Light, Cities and Architecture

High in the Andes of Peru, 2,400 metres above sea level, Machu Picchu stands as one of the world’s great architectural achievements. But the extraordinary stonework, terraces and temples of Machu Picchu are just part of a much biggerstory.

In this special episode of Light, Cities & Architecture, AntonyDiMase and writer and editor Justine Costigan explore the architecture, culture and legacy of the Incan Empire. Recently returned from Peru, Justine shares her experiences visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco and other significant Incan sites,offering a firsthand perspective on a civilisation that built an enormous and sophisticated empire in little more than a century.

How did the Incas construct precisely fitted stone buildings without mortar, iron or modern machinery? How did they govern an empire without a written alphabet or currency? And what can their agricultural systems, infrastructureand approach to building in one of the world’s most challenging landscapes tell us about architecture today?

The conversation also explores the relationship between architecture and nature, from buildings aligned with the sun, moon and stars to agricultural terraces engineered to manage water and erosion. We consider why Incan buildings have survived centuries of earthquakes while many Spanish colonial structures have not—and what this reveals about architecture that is genuinely rooted in place.

The episode also looks beyond the romance of Machu Picchu. Antony and Justine discuss the violence of Spanish conquest, the destruction of Indigenous architecture and culture, and the misleading story of Machu Picchu as a “lost city” supposedly discovered by the West. They explore how Incan traditions survived through cultural and religious syncretism, and how Indigenous influences continue to shape Peruvian culture today.

Finally, the conversation turns to modern Peru: its extraordinary natural resources, food culture, agricultural knowledge, relationship with tourism and the enduring pride Peruvians have in their heritage.

This is a story about stone, landscape and extraordinary ingenuity—but also about whose history gets told, what survives conquest, and what architecture can teach us about culture, resilience and our relationship with place.

Special thanks to:

Suzanne McLeod at Image on Line in Collingwood where we recorded our podcast.

And to Veronica Perez for podcast editing.

Australia is entering a new era of climate accountability. As mandatory carbon reporting becomes law, businesses are being forced to rethink how they measure risk, manage emissions, and remain competitive. At the same time, the explosive growth of AI is driving unprecedented demand for data centres—bringing new questions about energy, water, infrastructure, and the environmental cost of our digital future.

In this episode of Light, Cities & Architecture, architect Antony DiMase is joined by sustainability consultant Luke Fernandez and architect Ahmed Elsayed to unpack one of the most significant shifts facing the built environment and Australian industry.

Together, they explore Australia's new Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), how climate disclosure requirements are reshaping supply chains and procurement, why architects are increasingly leading sustainability conversations, and what the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure means for communities, energy systems, and climate policy.

The discussion also examines the gap between voluntary sustainability initiatives and enforceable regulation, the growing importance of embodied carbon and climate risk in design decisions, and whether our economic models are equipped to deliver a genuinely low-carbon future.

This conversation connects architecture, business, technology, governance, and climate into one compelling story about the systems shaping the places we build—and the future we're creating.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why Australia's mandatory carbon reporting laws are transforming corporate governance.
• How climate disclosure is reshaping supply chains and procurement.
• The role architects play in reducing embodied carbon and driving sustainable design.
• Why AI data centres are becoming one of Australia's fastest-growing environmental challenges.
• The policy gaps between digital infrastructure growth and climate responsibility.
• Why legislation—not voluntary action—is emerging as the key driver of meaningful emissions reduction.
• How new economic thinking, including Doughnut Economics, challenges traditional models of growth.

Whether you're an architect, engineer, sustainability professional, business leader, policymaker, or simply curious about the intersection of climate, technology, and the built environment, this episode offers valuable insights into one of Australia's most important transitions.

"This isn't just about carbon reporting or data centres—it's about how we design the systems that determine what kind of future we build."

https://www.finance.gov.au/government/public-data/data-and-digital-ministers-meeting/national-framework-assurance-artificial-intelligence-governmenthttps://www.digital.gov.au/ai/ai-in-government-policyhttps://new.gbca.org.au/news/gbca-media-releases/gbca-launches-sustainable-data-centres-program/

Special Offer: ASRS Essentials CPD

 To celebrate the podcast, Luke is offering free access to the ASRS Essentials CPD for the first 20 registrations.

https://www.netzero.org.au/course/asrs-essentials-cpd

• First 20 people: Free with coupon code ARCH-CPD
• After the first 20: Regular price $87
• 
  
• To contact Luke: [email protected]

In this episode of Lights, Cities and Architecture, we explore the fundamental role of light in shaping how we experience the world around us. From the science of what light is, to its impact on human perception, health, and circadian rhythms, the conversation moves between technical insight and philosophical reflection.We discuss how artificial lighting has transformed modern cities into 24-hour environments, often at the cost of our connection to the natural night sky. The episode also highlights the importance of darkness — not only for human well-being, but for ecosystems, cultural practices, and our sense of place in the universe.Drawing from architecture, urban design, and art, including the work of James Turrell and the Light and Space movement, this episode invites listeners to reconsider light not just as a tool, but as a powerful medium that shapes experience, emotion, and meaning.

In this episode of the Light, Cities + Architecture podcast, architect Antony DiMase sits down with buyer’s advocate Sven Fischer to explore a key question shaping contemporary housing: does sustainability truly add market value, or is it still largely driven by ethics?

Drawing on insights from both architecture and real estate, the conversation unpacks the gap between how homes perform and how they are perceived. From passive house principles to the emotional drivers behind purchasing decisions, the discussion highlights the challenges of translating building performance into market recognition.

The episode reflects on the broader implications of sustainable design—prioritising wellbeing, environmental responsibility, and the quality of everyday living within the built environment.

As awareness grows, the value of high-performing homes will increasingly depend on how well their benefits are understood, experienced, and recognised within the market. Listen to the full conversation in this episode of Light, Cities + Architecture.

What makes a home meaningful — beyond function and aesthetics? What turns a house into a place we truly want to live in?

After more than two decades working in residential architecture, I’ve come to believe that good design is human-centred. It’s collaborative, sustainable, and deeply connected to how we live every day.

In this series, I explore daylight, sustainability, and the spaces that shape daily life. Welcome to Season Five of Light Cities Architecture — The Art of Dwelling.

Social:

Instagram:

⁠@lightscitiesarchitecture⁠

LinkedIn:

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-dimase/⁠

Credits:

This episode was recorded at ⁠Image online⁠, Abbotsford, Australia.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/always-for-you⁠License code: FKADBZMC5CF0HIR8

In this episode, Justine Costigan and Antony DiMase explore the legacy of Australian architect and critic Robin Boyd, focusing on his 1960 book The Australian Ugliness and the author's concept of “featurism”—a critique of decorative, status-driven housing that prioritises resale value and novelty over function, sustainability, and liveability. Reflecting on contemporary issues—from oversized homes and developer-led suburbs to co-design, cultural diversity, and First Nations perspectives—the episode asks whether Boyd’s ideas continue to shape contemporary conversations about architecture, housing, and Australian identity today.

In this episode of Light Cities and Architecture, we explore the legacy of urbanist and writer Jane Jacobs and her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.

Jacobs’ work challenged the planning ideologies of her time—rejecting top-down zoning, soulless high-rises, and sweeping expressways in favour of cities shaped organically by the people who live in them.

Her ideas have influenced generations of urban planners and architects, but do they still have relevance today?

Welcome back to Light Cities and Architecture, where we explore the ideas behind the buildings and people and that shape our built environment.

In a change of approach this time, we invite you on a personal journey as Justine Costigan shares her firsthand account of a recent visit to Shanghai — and the city’s remarkable Art Deco legacy.

In this episode, Antony steps into the role of interviewer, exploring Justine’s passion for Art Deco architecture, fashion, and furniture. Her love for travel, Shanghai, and this distinctive design movement shines through — and may inspire your next trip.

In a fascinating footnote to architectural history, Shanghai is home to one of the world’s best-preserved collections of early 20th-century Art Deco architecture — a fusion of East and West, shaped by the legacies of the former International Settlement and the French Concession.

It’s a story of design, culture, and unexpected connections across time.

Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation in Marseille remains one of the most polarising architectural landmarks of the 20th century. A bold experiment in modernist housing, it envisioned a radical new way of urban living, one that was both efficient and communal. While celebrated by many architects for its innovation, it has also faced criticism for disregarding the social and cultural complexities of real cities.

In this episode of Light Cities Architecture, writer and editor Justine Costigan and practising architect Antony DiMase delve into the legacy, mythology, and reality of this Brutalist icon. Was it a revolutionary step forward, or an idealistic vision that fell short? And, given the choice, would either of them choose to live there?

Tune in to find out.

Links:

Fondation Le Corbusier https://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/en/

Unité d’Habitation tours https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/discover-marseille/culture-heritage/discover-the-sites-and-monuments-in-marseille/cite-radieuse-of-le-corbusier/

Instagram: @lightscitiesarchitecture

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-costigan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-dimase/

Credits:

Editor: Suzanne McLeod

This episode was recorded at Image online, Abbotsford, Australia.

Ayn Rand’s philosophical novel The Fountainhead is one of the most-read and most  and quoted books of the 20th century. Dismissed and loved in equal measure, it polarised critics and readers. 

The Fountainhead expressed Rand’s strong beliefs about the role of the creator, the need for freedom, and the moral imperative of self-interest. One of the few novels dedicated to the profession of architecture, The Fountainhead’s ideas about architects and architecture continue to influence how we think about the profession today.

In this episode, Antony and Justine discuss the novel, its pros and cons, and why it is still a treasured reference for right-wing thinkers today.

Quote:

“In reviewing my career to date, I came to the conclusion that I have worked on a true principle: the principle that constant change is a necessity of life.  

Since buildings are an indispensable part of life, it follows that architecture must change constantly. 

I have never developed architectural prejudices for myself, but insisted on keeping my mind open to all the voices of the times.  

The fanatics who went around preaching that all structures must be modern were just as narrow minded as the hidebound conservatives who demanded that we employ nothing but historical styles.  

I do not apologise for those of my buildings which were designed in the Classical tradition.  

They were an answer to the needs of their era.  Neither do I apologise for the buildings which I designed in the modern style.  

They represent the coming better world.  It is my opinion that in the humble realisation of this principle lies the reward and the joy of being an architect.”

The character of architect Peter Keating, The Fountainhead

Links:

John Crace on Ayn Rand, The Guardian, 2009

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/mar/11/ayn-rand

Social:

Instagram:

@lightscitiesarchitecture

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-costigan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-dimase/

Credits:

Editor: Justine Costigan

This episode was recorded at Image online, Abbotsford, Australia.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/always-for-youLicense code: FKADBZMC5CF0HIR8