Design Speaks Weekly

Can a garden be both controlled and wild? | Rob Champion

Rob Champion is the founder of TARN, a landscape practice that focuses on experimental projects. Alongside his residential work, Rob is currently co-leading the design of

Adaptive reuse is a discipline, not a trend | David Welsh and Chris Major

David Welsh and Chris Major founded their practice, Welsh and Major, more than twenty years ago. Since then, they have refined and embraced an adaptive reuse design metho

What do we sacrifice for resale value? | Anthony Gill

Since establishing his practice in 2007, Anthony Gill has crafted residential projects that challenge assumptions about contemporary housing. His work often focuses on re

What does good design even mean? | Lee Hillam

Lee Hillam is a seasoned design critic. Her experience as a principal of Dunn Hillam, as a reviewer for national publications such as Architecture Australia, and as chair

Can we codify inclusive design? | Anthony Clarke

Anthony Clarke is an architect, scholar, writer, and founder of BLOXAS – a practice that focuses on the relationship between architecture and care. In this episode, Luci

What kind of leader does architecture need? | Emma Williamson

Emma Williamson has held leadership roles across both architectural practice and public policy. From her time as a partner at The Fulcrum Agency to her current role as G

Where craft meets systems | William Smart

William Smart is the founder and creative director of Smart Design Studio, a practice that has delivered a wide range of projects, from large-scale masterplans and cultur

Making architecture make sense | Izzie White

Izzie White is an architectural graduate, a leading voice in architectural advocacy on social media and currently acting National Communications Manager at Architectus. T

Architecture without ego | Gregory Burgess

Australian architect Gregory Burgess AM is renowned for his culturally and environmentally responsive approach to architecture. For more than five decades, his work has b

Balancing purpose and profit | Clare Cousins

There is a long-held notion that architecture is a luxury only available to the few. However, there are many designers finding ways to reclaim architecture’s role in ever

Are cafes the new office? | Mark Simpson and Damien Mulvihill

Mark Simpson and Damien Mulvihill, established their multi-disciplinary practice Design Office in 2008. The studio works across a wide range of project scales and typolog

Making waste work | Amy Seo

The design and construction industry generates some of the largest amounts of waste in Australia. Approximately 26.8 megatons were recorded during the 2022–2023 financial

Thinking like a fox | Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers

Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers are the recipients of the Australian Institute of Architects 2026 Gold Medal – Australia’s highest architectural honour. Th

Who benefits from Indigenous design? | Alison Page

Alison Page is a Walbanga and Wadi Wadi woman and a leading design entrepreneur. Her portfolio spans collaborations with Indigenous designers Dillon Kombumerri and Kevin

Every design project is a research project | Nigel Bertram

Nigel Bertram believes all design projects are research projects.  As director of Melbourne-based practice NMBW Architecture Studio and practice professor of architectur

Private vision, public value | Ingrid Richards

Ingrid Richards is a renowned Australian architect who co-founded Richards and Spence with Adrian Spence in 2008, and has since contributed significantly to the civic ide

Building as an act, not an object | Níall McLaughlin

Níall McLaughlin founded his London-based practice, Níall McLaughlin Architects, in 1990. Over three decades, the studio has developed a reputation for elegant detailing

Are we overprotecting play? | Mike Hewson

Mike Hewson is originally from Aotearoa New Zealand and has been based in Sydney for the past decade. He has a background in structural engineering and heavy-civil constr

How to practise what you preach | Sarah Lynn Rees

Sarah Lynn Rees is a Palawa woman descending from the Plangermaireener and Trawlwoolwaypeoples of north-east Lutruwita/Tasmania. In addition to her role as associate prin

Has architecture lost its nerve? | Peter McIntyre

Architect Peter McIntyre AO is known for his experimental approach and infectious enthusiasm. He’s received numerous awards, including the 1990 Gold Medal of the Australi