Today’s conversation is with creative director, and architectural archivist Jerald “Coop” Cooper. Coop is the founder of Hood-century Modern — an Instagram account that sparked a preservation movement by highlighting the iconic and unique designs of mid-century buildings in Black neighborhoods; connecting modern architecture to Black culture. A hip-hop aficionado and curious soul, Coop reminds us to get in touch with our spirit, take ownership of our neighborhood, and challenges us to develop a deeper understanding of how design affects our everyday experience.
In today’s conversation we explore our relationship to land, the importance of being attuned to spirit, what architects can learn from hip-hop, and the importance of not just repping your block, but understanding how it was made.
Things mentioned
Maria Montessori Creator of Montessori School Structure
Buckminster Fuller - Architect
Molefi Kete Asante - Professor & Philosopher
Robert Moses - Urban Planner
What to read
Beloved by Toni Morrison
R. Buckminster Fuller: Pattern-Thinking by Daniel López-Pérez and R Buckminster Fuller
Afrocentricity: The Theory of Social Change by Molefi Kete Asante
Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal by Julia Dolan, Sara Krajewski, Bobby Martin, Hank Willis Thomas (Photographer)
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon by Brad Stone
What to listen to
This Can’t Be Life - Jay-Z
Get By - Talib Kweli
Ghetto: Misfortune's Wealth - 24-Carat Black
The Heat is On - The Isley Brothers
Who to follow
Follow Jerald “Coop” Cooper on IG @hoodmidcenturymodern
You can also find more of Hood Century here.
This conversation was recorded on August 13th, 2022.
