Sketch like an Architect (Techniques + Tips from a Real Project)" — Video by 30X40 Design Workshop
Why we're fans: 30X40 Design Workshop is run by award-winning architect Eric Reinholdt. He also operates his own practice by the same name based in Maine. Reinholdt’s videos are all about the process behind the making of architecture, with a focus on his specialization of simple, modern home design. He crafts architecture tutorials, portfolio and design advice for students and professionals, short courses, sketching and drawing workshops as well as product and book reviews.
"Feng Shui does makes sense! The basis of how to plan your home for comfort and practicality." — Video by Dear Modern
Why we're fans: Cliff Tan and his easy-to-watch videos blend a bit of humor and notes on architecture and feng shui-inspired design decisions. He’s an architect based in London specializing in planning and space optimization. He became quite popular during the pandemic when his videos on TikTok and Instagram went viral. He is mostly known for assessing “difficult floorplans” and arranging furniture based on the space to be more functional following principles in feng shui. The snappy, informative nature of his content makes his videos hard to put down and will leave you feeling more capable of organizing your own space.
"What happens when an architect sees the movie 'Parasite.'" — Video by MonsterKook
Why we're fans: MonsterKook is all about model making using a range of materials, including wood, concrete, cardboard, metalworking, and more. The creator's intricate models of houses and even a bridge also include electrical systems. In the above video, the author creates a model of the renowned home featured in the movie Parasite.
"Things Architecture Students Say" — Video by RayArch
Why we're fans: RayARCH is a channel that focuses on providing advice for architecture school students. It is run by Ray Liu, a writer with a background in architectural design. The channel features various series, including one where he confirms or debunks certain rumors about architecture school, a sketchbook series, a series where Liu critiques student-submitted architecture work, and one where he reacts to Architectural Digest’s “Open Door” videos. RayARCH also includes a funny parody of what architecture students sound like when they’re presenting or doing pinups.
"URBAN PLANNING Q&A: grad school, career, and tips for aspiring planners" — Video by Quesadiyah
Why we're fans: Quesadiyah is run by Philadelphia-based urban planner Sadiyah Sabree. She makes videos about her experience studying and practicing urban planning, travel, and lifestyle. Sadiyah studied Urban Studies at Columbia University before receiving her Master's degree in Community and Regional Planning at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her videos serve as helpful guides for aspiring urban planners, as she offers advice on how to navigate the process of pursuing urban planning.
"MY FIRST YEAR ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO | First Semester." — Video by NAEDAY
Why we're fans: With NAEDAY, Jenae Edwards offers a glimpse into her life as a second-year architecture student. She is currently enrolled at the University of The Bahamas after transferring from the University of Southern California. Through a vlog format, viewers join Jenae as she tackles her studies, from all-night studio sessions to preparing for architecture critiques. She also shares her experience applying to architecture school, which is accompanied by her accepted art portfolio.
Jason Slaughter: Not Just Bikes
"Throwing Good Money After Bad Car Infrastructure - Wonderland Road" — Video by Not Just Bikes
Why we're fans: Jason Slaughter’s Not Just Bikes features content centered around urban planning and city design. Based in Amsterdam, many of his videos focus on urban life in the Netherlands, highlighting why, to him, Dutch cities are more enjoyable to live in compared to many others across the world and what can be learned from them. In addition, many of his videos feature scathing critiques of North American suburbia, conveying his disdain for car-centric urban design. He also has a second channel called NJB Live, where he live-streams walking and biking through Amsterdam.
"Cities: Skylines | Power, Politics, & Planning: Episode 2: Urban Freeways" — Video by Donoteat01
Why we're fans: Donoteat01 uses the city-building video game Cities: Skylines to create a realistic illustration of how cities are created, function, and change. Run by Justin Roczniak, the channel examines the historical and political implications of American city development. The main series on his channel revolves around a fictional city named Franklin that Rocziak slowly develops, from a time before colonization as a Native American settlement to a city in the early part of the American republic. He also has a side series called “Power, Politics, & Planning'' that tackles urban planning issues, such as the establishment of urban freeways and gentrification.
"A Brief History of U.S. City Planning" — Video by City Beautiful
Why we're fans: City Beautiful is a YouTube channel run by Dave Amos, an Assistant Professor of City Planning at California Polytechnic State University. His platform features educational videos that revolve around cities and city planning. Amos covers a range of topics including transportation, land use planning, and urban design, across various settings and time periods. He also occasionally plays planning-related video games, such as SimCity 2000, Minecraft, and Cities: Skylines.
"Five Dense 'Missing Middle' Neighbourhoods in Montreal" — Video by Oh The Urbanity!
Why we're fans: Oh the Urbanity! is run by a pair of researchers based in Ottawa, Ontario. Their channel explores urban life in Canada, with videos highlighting cities, such as Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Many of their videos traverse these environments by bike. As stated in their channel description, they have “a particular interest in making cities more walkable, bikeable, and all-around easier and safer to get around in.” Active transportation and public-transit planning are at the core of their content.
I am a Brooklyn-based writer that specializes in covering topics related to architecture, urban planning, and technology. I have a holistic skillset, able to blend my technical background in urban studies and architecture with my creative abilities, which is best reflected through my ...
1 Comment
Hi Nathaniel! You need to check out Kirsten Dirksen and Nicholas Boullosa from FairCompanies. Their segments in YouTube are quite remarkable. The Never Too Small Channel is wonderful as well. Cheers!
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