Design Speaks Weekly

Marina Tabassum is a world-renowned Bangladesh architect and educator. Her architecture studio, Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA), was established in 2005 and has received numerous accolades, including two Aga Khan Awards for Architecture, the first for the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque and the second for a housing solution called Khudi Bari. Marina and her studio also designed the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion.
Her projects have significant social impact and are well known for the use of local natural materials and craftsmanship, which creates architecture that is both poetic and purposeful.
We sat down with Marina during her recent visit to Australia for Melbourne School of Design's 2026 Dean’s Lecture Series, to speak about the changing perception of what makes something architecture.
 
Further reading
Marina Tabassum’s kinetic 2025 Serpentine Pavilion openshttps://architectureau.com/articles/Marina-Tabassums-kinetic-2025-Serpentine-Pavilion-opens/
Architect of 2025 Serpentine Pavilion revealedhttps://architectureau.com/articles/architect-of-2025-Serpentine-pavilion-revealed/
Architecture for Empowermenthttps://architectureau.com/calendar/exhibitions/architecture-for-empowerment/

Recently, the exhibition Lived In was announced as Australia’s contribution to the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale. Building on the Housing Atlas for Australia research project, the exhibition is a collaboration between creative directors Kerstin Thompson of Kerstin Thompson Architects, and Maryam Gusheh, Lee-Anne Khor and Louise Wright of Monash Urban Lab.
Lived In will draw on more than a century of Australian multi-residential housing to tell a national story of how we live, through drawings, data, photography, film and residents’ own experiences.
In this episode, ArchitectureAu editor Lucia Amies speaks with two of the creative directors Kerstin Thompson and Lee-Anne Khor to learn about the vision behind Lived In and find out what visitors can expect to see in Venice next year.
 
Further reading
Creative directors for Australia’s 2027 Venice Biennale exhibition announcedhttps://architectureau.com/articles/Creative-directors-for-Australias-2027-Venice-Biennale-exhibition-announced/

Rob Champion is the founder of TARN, a landscape practice that focuses on experimental projects. Alongside his residential work, Rob is currently co-leading the design of the National Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery in Canberra, an ambitious project that is revitalising and expanding an important landscape.
In this episode, Emily Wong, editor of Landscape Australia, speaks with Rob about the opportunities of experimentation and imperfection, and how doing less can be more impactful in small-scale landscape design.
 
Further reading
Local hero: Robert Championhttps://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/local-hero-robert-champion/
Meet the jury for the Landscape Australia Awardshttps://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/meet-the-jury-2026-landscape-australia-awards/
Testing grounds: Gardens as laboratorieshttps://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/testing-grounds-gardens-as-laboratories/
 

David Welsh and Chris Major founded their practice, Welsh and Major, more than twenty years ago. Since then, they have refined and embraced an adaptive reuse design method, delivering thoughtful and enduring architecture across a diverse range of project types.
In this episode, they reflect on the evolution of adaptive reuse in Australia and the value of designing with the unexpected.
 
Further reading
Pyrmont Community Centre by Welsh and Majorhttps://architectureau.com/articles/pyrmont-community-centre-by-welsh-and-major/
Greybox by Welsh and Majorhttps://architectureau.com/articles/Greybox-by-Welsh-and-Major/
Comedor by Welsh and Majorhttps://architectureau.com/articles/comedor-by-welsh-and-major/
The Imperial by Welsh and Majorhttps://architectureau.com/articles/imperial-welsh-and-major/
Gathering character: Seagrass Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/seagrass-house/
Bohemian legacy: The Hat Factoryhttps://architectureau.com/articles/the-hat-factory/
Breathing room: Darling Lanehttps://architectureau.com/articles/darling-lane/
First House: Hordern Streethttps://architectureau.com/articles/hordern-first-house-welshandmajor/
Telescopic vision: Annandale Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/annandale-house-1/
A house with tiles on ithttps://architectureau.com/articles/a-house-with-tiles-on-it/
Fitzroy Terracehttps://architectureau.com/articles/fitzroy-terrace/

Since establishing his practice in 2007, Anthony Gill has crafted residential projects that challenge assumptions about contemporary housing. His work often focuses on refining spatial arrangements, resulting in homes that feel generous and functional without relying on excess.
In this episode, Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses magazine, speaks with Anthony about how residential architecture that resists resale-driven logic can lead to unconventional, understated, and delightful ways of living.
 
Further reading
Four houses of Anthony Gill Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/houses-of-anthony-gill-architects/
Randwick House by Anthony Gill Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/Randwick-House-by-Anthony-Gill-Architects/
Blue Mountains House by Anthony Gill Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/blue-mountains-house/
An outdoor challenge: Waterloo Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/waterloo-house/
Paddington Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/paddington-house/
Surry Hills Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/surry-hills-house-by-anthony-gill-architects/
Potts Point Apartmenthttps://architectureau.com/articles/potts-point-apartment/
 

Lee Hillam is a seasoned design critic. Her experience as a principal of Dunn Hillam, as a reviewer for national publications such as Architecture Australia, and as chair of the State Design Review Panel for the Government Architect NSW has sharpened her eye for what makes a successful architectural outcome.
In this episode, Lee unpacks how we justify a project's merit and explores the tension between subjective and objective evaluation in design.
 
Further reading
Lee Hillam on how to improve the competition systemhttps://architectureau.com/articles/lee-hillam-on-how-to-improve-the-competition-system/
Green Square Public School and Community Spaces by BVNhttps://architectureau.com/articles/green-square-public-school-and-community-spaces-by-bvn/
Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub by CD Studio, Supercontext, GFA2, Fake Industries and University of Technology Sydneyhttps://architectureau.com/articles/murrin-bridge-preschool-community-hub/
The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherlandhttps://architectureau.com/articles/the-pavilion-performing-arts-centre-sutherland/
Music, desert and sky: Cobar Sound Chapelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/cobar-sound-chapel/
Architecture as storytelling: Quay Quarter Laneshttps://architectureau.com/articles/quay-quarter-lanes/
An act of civic pride: Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centrehttps://architectureau.com/articles/gunyama-park-aquatic-and-recreation-centre/
Third-gen city-making: 44A Foveaux Streethttps://architectureau.com/articles/44a-foveaux-street/
The architecture of interdependence: Escarpment Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/escarpment-house/
Making a community: Arkadiahttps://architectureau.com/articles/arkadia/
Tall ambitions: Short Lanehttps://architectureau.com/articles/short-lane/
Cowper Street Housinghttps://architectureau.com/articles/cowper-street-housing/
Long hours: Go hard or go home!https://architectureau.com/articles/long-hours-go-hard-or-go-home/
 

Anthony Clarke is an architect, scholar, writer, and founder of BLOXAS – a practice that focuses on the relationship between architecture and care.
In this episode, Lucia Amies, editor of ArchitectureAU, speaks with Anthony about the challenges and opportunities of regulation when it comes to designing inclusive spaces that support users' complex needs.
 
Further Reading
Residential design through a lens of carehttps://architectureau.com/articles/residential-design-through-the-lens-of-care/
Justine Clark on whether inclusive design should move from aspiration to obligationhttps://architectureau.com/articles/justine-clark-on-whether-inclusive-design-should-move-from-aspiration-to-obligation/
Allen Kong on whether inclusive design should move from aspiration to obligationhttps://architectureau.com/articles/allen-kong-on-whether-inclusive-design-should-move-from-aspiration-to-obligation/
Pragya Gupta on whether inclusive design should move from aspiration to obligationhttps://architectureau.com/articles/pragya-gupta-on-whether-inclusive-design-should-move-from-aspiration-to-obligation/
Angelo Candalepas on whether inclusive design should move from aspiration to obligationhttps://architectureau.com/articles/angelo-candalepas-on-whether-inclusive-design-should-move-from-aspiration-to-obligation/

Emma Williamson has held leadership roles across both architectural practice and public policy.
From her time as a partner at The Fulcrum Agency to her current role as Government Architect for Western Australia, she has been driven to improve the quality of the built environment and the culture of the profession.
In this episode, Emma shares her approach to leadership and discusses the behaviours and cultures that lead to designers creating their best work.
 
Further Reading
Women in architecture: Leadershiphttps://architectureau.com/articles/women-in-architecture-leadership/
Emma Williamson on how to broadcast the value of architecture to a wider audiencehttps://architectureau.com/articles/emma-williamson-on-how-to-broadcast-the-value-of-architecture-to-a-wider-audience/
Valuing architectural work: The human effectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/valuing-architectural-work-the-human-effects/
Diversity as a disruptor in constructionhttps://architectureau.com/articles/diversity-as-a-disruptor-in-construction/
Architecture’s untapped opportunities to maximize advantagehttps://architectureau.com/articles/architectures-untapped-opportunities-to-maximize-advantage/
Carey Lyon: “Everything is a public building”https://architectureau.com/articles/interview-with-carey-lyon/
School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin Universityhttps://architectureau.com/articles/school-of-design-and-the-built-environment-curtin-university/
Values-driven design: ANZ Breathehttps://architectureau.com/articles/anz-breathe/
Narrative and legacy: Bilya Marleehttps://architectureau.com/articles/bilya-marlee/
‘Genuinely inclusive’: Yagan Squarehttps://architectureau.com/articles/yagan-square-lyons/
A space to exhale: Tom Fisher Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/a-space-to-exhale/

William Smart is the founder and creative director of Smart Design Studio, a practice that has delivered a wide range of projects, from large-scale masterplans and cultural buildings to private houses and product design.
In conversation with Architecture Media’s editorial director Katelin Butler, William reflects on how the drive towards scalability and standardisation in architecture is redefining creativity, craft and customisation.
 
Further Reading
Parametric pursuit: Stokes 14 https://architectureau.com/articles/stokes-14/
2017 National Architecture Awards: Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecturehttps://architectureau.com/articles/2017-National-Architecture-Awards-Emil-Sodersten-Award-for-Interior-Architecture/
Howatson Company by Those Architects and Smart Design Studiohttps://architectureau.com/articles/howatson-company-by-those-architects-and-smart-design-studio/
Self expression: Smart Design Studio officehttps://architectureau.com/articles/smart-design-studio-office/
Recalling bygone grandeur: Rail Operations Centrehttps://architectureau.com/articles/rail-operations-centre/
First House: 632 Bourkehttps://architectureau.com/articles/first-house-632-bourke/
Celebrating curves: Regenthttps://architectureau.com/articles/celebrating-curves-regent/
Evocative and engaging: Town Hall Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/town-hall-house/
Independent integration: Crown 515https://architectureau.com/articles/crown-515/
Elemental and abstract: Sydney 385https://architectureau.com/articles/sydney-385/
Nip and tuck: Oramahttps://architectureau.com/articles/orama/
Optiquehttps://architectureau.com/articles/optique/

Izzie White is an architectural graduate, a leading voice in architectural advocacy on social media and currently acting National Communications Manager at Architectus. Through her TikTok and Instagram channels, where she has built a combined following of almost 50,000 people, she shares videos about architecture that cuts through industry jargon and explains the values and outcomes of design in clear, engaging terms.
In recognition of this work, at the 2026 Australian Institute of Architecture’s Victorian Chapter Awards, Izzie received the Advocacy Award in the Bates Smart Media Award category.In this episode, Izzie shares how the profession can play a more active role in educating the public on why architecture matters.
 
Further Reading2026 Victorian Architecture Awardshttps://architectureau.com/articles/2026-victorian-architecture-awards/