Talking Architecture & Design

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This episode tackles one of construction’s biggest questions: If the built environment needs to rapidly cut embodied carbon, what materials and manufacturing systems can realistically scale. The construction sector sits at the centre of the climate challenge. Cement and concrete underpin modern infrastructure but remain among the world’s most carbon-intensive materials. At the same time, a new generation of circular manufacturers is turning waste streams into building products designed to replace traditional materials altogether. So which path leads to meaningful change? Is the future about decarbonising established industries—or replacing linear systems with circular alternatives? In this episode are Zoe Schmidt Technical Marketing Lead from Adbri , one of Australia’s major cement and construction materials companies working to reduce emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, and Paul Charteris CEO , saveBOARD , a company transforming difficult-to-recycle packaging waste into engineered building materials. Image: Paul Charteris (left) and Zoe Schmidt (right) / Supplied. If you want to see the work of Adbri and saveBoard, they'll be at FutureBuild , ICC Sydney, 11-13 June. Adbri: Stand #212 saveBoard: Stand #301

The Residences at Wahroonga Estate, designed by GroupGSA, is a project that’s generating a lot of discussion up on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Capital Corporation has officially broken ground on The Residences at Wahroonga Estate — a landmark luxury development delivered in partnership with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, award-winning builder DASCO, with architecture by GroupGSA and interiors by Coco Republic. More than just a residential project, this development sits at the intersection of design excellence, community impact, and wellbeing — right next door to Sydney Adventist Hospital. With strong early sales and growing demand driven by health-focused living, it’s being hailed as a catalyst for the region’s residential renaissance. We talk with Jim Hunter, Managing Director of Capital Corporation to unpack the vision, the partnerships, and what makes this project resonate so strongly with Sydney's seemingly unstoppable residential housing sector.

Cindy Lee from Stratco Architectural talks about the strategies needed to bridge the gap between design and delivery in her role at Stratco. In this recent interview, Cindy Lee shares insights on the company’s evolution, the shifting challenges of practice, and how early collaboration with suppliers can help architects realise their vision.

In this episode of Talking Architecture & Design , Clémence Carayol sits down with Interior Designer Léo Terrando to explore how hospitality thinking is reshaping the way we design and live. With over two decades of experience across hotels and high-end homes, Terrando brings a perspective grounded in how spaces are actually used, how people move through them, and how they feel along the way. He explains that hospitality design has taught him to think beyond aesthetics. In that world, every detail contributes to an experience, from the first impression on arrival to the transitions between rooms. That same mindset now informs his residential work, where flow, comfort and atmosphere are just as important as how a space looks. The conversation also touches on the idea of timelessness. Rather than following fast-moving trends, Terrando focuses on creating interiors that feel relevant for years to come. For him, it’s about balance, combining contemporary elements with materials and layouts that can age gracefully. Simplicity, quality and a clear sense of purpose tend to outlast anything overly decorative. As the lines between hospitality and residential design continue to blur, clients are increasingly looking for homes that offer more than just a place to live. There’s a growing appetite for spaces that feel considered and experience-driven, with touches that echo the comfort and ease of a well-designed hotel. Looking ahead, Terrando sees this overlap only deepening, especially as developments bring together private living with shared amenities. For designers, that means thinking carefully about how different spaces connect and support modern lifestyles. As he suggests, good design today isn’t just about creating beautiful interiors—it’s about shaping the way people live in them.

As demand for healthcare services rises and workforce shortages intensify, universities and health institutions are under growing pressure to educate more students, more effectively, and in environments that reflect the rapidly changing nature of healthcare itself. A recent research whitepaper, Anatomy of Change: Rethinking Healthcare Learning Environments , explores how architecture, planning and design can help respond to these challenges — from co-locating education with hospitals and research facilities , to creating simulation-rich learning environments , and designing spaces that support collaboration, adaptability, and new models of care . In this episode, we unpack what the future of healthcare education might look like — and what architects, universities and health providers need to start doing now. To help with our unpacking we have with us, Leanne Guy Principal & Global Health Sector Leader of Hassell. As Hassell’s Health Sector Lead, Leanne Guy brings strategic leadership and insight through a background in nursing and design with over 25 years of experience with public and private healthcare clients in Australia and the United Kingdom. She’s worked on many complex developments, including the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and recently the New Mount Barker Hospital in South Australia. Her extensive portfolio and experience as a health care professional have deepened her understanding of the clinical and operational needs of complex health facilities – and that insight translates into innovative and highly efficient design solutions.

Breakout Creek / Purruna Pari Stage 3 recently took out both the Landscape & Urban category and Best of the Best at the 2025 Sustainability Awards. Delivered by TCL in collaboration with Green Adelaide, the City of Charles Sturt and the City of West Torrens, the project reimagines a once-degraded drainage channel as a thriving blue–green landscape. Featuring over six kilometres of new walking trails, wetlands that improve water quality and habitat, and deep collaboration with the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation, the project shows how climate-positive infrastructure can be embedded into the fabric of a city. We unpack the thinking behind the design, the engineering and ecological challenges involved, and what this project might mean for the future of urban waterways in Australia. Senior Landscape Architect and Associate at Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL), Kar Gan, who specializes in landscape architecture and urban design describes the process and ideas behind this award-winning design.

In this episode, we’re joined by award-winning architect Sarah Lebner, Director of Cooee Architecture. Sarah recently took out the Hospitality & Tourism Award at the 2025 Sustainability Awards for her remarkable transformation of an old grain silo into The Silos Accommodation — a sustainable, off-grid farm stay that celebrates adaptive reuse, environmental performance, and regional experience. In this interview, we talk about the challenges and opportunities behind that project, hear about her broader vision for sustainable design in Australia, and unpack what’s next for environmentally meaningful architecture.