A Tree Is Not a Pin: Rethinking Cities with Hugh Kruzel

I recently had the chance to sit down with Hugh Kruzel, host of the QOL Podcast in Canada.

We talked about cities. But not in the usual way.

Not about masterplans, not about slogans, not about “green” as decoration.

We talked about what actually makes cities work —

or fail.

From heat, asphalt and car-dominated streets

to one simple idea I often repeat:

a tree is not a pin.

Urban nature is not something you add at the end.

It’s something that should structure the city from the beginning.

In this conversation, I share reflections from my experience between Europe and Vietnam, and why many of our current approaches to urban design are simply not enough anymore.

If you care about cities — how they feel, how they perform, and how they might evolve — this is for you.

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🎙 Hosted by Hugh Kruzel — QOL Podcast (Canada)

🌍 Recorded between Milan and Canada

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Cities don’t need more decoration.

They need structure.

I explore this idea further in Urban Nature is Not a Decoration.

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