Design Speaks Weekly

Architecture Media
  • 5.0 (15)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Design Speaks Weekly brings you the biggest stories in Australian architecture and design. Produced by Architecture Media, each episode explores a key theme shaping the built environment, paired with the latest industry news and analysis. As an extension of the Design Speaks event series, this podcast opens up vital conversations to a wider audience, wherever you are.

  1. 23 HRS AGO

    Is International Women’s Day still relevant? | Monique Woodward

    In March 1911, over 1 million people protested across Europe to mark the first ever International Women’s Day, a landmark moment in the long fight for women’s suffrage and labour rights. While IWD remains an important day of protest around the world, many question if its original purpose has been lost. To unpack this, Georgia Birks is joined by Monique Woodward, principal and creative director at WOWOWA Architecture and Interiors. Monique formerly served on the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Gender Equity Diversity Impact Committee, and continues to be a staunch advocate for gender equity in the built environment.     Further Reading Espy by Wowowa Architecture and Interiors https://architectureau.com/articles/Espy-by-Wowowa-Architecture-and-Interiors/ ‘A feeling of joyful exuberance’: Wowowa Architecture https://architectureau.com/articles/wowowa-architecture/ 2015 Dulux Study Tour: Toyo Ito and Associates https://architectureau.com/articles/2015-dulux-study-tour-toyo-ito-and-associates/ ‘A gracious and elegant lady doing a man’s job’: Australia’s first woman architect https://architectureau.com/articles/a-gracious-and-elegant-lady-doing-a-mans-job-australias-first-woman-architect/ Parlour and gender equity in Australian architecture: Where to from here? https://architectureau.com/articles/parlour-and-gender-equality-in-australian-architecture-where-to-from-here/ New data captures 100 years of architectural registrations, organised by state and gender https://architectureau.com/articles/New-data-captures-100-years-of-architectural-registrations-organised-by-state-and-gender/

    18 min

  2. 23 FEB

    Less house, more life | John Ellway

    John Ellway is one of Australia’s leading residential architects. Since establishing his practice in 2017, he has received multiple state and national awards, including Australian House of the Year for Three House at the 2021 Houses Awards. His residential designs prove that living well doesn't require a large footprint: with thoughtful planning and the strategic use of light, views and landscape, smaller homes can be rich in both spatial experience and functionality.   In this episode, Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses Magazine, talks with John about creating homes that are compact, practical and a delight to live in.     Further Reading Breezy lyricism: Three House https://architectureau.com/articles/three-house/ Winner: Australian House of the Year https://housesawards.com.au/gallery/2021/australian-house-of-the-year/2P6WIMX7QYX Full bloom: Terrarium House https://architectureau.com/articles/terrarium-house/ Niwa House by John Ellway https://architectureau.com/articles/niwa-house-john-ellway/ Hopscotch House by John Ellway Architect https://architectureau.com/articles/hopscotch-john-ellway/ ‘A place to picnic’: Cascade House https://architectureau.com/articles/cascade-house-john-ellway/ A neighbourly disposition: Twin Houses https://architectureau.com/articles/twin-houses/ How a speculative development won Brisbane’s house of the year https://architectureau.com/articles/twin-houses-john-ellway/ 2025 Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) https://architectureau.com/articles/2025-Eleanor-Cullis-Hill-Award-for-Residential-Architecture-Houses-Alterations-and-Additions/ 2019 Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) https://architectureau.com/articles/2019-national-architecture-awards-eleanor-cullis-hill-award-for-res-alts-adds/

    17 min

  3. 16 FEB

    Does architecture shape who we are? | Angelo Candalepas

    Angelo Candalepas is one of Australia’s most influential architects working today. Since founding his multi-award-winning practice, Candalepas Associates, in 1999, he has made a significant contribution to the civic fabric of Australian cities, with major cultural projects including Punchbowl Mosque and the forthcoming The Fox: NGV Contemporary. In this episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, speaks with Angelo about the delicacies of designing cultural buildings and how architecture can embody the aspirations of a city.     Further reading: Punchbowl Mosque by Candalepas Associates architectureau.com/articles/punchbowl-mosque Winning design revealed for NGV Contemporary architectureau.com/articles/winning-design-revealed-for-ngv-contemporary Candalepas’s new addition to Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral precinct approved architectureau.com/articles/candalepass-new-addition-to-sydneys-st-marys-cathedral-precinct-approved Spirit of generosity: Birchgrove House architectureau.com/articles/birchgrove-house The Porter House Hotel and the Castle Residences by Candalepas Associates architectureau.com/articles/the-porter-house-hotel-and-the-castle-residences Angelo Candalepas architectureau.com/contributors/Candalepas-Angelo Murcutt, Candalepas-designed central Sydney tower approved architectureau.com/articles/murcutt-candalepas-designed-central-sydney-tower-approved

    18 min

  4. 9 FEB

    Architecture vs politics | Elizabeth Watson-Brown

    As an established architect and a member of the Australian Greens, Elizabeth Watson-Brown is a strong advocate for the built environment – particularly when it comes to sustainability and social equity. Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 as federal MP for the seat of Ryan, Elizabeth ran her own practice for 21 years, and went on to become design director and design strategy leader for national architecture practice Architectus. In today’s episode, we hear Elizabeth’s insights on practice and politics, and get her thoughts on how architecture can contribute to the pursuit of affordable and desirable housing. Further Reading An optimistic act: From architecture to politics architectureau.com/articles/an-optimistic-act-from-architecture-to-politics ‘We need a public-led approach to the way we develop our cities’ architectureau.com/articles/we-need-a-public-led-approach-to-the-way-we-develop-our-cities Peak design bodies meet federal MPs to promote urban design priorities architectureau.com/articles/Peak-design-bodies-meet-federal-MPs-to-promote-urban-design-priorities First House: Elizabeth Watson-Brown architectureau.com/articles/ngungun-house Yan Lane Duplex architectureau.com/articles/yan-lane-duplex

    21 min

  5. 2 FEB

    Is the sum of parts greater than the whole? | Simon Pendal

    Simon Pendal is founder of Fremantle-based practice Simon Pendal Architect, and associate professor and co-chair of the Studio Programme at The University of Notre Dame. His work has been widely recognised in publications and awards – most recently winning the 2026 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work in collaboration with Whadjuk Balardong Elder Robyn Collard. The winning project, titled “Walyalup/Fremantle – What If,” introduces town planning incentives to encourage the opening-up of Country via a network of green archipelagos. This project highlights that, when designing to restore environment and culture in cities, there is a need for thinking at both a micro and macro scale – where big ideas require thousands of smaller acts.  In our first episode for 2026, we’ve invited Simon to talk to the value of smaller projects and how their collective contribution to city-making changes the way we live.     Further reading: In profile: Simon Pendal Architect architectureau.com/articles/In-Profile-Simon-Pendal-Architect Architecture as functional sculpture: Beaconsfield House architectureau.com/articles/beaconsfield-house Meet the owners of Beaconsfield House architectureau.com/articles/meet-the-owners-of-beaconsfield-house South Perth House by Simon Pendal Architect architectureau.com/articles/South-Perth-House-by-Simon-Pendal-Architect North Perth House by Simon Pendal Architect architectureau.com/articles/north-perth-house-by-simon-pendal Carine House architectureau.com/articles/carine-house

    19 min

  6. 15/12/2025

    What kind of designer do you want to be? | Rory Hyde and Grace Mortlock

    There is a lot to be learnt from traditional practice, but architects have the capacity to tackle greater social and environmental issues as well – and a new generation of Australian architects is being particularly proactive about using design to address contemporary problems. Earlier this year, Design Speaks held The Architecture Symposium: What’s next for practice, an event that provided a snapshot of the approaches and projects being pursued by this emerging group. As part of the symposium, Rory Hyde of the University of Melbourne and Grace Mortlock of Other Architects sat down to share their observations and opinions on the future of practice. Rory and Grace have, in their own way, each carved a career in architecture that is intentionally unconventional. It was such a great conversation that we wanted to share the discussion with our Design Speaks Weekly listeners. This episode begins with Grace asking Rory, whether the next generation of architects are being unconventional enough.   Further reading: Twelve principles for ‘next gen’ architectural practice https://architectureau.com/articles/twelve-principles-for-next-gen-practice/ Profile: Other Architects https://architectureau.com/articles/profile-other-architects/

    22 min

  7. 08/12/2025

    Advice to a young architect | Sean Godsell

    Architect Sean Godsell has won numerous local and international awards, including the 2022 Gold Medal of the Australian Institute of Architects. In his 30 years of practising architecture, Sean has garnered a wealth of experience and knowledge – and he is keen to impart some his findings onto the next generation of architects. In this episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, asks Sean to reflect on his career, the current state of the profession and what future architects might consider in their own journeys.   Further reading: Sean Godsell Architects https://architectureau.com/organisations/sean-godsell-architects/ Sean Godsell’s advice to the next generation of designers and architects https://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsells-advice-to-the-next-generation-of-designers-and-architects/ At the coalface: A reflection on practising small https://architectureau.com/articles/at-the-coal-face-a-reflection-on-practising-small/ Sean Godsell: an unrepentant, non-conformist cult figure https://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsell-an-architect-of-the-old-school-for-the-future/ ‘Making something out of nothing’: The architecture of Sean Godsell https://architectureau.com/articles/making-something-out-of-nothing-the-architecture-of-sean-godsell/ MPavilion 2023 https://architectureau.com/articles/mpavilion-2023/ Architectural poetry: House in the Hills https://architectureau.com/articles/house-in-the-hills/ Sean Godsell and the complexity of simplicity https://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsell-and-the-complexity-of-simplicity/ St Andrews Beach House by Sean Godsell Architects https://architectureau.com/articles/st-andrews-beach-house-1/ St Andrews Beach House by Sean Godsell Architects https://architectureau.com/articles/future-shack/

    16 min

  8. 01/12/2025

    Does architecture have a PR problem? | Elizabeth Farrelly

    We all interact with architecture in some way, but the public’s understanding of the value and services of architects continues to be limited. Is this simply a professional image problem, or a symptom of something greater? Elizabeth Farrelly is a veteran critic, urban thinker and architectural educator. Trained in architecture and philosophy and with a PhD in urbanism from the University of Sydney, Elizabeth is a former City of Sydney councillor and was the Sydney Morning Herald’s weekly principal essayist on urban planning and city-making for 30 years. In this episode, Elizabeth considers why architects have the reputation they do, and whether it’s holding the industry back from leading on contemporary issues.   Further reading: Elizabeth Farrelly – contributor on ArchitectureAu https://architectureau.com/contributors/Farrelly-Elizabeth/ Architecture has a talk problem https://architectureau.com/articles/architecture-has-a-talk-problem/ Are we dollarising architecture to death? https://architectureau.com/articles/are-we-dollarising-architecture-to-death/ Architecture’s core dilemma: Beauty versus justice https://architectureau.com/articles/Architectures-core-dilemma-beauty-versus-justice/ Brutalising brutalism https://architectureau.com/articles/brutalising-brutalism/   Correction: An earlier version of this episode included wording that could be interpreted as describing Elizabeth Farrelly as an architect. Elizabeth is not a registered architect. The audio has been updated to clarify this.

    21 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Design Speaks Weekly brings you the biggest stories in Australian architecture and design. Produced by Architecture Media, each episode explores a key theme shaping the built environment, paired with the latest industry news and analysis. As an extension of the Design Speaks event series, this podcast opens up vital conversations to a wider audience, wherever you are.

Information

  • Creator
    Architecture Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Design Speaks Weekly

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