Talking Architecture & Design

Caroma Senior Industrial Designer Luke di Michiel is at the forefront of product design and innovation, contributing to numerous award-winning products for GWA Bathrooms and Kitchens and their leading Caroma brand. 

Andy Grigor, the Head of Design and Innovation at GWA for the Caroma, Methven, Clark and Dorf brands has lead the design and innovation team for Methven since 2016 and GWA/Caroma design team since 2020, bringing with him a wealth of design and product development experience.

For this our last podcast for 2021, they talk toilets, toilet design, technology and where the humble toilet is ultimately heading .

This podcast is brought to you in association with Caroma, proud sponsors of the Residential Series of podcasts.  For more information on Caroma please go to: caroma.com.au

Tone Wheeler is a lot of things: architect, lecturer, builder, author, entrepreneur, mentor, government advisor, critic and columnist. 

To this long list of salubrious accolades and achievements, we can now add the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Sustainability Awards.

This is perhaps the crowning glory to what has been stellar and fascinating career. 

Wheeler is certainly a person with strong opinions who’s happy to share those opinions whether you want to hear them or not.

He is also a person who believes we could fix much of our urban ills with just a little bit of grey matter applied to our planning and design processes.

In this exclusive interview, Tone Wheeler talks about his long journey to becoming a leading sustainability architect and designer.

Harold Perks is Director with Hames Sharley and has been a part of the practice for over a decade.
As a registered Architect for over 18 years’, he has experience in mixed-use master planning, commercial, retail, high-end residential design, warehouse and hospitality architecture. 

His passion for carefully-considered urban fabric regularly sees him working at the complex intersection between Urban Design and Architecture. 

In this episode, Perks talks about the move to Build-to-Rent models of residential design and how the pandemic and home affordability are combining to facilitate this shift in urban development.

Harvey Male is Buchan’s Living sector leader, which encompasses the firm's residential, hospitality and build-to-rent portfolio.

In this episode, he talks about  how buildings work and how to balance commercial viability while also delivering environmental and community benefits. 

Harvey’s expertise lies in architectural and masterplan design and project coordination of cultural and civic projects, medium to large scale residential, hotel, commercial, bespoke mixed-use and retail projects, and uses this vast experience to explain the secrets behind successful build-to-rent strategies.

Dr Shane Geha  is the Managing Director and co-founder of EG Advisory, a rezoning company with expertise in land transformation operating across Australia. 

Dr Geha is one of the leading rezoning experts in New South Wales and as Managing Director, takes responsibility for all operations and projects undertaken by the company.

His focus is working closely with clients on property uplift strategy and implementation and has worked on multiple rezoning projects including some of the largest land use changes in both size and value in Sydney and New South Wales.

In this exclusive interview, he explains what is really driving our unprecedented real estate boom and what we can do about our housing affordability crisis.

Prior to joining Warren and Mahoney, Brett Diprose held the position of Associate Director with Peddle Thorp Architects. 

In this role, Brett was in charge of the Sports Architecture arm including a large portfolio of aquatic projects including Metro Sports Facility in Christchurch (a joint venture with Warren and Mahoney), Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Stage 2 (2006 Commonwealth Games and 2007 World Swimming Championships) Swansea and Charlestown Leisure Centres.

Brett believes a stadium or sports facility has the capacity to support and enhance the identity of a city.

In this interview, he explains the process behind developing an understanding of the clients and their ambition for a project that is of vital importance for creating a unique identity for any sporting project.

This podcast was brought to you in association with Alspec,  proud sponsors of our Commercial series of podcasts. 

The host of Restoration Australia, Anthony Burke, is a Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean of International Engagement in the Faculty of Design Architecture and Building at the University of Technology Sydney. 

A graduate of Columbia University, he is recognised internationally for his work in architectural design, curation, and commentary, specialising in contemporary design theory at the intersection of technology, urbanism, and practice.

In this engaging interview, Professor Burke talks about architecture, design, TV,  history, Post-Traumatic Urbanism, and why doing a home restoration isa bit like channeling your inner Roam emperor. 

In this episode, we talk biophilic design, sustainability and how this can help with the challenge of climate change  with Stephen Choi from Fraser’s property.

Stephen Choi is a UK-qualified Project Architect and Australian-qualified Project Manager. He co-founded not-for-profit environmental building consultancy, Architecture for Change, has been a long-time ambassador for the Living Future Institute in Australia, and is Living Building Challenge Manager at Frasers Property Australia.

Stephen’s work has included the development of global environmental assessment methods, designing and managing buildings and masterplans, embedding sustainable development into educational curriculum, and being Australia’s leading Living Building Challenge expert. Several of his projects – both private and public sector – have gained wide recognition for “progressing green building”.

Choi is also the winner of the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2020 Leadership in Sustainability Prize.

This podcast was brought to you in association with Interface, proud sponsors of the Sustainability series of podcasts. For more information on Interface, please go to www.architectureanddesign.com.au/suppliers/interface-aust

Robert Puksand is the founding Partner of national architectural firm Gray Puksand who works across a variety of project types including masterplanning, commercial and retail projects. 

In each case, he brings a deep philosophy and understanding of architecture. This pre-occupation with strategy in design allows him to deliver an outcome highly sought by clients. 

 As past President of the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter), Robert has championed the value of design to all levels of the community and government. 

In this wide-ranging interview, he talks about trauma induced design, post-pandemic and what kind of design legacy he would like to leave his children.

Since co-founding Inarc in the early seventies and later Carr Design Group,  Sue Carr has played a crucial role in the evolution of Australian interior design. Navigating the early days when the career path was largely unheard of,  Sue has a far-reaching legacy, earning gold at the Interior Design Excellence Awards.

Sue Carr was also recognised for her leadership by the Financial Review’s Westpac ‘100 Women of Influence’ 2016 event.

Recently minted Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) for significant service to interior design, education and women in business Sue Carr – actually started off training as a scientist and landed almost by default, as an interior designer. 

Her scientific training has imparted a unique approach, somewhat analytical that she has for all her design projects.

As the Founding Principal of Carr Design, Sue shares with us her 50 years in the industry, the changes she has seen, and what she thinks makes a successful architecture and interior design business that has a timeless approach, and one that also fosters a strong connection with her clients.