Victor Dover was recently interviewed by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman for an episode of their long-form podcast The Built World, where he shared his personal journey from North Carolina paperboy to leading city planner. The hosts probed for a deep dive into the beginning of his career and the transformative events that inspired Victor and longtime business partner Joseph Kohl, shaping their passion for urban design. The episode is full of Victor’s original experiences that shaped him into the person and professional he is today, including his stint as an exhibition designer at the National Gallery of Art in the mid-1980s.
Early experiments with computer visualization—way back when personal computers were new and revolutionary—took Victor and Joe into rooms with decision-makers when they were very young grad students. Their interest in better ways of visualizing change before it occurs brought them into contact with influential figures in real estate, design, historic preservation, city planning, engineering, and advocacy. They started by illustrating projects designed by others, learned a lot, and eventually became consultants themselves. That all took place during the early days of New Urbanism; they became students of Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, who later became Dean at the University of Miami School of Architecture, and Victor discusses her enduring influence.
Victor covers some principles of New Urbanism, emphasizing the importance of community-focused planning, creating car-optional neighborhoods, and reforming street design. Tune in for insights into the evolving world of urban design, Victor’s ideas for improving cities like Miami, and inspiration from historic towns.
Ben Hoffman, Victor Dover, and Felipe Azenha
HIGHLIGHTS:
● Growing up in Hickory Grove: 4:14
● College life: 12:14
● Old Town Alexandria, “the urban doorway”: 13:40
● Working as exhibition designer: 15:36
● Falling in love with architecture and urbanism: 17:47
● Coming to Miami in 1986, and falling in love with Maricé Chael: 20:55
● Early experiments with personal computers: 22:44
● Origins of DK&P as The Image Network: 28:16
● Shifting from being the visualizers to being the consultants: 38:00
● Early days of New Urbanism: 39:41
● Implementing urbanism: 48:16
● Street Design and land development regulations: 52:03
● I’On and pioneering developer Vince Graham: 57:31
● Revival of small and incremental development: 1:07:46
● How can we fix Miami? 1:10:28
● Increasing transit ridership: 1:16:11
● The stranglehold of Level of Service (LOS): 1:17:42
● Examples of making progress into improving the streets (projects that catalyze reforms): 1:21:10
● Miami21: 1:22:13
● Favorite city: Charleston: 1:31:11
● Shout-outs to Joseph Kohl and James Dougherty: 1:34:22
● More about DK&P: 1:34:57
● Shout-out to the interns: 1:37:08