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Talking Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design

Now celebrating its 8th year (Season 9), Talking Architecture & Design is Australia’s first B2B architecture podcast that regularly talks about a range of issues that affect Australia’s architects, building designers and built environment professionals. Run by Australia’s most popular architecture magazine, Architecture & Design, the Talking Architecture & Design podcast gives a regular bite-sized dose of what is important and sometimes what is just plain old interesting to anyone and everyone in the business of building design.

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32 episodes
weekly
Avg 32 min
English

Episodes 32

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S10 · E319
October 26 · 42 min
Episode 319: Envirotecture director Talina Edwards, on designing sustainable, healthy and high-performance homes
In this episode, we’ll talk about sustainability—but not simply as a checklist of energy ratings, materials, and technical performance. We’re looking at how sustainable design is evolving, what a genuinely regenerative approach to architecture might look like, and whether traditional models of designing, building, and inhabiting our homes still fit the future. Joining me is architect Talina Edwards, a director at Envirotecture, with more than 25 years’ experience in architecture and a particular focus on sustainable, healthy and high-performance buildings. Talina is also a certified passive house designer and a strong advocate for more sustainable practice across the profession. This podcast is brought to you in association with Autex Acoustics, proud sponsors of our 2026 Sustainability series of podcasts.
S10 · E318
October 19 · 32 min
Episode 318: Liam O’Donohue, Managing Principal ANZ, Arup, on how AI is set to change the role of the engineer
Engineering has traditionally been understood as a discipline focused on solving technical problems—designing structures, calculating loads, moving people and water, generating and distributing energy, and ensuring the infrastructure around us works safely and efficiently. But that role is changing. Engineers are increasingly asked to think beyond individual assets and projects—and instead consider how infrastructure interacts with cities, communities, the environment, technology, energy systems, and an increasingly uncertain future. At the same time, artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape how design and engineering work is actually done — raising questions about productivity, skills, creativity, professional judgement and what the engineer of the future will look like. And then there is the question of uncertainty itself. Liam O’Donohue, Managing Principal for Australia and New Zealand at Arup, explains how you design infrastructure today when tomorrow's technology, climate, demographics, energy systems, and community expectations may look very different.
S10 · E317
October 12 · 37 min
Episode 317: Architect & builder Clinton Cole on the big questions when it comes to designing sustainable homes
Clinton Cole is a boundary-pushing architect and builder who believes we can all be a force for good. With industry-leading expertise in regenerative design, he creates premium homes that actively repair damage to our planet and give back to future generations. In the same spirit, he puts ethics and responsibility front and centre at CplusC, one of only five Australian architects to earn B Corp certification. Clinton holds two degrees in Architecture and is a registered Architect, a licenced Builder and accredited Construction Supervisor with over 20 years’ experience in the industry. A frank and fearless contributor to professional debate, he’s often invited to present to industry peers, academic panels and design publications. In this revealing interview, Clinton Cole talks about what it takes to build a genuinely sustainable home in Australia. This podcast was sponsored by CSR
S10 · E316
October 5 · 8 min
Episode 316: Will Messiter from Sekisui House on housing affordability, prefab and modular houses and some ideas on fixing our house shortage
In our first Shortcast in over two years, we talk with Will Messiter, Chief Operating Officer - Residential Communities and Home Building at Sekisui House Australia, at the company's manufacturing and assembly facility in southwest Sydney, about house building, the bottlenecks in Australia's building market, and how prefab and modular can offer a solution to our house affordability woes.
September 29 · 42 min
Episode 315: Jono Mountfort on how to reduce the carbon embodied in the materials and products used in the built environment
As operational energy efficiency improves, attention is increasingly turning to embodied carbon—the emissions associated with extracting raw materials, manufacturing products, transporting them, installing them, and, ultimately, dealing with them at the end of their useful life. That puts materials and material innovation firmly at the centre of the conversation. Jonathan Mountfort, Creative Director at Autex Acoustics, has more than two decades of experience across design and manufacturing, with a career spanning mechanical engineering, product design, materials innovation, and acoustics. At Autex, he leads a team across design and engineering and has contributed to recycling technologies, product development, and the company's broader sustainability journey. In this episode, Jonathan shares a particularly interesting perspective from the intersection of product design, manufacturing, and architecture—three areas that increasingly need to work together if we're going to reduce the built environment's carbon impact. This podcast is brought to you in association with Autex Acoustics, proud sponsors of our 2026 Sustainability series of podcasts.
S10 · E314
September 22 · 39 min
Episode 314: Tara Veldman, Managing Director & Principal, Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) on how architecture can influence how people feel, heal and connect
Tara Veldman, Managing Director and Principal at Billard Leece Partnership, has played a major role in growing BLP’s health architecture practice and has worked across hospitals, health hubs, research facilities, education precincts, and other complex environments. In 2025, Tara was named the inaugural recipient of the Australian Health Design Council Gold Medal, recognising her leadership and contribution to healthcare design in Australia and internationally. Her approach is particularly interesting because it goes beyond simply designing healthcare buildings. She’s a strong advocate for evidence-based, user-focused design and for thinking about how architecture can influence how people feel, heal, and connect.
September 14 · 27 min
Episode 313: Kevin Hogan on the use of BIM and AI to reduce waste, improve productivity and change how buildings are delivered
Kevin Hogan, Head of Design & Digital Engineering at Kapitol Group leads an in-house team of more than 20 digital engineers, design managers and architects, driving Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and the development of custom digital tools including Kapitol’s 3D Construction Tracker. He’s also become a leading voice across Australia’s construction sector, advocating for the practical use of BIM and artificial intelligence to reduce waste, improve productivity and fundamentally change how buildings are delivered. Kapitol now models every project before construction begins, helping eliminate costly clashes, reduce rework and improve project certainty.
S10 · E12
September 7 · 13 min
Episode 312: BVN chalks up a century of design & why this matters for them and the design industry
We talk with BVN CEOS & principals, Ali Bounds, Principal & Co-CEO (Sydney) and Neil Logan, Principal & Co-CEO (Brisbane) about the signifance of BVN reaching its' 100th birthday. In August 1926, Arthur Bligh, BVNs founding principal, set in motion a trajectory of architectural endeavour defined by curiosity, reinvention and collective effort that has endured for 100 years. Through recession, war, boom times, low times and a new millennium, 44 principals have passed on the baton of shared partnership and authorship, bolstered by thousands of alums, countless collaborators, clients, supporters and friends, united by a shared purpose to design a better future. So, a century later, BVN's journey is now all about looking to the future with optimism and gratitude for those who have persevered, fostering the belief that architecture matters to society and pursuing that with integrity, creativity and care.
S10 · E311
August 31 · 51 min
Episode 311: Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director, Housing Industry Association on skills shortages & what the housing sector really needs
After more than a decade with the HIA in senior leadership roles, Jocelyn Martin, Managing Director of the Housing Industry Association stepped into the organisation’s top position at a time when Australia’s housing sector is facing unprecedented pressure—from affordability and supply constraints to skills shortages, planning reform and the challenge of delivering enough homes for a growing population. In this episode, Jocelyn discussed her vision for HIA, the role of industry advocacy, what governments need to do differently, and how the residential building sector can innovate while staying firmly focused on people. This podcast was sponsored by CSR
S10 · E310
August 24 · 38 min
Episode 310: Robert Sobyra from BuildSkills Australia on how to fix our building industry skills shortages
Australia has committed to building 1.2 million new homes over five years, but there's one enormous obstacle standing in the way: people. According to BuildSkills Australia, the nation needs around 90,000 additional construction workers if we're to have any realistic chance of meeting that target. At the same time, automation, robotics, AI, and advanced manufacturing are beginning to transform how buildings are designed and constructed. So, can technology solve our workforce crisis? Or do we simply need to rethink how we attract, train, and retain the next generation of tradespeople? In this episode, Robert Sobyra, Executive Director of Research and Planning at BuildSkills Australia, whose research has become central to Australia's conversation about construction skills, housing delivery, and the future workforce, offers a range of solutions to our building industry skills shortage woes.
S10 · E309
August 17 · 18 min
Episode 309: Renee Gigliotti, Associate Director at The Studio Collaborative* on transforming the hospitality spaces at Afterpay Arena
In this episode, we're talking with Renee Gigliotti, Associate Director at The Studio Collaborative* at how thoughtful interior architecture can transform not just a venue, but the entire visitor experience. Australia's major entertainment venues are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right, where hospitality, technology, branding and design converge to create memorable experiences long before the main event begins. One of the latest examples is the transformation of the hospitality spaces at Afterpay Arena, where two distinctly different bar environments have been reimagined to deliver unique experiences while maintaining a cohesive architectural language. The project also incorporates Australia's most comprehensive square-powered venue commerce deployment, seamlessly integrating technology into the hospitality experience.
S10 · E308
August 10 · 30 min
Episode 308: Associate Professor Andrea Sharam from RMIT University on why Australia's housing boom-and-bust cycle is holding back new homes
Australia is facing one of its biggest housing challenges in decades, with the federal government's National Housing Accord aiming to deliver 1.2 million new homes by 2029. But what if the biggest obstacle isn't planning approvals, land supply, or even skills shortages? A major new report from RMIT University, prepared for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, argues that the industry's chronic boom-and-bust cycles are the real culprit—creating labour shortages during the good times, losing skilled workers during downturns, and ultimately reducing both productivity and build quality. Joining us for this episode is the report's lead author, Associate Professor Andrea Sharam from RMIT University, to unpack why Australia's housing system needs structural reform if we're serious about delivering more homes.
S10 · E307
August 3 · 39 min
Episode 307: Airport lounge design: Creating the best passenger experience beyond the terminal with Hassell duo Joanna Ho, interior designer and Rosie Morley, Principal
For decades, airport lounges were viewed simply as waiting rooms for premium travellers. Today, they're something much more sophisticated—extensions of airline brands, wellness spaces, workplaces, hospitality venues and, increasingly, destinations in their own right. But what actually makes a great airport lounge? How do architects and designers balance luxury with durability, privacy with openness, and local identity with a consistent global brand? Joining us in this episode are Joanna Ho, interior designer, and Rosie Morley, principal architect from Hassell, who share with us their extensive experience designing airport lounges and aviation hospitality environments. This podcast is brought to you in association with Autex Acoustics, proud sponsors of our 2026 Sustainability series of podcasts.
S10 · E306
July 27 · 24 min
Episode 306: Decay and Play: Towards a living cemetery with architect & PhD graduate, Isabel Lasala
According to PhD graduate Isabel Lasala, who is also an architect and landscape architect, and one of the directors of Lasala & Lasala Design Studio, "Cemeteries have long been central to our relationship with death, traditionally viewed as sacred and static places. "But what if we reimagined cemeteries as dynamic, hybrid spaces shaped by time, memory, and ecological processes? "Rather than viewing their gradual decay as failure, we could explore design-driven alternatives that merge the contrasting forces of grief and play, transforming decay into a catalyst for civic engagement. "This approach could inspire innovative design strategies for revitalising forgotten urban spaces, creating a new type of urban environment that bridges grief and play, memory and adaptation." In this episode, we talk to Isabel about applying urban design ideas to a necropolis.
S10 · E305
July 20 · 41 min
Episode 305: Designing sustainably for health & wellbeing with Tamara White from WAM
In this episode, sponsored by Autex Acoustics, we talk with Tamara White from Warren and Mahoney (WAM), whose work spans creating environments that support human performance, connection, and healthier futures. We discuss how designers are redefining what sustainable spaces look and feel like — and what that means for the people using them.” Our theme is on how can architects and designers create spaces that are not only environmentally sustainable, but actively support human health, wellbeing, performance, and connection? This conversation also explores the evolving relationship between sustainability and wellbeing across workplace, airport, and hospitality design and will examine how designers are responding to changing expectations around equity, flexibility, resilience, and the human experience. This podcast is brought to you in association with Autex Acoustics, proud sponsors of our 2026 Sustainability series of podcasts.
S10 · E304
July 13 · 29 min
Episode 304: Plus Studio Principal John Walsh on how shared-use & hybrid buildings are redefining design for density, community, and long-term value
Drawing from his local and overseas architecture experience, recently appointed Plus Studio principal John Walsh, in this episode, unpacks how shared-use, hybrid buildings—blending education, civic, and commercial functions—are redefining how we design for density, community, and long-term value. From navigating security and adaptability to stretching the design brief for greater impact, this conversation looks at how architects can respond creatively to the pressures of urban growth.
S10 · E303
July 6 · 1 hr 12 min
Episode 303: The wonders of straw-based panels with Derek Layfield, Managing Director of Durra Panel & Michael Jones, Studio Lead – Design at AJC Architects
Derek Layfield, Managing Director of Durra Panel, who has championed straw-based panel technology for decades, and Michael Jones, Studio Lead – Design at AJC Architects, a registered architect with a wealth of experience specifying bio-based materials, including Durra Panel projects and recent Byera Hadley research into straw and prefabricated systems, explain why straw is the ultimate building material when it comes to acoustic and temperature insulation. This podcast was sponsored by Durra Panel.
S10 · E302
June 29 · 21 min
Episode 302: David Holm, Principal at Cox Architecture on the intersection of connectivity, culture, and placemaking
David Holm, Principal at Cox Architecture has a career spanning major transport and civic infrastructure—from international airports like the new Western Sydney airport and Changi airport in Singapore to urban masterplans and public spaces—David’s work sits at the intersection of connectivity, culture, and placemaking. He’s also a passionate advocate for drawing as a design tool and has contributed widely to architectural discourse and education. His ideas on the intersection of connectivity, culture, and placemaking are a breath of fresh air for Australia's infrastructure sector.
S10 · E301
June 22 · 27 min
Episode 301: Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, co-founder of Snøhetta explains how architecture can shape culture, public life, and collective futures
In this episode of Talking Architecture & Design, we speak with Kjetil Thorsen, co-founder of Snøhetta—the Oslo-based, globally recognised practice known for its transdisciplinary approach to architecture, landscape, interiors, and design. From iconic cultural landmarks like the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet to the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, Snøhetta has built a reputation for projects that blur boundaries between disciplines while prioritising social and environmental sustainability. Kjetil joins us during a milestone visit to Australia, marking ten years of Snøhetta’s permanent presence in the region. With projects spanning Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and a keynote at the University of Melbourne, this conversation explores how architecture can shape culture, public life, and collective futures.
S10 · E300
June 15 · 50 min
Episode 300: Jacob Burke, founder of Mijasu, on removing the bottlenecks for people‑centred outcomes across the built environment
Jacob Burke is the founder of Mijasu, an interdisciplinary group of design practices focused on people‑centred outcomes across the built environment. With more than 25 years’ experience in the Australian market, his career was shaped by humble beginnings in a family business and a hands-on experience through design, delivery and business leadership. He established Mijasu in 2019 as a parent company designed to acquire, integrate and scale high‑quality design practices within a unified operating model. In this interview, Jacob talks about the major emphasis of his company's focus - streamlining the back‑end of design businesses, simplifying systems, centralising shared services, and removing inefficiencies to create operational leverage and a platform for sustainable growth.

Showing 1–20 of 32 episodes