Design Loop

Mental health and wellbeing in architecture:

In an industry, where the university course has been dubbed ‘Architorture’ and where sleep deprivation, deadline pressure, financial stress and long hours are all considered normal, it is clear that mental wellbeing in architecture should be spoken about more often.

Growing studies indicating that mental health is on the rise for the general population. But in July 2021 the ACA or Association of Consulting Architects released a Architects Mental Wellbeing Tool Kit. Host, Clara Murphy, had the privilege to speak with the ACA;s Chief Executive Officer, Angelina Pillai, about this tool kit. 

Mental Wellbeing toolkit: 

https://aca.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Architects-Mental-Wellbeing-Toolkit-Australian-version-5.pdf

ACA: Association of Consulting Architects Australia:

 https://aca.org.au/ 

Recommended book: Happy by Design by Ben Channon 

https://www.instagram.com/happybydesignbook/?hl=en 

Lifeline: 13 11 14 

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

https://www.thedesignloop.com.au/ 

Welcome to Design Loop, my name is Clara Murphy and my guest today is the wonderfully talented, humble and down to earth Amy Vorrath. Amy is a sole practicing architect based on the Ballerine Peninsula. And like myself, most students, grads and architects have likely thought about starting their own practise and so who better to ask than Amy, who cautions the journey is never smooth sailing. But by the sounds of it, Amy has built an idyllic work life balance with children and running her business. And just to note, this episode was recorded early 2021 so our conversation is in the midst of covid and Melbourne’s lockdown. I had a blast talking to Amy and hope you enjoy this episode of Design Loop with Amy Vorrath. 

Architecture and Construction continues to become more automated through advancing technology. But far beyond hand drawings to AutoCAD, AI can now produce layout plans purely through deep learning tools. In October 2021, Design Loop host, Clara Murphy was lucky enough to speak with Theodore Galanos, PHD candidate and who works at the intersection between design and Artificial intelligence and who kindly explained his role in developing the AI programs Dall-E, Clip and his creation in Archi-text and how they work. Theodore explains his thoughts on whether Advancing technology will make the traditional role of an architect redundant, who is the owner of the product of deep learning and the future for Architecture and AI. We hope you enjoy this Design Loop conversation. 

Resources:

https://architext.design/ 

https://openai.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvRXC9pOg0g&t=345s 

Hello and welcome to Design Loop, the Australian Architecture Podcast that explores design topics and inspiring interviews. I’m your host, Clara Murphy, and today’s conversation is with educational design enthusiast Simon Le Nepveu, Partner at Clarke Hopkins Clarke.  Simon considers it both his purpose and responsibility to design spaces that will inspire passionate, lifelong learners and as the educational lead at Clarke Hopkins Clarke and accreditor of ALEP, Simon is bettering the learning and development for Australian children. 

This conversation with Simon was recorded in October 2020, when we were blissfully optimistic of 2021. Enjoy this Design Loop conversation with Simon Le Nepveu. 

https://www.thedesignloop.com.au/ 

In architecture school we’re educated on the importance of sustainability. We’re taught how to thoughtfully orientate designs to maximise the winter sun, how certain materials have a better thermal mass index and the challenges with housing a growing population. Hopefully this knowledge carries through to practise.  However, the building and construction industry functions almost at odds with the natural environment. This industry accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Meaning building and construction is 40% of the problem but also 40% of the solution. A new initiative in Australian architecture is trying to be part of the solution. It’s called Architects Declare and currently 1,047 Australian architecture firms have decided to take action towards transforming the industry from the inside out as signatories. I’m Clara Murphy and today on Design Loop we’re discussing Australian Architects Declare.

Show notes: 

Sign the Declaration on Architects Declares website here: https://au.architectsdeclare.com/

Sign up for Architects Declare e-news here: http://eepurl.com/gzvVh9 

Follow Architects Declare on facebook @AustralianArchitectsDeclare here: https://www.facebook.com/AustralianArchitectsDeclare/ 

Join the Facebook discussion group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/architectsdeclare

Follow Architects Declare on Instagram @architectsdeclare_au here: https://www.instagram.com/architectsdeclare_au

Follow Architects Declare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-architects-declare  

Join the LinkedIn discussion group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13792342/ 

Find Architects Declare on Twitter https://twitter.com/AuDeclare 

Find Architects Declare on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCahCy1_fnN62B7ONS9iwmNQ 

#architectsdeclare_au #architectsdeclare #constructiondeclares

https://linktr.ee/architectsdeclare_au  

Talina Edwards’ manifesto in response to the Architects Declare movement: 

https://talinaedwards.com.au/advocacy/dear-architect-an-open-letter/ 

Hello and welcome to Design Loop and my guest today is the industrious powerhouse that is Meaghan Dwyer. Meaghan is a partner at the award-winning John Wardle Architects based in Melbourne. Our conversation was recorded over lockdown, the night before the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards and spoiler, Meaghan and John Wardle won multiple awards for their Ian Potter Southbank Centre and Phoenix Central Park projects. As well as taking out the 2020 Gold Medal, the highest acclaim for an Australian Architecture practice. Meaghan is incredibly insightful, and her responses reflect that. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Meaghan.  

People in any profession love to complain about their jobs and architecture is no different. Perhaps like Frank Lloyd Wrights Falling Water, Architecture from a distance appears elegant and sophisticated but come closer and the cracks widen. The architectural industry is far too familiar with unpaid overtime, a mental health epidemic, discrimination and insecure contracts. But when a firm appears to be behaving badly, it can be intimidating approaching your employer, especially in an extremely competitive industry like architecture.  

The power is completely skewed to the employer. Well what if it wasn’t? what if employees had power to determine what they’d settle for. Sounds crazy right? It sounds like a Union. 

I’m Clara Murphy with Tom Marshall  from Professional Architects Australia and today we are examining Australian Architecture Unions.

John Denton is a household name in Australia. He is the only architect to have been awarded the top award in Australian Architecture, the Gold Award, not once but twice. He was the first Victorian Government Architect and has been congratulated from the likes of Queen Elizabeth. In his spare time, he is producing wine and collecting art. John Denton is co-founder of Melbourne based and globally renowned Denton Corker Marshall.

Melbourne is one of the greatest cities in the world; the coffee, the laneways, the art, it’s probably why it’s been in the top 2 most liveable cities in the world for the majority of the last decade. And so for such a fabulous, progressive city it’s disappointing that it performs so poorly in a environmental sustainability sense. Ross Harding from Finding Infinity has come up with a proposal to turn Melbourne from a consumer to a producer by 2030 with the help of 12 architects. One of those talented architects being Monique Woodward from WOWOWA, who explains their designs to turn waste into energy. This is a fabulously positive listen for any Melbourner/ environmentalist/ designer. 

Credit:
https://www.normalise.it/ 

With a name like hers, you may assume someone to be feared. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Ruth was one of my first bosses, mentors, and role models. Ruth is both fun and wise, serious, and approachable. Ruth speaks about being advised not to pursue architecture, "the worst" work environments and finding her purpose in designing age-care homes.