Send us a textEver wondered what architects mean when they talk about "programme"? In our latest deep dive, we crack open this fundamental concept that shapes everything from the tiniest apartments to sprawling civic buildings.This episode begins with a seemingly simple question: what exactly is program in architecture? We explore how program operates simultaneously at multiple scalesâa house within a street, a road within a cityâcreating nested relationships that influence design decisions. Through examples like OMA's Seattle Library with its stacked functional boxes unified by a faceted glass facade, we see perhaps the most literal translation of program to architectural form.The conversation weaves through bubble diagrams (an early design tool), form following function (or is it the other way around?), and experimental approaches that challenge conventional spatial definitions. Gerard shares several fascinating concepts including his "advent calendar house" where floor hatches reveal different functional spaces beneath. We discuss how regulatory constraints and client expectations often limit such experimentation, particularly in residential contexts, while highlighting how program innovation frequently emerges most powerfully in constrained circumstances like tiny houses.What makes this exploration particularly valuable is recognizing that program isn't just a technical exercise but a powerful design driver. By thinking creatively about how spaces function, relate, and transform, architects can create more compelling environments without relying solely on expensive materials or dramatic forms. Whether you're designing your own space or simply curious about how buildings work, understanding program reveals architecture's deeper purpose: creating meaningful human experiences through thoughtful spatial relationships.Listen now and you'll never look at a building the same way again. Have you encountered spaces with particularly brilliant programming? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments!Chapters:0:00 - Introduction to Understanding Program9:42 - Defining Program: Bubble Diagrams & Form19:46 - Program as Architecture: Notable Examples29:55 - Form Follows Function: Design Approaches39:54 - Reinventing Walls: Alternative Spatial Definitions48:05 - Program Innovation: Experimental DwellingsPlease 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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52:34
Feel Good, Look Good: Performance vs Aesthetics in Architecture
Send us a textWhat happens when award-winning architects and builders challenge the notion that sustainable, high-performance buildings must sacrifice aesthetics? This thought-provoking conversation brings together Passive House experts who are transforming New Zealand's built environment through buildings that are both beautiful and functional.Architect Rafe Maclean shares how client feedback about a poorly-performing design prompted his journey into building science, while Joe Lyth reveals the heartbreaking reality of watching his children develop respiratory issues in cold, damp rental properties. Builder Josh Atkins describes his frustration with energy-inefficient new homes that cost homeowners thousands in ongoing expenses. These personal stories highlight why performance isn't just about sustainabilityâit's fundamentally about health and comfort.The guests dismantle common misconceptions about high-performance buildings, particularly the idea that Passive House certification requires boxy designs with minimal windows. Through their work, they demonstrate how constraints often generate more creative, thoughtful architecture. As Joe explains, "If you've got a blank canvas you can do anything, and you don't necessarily need to judge all your decisions." The discussion explores how early collaboration between architects, builders and clients allows performance requirements to enhance rather than limit design possibilities.Perhaps most compelling is their suggestion to shift terminologyâreferring to conventional construction as "low-performance buildings" rather than elevating better practices as "high-performance." After all, would anyone willingly purchase a "low-performance refrigerator" that might spoil your food? This reframing helps normalize better building standards as baseline expectations rather than premium add-ons.Ready to experience architecture that looks beautiful and actually works? Subscribe to hear more conversations that challenge convention and inspire better building practices.Key Links:https://www.rafemaclean.co.nz/https://www.welarchitecture.nz/https://www.compound.co.nz/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwuFra50HN8https://passivehouse.nz/Chapters:0:00 - Introduction with expert guests14:44 - Personal journeys into high-performance building34:52 - Performance vs aesthetics in design43:15 - Constraints breed creativity54:49 - Education and passive house perception1:01:46 - Architecture education and closing thoughtsPlease 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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1:04:51
Outside Influence: Has the Architectural Pilgrimage Changed?
Send us a textWhat happens when architecture becomes more accessible through images than through physical experience? This question forms the backbone of our conversation with Nina Boyd, a New Zealand architect currently working in Paris.The traditional architectural pilgrimageâtraveling to see important buildings firsthandâhas fundamentally changed. Where Alvar Aalto's visit to Italy completely transformed his design approach, today's architects arrive at celebrated buildings having already seen countless images online. This digital pre-exposure creates a curious paradox: greater accessibility to architectural imagery but potentially diminished impact when finally experiencing spaces in person.Nina shares insights from her recent Scandinavian travels, exploring how Finnish towns balance high density living with beautiful public spaces. The conversation takes a candid turn when discussing famous buildings that disappointed in personâFrank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao described as "facadeism" and certain parametric designs criticized for poor finishes despite conceptual brilliance. These confessions reveal the gap between architectural celebrity and genuine spatial quality.Working internationally exposes architects to different budget realities, material access, and planning approaches. While New Zealand struggles with limited resources for bespoke elements, the team explores how collaborating with local craftspeople could produce distinctive architectural moments without breaking budgets. This "small batch" approach to custom design might actually represent the futureâcreating architecture with a genuine human touch that resists both global homogenization and AI-driven processes.Perhaps the most compelling insight emerges near the end: the architectural breakthrough might not require overseas travel at all. Looking inward to local craft traditions and small-scale collaborations could yield more authentic design expressions than chasing international trends. After all, architecture's most powerful aspectsâtemperature, texture, acoustic qualities, social interactionsâresist digital flattening and demand physical presence.Ready to rethink your architectural inspirations? Listen now, and join the conversation about where true design epiphanies come from in our digital age.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction with Nina Boyd6:04 - Traveling Through Scandinavia15:50 - Architectural Exposure and Inspiration26:48 - Working in International Architecture Firms35:36 - Famous Buildings That Disappoint49:36 - Bespoke Design and Human TouchPlease 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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1:02:52
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 exceptionalâcraftsmanship. 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 trendâthe 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 philosophiesâand 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 manifestoâeven if just for personal clarificationâcould 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/Â 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!
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