Design Speaks Weekly

Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers are the recipients of the Australian Institute of Architects 2026 Gold Medal – Australia’s highest architectural honour.
Their Sydney-based practice Durbach Block Jaggers Architects is defined by a collaborative, exploratory approach to design that embraces complexity, contradiction and exchange.
In celebration of their Gold Medal win, editorial director at Architecture Media Katelin Butler speaks with Neil Durbach, Camilla Block and David Jaggers about collaboration, creative process and the dynamics behind their practice.
Further reading:
National Prizes Gold Medal
https://architectureau.com/articles/2026-national-prizes-gold-medal/
Beyond the unexpected
https://architectureau.com/articles/beyond-the-unexpected/
Phoenix Central Park 
https://architectureau.com/articles/phoenix-central-park/
UTS Science and Health Building 
https://architectureau.com/articles/uts-science-and-health-building/
Newcastle East End Stage 1
https://architectureau.com/articles/newcastle_east_end_stage_one/
Durbach Block Jaggers' hourglass-shaped Omnia tower completed
https://architectureau.com/articles/durbach-block-jaggers-hourglass-shaped-omnia-tower-completed/
National Architecture Awards Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture (Houses New)
https://architectureau.com/articles/2017-national-architecture-awards-robin-boyd-award-for-residential-architecture-houses-new/
Heritage revitalisation of Sydney's Powerhouse Museum Ultimo granted approval
https://architectureau.com/articles/heritage-revitalisation-of-Sydneys-powerhouse-museum-ultimo-granted-approval/
Durbach Block Jaggers designs Sydney pencil tower
https://architectureau.com/articles/durbach-block-jaggers-designs-sydney-pencil-tower/

Alison Page is a Walbanga and Wadi Wadi woman and a leading design entrepreneur. Her portfolio spans collaborations with Indigenous designers Dillon Kombumerri and Kevin O’Brien from the Merrima Aboriginal Design Unit and eight years as a panellist on ABC’s The New Inventors. She is also the founder of the National Aboriginal Design Agency, and has helped bring First Nations knowledge and culture into contemporary Australian design.
Ahead of her upcoming exhibition at Melbourne School of Design, presented as part of Melbourne Design Week, Alison discusses the growing interest in Indigenous design – and the opportunities and complexities it brings.
 
Further Reading
Alison Page on artwashing in architecturehttps://architectureau.com/articles/alison-page-on-artwashing-in-architecture/Melbourne Design Week 2026 announcedhttps://architectureau.com/articles/melbourne-design-week-2026-announced/Alison Page: Creative Shape Shifterhttps://designweek.melbourne/event/alison-page-creative-shape-shifter/

Nigel Bertram believes all design projects are research projects. 
As director of Melbourne-based practice NMBW Architecture Studio and practice professor of architecture at Monash University, he has established a practice model that maximises the relationship between practice and academia, allowing research to inform and guide his studio’s projects.
In this episode, Nigel reflects on the opportunities for innovation through research-led design and speaks to the value of post-occupancy evaluations.
Further reading:
St Albans Housing by NMBW Architecture Studio and MADA
https://architectureau.com/articles/st-albans-housing/
Revisited: St Albans Housing
https://architectureau.com/articles/revisited-st-albans-housing/
Sanders Place by NMBW Architecture Studio, Openwork and Finding Infinity
https://architectureau.com/articles/sanders-place-by-nmbw-architecture-studio-openwork-and-finding-infinity/
University of Melbourne Student Precinct Project by Lyons et al
https://architectureau.com/articles/university-of-melbourne-student-precinct-project/
 

Ingrid Richards is a renowned Australian architect who co-founded Richards and Spence with Adrian Spence in 2008, and has since contributed significantly to the civic identity of Brisbane and beyond.
The practice is perhaps best known for its instrumental involvement in the development of the James Street Precinct in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley through a series of independent projects – including the Calile Hotel and the Ada Lane Development.
In today’s episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, asks Ingrid to reflect on the considerations required when designing civic legacy from private commissions and what urban qualities evolve best over time.
 
Further Reading
Urbane luxury: The Calile Hotelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/the-calile-hotel/
Incremental civic-ness: James Street Precincthttps://architectureau.com/articles/james-street-precinct/
2019 Eat Drink Design Awards: Best Hotel Designhttps://architectureau.com/articles/2019-eat-drink-design-awards-best-hotel-design/
Nineteen Jameshttps://architectureau.com/articles/block-works/
Tactical urbanism: Fish Lanehttps://architectureau.com/articles/tactical-urbanism-fish-lane/
205 North Quay by Hassell, REX and Richards and Spencehttps://architectureau.com/articles/205-north-quay-by-hassell-rex-and-richards-and-spence/
Richards and Spence’s seven favourite hotel designshttps://architectureau.com/articles/richards-and-spence-seven-favourite-hotel-designs/

Níall McLaughlin founded his London-based practice, Níall McLaughlin Architects, in 1990. Over three decades, the studio has developed a reputation for elegant detailing and thoughtful material exploration. This careful, consistent approach shapes a diverse body of work across a wide range of typologies. Underpinning it all is McLaughlin’s belief that building is “an act, not an object.”
Following the announcement that Níall McLaughlin Architects has been appointed to design a new Catholic cathedral in Sydney, ArchitectureAu editor Lucia Amies speaks with McLaughlin about his studio’s philosophy, process and evolving approach to architecture.
 
Further Reading
Australia’s first new cathedral in over a century planned for Sydneyhttps://architectureau.com/articles/australias-first-new-cathedral-in-over-a-century-planned-for-sydney/
2026 RIBA Gold Medal won by ‘humble visionary’https://architectureau.com/articles/2026-riba-gold-medal-won-by-humble-visionary/

Mike Hewson is originally from Aotearoa New Zealand and has been based in Sydney for the past decade. He has a background in structural engineering and heavy-civil construction, and he holds a Master of Fine Arts in visual arts from Columbia University.
Mike is perhaps best known for his inventive hybrid playground projects, which he describes as part art and part infrastructure. In 2025, Mike opened his first solo presentation, The Key’s Under the Mat, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The exhibition invites visitors to rethink what a playground and public space can be – a recurring agenda throughout Mike’s work.
In today’s episode, Emily Wong, editor of Landscape Australia, sits down with Mike to discuss how avoiding overdesigning (or overprescribing) public space can foster moments of unexpected delight, playful risk and multi-generational inclusivity.Further Reading
Playful chaos: the art of risky playgroundshttps://architectureau.com/articles/playful-chaos-the-art-of-risky-playgrounds/
Discovery and daring: Rocks on Wheelshttps://landscapeaustralia.com/articles/rocks-on-wheels/
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mathttps://architectureau.com/calendar/exhibitions/mike-hewson-the-keys-under-the-mat/

Sarah Lynn Rees is a Palawa woman descending from the Plangermaireener and Trawlwoolwaypeoples of north-east Lutruwita/Tasmania. In addition to her role as associate principal at national architecture studio Jackson Clements Burrows, Sarah is an academic and writer.
Over the course of her career, Sarah has been a prominent advocate for Indigenising the built environment, leading systemic reform in many ways – most notably by updating The National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA) to require practitioners to demonstrate a level of understanding of culture, Country and Indigenous engagement processes.
In today’s episode, Sarah speaks on how her activism and support for Indigenous agency and leadership in architecture is being realised in project conception, procurement and delivery.
Further Reading
Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity Hub by Jackson Clements Burrows Architectshttps://architectureau.com/articles/atlantic-fellows-for-social-equity-hub-by-jackson-clements-burrows/
Winning design unveiled for WSU Indigenous Centre of Excellencehttps://architectureau.com/articles/winning-design-unveiled-for-wsu-indigenous-centre-of-excellence/
It costs nothing to carehttps://architectureau.com/articles/it-costs-nothing-to-care/
Design competitions: Starting from Countryhttps://architectureau.com/articles/design-competitions-starting-from-country/
Indigenizing practice: Documenting Indigenous projects for publicationhttps://architectureau.com/articles/indigenizing-practice-documenting-indigenous-projects-for-publication/
Indigenizing practice: To award, or not to award?https://architectureau.com/articles/indigenizing-practice-to-award-or-not-to-award/
Blakitecture: Beyond acknowledgement and into actionhttps://architectureau.com/articles/blakitecture-beyond-acknowledgement-and-into-action/
Nexus 2013: a coming together of thingshttps://architectureau.com/articles/nexus-the-coming-together-of-things/

Architect Peter McIntyre AO is known for his experimental approach and infectious enthusiasm. He’s received numerous awards, including the 1990 Gold Medal of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Peter was still in his early twenties when he established his own practice and began designing major projects that would help shape the city of Melbourne. He counts architects Robin Boyd and Roy Grounds among his early mentors.
In this episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, speaks with Peter about the increase in risk aversion, and whether it’s narrowing the potential of young architects – and architecture itself.Further Reading
2021 National Enduring Architecture Awardhttps://architectureau.com/articles/2021-national-enduring-architecture-award/
25 years of Australian residential architecturehttps://architectureau.com/articles/houses-celebrates-100-issues/
Peter McIntyre Beaumaris house heritage listedhttps://architectureau.com/articles/peter-mcintyre-beaumaris-house-heritage-listed/
 

Youssofzay Hart is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice based in Sydney. The studio is well acquainted with the "emerging architect" label and all that comes with it. Led by directors Belqis Youssofzay and David Hart, the studio works with leading Australian and international cultural and educational institutions – including Powerhouse, M+ in Hong Kong, and the University of Sydney – to design galleries, exhibitions, installations and interiors.
In this episode, ArchitectureAu editor Lucia Amies speaks with Belqis about whether the "emerging architect" label is a double-edged sword.
Further reading:
Qianyi Lim on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ labelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/qianyi-lim-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/
Nic Brunsdon on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ labelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/nic-brunsdon-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/
Kali Marnane on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ labelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/kali-marnane-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/
David Welsh on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ labelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/david-welsh-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/
Bradley Kerr on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ labelhttps://architectureau.com/articles/bradley-kerr-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

Commercial viability and creative ambition in architectural practice are a constant balancing act, even more so in this time of economic uncertainty. However, this tension is not unique to one generation.
As part of the 2025 Design Speaks Architecture Symposium: What’s next for practice?, Isabelle Toland, who cofounded Aileen Sage Architects in 2013, and Andrew Nimmo, who cofounded Lahznimmo Architects in 1994, spoke about the business of architecture, focusing on fees, procurement and starting their own practices. It was great to understand the similarities and differences that their respective studios experienced as they evolved over the years.
It was such an informative conversation that we wanted to share it with our Design Speaks Weekly listeners. This episode beings with Isabelle asking Andrew, “what is it about public projects that interests him?”Further Reading
Generation exchange: Fees and procurementhttps://architectureau.com/articles/generation-exchange-fees-and-procurement/
The many pathways to public workhttps://architectureau.com/articles/the-many-pathways-to-public-work/
Contributor: Andrew Nimmohttps://architectureau.com/contributors/Nimmo-Andrew/
Contributor: Isabelle Tolandhttps://architectureau.com/contributors/Toland-Isabelle/