Discover the future of urban design and adaptive reuse. Perth City Architect Nic Brunsdon reveals why 80% of the buildings we need for 2050 already exist, and how we must rethink our cities.Welcome to The Design Dialogues, presented by Petros Stone LLP. In this episode, our Director of International Business, Rishabh Jain, sits down with Nic Brunsdon, Principal of Brunsdon Studio—an internationally recognized and B-Corp certified architecture practice based in Perth, Australia.With over 25 years of experience spanning architecture, urban planning, and civic strategy, his work explores how spatial design can positively influence broader societal and cultural contexts. In June 2026, he was officially appointed as the City Architect for the City of Perth, a civic role he holds in parallel with leading his private studio.Renowned for his focus on adaptive reuse and narrative-driven design, Brunsdon has delivered transformative cultural, hospitality, and residential projects across Australia and Southeast Asia. His highly awarded portfolio includes the North Perth House, the Tiing boutique resort in Bali, and the monumental "(This is) Air" architecture commission for the National Gallery of Victoria.In this comprehensive architectural masterclass, you will learn how the future of design relies heavily on "doing more with less." We explore the philosophy of adaptive reuse, investigating how cities can transition from energy consumers to energy producers. Nic shares groundbreaking insights from his "New Normal" project, proposing the radical transformation of resource-heavy golf courses into thriving public assets featuring urban farming, wetlands, and medical centers.We also take a deep dive into the National Gallery of Victoria's Architecture Commission, discussing Brunsdon's "(This is) Air". This massive, breathing inflatable sphere makes the invisible visible, serving as a powerful post-pandemic reflection on the air we share. Whether you are a real estate developer looking for sustainable infrastructure ideas or an architect seeking inspiration on materializing abstract concepts, this conversation delivers actionable, visionary perspectives on shaping the next 50 years of urban environments.Timestamps / Chapters:(00:00) The 3 Choices in Life (Hook)(00:14) Introducing Nic Brunsdon & Brunsdon Studio(00:45) The Value of Experience & Global Practice(01:12) Balancing Civic Roles & Private Architecture(03:20) Space Market: Activating Vacant Urban Spaces(06:36) "A New Normal": Rethinking Golf Courses(10:40) The Bali Project: Bamboo & Imprinted Concrete(13:30) The Future of Architecture: Doing Less With Less(16:45) The NGV Architecture Commission: "(This is) Air"(20:47) The Next 50 Years of Urban DesignRead the full interview breakdown and explore high-resolution photography of Nic Brunsdon's projects here: #UrbanDesign #AdaptiveReuse #NicBrunsdon #PetrosStonePetros Stone LLP — Global exporters of premium natural stone and engineered quartz, engineered for architectural excellence.
