What happens when architecture is driven by passion, adventure and the power of nature? 

On the latest episode of Design Your Life, Chad Oppenheim joins Vince Frost for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, resilience and designing life beyond buildings. 

From growing up in suburban New Jersey dreaming through films like Star Wars and James Bond and becoming fascinated by the dramatic architecture of movie villains’ lairs, to creating some of the world’s most extraordinary hospitality projects shaped by desert, sea and landscape, including Desert Rock Resort and Shibara Resort, Chad shares the experiences that formed his worldview. 

Tune in as Vince and Chad explore travel as education, the realities of running a creative business, balancing ambition with family, and why great architecture should engage every sense; sound, scent, emotion, memory and our connection to the natural world. 

A powerful conversation with one of architecture’s most passionate voices. 

https://oppenoffice.com/

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What does it take to design spaces that feel like a series of carefully crafted scenes? 

In this episode, Vince sits down with architect Ismael Soto, founder of SOTO, whose global career spans some of the world’s most influential practices before launching his own studio in Los Angeles. 

They discuss the role of research in design, the evolving impact of AI on architecture, and how new housing models must respond to climate, community and changing ways of living. 

Listen as Vince and Ismael explore how architecture can be experienced like a sequence of scenes — shaping mood, emotion and the way we move through space. 

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What does it take to build not just a successful practice, but a lasting partnership? 

In this episode, Vince sits down with Tim Hay and Jeff Fearon, founders of the critically acclaimed architecture and design practice Fearon Hay. Nearly 30 years into their journey, they reflect on how a shared vision, mutual respect and deep friendship have shaped both their work and their lives. 

From early ambitions and formative influences, to growing a globally recognised studio across New Zealand, Australia and the United States, Tim and Jeff share how they’ve stayed intentionally small, focused and true to their values. 

They discuss why New Zealand design consistently punches above its weight, their approach to creating architecture that is deeply connected to place, and what it means to design with longevity in mind. 

Listen as Vince, Tim and Jeff explore partnership, purpose, and the idea of designing a life through architecture. 

https://fearonhay.com/

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What does it really mean to design for wellbeing?

For husband and wife team architect Michael Kovac and pediatrician Karina Maher, it begins with understanding the powerful relationship between nature, environment and health. While their work comes from two very different disciplines, both are guided by the same belief: the spaces we inhabit have a profound impact on how we live and feel.

Michael is the founder of Kovac, the Los Angeles-based architecture studio known for its warm, modern and environmentally sensitive homes. Karina brings a medical perspective through her work as a pediatrician, with a particular interest in children’s health and the environmental factors that shape long-term wellbeing.

Together, they offer a compelling view of wellness from both the physical and medical perspectives — from healthier homes and materials to cleaner air, better habits and a deeper connection to the natural world.

Listen as Vince, Michael and Karina explore designing homes with nature in mind, the hidden health impacts of our indoor environments, and how architecture centred around wellbeing can both help us live better lives. 

https://www.kovac.studio/

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From launching P.E Nation onto the global stage to redefining how women move through their day, Claire Greaves has built brands that shape culture. 

But success is only one part of the story. 

In this episode, Claire shares how scaling fast, leading through pressure and navigating very public life changes ultimately led her to something more powerful than growth. Clarity. 

Now back in the business she co founded and building BOOIE Beauty with Celeste Barber, Claire is creating from a different place. With boundaries. With perspective. With purpose. 

This is a conversation about reinvention, resilience and what happens when you stop proving and start choosing. 

Listen as Vince and Claire explore imposter syndrome, rapid global growth and the courage it takes to redesign your life on your own terms. 

https://www.pe-nation.com/

https://booie.com/ 

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What happens when you realise the world moves too fast for the things that matter most? For artist, sign writer and maker Will Lynes, the answer has always been craft — the kind built slowly, imperfectly and with both hands. 

Will is the founder of Lynes & Co., known for their handcrafted lettering, gilding and detailed reverse-glass work that has shaped some of Australia’s most memorable shopfronts. Growing up in creative households, working in high-end decorative arts, and later building his own studio in Botany, his career has been anything but linear. But through every turn, the thread has been the same: a love for material, history and soul. 

Listen in as Vince and Will explore the beauty of imperfection, the discipline and joy of true craftsmanship, and how struggle, family and curiosity have shaped the life he’s designed. 

https://lynesandco.com/

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 What does it mean to design a legacy — not just through buildings, but through the lives they shape? 

In this episode of Design Your Life, Vince sits down with architect Koos de Keijzer, founding director of DKO, to explore how culture, travel and values influence the way we design — and the way we live. Raised in a Dutch household in New Zealand and trained in the Netherlands, Koos developed an early belief that architecture is deeply human, collaborative and grounded in place. 

Listen in as Vince and Koos discuss leadership without ego, why finding the best idea matters more than owning it, and why the future of architecture lies beyond iconic towers — in the everyday suburbs where most people live. From mentoring the next generation to embracing simplicity, sustainability and long-term thinking, Koos reflects on what it really means to design work — and a life — that lasts. 

https://dko.com.au/

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What shapes the feeling of a place? And how does a life spent moving between cities, countries and creative worlds influence the way you design for others? 

For interior architect Simone McEwan, co-founder of international design studio Nice Projects, the thread has always been the same — creating spaces that make people feel something. 

From a childhood spent moving between eight homes before the age of 12, to studying architecture at 17, to an unplanned move to London that opened the door to a global career, Simone’s path is anything but linear. Her work with Anouska Hempel, Richard Horden Soho House, Selfridges, and Studio Ilse has shaped some of the world’s most iconic hospitality and retail experiences. 

Today, she leads projects across London, Singapore, Japan and Sydney — designing with empathy, intuition and a deep understanding of how people live. 

Listen in as Vince and Simone explore her nomadic childhood, the craft behind world-class hospitality, and how designing for life — not ego — creates spaces that truly connect.

https://niceprojects.work/

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What does it take to lead one of the UK’s oldest and most respected architectural practices into the future? 

As CEO of Scott Brownrigg, Darren Comber has steered the 115-year-old practice through change, challenge and reinvention. From its early roots in Guildford to a network of studios spanning Amsterdam, London, New York, Singapore and Riyadh, Darren has played a pivotal role in shaping its global presence. 

With a career defined by persistence, vision and curiosity, he reflects on the power of reinvention, the evolution of design, and why keeping energy alive is fundamental to sustaining a business over decades. 

Listen in as Vince and Darren explore the art of leadership, the role of architecture in shaping society, and how to stay relevant in a fast-changing world. 

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What if the true measure of success isn’t scale, but connection? 

From a childhood spent in expat compounds of Saudi Arabia to founding one of Australia’s most admired design studios, Jeremy Bull, founder and principal of Alexander &CO., has designed far more than homes, he’s designed a life rooted in meaning, craftsmanship and human connection. 

After overcoming years of illness and self-destruction in his twenties, Jeremy rebuilt himself – mind, body and practice – with a philosophy centred on people. Today, his award-winning studio is recognised globally for its distinct sense of authenticity, materiality and feeling. Whether it’s a handcrafted home, a hospitality space or his own live-work studio in Bondi Junction, every project begins with one question: how does it make you feel? 

Listen in as Vince and Jeremy discuss designing for emotion, redefining success, and the future of how we live, work and connect. 

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