The Melbourne-based interior designer is celebrating 25 years of his eponymous practice in 2025. He joins Timothy Alouani-Roby at The Commons during a flying visit to Sydney to discuss this milestone and much more. 

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The founder of Sydney-based Smac Studio tells me about running her own practice, interiors versus architecture, Paddington compared to Paris and the design inspiration to be found inside an Irish pub. (Oh, and the reason behind the name 'Smac')! 

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It's been all over mainstream news, but what are the deeper architectural ideas at play in the NSW Government and Government Architect NSW's Housing Pattern Book? I'm joined by four of the architects directly involved to discuss what it means for Sydney and NSW. Conrad Johnston is director at Studio Johnston; Gabrielle Pelletier is associate director at Sam Crawford Architects; Shaun Carter is principal architect and Carter Williamson Architects; and Harry Catterns is partner at SAHA. 

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DJ, wine enthusiast, prodigious traveller – and CEO of Fritz Hansen Asia: Dario Rechierl joins Timothy Alouani-Roby at The Commons in Sydney to discuss the different regions of Asia and their reception of furniture design from around the world, as well as his own passions and journey through design.

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International industrial designer and interior architect Hicham Lahlou was in Australia to speak at Design & Build Week 2025. He joins me at The Commons in Surry Hills, Sydney just hours before flying home, sharing his views on African and Arab design as well as ideas about identity, diplomacy and more. 

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Cult Founder and Managing Director, Richard Munao, joins me at The Commons in Sydney to discuss his personal journey through the world of design and commercial furniture.

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The Asia Pacific and Middle East regional leader for Gensler’s Digital Experience Design (DXD) practice discusses AI, technology, Scotland and the meaning of human-centred design.

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Vinu Daniel, renowned Indian architect and founder of Wallmakers, was in Sydney to give the UTZON Lecture at the Australian Architecture Conference in May 2025. He joined Timothy Alouani-Roby at The Commons to discuss his ideas about vagabond architecture, linear practice, mud and the general undermining of architectural hierarchy. 

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BLP Principal and Health Sector Lead Tracy Lord joins Timothy Alouani-Roby to discuss healthcare design, taking us past the bureaucratic regulatory framework and into the deeply human – and political – reasons why she cares. Lord tells the story of her career, as well as topics such as transgender access and designing for diversity. 

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Architect turned artist, Bruce Rowe, joins me at The Commons in Melbourne to discuss the overlaps between material arts and professional practice in architecture. 
Portrait photograph by Peter Ryle.

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