When the coronavirus pandemic hits all over the world, WAC has launched a series of live talks on Instagram to bring fast-paced conversations with architects and designers and to connect the architects with WAC readers.

WAC's Live Interview Series is a rolling program of live talks covering a variety of topics from different fields and various disciplines, our program is still evolving with new names. Check out WAC's ongoing program for new live talks in 2021.

WAC's Live Interview Series are arranged approximately 30-40-minute sessions to deliver a light and fast-paced discussion on the architects' design philosophy and shaped around a specific theme, decided by a WAC Editor/Reporter, regarding the architects’/the office’s body of work.

Reaching a significant success so far, we have compiled the 10 most-watched live talks of 2020 in the series. Our selection is entirely based on the number of views, which show that our readers highly interested in those live talks. Plus, the selection is also for those of you who missed our live talks before. 

While Melike Altinisik's live talk on "Innovation and Architecture" heads our list with the highest number of views, Ben van Berkel's live session on "How will transport hubs look like in the future?", Anupama Kundoo's live interview on "Taking Time in Architecture", Toshiko Mori's live talk on "Learning from the Context" are among our top 10 live talks.

Scroll down to read more about the 10 most-watched live talks of 2020 in WAC's Live Interview Series (listed by the number of views):

Melike Altinisik. Image © NAARO 

Melike Altinisik - Innovation and Architecture 

Heading in our list, Melike Altinisik, founding of MAA - Melike Altinisik Architects, is the most-watched live talk of WAC's Live Interview Series in 2020. Melike Altinisik spoke to WAC's UK Country Reporter Dr. Hatice Ozhisar. 

Altinisik was our guest on July 23 in the series and her session explored innovation and architecture as well as her studio's design philosophy, working methodology, the future of the profession. She also talked about her new project Robot Science Museum in Seoul.

MAA, based in Istanbul and Seoul, is currently working on two major projects; a 369-meter-tall futuristic Istanbul TV and Radio Tower, which is expected to be completed this year, and the world's first pioneer Robot Science Museum in Seoul.

Having received numerous prestigious design awards, Altinisik won the Europe 40 under 40, FEIDAD Design Award 07’ and Swiss Art Award. 

Melike Altinisik's video reached over 9,700 views.

Watch Melike Altinisik's live talk on Innovation and Architecture.

Ben van Berkel. Image © Els Zweerink

Ben van Berkel - How will transport hubs look like in the future?

Ben van Berkel, founder and principal of UNStudio, is ranked in the second place of WAC's Live Interview Series by receiving the highest number of views following Melike Altinisik. Ben van Berkel was in conversation with WAC editor-in-chief Berrin Chatzi Chousein.

Berkel was our guest on October 29 and his talk discussed the changing face of transport hubs: metro stations, transfer hubs and airports in terms of materiality, use and re-programming. The session also focused on UNStudio’s recent projects: Schiphol Airport, Doha Metro Network and Hardt Hyperloop.

Ben van Berkel also talked about UNSense, an arch tech company of UNStudio in which the company integrates human-centric tech solutions for the built environment.

Ben van Berkel's video reached over 7,600 views.

Watch Ben van Berkel's live talk on How will transport hubs look like in the future?.

Anupama Kundoo. Image © Andreas Deffner

Anupama Kundoo - Taking Time in Architecture

World-renowned Indian architect Anupama Kundoo, founder of Anupama Kundoo Architects, is ranked in the third place of WAC's Live Interview Series. Anupama Kundoo was in conversation with Lola Kleindouwel, the Netherlands Reporter of WAC.

Kundoo was our guest on December 10 and in a 1-hour live session, she talked about the notion of sustainability, her creative process in studio, the significance of material and craft in architecture and the importance of time in architecture as the most valuable resource. 

"Using time is the most important resource. Is anything that is faster always better?" said Anupama Kundoo. 

WAC's live talk also shaped around the architect's recent exhibition Anupama Kundoo – Taking Time exhibition, which is on view at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art until February 28, 2021 in Denmark.

Anupama Kundoo's video reached over 7,400 views.

Watch Anupama Kundoo's live talk Part I and Part II on Taking Time in Architecture. 

Krupa Zubin, courtesy of Good Homes

Krupa Zubin - Talk with an Artificer

Krupa Zubin, founding partner of Mumbai-based ZZ Architects, is ranked in the fourth place in WAC's Live Interview Series. Zubin was our second guest in the series on May 9. Krupa Zubin was in conversation with WAC's India Country Editor Pappal Suneja. 

Her talk, themed as "Talk with an Artificer", the mission and design approach of ZZ Architects, the importance of architecture publications and magazines contributing to architectural discourse and the future of architecture.

ZZ Architects is one of the leading Architectural and Interior Design Firms of India and Zubin has been an influential name as one of the leading women architects in the country in defining the studio’s sleek and nuanced style.

Krupa Zubin's video reached over 7,300 views.

Watch Krupa Zubin's live talk on Talk with an Artificer.

Kim Herforth Nielsen. Image courtesy of 3XN

Kim Herforth Nielsen - The main principles of 3XN, and connection to GXN

Kim Herforth Nielsen, founder and principal of 3XN, is ranked in the fifth place in WAC's Live Interview Series. Kim Herforth Nielsen's live talk has attracted great attention from our readers and has been placed on our most watched list.

Nielsen was our guest on October 15 and he talked about the principles of 3XN and connection to GXN, an independent research company of 3XN. 

In the talk, he discussed new approaches for environmentally beneficial and sustainable design, the importance of circular design, behaviour design and digital design in terms of material and technical applications and social dimensions.

Kim Herforth Nielsen's video reached over 7,000 views.

Watch Kim Herforth Nielsen's live talk on The main principles of 3XN, and connection to GXN.

Toshiko Mori. Image © Ralph Gibson

Toshiko Mori - Learning from the Context

Japanese architect Toshiko Mori, founder and principal of New York-based studio Toshiko Mori Architect, was one of WAC's hotly-anticipated live talks in the series. Mori's live talk is ranked in the sixth place in WAC's Live Interview Series. Toshiko Mori was in conversation with WAC editor-in-chief Berrin Chatzi Chousein. 

Toshiko Mori was our guest on October 22 and her talk, titled as Learning from the Context, discussed the architect's latest projects Thread Artists’ Residency and Cultural Center in Sinthian, Senegal and Fass School and Teachers’ Residence in remote Senegal.

Mori's talk also discussed dialectic relationship between the use of local sources, knowledge, craftsmanship, the context and the application of high-tech materials over the term of innovation, where these norms blur the boundaries of authenticity in architecture.

Toshiko Mori's video reached over 6,300 views.

Watch Toshiko Mori's live talk on Learning from the Context.

Richard Hassell. Image © Studio Periphery

Richard Hassell - Embracing nature, variety and multiple scales in high-rises

Richard Hassell, co-founding director of Singapore-based architecture office WOHA, is ranked in the seventh place in WAC's Live Interview Series. Richard Hassell was in conversation with WAC editor-in-chief Berrin Chatzi Chousein. 

Hassell's live session, themed as Embracing nature, variety and multiple scales in high-rises, discussed design approach of WOHA and explored the redefinition of hyper-density and variety through process-making, context, infrastructure and greenery as a "breathing architecture”. 

The talk also focused on WOHA's PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore, Oasia Hotel Downtown and Kampung Admiralty, which won the World Building Of The Year Award in 2018 at the World Architecture Festival.

Richard Hassell's video reached over 6,100 views.

Watch Richard Hassell's live talk on Embracing nature, variety and multiple scales in high-rises.

Mariana Pestana. Image © Daniel Oduntan

Mariana Pestana - Empathy Revisited: designs for more than one

Mariana Pestana, curator of the 5th edition of Istanbul Design Biennial and co-founder of the collective The Decorators, is ranked in the eighth place with the highest views in WAC's Live Interview Series. 

Pestana spoke to WAC's UK Country Reporter Dr. Hatice Ozhisar on October 8th, one week before the official opening of the 5th edition of Istanbul Design Biennial, about a new format of the Biennial combining several virtual and physical events in Istanbul, which will continue to evolve until April 2021.

Mariana Pestana is the curator of the 5th Istanbul Design Biennial with Sumitra Upham (Curator of Programmes) and Billie Muraben (Assistant Curator & Deputy Editor).

Pestana's live talk, mainly exploring the theme of Empathy Revisited: designs for more than one, discussed the new virtual format of the Biennial, the structure of the program, specific exhibitions from the Biennale such as Critical Cooking Show, and her practice The Decorators.

WAC is official media partner of the 5th edition of Istanbul Design Biennial. 

Mariana Pestana's video reached over 4,800 views.

Watch Mariana Pestana's live talk on Empathy Revisited: designs for more than one.

Rajesh Advani, courtesy of Rajesh Advani 

Rajesh Advani - Writing Architecture

Rajesh Advani, founder of ArchitectureLive! platform, is ranked in the ninth place in WAC's Live Interview Series. Advani spoke to WAC's Deputy Chief Editor Varun Kumar on May 30.

Advani's live talk, themed as Writing Architecture, discussed the mission of his platform ArchitectureLive!, the current state of writing and journalism in India in the profession, the necessities of architectural journalism and relation of writing to architectural practice. 

His platform ArchitectureLive! is currently an active portal enabling architects and interior designers in India to share, upload and manage their projects efficiently. The portal looks forward to becoming India's most rich repository of Architectural data and projects. 

Rajesh is also running his own blogs, archiSHOTS and advanirajesh.wordpress.com. "india: unbuilt architecture" is the first book of Rajesh Advani, the book discusses the value of unbuilt Indian architecture and launched a dedicated portal to feature unbuilt ideas.

Rajesh Advani's video reached over 4,700 views.

Watch Rajesh Advani's live talk on Writing Architecture. 

Sanjay Puri, courtesy of Zingy Homes

Sanjay Puri - Communicating Architecture

Sanjay Puri, founder of Sanjay Puri Architects and Honorary Member of WAC, was our first guest in WAC's Live Interview Series on May 2. As a prolific Indian architect, Sanjay Puri hits our top 10 most-watched videos list. Sanjay Puri was in conversation with WAC's India Country Editor Pappal Suneja. 

Puri's live talk, titled Communicating Architecture, discussed the importance technology in architecture processes related to Puri's works, the importance of architectural media in the discourse of architecture and his new initiative "Dialogues India" platform. 

Being a loyal member of WAC, he is a member of WAC since 2009 and he designs projects in various scale and type in India and different parts of the world. Sanjay Puri Architects have received over 114 international architecture awards so far. 

Always being a forefront runner at the WA Awards in each Cycle, he won 26 WA Awards in total. Puri was ranked in the first place in our top 50 architects winning the most WA Awards.

Sanjay Puri's video reached over 4,300 views.

Watch Sanjay Puri's live talk on Communicating Architecture.