Demystifying Zoning and the Hidden Rules Behind Every City

Why is zoning so opaque, and what if making it more accessible could unlock the future of our cities?Quang Truong, architect and founder of UrbanForm, joins Most Podern to unpack how zoning works, why it became so complex, and what it will take to make it transparent, legible, and collaborative. From trophy architecture in New York to building tools in Portland, Quang shares his journey from chasing prestige to reshaping the systems that shape our neighborhoods. He explains why zoning isn't neutral, how bad actors weaponize complexity, and why he believes the built environment needs a new alliance between architects, planners, and developers.Subscribe to Most Podern on:Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3zYvX2lRZOpHcZW41WGVrpApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/most-podern-podcast/id1725756164Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@MostPodernInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/most.podernLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/most-podernKeywordszoning, urban development, architecture, community, Urban Form, zoning codes, housing, city planning, collaboration, urban planning,Chapters00:00 The Journey from New York to Portland09:24 Understanding Zoning and Its Impact on Architecture12:25 The Evolution of Client Relationships in Architecture15:26 Navigating the Challenges of Urban Development18:34 The Role of Technology in Modern Architecture24:30 The Shift in Development Dynamics27:33 Zoning as a Common Language30:41 Understanding the Complexity of Zoning35:05 The Power Dynamics in Zoning37:36 Urban Form: Decoding Zoning42:21 Who Benefits from Zoning?45:36 Opening Zoning to the Public49:41 The Ideal Zoning System55:41 Navigating Zoning Challenges57:56 The Role of Zoning in Community Development01:01:30 Architects and the Design Conversation01:06:55 The Complexity of Zoning Regulations01:10:55 The Future of Urban Development01:25:00 A Post-Rational Era in Urban PlanningLinksUrbanFormQuang Truong, AIADiller Scofidio + Renfro (DSR)The BroadNBCUniversalThe Economics of Zoning Laws - William A. FischelHugh Ferriss