Where Craft Meets Design: Exploring Material Understanding with Raimana Jones
Send us a textThe conversation with Raimana Jones from Atelier Jones Design delves deep into the heart of what makes good design truly exceptional—craftsmanship. Drawing inspiration from architectural legends like Alvar Aalto and Walter Gropius, we explore how the most revered designers extended their vision beyond buildings to encompass furniture, lighting, and complete environments.Raimana shares his journey through fabrication and making, revealing the powerful feedback loop between crafting with your hands and designing with your mind. We unpack how this tactile understanding shapes thoughtful design decisions that simply can't emerge from digital processes alone. The discussion turns to a concerning trend—the gradual disappearance of workshop culture from design education, as hands-on making gives way to digital tools and 3D printing.What truly elevates this conversation is our exploration of material understanding as the essence of craftsmanship. Just as Tadao Ando mastered concrete through deep connection with the material, Romana's elegant steel kitchens showcase how intimate knowledge transforms ordinary materials into extraordinary designs. While budget realities often dictate the level of craft possible in projects, we discover inventive approaches to maintaining craftsmanship even with constraints.Whether you're a practicing designer, architecture enthusiast, or someone who appreciates the beauty of well-crafted spaces, this episode offers a compelling reminder of why material engagement matters. As James Dyson wisely noted, "The visceral experience of making things by hand is a wise teacher." Join us for an inspiring discussion about rediscovering play, embracing failure, and cultivating a deeper connection with the materials that shape our world.Key Episode Links:- https://www.atelierjonesdesign.co.nz/pages/about-usChapters:0:00 - Introduction to Craft in Design5:00 - Exploring Cross-Media Design Processes11:15 - Workshop Culture and Material Play20:25 - The Design Process: Sketching to Making27:00 - Understanding Materials Deeply33:48 - Budget Constraints and Craft Quality41:47 - Craftsmanship in Architecture48:30Please Like and Subscribe it really helps :) Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!
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58:23
Dare to Declare: What Happened to Manifestos?
Send us a textWhat happened to the architectural manifesto? This fascinating question from a listener propels us into an exploration of how architects have historically proclaimed their design philosophies—and why such bold declarations seem increasingly rare in contemporary practice.The architectural landscape was once dramatically shaped by manifestos: Le Corbusier's "Towards New Architecture," Adolf Loos's "Ornament and Crime," and the revolutionary Bauhaus movement all articulated clear visions that transformed how we think about building. But today, as we scroll through endless Instagram feeds of similar-looking projects, has something fundamental been lost? Have we surrendered the courage to stake out distinctive architectural territory?We examine whether BIG's "Yes Is More" represents perhaps the last true modern architectural manifesto, and whether practice websites and mission statements have become watered-down replacements for the revolutionary spirit that once drove architectural movements. The conversation takes surprising turns toward craft, material engagement, and how the "tall poppy syndrome" might be preventing architects from boldly declaring their principles.Most importantly, we consider whether writing your own manifesto—even if just for personal clarification—could help combat the global homogenisation of architectural styles. By articulating what you believe about design, perhaps you can recentre your practice and contribute something meaningful to architectural discourse. As we navigate a world increasingly dominated by AI-generated forms and committee-driven decisions, maybe the time is right for a return to architectural conviction.Key Sources:https://www.archdaily.com/921760/how-to-write-an-architectural-manifestohttps://designformindfulness.blog/significant-manifesto-examples/https://www.architectural-review.com/awards/world-architecture-festival/a-manifesto-for-the-next-10-yearshttps://www.thoughtco.com/architecture-timeline-historic-periods-styles-175996https://archeyes.com/architecture-chronology-timeline-important-architecture-projects/ Chapters:0:29 - Episode Introduction2:03 - Defining Architectural Manifestos6:44 - Famous Historical Manifestos13:19 - Modern Manifestos - Do They Exist?17:56 - Global Homogenisation of Architecture27:43 - Manifesto vs Craftsmanship36:56 - The Future of ArchitecturePlease Like and Subscribe it really helps :) Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!
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48:46
The Architects' Voice: Advocating for the Role of the Architect
Send us a textWhat happens when the people who shape our cities, schools, and homes are missing from the public conversation about our built environment? Award-winning architect Lisa Webb joins us to unpack architecture's growing crisis of relevance in New Zealand.Following her thought-provoking piece in the NZIA Bulletin, Lisa shares her concerns about architects becoming increasingly sidelined in discussions about housing, climate resilience, and community building. "We have a lack of voice, a lack of mandate, and a lack of mana," she observes, pointing to recent political attacks on the profession that went largely unchallenged.We explore the disconnect between how architects communicate their value (often through beautiful images) versus what clients and communities truly value about architectural services. As one colleague noted, "Pretty pictures are scrollable but have no real sense of the agency the architect brought to bear." This insight leads us to discuss meaningful alternatives – sharing client testimonials, documenting transformed lives, and telling the stories behind successful projects.The conversation reveals a profession at a crossroads: highly trained professionals with unique holistic oversight capabilities who nonetheless struggle to assert their relevance. We discuss how smaller practices in particular face challenges being heard, while questioning whether the profession's traditional reluctance toward marketing has become self-defeating in today's media landscape.Lisa challenges listeners to move beyond waiting for someone else to advocate for architecture. Whether through greater engagement with the NZIA, strategic marketing, or simply telling better stories about what architects actually do, the path forward requires collective action from a profession that designs not just buildings, but lives.Key Links:- https://www.studiolwa.co.nz/- https://www.nzia.co.nz/member-area/resources/news/2025/architecture-in-crisis-why-our-relevance-is-fading/- https://www.nzia.co.nz/member-area/resources/news/2025/a-response-to-architecture-in-crisis/Chapters:0:00 - Introduction to Lisa Webb6:00 - The Problem with Architectural Advocacy16:40 - Lost Voices in the Housing Crisis26:30 - Architecture as Service vs. Product35:25 - Marketing Architecture: Breaking Taboos43:45 - Finding Power in the Profession54:30 - Collective Action and Moving ForwardPlease Like and Subscribe it really helps :) Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!
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1:05:20
AI Meets Architecture: The Zuru Revolution
Send us a textA revolution is brewing in the housing industry, and it's coming from an unexpected source – Zuru, the New Zealand toy company that's now setting its sights on disrupting how we build homes. Their ambitious AI platform called "Dreamcatcher" promises to deliver fully customizable houses for as little as $500 per square meter, a fraction of current construction costs.What makes this potential game-changer so fascinating is the comprehensive approach Zuru is taking. While most prefabrication systems still rely on standard designs and external supply chains, Zuru plans to manufacture every component in-house. From structural elements to finishes and fixtures, their vertically integrated model aims to eliminate the inefficiencies and markups that plague traditional construction.The Dreamcatcher platform itself represents a significant departure from conventional architectural software. Built on technology similar to game engines rather than clunky CAD programs, it allows designers to experiment freely while the AI handles technical aspects like structural requirements and building code compliance. The system provides real-time cost calculations, making the often opaque world of construction pricing transparent and accessible.This approach raises provocative questions about the future of architectural practice and the building industry. Will this democratize good design, making quality architecture available to average homebuyers? How will traditional builders and suppliers respond to this potential disruption? Could this be the "Tesla moment" for housing that finally forces the industry to embrace innovation?While Zuru's system is still in the prototype stage, with actual on-site implementation yet to be proven, the potential implications for addressing housing affordability are too significant to ignore. As construction costs continue to rise globally, technologies that fundamentally rethink how we design and build might be exactly what we need to solve one of society's most persistent challenges.Curious about how AI and mass customization might transform your future home? Listen to our full discussion about this fascinating intersection of technology, design, and manufacturing that could change how we think about housing forever.https://zuru.tech/0:48 - Parrot Dog Partnership Announcement1:12 - Introduction to Zuru's Housing Revolution5:29 - Dreamcatcher: AI-Driven Design9:44 - Mass Customization vs Traditional Architecture19:47 - Cost Implications and Affordable Housing31:12 - Industry Disruption and Future Challenges43:57 - Automation and the Future of BuildingPlease Like and Subscribe it really helps :) Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!
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48:17
Flying High: From Dezeen to Design Dreams
Send us a textStep into the new year with us as we reopen the doors to our podcast, diving deep into the vibrant world of architecture and design. We'll share our personal highlights from the recent Dezeen Awards, a celebration of exceptional creativity, and inspire listeners with the remarkable projects that put New Zealand on the global design map. Throughout the episode, we unpack the differences between local awards and their international counterparts, examining how to enhance the celebratory aspects of these events.Join us as we advocate for the revitalisation of competition in the architectural landscape, encouraging fresh ideas and innovative approaches to design. From discussing Wellington's thriving talent to recognising the need for more dynamic celebrations, we aim to uplift and inspire the architectural community. Our conversation challenges the norms that often dampen creativity and emphasises the necessity for an engaging environment where designers feel confident to share their work.Within this episode, we reflect on the rich potential within New Zealand’s architecture, and the exciting prospects that lie ahead. The dialogue encapsulates our belief that architecture should not only be about buildings but about community, creativity, and recognition. We invite you to engage with us, share your experiences, and collaborate in shaping a brighter future for design in our country. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review—it truly helps us connect and grow our community!Please Like and Subscribe it really helps :) Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!
Architecture. A hot topic, a buzz word, a realm for the rich and famous, or the thing that your step uncle does? We will be unpacking the good, the bad and the downright reality of the architectural and construction industry. With insights from industry professionals and personal anecdotes from our three hosts Ben, Gerard and Sam, you will be given a look behind the closed pages of those fancy looking moleskins. Tune in and redline out.
New Zealand