The latest episode of Talking Architecture & Design features John Czechowski, Senior Associtae at Gray Puksand, whose career spans more than three decades of shaping public and multi-use precincts across Australia. Born in Canada and trained at the University of Toronto, with formative studies in Florence and Paris, his practice has stretched from infrastructure and stadia to high-rise living and large-scale master planning. In this conversation, Czechowski reflects on how precincts...

Dr Caroline Noller is a qualified quantity surveyor, Climate Active Product assessor, and past, MECLA benchmarking working group Chair, ALCAS board member and EPD Australia board member and holds a phD in the Built Environment. These days Dr Noller provides independent oversight and technical assurance for the Rebuilt Product Carbon Footprint methodology and governance platform. Drawing on her career in life cycle assessment, carbon science, and software innovation, she verifies data in...

Damien Crough from prefabAus, a recognised leader and advocate for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Australia. As Co-founder and Executive Chairman of prefabAUS, Damien has been instrumental in positioning the organisation as the national peak body for offsite construction. Under his leadership, prefabAUS has grown from a grassroots initiative into a respected and influential voice shaping policy, driving research, and fostering collaboration across government, industry, an...

“Technology is often seen as the answer, but I believe design is the real answer. Technology is there to enable and to empower.” Xavier De Kestelier is a global Head of Design and leader of Hassell’s design technology and innovation team, which sets strategy and advises on the tools and knowledge the international design firm needs to succeed. Both an architect and technologist, Xavier harnesses technology to create more powerful, future-focused design solutions. That means he’s respons...

As CEO of City West Housing, Leonie King leads a committed team that develops affordable housing and provide housing services to some 1,600 residents in metropolitan Sydney. In this episode, Leonie King will be talking about affordable homes, funding, planning approvals, land costs, how can we get governmental outcomes for housing, private developers, and community housing providers working together to better to solve our housing crisis & much, much more. This podcast is brought to you in...

Cathy Inglis AM is Group CEO for Think Brick, Concrete Masonry Association & Roofing Tile Associations Australia and is an experienced Materials Engineer and technical expert with nearly 30 years in the building industry with a focus on research, product development and product compliance. Cathy has worked in key leadership roles in management and business development with responsibility for research of new products, technical matters and leading innovation to improve the energy efficienc...

Opacity is HDR’s annual global design review, bringing together diverse voices from across the design community to critically examine our best built and unbuilt work. It provides a platform for rigorous dialogue, sharpening our design conscience and pushing creative boundaries. In this episode, HDR's Melbourne Design Principal Alison Potter as well as Simon Fleet, who is HDR's Sydney Design Principal talk about Opacity, regenerative design framework, advanced data-driven capabilities, a...

Samantha Peart has worked across 20 different countries, involving sustainability strategies and multidisciplinary project delivery for commercial and residential buildings, healthcare facilities, retail developments, university campuses, large-scale infrastructure projects and organisations. In her role as Hassell’s Global Head of Sustainability, Peart is leading the drive for innovation in sustainable design, helping to steer Hassell’s mission to become a more sustainable and forward-...

Adrian Popple has over 35 years’ experience in residential design and under his guidance seen Metricon countless times recognised and awarded by Australia's peak building bodies for its innovative and industry leading designs. Joining Metricon in 1987, Adrian Popple swiftly ascended the ranks navigating diverse roles-from drafting cadet to design and display management, and a stint in business development, culminating in his now 15-year tenure as National Design Director. Over three decades...

This is the story of Sydney House, a transformative mixed-use development that redefines luxury living while honouring over 130 years of built legacy. Rising above the historic facades of the former City Tattersalls Club, this elegant composition is more than just a building—it’s a conversation between past and present. From the scalloped rhythms of the tower to the carefully restored Victorian and Art Deco details, Sydney House embodies sensitive addition and contemporary express...

In this episode of Talking Architecture & Design, we speak with Kylie Sandland, Design Psychologist and Co-Founder of Design for Hope, a social enterprise creating trauma-informed spaces for recovery and well-being. With three decades of experience in psychology and organisational consulting, Sandland brings a unique, evidence-based approach to the way environments affect our mental health. From domestic violence shelters to rehabilitation centres, her work focuses on designin...

In this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into Stratco, an Australian company with over 75 years of experience providing building solutions for both professionals and homeowners. Stratco offers a wide range of products, including patios, carports, verandahs, garages, sheds, and outdoor living products such as NINELINE, SUPERDEK & PRODEK. Critically for Australian architects and builders, Stratco has manufacturing facilities in all mainland states of Australia and also in New Zealand...

Nerida Conisbee is Ray White’s Chief Economist and one of Australia’s leading property experts. Nerida works closely with industry partners to provide strategic vision and policy recommendations for the future of property in Australia. She represents Ray White to inform and influence key stakeholder groups across the residential and commercial sectors, in addition to advising major Australian government bodies. In this exclusive interview, Nerida unravels the main issues behind our hous...

Jonathan 'Jono' Mountfort is the Creative Director at Autex Acoustics and a design expert specialising in sustainable acoustic solutions. With over 20 years of experience in design and manufacturing, Jonathan oversees product design, compliance, and sustainability. His journey into design began with a background in mechanical engineering, which sparked his passion for tinkering. After a brief stint as a vegan chef on the set of ‘Lord of the Rings,’ he pursued a degree...

The Australian Parliament passed the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Reconsiderations) Bill 2025, restricting the Minister for the Environment’s power to reconsider certain past decisions under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This change has significant implications for environmental oversight, particularly in cases where new information emerges about the impact of ongoing land use activities, such as the co...

With housing affordability at crisis levels and younger generations leaving Sydney in record numbers, the Minns Labor Government has announced a bold plan to make it faster, easier, and more affordable to build a new home. At the center of this plan is the launch of the NSW Housing Pattern Book—a collection of architect-designed terraces, townhouses, and manor houses—combined with a world-first Complying Development pathway that promises to cut approval times down to just ten days. ...

Proper weatherproofing is essential for buildings in Australia due to the country's climate, which includes intense sun, heavy rainfall, and varying temperatures. Effective weatherproofing protects the building from water damage, structural issues, and the growth of mould and mildew, while also ensuring a comfortable and healthy living environment. Jon Conway – National Technical & Product Development Manager for Innova at Etex Australia and Craig Blinco – Sales and Marketing Direct...

Graphisoft is a European multinational corporation that designs 3D design software made by architects for architects. Based in Bavaria Germany, Graphisoft CEO Daniel Csillag is a former general manager of Bluebeam and CEO of Nevaris, who in Feb 2024 became CEO of Graphisoft with a focus on strategy, sales & products/services. Marton Kiss is Graphisoft’s Chief Product Officer and Senior Product Manager. Beginning his career as a technical support engineer, Márton’s narrative is a tes...

Designed by Woods Bagot, Perth’s METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line creates 21km of new railway track, connecting the north-eastern suburbs and Perth CBD. Five new integrated station precincts link various places of character and landscape along the unique Perth Swan Coastal Plain. The Morley-Ellenbrook Line represents the most significant expansion of the rail network since the Mandurah Line was built in 2007. To explain this huge project, we have with us Kukame McPierzie, Principal...

In this episode of Talking Architecture & Design, host Clémence Carayol is joined by Ben Morgan and Nic Granleese, Co-Founders of Bowerbird, a platform that’s reshaping how architectural projects are shared with the media. With backgrounds in publishing and architecture, Morgan and Granleese created Bowerbird to make architectural storytelling more accessible. Their goal: to simplify the way architects pitch their work and connect directly with journalists. The conversation explores how t...