Amsterdam Noord | A Different Side of the City

Join Mitchell Rocheleau, Principal Architect of ROST Architects, as he travels to Amsterdam Noord, Netherlands to explore the thriving community that has been created here, collective housing developments, and the emerging experimental architecture throughout the city. He discusses with Jelte Van Koperen, from CityLoop, the latest urban developments emerging, innovative experimental architecture and the community that has formed in Amsterdam Noord. They explore the area once known for its shipping industry, which now houses the NDSM Cultural Center and analyze the deep history that is present in the area. With the spirit of optimism, the willingness to experiment, to create something with the conditions that they had at hand - the Dutch were able to create environments that promote authentic expression.

Architecture & Psychology, Architecture Today, HistoryMitchell RocheleauAugust 29, 2025walkable cities, urban design, Urban Design Amsterdam, urban architectural design, city design, psychology and city design, psychology and cities, psychology behind cities, psychology and urban design

Interview with Charles Duff | Cities of Friendship & love

Mitchell Rocheleau, Principal Architect of ROST Architects, meets with Charlie Duff, author of "The North Atlantic Cities" and developer and planner in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. They discuss Dutch history, from the communal efforts of seafaring and building canals, to creating robust cities in the "Golden Age". Through historical influence, they analyze how the Row House became a footprint for a healthy city, as well as the similarities between cities like London and Amsterdam and such as Boston and New York, in the United States. By analyzing the reasons cities were first created, we can better understand how to create cities and places for our future generations.

Architecture & Psychology, Architecture Today, HistoryMitchell RocheleauAugust 29, 2025urban design, psychology and urban design, capitalism urban design, city design, walkable cities

Natural Cities | Amsterdam, Netherlands

Join Mitchell Rocheleau, Principal Architect of ROST Architects, as he travels to Amsterdam, Netherlands to explore the city's urban environment and natural green spaces. He discusses with Esther Kreikamp, Architecture Historian from CityLoop, the way urban environments filled with more vegetation promote greater wellbeing and mental health in people. They tour the city, diving into the architectural details of the canals, as well as the new developments that are being implemented which help people thrive and live more authentic lives.

Architecture Today, Architecture & PsychologyMitchell RocheleauAugust 25, 2025city design, urban design, Urban Design Amsterdam, psychology and urban design

The Urban Transformation of Copenhagen

The city of Copenhagen embodies a distinct vision of urban life, and its inhabitants seem to thrive in this environment. It became clear after visiting the city that a high degree of thought and care had gone into its design, and there was a commitment to offer its people a high-quality lifestyle. I began searching for the formula for its success. Copenhagen seems to know something about how to live together and what life should look like in an urban environment that we may be overlooking in the U.S.

Architecture, Architecture & Psychology, Architecture TodayMitchell RocheleauJuly 30, 2025city design, designing cities, design of cities, urban design, urban architectural design, Urban Design Copenhagen

Values of the City

Understanding a culture’s collective psychology/values and deciphering how those ideas manifest in their built environment can help inform how we build cities for the future. Despite the importance of such studies, it is rare to stumble upon someone who writes about the intersection of psychology and the built environment, especially one who expresses ideas clearly and accessibly.

Architecture & Psychology, Architecture TodayMitchell RocheleauOctober 9, 2024urban design, city design, capitalism urban design, capitalist city, designing cities, beautiful cities, best cities, urban architectural design, design of cities, psychology and cities, psychology behind cities, values of cities, psychology and city design, psychology and urban design

Why Cities Attract People

There are many reasons why a city becomes a point of destination. People are attracted to certain cities and travel from all over the world to see them. However, many people have trouble articulating why they enjoy them. They know something about it makes them feel comfortable, but they can't put their finger on it.