The Second Studio Podcast: Interview with Jonathan Feldman

The Second Studio Podcast: Interview with Jonathan Feldman

The Second Studio (formerly The Midnight Charette) is an express podcast about design, architecture and everyday life. Organized by architects David Lee and Marina Bourderone, it features a variety of creative professionals in unscripted conversations that allow for thoughtful approaches and personal discussions.

A variety of topics are covered with honesty and humor: some episodes are interviews, while others are advice for fellow designers, reviews of buildings and other projects, or casual explorations of everyday life and design. Second Studio is also available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube.

This week, David and Marina are joined by Jonathan Feldman, architect and founding partner and CEO of Feldman Architecture, to discuss studying astronomy and English before architecture; accepting new clients; the beginnings and evolution of his office; key ideas for realizing sustainable design; and more.

Highlights and timestamps

Jonathan’s Backstory (00:00)

Feldman Architecture studio process (13:49)

In this world where everyone has so much access to images online, so many people gravitate towards that final solution that they like, that resonates. For me, that can be very dangerous for me…to be too attached to something too specific early on. We want to be very vague and as wide open as possible. We want to be a blank slate going into a project and just listen and observe the client, the program and the context, of course. (14:38)

The customer verification process (16:17)

Finding a compatible client for me is the best talent and survival skill in my world. So, “How do you have conversations and find people who you can align with both in terms of the values ​​of what you want to create and whether you think it’s relevant and exciting?” Projects are something you’re going to invest in huge amount of energy. [You do not want to] butting heads or trying to change their mind or turn them into a different person in the process because that will never be satisfying for anyone. (16:38)

How Jonathan got into architecture school. (38:12)

Jonathan’s post-graduation experience and first architectural project. (50:45)

Basically, I believe you learn more by doing things than by sitting and talking about them or doing theoretical exercises. It was a very hands-on experience doing those early projects like my parents’ house. It really allowed me to understand things that were drilled into my head in graduate school, but I had no idea how useful they would be later. At the same time, I would say that the technical education I received in architecture school was quite light. (58:18)

How Jonathan started his own practice. (01:00:50)

How the office has evolved over time. (01:03:23)

It’s just a lot on an architect’s shoulders in a project, and you know, I’ve always been the big idea guy… But the rigor of construction drawings, a set of construction document drawings, and the detail-orientedness of the follow-ups and all that stuff has always been kind of intimidating and I’ve always felt a bit like a fraud. So bringing in people who are really good at these things was just very comforting, very empowering. (01:04:21)

Implementing sustainable design. (01:25:55)

Whatever commitment you get the customer to make [regarding sustainable design]. is a good thing. Don’t judge him. Just take it because it’s a supplement. It’s a better version of the process if we all just commit to it, because those things fall away when things get stressful. (1:41:37)

Check out previous editions of The Second Studio Podcast.