Think Brick

Adrian Iredale is one of 3 founding directors at iredale pedersen hook architects - an Architectural design practice based in both Perth and Melbourne, Australia. The studio has an extremely innovative approach across a broad range of projects. 

Iredale pedersen hook architects recently won the Think Brick 2020 Robin Roof Tile Excellence Awards for their project SwanCare New Leisure Precinct - A constellation of sensory terracotta pavilions allowing occupants and visitors to socialise, with the Pavilion of Light and the Pavilion of Sound increasing residents’ awareness of senses and of each other. Such a thoughtful and beautiful project. 

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and special guest, Adrian Iredale will discuss his extensive history with brick, and the intricacies of the exciting journey he took to get to where he is today;

Listen to the full episode to discover more of the following:

• The Midland Brick Scholarship experience 
• The vision of iredale pedersen hook architects 
• 21 years of working on the Perth Zoo project and how this project influenced Adrians approach to architecture 
• Fundamental shifts to the approach to house design 
• Houses as an extension of ones self 
• The diversity and versatility of brick as a building material 
• The work involved in the West Kimberley Regional Prison - creating a positive sense of community through this project 
• An in depth conversation about the Swan Care New Liesure Precinct 

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

iredale pedersen hook architects

Perth Zoo

Swan Care New Leisure Precinct

Apple Cross House

Horbury Hunt Residential Award

Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award

Think Brick Awards

Social & Links

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow @iredalepedersenhook on Instagram

One objective of the National Construction Code (NCC) is to ensure that the occupants of adjoining residential dwellings, such as villas, townhouses, units and apartments, are not subjected to excessive noise transmitted from adjoining dwellings.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and Think Brick’s senior structural engineer, Michael Koungras will talk you through the benefits of acoustics performance, specifically when using masonry materials such as clay brick, and how you can ensure occupants experience minimal external noise.

The podcast incorporates the following topics:

• The importance of acoustic performance 
• Acoustic performance requirements in the NCC 
• The four classes of buildings which follow these requirements 
• The two values when determining the acoustic performance of masonry walls 
• How to comply with the acoustic performance requirements of the NCC

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in the episode:

Think Brick Technical Factsheets

Think Brick Technical Manuals

The National Construction Code

Australian Building Codes Board

Our Social

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Emma is co-founder and Partner at The Fulcrum Agency: a creative consultancy agency - with experience in community engagement, participatory planning and communications design. Emma has more than twenty years’ experience working in design practice. Emma is skilled in both the business of practice and the critique of projects. Emma was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Institute of Architect’s National Committee for Gender Equity and is a frank advocate for creating working environments that allow parents to maintain sustainable working lives. 

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and special guest Emma Williamson will have some important and meaningful discussions about the architectural profession, the learning and growing it takes to achieve your ambitions and the effort that needs to be continued and acknowledged for women in the field of architecture (and everywhere) in a push towards a more equitable future. 

Listen to the full episode to discover more of the following:

• Emma's creative background - and her childhood growing up in a Brian Klopper designed home
• The spark of her interest about the impact architecture has on humanity and the environment 
• The importance of networking - especially for women 
• Details about Bunbury Catholic College (Winner of the Think Brick Horbury Hunt Commercial Award in 2015) 
• Western Australia architecture and how brick can bring buildings to life
• The journey women have been on in the architectural field and how a more equitable future will create a positive impact on the built environment 
• Emma's shift in impact of the built environment from CODA to Fulcrum 
• The secret to a long running and successful architectural firm

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fulcrum Agency

CODA Studio

Think Brick Awards

Brian Klopper

Horbury Hunt Commercial Award

Bunbury Catholic College

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** - Book

Social & Links

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow @thefulcrum.agency on Instagram

Rachel Neeson is one of Australia's leading architects and also a lecturer in architecture at UNSW. Rachel formed Sydney-based Neeson Murcutt Architects (now Neeson Murcutt + Neille) with her late partner Nicholas Murcutt in 2004. 

Rachel graduated from the University of Sydney with the Bachelor of Architecture in 1993. She was awarded the Board of Architects 2002 Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship and completed a Masters of Architecture in Barcelona. With her extensive knowledge and well travelled experience she then went on to join practices with Nick Murcutt. 

Neeson Murcutt Architects won the 2017 Think Brick Awards – Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award with their project Kempsey Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club. Materials selection for this project was critical due to the surfside location – durable brick and tile were used. A beachy, sparkly skin in soft pipi-shell pastels wraps the building form, achieved using polychromatic glazed bricks. A stunning use of brick. 

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and Rachel Neeson will delve into the amusing and not so amusing aspects of growing up traveling, learning and growing with a sense of space and how Neesons practice came to light. 

Listen to the full episode to discover more of the following:

• Rachels early introduction and passion for architecture 
• The many acquaintances she made on her journey 
• How different spaces and places can change your perspective 
• The transition from the idea of a project to the built form 
• The importance of adapting and changing old architecture instead of wiping it out 
• A bit more depth into the Kempsey Surf Life Saving project 
• The "missing middle" 
• Sustainability and how to achieve this in architecture and the Australian climate 

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Neeson Murcutt + Neille

Think Brick Awards

Prince Alfred Park Pool

Kempsey Crescent Head Surf Life Saving Club

Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award

Social & Links

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow @neesonmurcuttneille on Instagram

Combustibility is a materials ability to ignite or combust when exposed to a flame or elevated temperature conditions. Combustibility is an important building material property which must be given careful consideration when constructing any type of building in Australia or internationally.

Combustible external cladding continues to be a serious issue in the Australian Building Industry. The use of Aluminium Composite Panels and Rendered Expanded Polystyrene has been banned in several Australian states, with Victoria being the latest addition to this list, effective as of the 1st of February 2021. Non-combustible materials like brick are the ultimate solution to these concerns.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and Think Brick’s senior structural engineer, Michael Koungras will talk you through some of the important aspects of non-combustible building materials, and how you can achieve compliance. The podcast incorporates the following topics:

• Flammable facades
• Common causes of ignition to combustible facades
• Definitions of a non-combustible building material
• Requirements from the NCC (National Construction Code) Volume 1 involving non-combustible building materials
• Which pathways you should take to achieve compliance
• Who you can contact to find out whether the facade you are using has been tested and deemed non-combustible or not

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in the episode:

Think Brick Technical Factsheets

Grenfell Tower 2017

Lacrosse Apartments VIC 2014

Neo200 Melbourne 2019

Think Brick Technical Manuals

The National Construction Code

Australian Building Codes Board

Our Social

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Will Whitfeld is a Senior Landscape Architect at OCULUS. His skills include master planning; design development, documentation, digital 3D, BIM (Revit) and graphic presentation. He is interested in the influence of natural and designed spaces on human behaviour, and people's connection to their environment. Having completed a Master of Environmental Psychology in 2014, Will’s landscape architecture practice is highly people-focused.

OCULUS won the Bruce Mackenzie Landscape award in 2020 with DKO Architecture and Breathe Architecture with their alluring project Arkadia Apartments. The Arkadia Apartment development set a new benchmark in how a multi-residential projects can foster community, social interaction, and neighbourhood integration through a collaborative design process - highly reflecting Wills' design practice. 

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre will chat with Will Whitfeld to explore how his unique upbringing of living between farm and garden effected his outlook of landscape architecture and how people and place interact with each other. 

Listen to the full episode to discover more of the following:

• Will's very first venture into landscape architecture at 6 years of age on his parents farm; 
• Prospect and refuge theory - and how it influences the understanding of landscape architects; 
• Working with Ryde Council in his early years of university and how this gave him insight into the interaction between public and private spaces; 
• How Will's gap year gave him a fresh perspective on landscape architecture in different environments; 
• Creating functional spaces accessible to everyone and the challenges within that - specifically in a time of a pandemic;
• Insight into the design and thought process behind the winning project Arkadia (Bruce Mackenzie Landscape award 2020 Think Brick Awards);
• The diversity and benefits of using brick and more specifically recycled brick in his projects; 
• Individual responses to landscapes
• How landscapes intertwine with plant life
• The connection between plants and people and how this can help with certain medical conditions and furthermore how Will has explored and implemented this into his architectural work;
• The importance of sense of place and the connection and influence it has on people. 

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Arkadia Apartments

OCULUS

DKO Architecture

Breathe Architecture

Bruce Mackenzie Landscape Award

Think Brick Awards

Prospect and Refuge Theory

Social & Links

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow @oculusstudios on Instagram

A large proportion of the National Construction Code (NCC) concerns itself with the design of buildings for fire safety. The NCC sets out the minimum fire safety requirements for all buildings in Australia, while the means for satisfying these requirements are detailed in the Australian Masonry Structures standard AS 3700. The NCC specifies that fire rated walls shall be designed to achieve three Fire Resistance Levels (FRLs); Structural adequacy, Integrity & Insulation. 

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and Think Brick’s senior structural engineer, Michael Koungras will introduce you to the three fire resistance levels and design requirements for fire resistance of masonry products. The podcast incorporates the following topics:

• The three components which make up the FRL of masonry products
• Fire safety design
• Building type considerations
• Cored and solid brick differences
• Slenderness ratio factor of masonry walls

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in the episode:

Think Brick Technical Factsheets

FRL Online Presentation

Think Brick Technical Manuals

The National Construction Code

Australian Building Codes Board

Our Social

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Led by Ilana Freadman and Michael White, Freadman White embeds a curiosity-driven and experientially charged tension in its architecture. Seeking to reveal beauty in seemingly simple and often overlooked settings, we strive to create visually intriguing and emotionally resonant spaces.

Freadman White is no stranger to the Think Brick Awards, being the only architects winning the Kevin Borland Masonry Award more than once. Their elegant and fascinating projects, Napier Street for Milieu and Hoddle House have stunned the jury by illustrating flawless execution and meticulous attention to details.

"You don't have to be lavish across a whole building. You just have to be lavish in key moments that really enhance the project as a whole. ... Complexity that’s hidden in a simple outcome." - Ilana Freadman on our podcast.

In this episode, your host, Elizabeth McIntyre, and our charming guest, Ilana Freadman, take us to the journey of discovery to her life experiences and prominent moments. Entertainingly, they talk about her amusing childhood memories, Kevin Borland's influence on her architectural development, early career stage struggles, and why the chemistry between work and life partners benefit both life and work. Listen to the full episode to discover more of the following:

• Why brick was chosen for Hoddle House and what legacy it has carried on;
• Main influential sources that led Ilana to pursue architecture;
• Ilana's first introduction to Kevin Borland's architecture, and how it shaped her architectural vision;
• The influence of the Think Brick Awards on contemporary architecture; 
• What role Ilana's European heritage plays in her household and office environment;
• How Ilana was introduced to Kevin Borland's first interior ceiling device;
• Unconventional child activities shaping Ilana's views towards art;
• Design methodology and fundamentals behind their multi-award-winning projects;
• Why the Think Brick Awards are one of the key architectural programmes;
• Her journey from the first steps into the world of architecture to building her own firm;
• Dealing with hectic work schedule establishing Freadman White;
• A glimpse into Ilana and Michael's companionship and the roles they take;
• Why 'no buildings, no buildings' is a truly amusing saying in their household';
• Ilana and Michael's lateral solution acquiring their first house;
• Various design applications such as a solution to increasing natural light while providing a sense of privacy on a busy street of Milieu.

This episode and many others can be found on all major platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to never miss out a new episode. You can also let us know who you want to hear next and what topics we should talk about by leaving us a Review on Apple Podcasts.

Mentioned in this episode:

Hoddle House

North Melbourne Residences

Napier Street for Milieu

Entering the Think Brick Awards

Think Brick Awards

Awards Showcase

Kevin Borland

Kennedy Nolan

Claire Cousins

NGV

Social & Links

Follow @ThinkBrickAustralia on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

Follow @FreadmanWhite on Instagram and check their Website

Hit and Miss walls or screens differ from traditional masonry walls as the bricks are laid further apart with the removal of the vertical mortar joint. This type of wall design is being utilised more frequently in contemporary architecture because of the strong and durable characteristics of bricks, while still having an open and free-flowing environment, allowing the passage of air and light from one area to the next.

Hit and Miss technique provides designers with an ability to add sophistication to any project as it can be a part of both façade and partition walls. As mentioned, it can be utilised to either enlighten the room or allow the breeze to come through, simultaneously adding the element of privacy. One of the notable projects that had this fascinating technique integrated is GB House by Renato D`ettorre Architects. Not only did Renato employed it beautifully to create additional natural illumination for the living spaces, but also creatively used it as a wine cellar unit.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre and Think Brick's senior engineer, Michael Kougnras discuss the key considerations for designing this alluring technique. Listen to this episode to learn the following:

• How to design Hit & Miss walls to meet Australian construction guidelines
• Not too-technical considerations that are as equally worth noting such as the ability to climb the wall
• Their classification as load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls
• How to adequately account for the absence of perpend joints.
• Aesthetic design considerations when choosing your brick i.e. cored vs solid
• Failure mechanisms of Hit & Miss masonry

If you are looking for ideas for utilizing this technique within your designs, have a look at the Think Brick Awards Showcase. There is a plethora of amazing projects that will definitely inspire you.

Do not forget to Rate & Subscribe to our podcast to be the first one to listen to the new episode! If you want us to cover a specific topic you would like to learn more about, let us know by leaving a Review on iTunes, Or Email Us. Until then, #KeepThinkingBrick !

Mentioned in the episode:

GB House by Renato D`ettorre Architects

Hit and Miss Technical Factsheet

Hit and Miss Online Presentation

Think Brick Technical Resources

Follow us on Social:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Jesse Bennett is the director of Jesse Bennet Studio that create spaces that inspire and enrich everyday life. Jesse and his partner Anne-Marie – also an architect – share a philosophy of embracing the concept of simple living and employ climatic design principles to deliver functional, joyful homes and projects for their clients.

Jesse has developed his knowledge and skills over the past 20 years within the field of architecture, design and building procurement. Time spent studying Architecture in Italy, as well as a diverse range of interests inform his unique point of view.

In 2015, Jesse received the AIA’s ‘Robin Boyd Award’ being the youngest architect to have it awarded. Last year, Jesse Bennett Studio entered the Think Brick Awards for the first time. Their sophisticated project, Tjuringa House, received a High Commendation in a highly competitive category, ‘Horbury Hunt Residential’; and was a winner of the ‘New Entrant Award’.

Jesse is particularly skilled in the building science of ‘Passive Design’, effectively designing buildings to thermally perform as best as possible within the given environment, without reliance on mechanical heating or cooling. As such, his buildings naturally resonate with the surrounding environment and provide efficient outcomes.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre, and Jesse are having a compelling conversation about ‘passive design’, its principles, and misconceptions. Jesse also shares his thoughts on challenges of being an architect, Awards programs, and secrets behind his winning projects – Tjuringa House and Planchonella House.

Listen to this episode if you’re interested in the following:

-         Where Jesse’s inspiration originates from;

-         Jesse’s approach to design and conceptualization

-         Challenges of working for big architectural firms

-         Why architecture is a great choice as a profession if you love art

-         What elements truly make your design to be considered as a ‘passive design’

-         How history affects architecture and architectural styles

-         Why you should not overthink your designs

-         What you should be focused on when designing a project

-         Biggest influential outcomes for Jesse from his travels.

-         Who plays a critical role in success in Jesse’s designs

-         Why keeping it simple is beneficial for ‘passive design’

-         Why entering Awards is always a great idea

-         Advice for architects and designers entering the first time

-         Challenges and tricky situations Jesse’s Studio encompassed designing and building Tjuringa House

-         Why Jesse loves brick, and what role it plays in his design philosophy

-         Role of environment and surroundings for a project

-         How to communicate with your clients

Mentioned in this episode:

Jesse Bennett Studio

Think Brick Awards

Awards Showcase

Follow us and Jesse Bennett Studio on social:

Jesse Bennett Studio Instagram

Think Brick Instagram

Think Brick LinkedIn

Think Brick Facebook