From bungalows to skyscrapers, farmhouses to condos, brownstones to corner shops, buildings define the spaces of our lives. They are our homes, our workplaces, and our settings for fun, commerce, and government. And the way they’re built can shape the way we live our lives. In this episode, we look at how buildings affect our health and well-being, along with the future of our cities. We hear stories about protecting hospitals from the elements, what it takes to make buildings truly accessible, and how public housing high-rises got such a bad rap.

Also heard on this week’s episode:

• Thirty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act set the standard for making buildings accessible. But according to architect Brenda Zhang, accessibility should go beyond simple compliance. Brenda explains why true accessibility is in the details, and what it takes to make buildings that work for a range of different disabilities.
• In a lot of cities, public housing high-rises are being razed. Over the years, they have become associated with crime, decay, and terrible living conditions. Reporter Darryl Murphy traces the history of how public housing high-rises earned such a bad rap.
• Reporter Peter Crimmins tells the harrowing tale of how his fixer-upper turned into a house of horrors.