Kristina Held on The Power of Design: Sustainable Architecture, Passive House, and Building for the Future

The Power of Design Podcast (hosted by Jack Ossa), released on January 12, 2026:

In this inspiring 50-minute conversation, Kristina Held—President and founder of Held Architecture in Charlotte, NC—discusses how her multicultural architectural education across Belgrade (Serbia), Germany, and the United States laid the foundation for her strong technical design, construction, and climate-responsive approaches. She shares her deep commitment to sustainable architecture, explaining her preference for Passive House principles over LEED certification due to their focus on performance, comfort, and long-term environmental impact. Kristina highlights her distinctive ability to seamlessly bridge artistic expression with engineering precision, demonstrating how intentional structure, thoughtful innovation, and purposeful decision-making can elevate every project in the built environment.

The episode explores broader themes of blending beauty, functionality, and sustainability to create resilient, human-centered spaces, drawing on her expertise as a Passive House leader and her firm's work in the Southeast. It's a great listen for anyone interested in the future of green design, high-performance buildings, and the evolving role of architects in addressing climate challenges.