Design Speaks Weekly

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 Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/three-house/
Winner: Australian House of the Yearhttps://housesawards.com.au/gallery/2021/australian-house-of-the-year/2P6WIMX7QYX
Full bloom: Terrarium Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/terrarium-house/
Niwa House by John Ellwayhttps://architectureau.com/articles/niwa-house-john-ellway/
Hopscotch House by John Ellway Architecthttps://architectureau.com/articles/hopscotch-john-ellway/
‘A place to picnic’: Cascade Househttps://architectureau.com/articles/cascade-house-john-ellway/
A neighbourly disposition: Twin Houseshttps://architectureau.com/articles/twin-houses/
How a speculative development won Brisbane’s house of the yearhttps://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/

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 Associatesarchitectureau.com/articles/punchbowl-mosque
Winning design revealed for NGV Contemporaryarchitectureau.com/articles/winning-design-revealed-for-ngv-contemporary
Candalepas’s new addition to Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral precinct approvedarchitectureau.com/articles/candalepass-new-addition-to-sydneys-st-marys-cathedral-precinct-approved
Spirit of generosity: Birchgrove Housearchitectureau.com/articles/birchgrove-house
The Porter House Hotel and the Castle Residences by Candalepas Associatesarchitectureau.com/articles/the-porter-house-hotel-and-the-castle-residences
Angelo Candalepasarchitectureau.com/contributors/Candalepas-Angelo
Murcutt, Candalepas-designed central Sydney tower approvedarchitectureau.com/articles/murcutt-candalepas-designed-central-sydney-tower-approved

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 ReadingAn optimistic act: From architecture to politicsarchitectureau.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 prioritiesarchitectureau.com/articles/Peak-design-bodies-meet-federal-MPs-to-promote-urban-design-priorities
First House: Elizabeth Watson-Brownarchitectureau.com/articles/ngungun-house
Yan Lane Duplexarchitectureau.com/articles/yan-lane-duplex

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 Architectarchitectureau.com/articles/In-Profile-Simon-Pendal-Architect
Architecture as functional sculpture: Beaconsfield Housearchitectureau.com/articles/beaconsfield-house
Meet the owners of Beaconsfield Housearchitectureau.com/articles/meet-the-owners-of-beaconsfield-house
South Perth House by Simon Pendal Architectarchitectureau.com/articles/South-Perth-House-by-Simon-Pendal-Architect
North Perth House by Simon Pendal Architectarchitectureau.com/articles/north-perth-house-by-simon-pendal
Carine Housearchitectureau.com/articles/carine-house

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 practicehttps://architectureau.com/articles/twelve-principles-for-next-gen-practice/
Profile: Other Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/profile-other-architects/

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 Architectshttps://architectureau.com/organisations/sean-godsell-architects/
Sean Godsell’s advice to the next generation of designers and architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsells-advice-to-the-next-generation-of-designers-and-architects/
At the coalface: A reflection on practising smallhttps://architectureau.com/articles/at-the-coal-face-a-reflection-on-practising-small/
Sean Godsell: an unrepentant, non-conformist cult figurehttps://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsell-an-architect-of-the-old-school-for-the-future/
‘Making something out of nothing’: The architecture of Sean Godsellhttps://architectureau.com/articles/making-something-out-of-nothing-the-architecture-of-sean-godsell/
MPavilion 2023https://architectureau.com/articles/mpavilion-2023/
Architectural poetry: House in the Hillshttps://architectureau.com/articles/house-in-the-hills/
Sean Godsell and the complexity of simplicityhttps://architectureau.com/articles/sean-godsell-and-the-complexity-of-simplicity/
St Andrews Beach House by Sean Godsell Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/st-andrews-beach-house-1/
St Andrews Beach House by Sean Godsell Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/future-shack/

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 ArchitectureAuhttps://architectureau.com/contributors/Farrelly-Elizabeth/
Architecture has a talk problemhttps://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 justicehttps://architectureau.com/articles/Architectures-core-dilemma-beauty-versus-justice/
Brutalising brutalismhttps://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.

Indigenising architecture, from the 90s to now | Kevin O’Brien

Kevin O’Brien is a Brisbane-based architect of Kaurereg and Meriam heritage and principal at BVN Architecture.
Over the past three decades, Kevin has worked across numerous projects and typologies in architecture and the arts, notably the exhibition design for Kith and Kin– Archie Moore’s exhibition for the 2024 Venice Biennale and the first Australian work to win the prestigious Golden Lion.
With his many accolades and appointments, Kevin has become a mentor for young First Nations graduates and architects, and a leader in Designing with Country approaches.
In Australia, we’re witnessing more and more built projects that champion Indigenous collaborations, histories and knowledge. At last week’s Design Speaks symposium, discussions explored the progress of Indigeneity in architecture over the past 30 years. We heard, however, that there is still a long way to go, and education is key to this shift.
To continue the conversation, we sat down with Kevin to reflect on the evolution of his work over his storied career and discuss what the growing number of Indigenous architects means for the profession.
Further reading:Brisbane South State Secondary College by BVNhttps://architectureau.com/articles/brisbane-south-state-secondary-college/
A space for storytelling: Blak Boxhttps://architectureau.com/articles/blak-box/
Yarrila Place by BVNhttps://architectureau.com/articles/Yarrila-Place-by-BVN/
BVN designs new ATO headquartershttps://architectureau.com/articles/bvn-designs-new-ato-headquarters/
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable: Supporting First Nations practitionershttps://architectureau.com/articles/get-comfortable-with-being-uncomfortable-supporting-first-nations-practitioners/
Obituary: Rewi Thompsonhttps://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/obituary-rewi-thompson/

Can lessons from London solve our housing crisis? | Alexis Kalagas

The housing crisis is one of the most important challenges of our time. It is a complex and highly politicised issue, but it is not unique to Australia. Around the world, major cities are grappling with their own affordability crises, and some are finding ways forward.
Alexis Kalagas is a strategic advisor to the dean at Monash Art, design and Architecture and a regular commentator on urban strategy and housing. Earlier this year, he visited London to research how the city is implementing progressive approaches to procurement, partnerships and engagement in social housing developments.
In today’s episode, Alexis reflects on this research and considers what Australia can learn in the fight for equitable and affordable housing.Further reading:Lessons from Londonhttps://architectureau.com/articles/lessons-from-london/Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing by NH Architecture and Bird de la Coeur Architects with Openwork and Tracthttps://architectureau.com/articles/tarakan-street-social-and-affordable-housing-by-nh-architecture-and-bird-de-la-coeur-architects-with-openwork-and-tract/Nightingale Villagehttps://architectureau.com/articles/nightingale-village/House for five womenhttps://ten.studio/20-hf5w
 

What makes a great Australian home? | Mel Bright

Over the last thirteen years, Studio Bright has garnered numerous national architecture and interior design awards for its residential work.
The latest addition to these acknowledgements is the Robin Boyd Award, which Studio Bright’s Hedge and Arbour House won at the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects National Awards. This is the most significant award for a new residential project in Australia – so it’s safe to say Studio Bright knows how to design a great home.
In today’s episode, Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses magazine, talks with the practice’s principal and design director, Mel Bright, about how she designs a home that supports daily life, how residential briefs have changed over time and what her clients have taught her about how we live in Australia.
Further reading:2025 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New)https://architectureau.com/articles/2025-robin-boyd-award-for-residential-architecture-houses-new/
Hedge and Arbour House by Studio Brighthttps://architectureau.com/articles/hedge-and-arbour-house-by-studio-bright/
Mansard House by Studio Brighthttps://architectureau.com/articles/mansard-house-by-studio-bright/
Maitland Bay House by Studio Brighthttps://architectureau.com/articles/maitland-bay-house-studio-bright/
Garden Tower House by Studio Brighthttps://architectureau.com/articles/garden_tower_house_studio_bright/