Skip to content
Reading time: 2 minutes
diamond head
ThinkTech Hawaii Show of the Year award.

A show hosted by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty member won ThinkTech Hawaii’s Show of the Year award.

Martin Despang, a professor at UH Mānoa’s School of Architecture and founding principal in internationally published and award-winning Despang Architekten, hosts Human(e) Architecture frequently with co-host DeSoto Brown, a Bishop Museum historian.

Despang and Brown were presented the award virtually at the ThinkTech Hawaii holiday party and awards ceremony on December 10.

“As we shared in our acceptance talk, we were flattered to have been chosen and we feel that we particularly owe this to our exciting guests and topics,” said Despang.

“I decided to use my ‘critical practice’ architecture background to take this on and ‘practically critique’ our island challenges and opportunities between the natural and built environment,” added Despang.

Human(e) Architecture started airing in 2014. Since then, it has addressed issues of “people and planet friendliness” with audiovisual reports that make architecture comprehendible to a worldwide audience. The show encompasses best past practice, contemporary critical practice and coaching the emerging generation of architects and reflects the highest standards of citizen journalism, community service and efforts to raise public awareness. During 2020, Despang was broadcasting from Germany, which was particularly valuable to the student audience by connecting them even more to the world that they will increasingly work in.

“These episodes are positioning UH as a savvy new media leader, prepared for post-pandemic practice, by delivering educational content by exemplifying the collaboration of two major cultural institutions in Hawaiʻi, UH and Bishop Museum,” said Despang.

Back To Top