Big Design Adventure

Tim Ross & Kevin McCloud
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Two mates, Tim Ross — comedian, broadcaster, and self-described design nerd — and Kevin McCloud — pundit, writer and celebrated host of Grand Designs — have teamed up for a new podcast: Tim and Kev’s Big Design Adventure.   In this audio escapade, the architectural enthusiasts embark on a rollicking (and occasionally shambolic) journey, sharing their love of design by visiting buildings that inspire them, meeting the people who create or inhabit them, and diving deep into the places that shape and spark their imaginations.

  1. 6 hr ago ·  Bonus

    S3 Ep 9 – BONUS CHAT - The Ernő Goldfinger Legacy

    It’s a bonus episode with Pippa Goldfinger, especially curated by Kevin for you.  Works best if you listen to the main episode first - Series 3, Episode 9.    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuest: Pippa GoldfingerBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 9 – BONUS CHAT - The Ernő Goldfinger Legacy

  2. 6 hr ago

    S3 Ep 9 – The Ernő Goldfinger Legacy

    Tim and Kevin head to West London to borrow the keys to an apartment in Trellick Tower, the iconic Brutalist apartment block designed by Hungarian émigré architect Ernő Goldfinger — an absolute banger of an example of social housing. Joining them on the sofa is Ernő’s granddaughter, Pippa, who shares her very personal story of growing up around her incredibly progressive grandparents, particularly at 2 Willow Road, Ernő’s groundbreaking modernist development that became a very modern multigenerational home and is now a much-loved National Trust house museum. Pippa, who also leads a creative life as Head of Design at Design West, paints the most wonderful picture of the incredible life her grandfather led as we explore his significant legacy. Learn more about Design West on their website – designwest.org.uk Check out 2 Willow Road on the National Trust website – nationaltrust.org.uk To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuest: Pippa GoldfingerBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 9 – The Ernő Goldfinger Legacy

  3. 11 Aug

    S3 Ep 8 - “Don’t knock the bloody thing down!”

    This week Kev drags a slightly confused Tim to Leigh, outside Manchester, to explore Leigh Spinners Mill, a vast former cotton mill. He’s less confused when he finds out it’s been given an extraordinary new life as a thriving community hub. Built in 1913 for the Horrocks family, the mill is a reminder of the textile industry that once dominated Greater Manchester, shaping its towns, communities and skylines before its decline during the 20th century. Joining the lads is planner and heritage expert Catherine Dewar to talk about Britain’s remarkable industrial heritage, why we need to find new uses for old buildings and why restoration doesn’t always need to mean making everything perfect. Today the mill is home to artists, small businesses, a cinema, theatre, gym, archery club, computer museum, hypnotist and a clairvoyant. Yes, it’s as bonkers as it sounds but you are going to find out why it works. It’s amazing what happens when you “Don’t knock the bloody thing down.” Leigh Spinners Mill gets five stars from Tim. Follow the mill on Instagram (@spinnersmillleigh). Catherine Dewar has had a 30 year career in managing change to heritage across England, and was most recently Historic England’s Regional Director in the North West of England. In March 2026, she left her director role to set up her own consultancy, providing place leadership and progressive heritage advice across the development, heritage and culture sectors. Catherine is an urban planner by training and in heart…passionate about making places that not only work but that also bring people joy. She likes nothing more than exploring new towns and cities, and all their nooks and crannies! She has a particular soft spot for industrial heritage in all its scarred, rusty glory. (More details on her website catherinedewar.com)  To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuest: Catherine DewarBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 8 - “Don’t knock the bloody thing down!”

  4. 4 Aug

    S3 Ep 7 – Hotel Motel

    What makes a well-designed hotel? This listener question set off a chain of events that created a cavalcade of hot takes, extreme rants about the state of modern hotels, a potted history of motels, a small-scale therapy session about the lettering on bottles in hotel bathrooms, a revelation about an unexpected adult movie star, and the rest you can find out for yourself. This is another feedback episode, powered by your wonderful emails To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.   Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 7 – Hotel Motel

  5. 28 Jul

    S3 Ep 6 - Robin and Lucienne Day

    Robin and Lucienne Day, were the most distinguished British designers of the post war period. Their designs were woven into everyday life. Robin's revolutionary polypropylene chair became one of the most widely used chairs in history, while Lucienne's vibrant textile designs helped define the optimistic look of post-war Britain. Together, they transformed the way ordinary people lived, proving that great design didn't belong in galleries, but in schools, homes, pubs, theatres and village halls. In this episode, Tim and Kevin sit down with their daughter, Paula Day, inside London's Royal Festival Hall – the very building where her parents' careers were transformed during the 1951 Festival of Britain. Paula shares the remarkable story of how two young designers, emerging from the austerity of the Second World War, helped redefine British modernism through furniture, textiles and an unwavering belief that good design should be accessible to everyone. To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.   Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuest: Paula Day (@robinlucienneday)Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 6 - Robin and Lucienne Day

  6. 21 Jul

    S3 Ep 5 – Sam Neill – Acting, Architecture and Wine

    Earlier this year, Sam Neill kindly agreed to join us on the podcast. The plan was to wait until Kevin was back in Australia so we could all sit down together, unfortunately we couldn’t make the dates align. Last week, Tim went back through his archives and rediscovered a conversation the two of them recorded years earlier for a project that never eventuated. For the next hour, you get to spend some time with Sam. You’ll hear about his love of life, wine, acting and architecture. It’s funny, thoughtful, candid and full of the warmth that so many of us admired. It’s a small tribute to Sam. This conversation was recorded with Tim Ross and Sam Neill in Sam’s Sydneyapartment in 2019. To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.   Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 5 – Sam Neill – Acting, Architecture and Wine

  7. 14 Jul

    S3 Ep 4 – The crack is where the light gets in – The Very Reverend John Witcombe – Coventry Cathedral

    On the night of 14 November 1940, nearly 500 Luftwaffe bombers descended on Coventry. Over the next 11 hours, they dropped more than 500 tonnes of high explosives and around 30,000 incendiary bombs on the city. By morning, 568 people had been killed, around 850 seriously injured and 43,000 homes damaged or destroyed. At the centre of it all, the medieval Cathedral of St Michael had been reduced to a roofless shell. Rather than clear the ruins away, Coventry left them standing. Alongside them, Sir Basil Spence created an extraordinary new modernist cathedral. Together, the two buildings have become internationally recognised symbols of hope and reconciliation. Tim and Kevin visit Coventry to meet the Very Reverend John Witcombe, who has just concluded a 13-year tenure as Dean of Coventry Cathedral. During his time, John removed the admission charge and reconnected the cathedral with the arts, welcoming musicians including The Specials, John Grant, Beth Hart and The Libertines to perform across the cathedral precinct. What begins as a conversation about architecture slowly unfolds into something deeper. This is a conversation we all need right now. To keep up to date with event at the Cathedral, follow their Instagram at@coventry_cathedral_events To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.   Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuest: The Very Reverend John WitcombeBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 4 – The crack is where the light gets in – The Very Reverend John Witcombe – Coventry Cathedral

  8. 7 Jul

    S3 Ep 3 - Morag Myerscough Luke Morgan Moving to the Country

    Tim and Kevin head into the English countryside to visit acclaimed artist Morag Myerscough and artist-musician Luke Morgan, who traded the excitement of inner-city London for an unloved modernist house, an ambitious renovation and a completely different way of living. Five years into the renovation, with the end in sight, they open up their home and their lives to share the unexpected ways the house has transformed them. On a perfect summer's day, with the doors flung open and birds chirping in the background, they slowly reveal how taking on a home that had never truly found the right owners has changed their lives forever. Check out Morag’s website here (moragmyerscough.com). Luke’s band’s website is thehighliners.co.uk To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventureAnd be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.comKnow someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.   Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloudGuests: Morag Myerscough and Luke MorganBig Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.Executive Producer: Shelley KempAudio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk MediaMusic: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    S3 Ep 3 - Morag Myerscough Luke Morgan Moving to the Country
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Hosts & Guests

About

Two mates, Tim Ross — comedian, broadcaster, and self-described design nerd — and Kevin McCloud — pundit, writer and celebrated host of Grand Designs — have teamed up for a new podcast: Tim and Kev’s Big Design Adventure.   In this audio escapade, the architectural enthusiasts embark on a rollicking (and occasionally shambolic) journey, sharing their love of design by visiting buildings that inspire them, meeting the people who create or inhabit them, and diving deep into the places that shape and spark their imaginations.

Information

  • Creator
    Tim Ross & Kevin McCloud
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Big Design Adventure