76 Small Rooms

Welcome to Episode 69! This is another chat from our time in Ōtautahi during OpenCHCH, where we had a tour of One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha and spoke to the project architect and Warren and Mahoney's Sport and Recreation Sector Lead Matt Body. Te Kaha is a project of immense scale and complexity and we were lucky to see the public and player areas in detail. The building was also open for very well attended open days during OpenCHCH. We talk with Matt about the complexities of the design process, the impact of Aotearoa's first inner city stadium, and the science and technology behind the outcome.

Before our talk with Matt, we remember Pip Cheshire who passed away in February. Our thanks to Finn and Nat Cheshire, who allowed us to feature the clip from Pip Cheshire's service.

Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels
Cover photo: 76 Small Rooms

Welcome to Episode 68! We're back from a brilliant weekend in Ōtautahi taking part in OpenCHCH, and we kicked off the festival with a live event. Recorded on the evening of Friday 1 May at Warren and Mahoney's 1963 masterpiece - the Harewood Crematorium - we discussed some of our bucket list buildings on a night titled "I'd Die Happy Once I Saw That"

Featuring four talented guests, Juanita Hepi (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngātiwai, Ngāpuhi), Andrew Just (Field Studio), Sarah Rowlands (photographer) and Dr Jessica Halliday (Te Pūtahi Director).

Huge thanks to Dr Jess Halliday and the OpenCHCH team for hosting us over the weekend. We've got more to come from our visit so stay tuned! Many thanks to everyone who came, and our gratitude to Arran Eley, who recorded and mixed this live episode.

xx for Matt xx

Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels
Cover photo: Natasha Markham

Welcome to Episode 67! Today's episode is a fireside chat with the team around the recent book 'Messy Cities - Why We Can't Plan Everything', edited by Dylan Reid, Zahra Ebrahim, Leslie Woo, and John Lorinc.

We discuss the key questions the book poses, “Have our rules and regulations squeezed too much of the life out of our cities? But also how do you plan and design a city that is safe and functional while also leaving room for spontaneity and serendipity?” with local and international examples.

Bloomberg interview with authors of 'Messy Cities' - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-02-03/in-messy-cities-a-call-for-some-healthy-urban-disorder

Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels

Welcome to Episode 66! To close out our year, we huddle with just the core team and forty smooth minutes of reflecting on our collective highs and lows for 2026.

We wish all our listeners and supporters a very happy Christmas and summer break, and thank you for your support of this little pod. We've got exciting things planned for next year and are looking forward to what it gives us to talk about.

Photo: Barry Tobin
Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels

Welcome to Episode 65! Today we talk with a true icon of Aotearoa's built and natural environment - Rachel de Lambert. Urban designer and landscape architect, consulting partner at Boffa Miskell, and Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, Rachel has been involved in some of our most significant and transformational placemaking outcomes over a career spanning over 40 years.

The whole team chatted with Rachel about her career highlights and reflections, how travel inspires and centres her, and the collaborative relationship between architects and landscape designers.

Theme Music: The Cosmic Wheels