Design Speaks Weekly

Sarah Lynn Rees is a Palawa woman descending from the Plangermaireener and Trawlwoolwaypeoples of north-east Lutruwita/Tasmania. In addition to her role as associate principal at national architecture studio Jackson Clements Burrows, Sarah is an academic and writer.

Over the course of her career, Sarah has been a prominent advocate for Indigenising the built environment, leading systemic reform in many ways – most notably by updating The National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA) to require practitioners to demonstrate a level of understanding of culture, Country and Indigenous engagement processes.

In today’s episode, Sarah speaks on how her activism and support for Indigenous agency and leadership in architecture is being realised in project conception, procurement and delivery.

Further Reading

Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity Hub by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
https://architectureau.com/articles/atlantic-fellows-for-social-equity-hub-by-jackson-clements-burrows/

Winning design unveiled for WSU Indigenous Centre of Excellence
https://architectureau.com/articles/winning-design-unveiled-for-wsu-indigenous-centre-of-excellence/

It costs nothing to care
https://architectureau.com/articles/it-costs-nothing-to-care/

Design competitions: Starting from Country
https://architectureau.com/articles/design-competitions-starting-from-country/

Indigenizing practice: Documenting Indigenous projects for publication
https://architectureau.com/articles/indigenizing-practice-documenting-indigenous-projects-for-publication/

Indigenizing practice: To award, or not to award?
https://architectureau.com/articles/indigenizing-practice-to-award-or-not-to-award/

Blakitecture: Beyond acknowledgement and into action
https://architectureau.com/articles/blakitecture-beyond-acknowledgement-and-into-action/

Nexus 2013: a coming together of things
https://architectureau.com/articles/nexus-the-coming-together-of-things/

Architect Peter McIntyre AO is known for his experimental approach and infectious enthusiasm. He’s received numerous awards, including the 1990 Gold Medal of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Peter was still in his early twenties when he established his own practice and began designing major projects that would help shape the city of Melbourne. He counts architects Robin Boyd and Roy Grounds among his early mentors.

In this episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, speaks with Peter about the increase in risk aversion, and whether it’s narrowing the potential of young architects – and architecture itself.

Further Reading

2021 National Enduring Architecture Award
https://architectureau.com/articles/2021-national-enduring-architecture-award/

25 years of Australian residential architecture
https://architectureau.com/articles/houses-celebrates-100-issues/

Peter McIntyre Beaumaris house heritage listed
https://architectureau.com/articles/peter-mcintyre-beaumaris-house-heritage-listed/

Youssofzay Hart is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice based in Sydney. The studio is well acquainted with the "emerging architect" label and all that comes with it. Led by directors Belqis Youssofzay and David Hart, the studio works with leading Australian and international cultural and educational institutions – including Powerhouse, M+ in Hong Kong, and the University of Sydney – to design galleries, exhibitions, installations and interiors.

In this episode, ArchitectureAu editor Lucia Amies speaks with Belqis about whether the "emerging architect" label is a double-edged sword.

Further reading:

Qianyi Lim on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ label
https://architectureau.com/articles/qianyi-lim-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

Nic Brunsdon on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ label
https://architectureau.com/articles/nic-brunsdon-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

Kali Marnane on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ label
https://architectureau.com/articles/kali-marnane-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

David Welsh on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ label
https://architectureau.com/articles/david-welsh-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

Bradley Kerr on whether to resist the ‘emerging architect’ label
https://architectureau.com/articles/bradley-kerr-on-whether-to-resist-the-emerging-architect-label/

Commercial viability and creative ambition in architectural practice are a constant balancing act, even more so in this time of economic uncertainty. However, this tension is not unique to one generation.

As part of the 2025 Design Speaks Architecture Symposium: What’s next for practice?, Isabelle Toland, who cofounded Aileen Sage Architects in 2013, and Andrew Nimmo, who cofounded Lahznimmo Architects in 1994, spoke about the business of architecture, focusing on fees, procurement and starting their own practices. It was great to understand the similarities and differences that their respective studios experienced as they evolved over the years.

It was such an informative conversation that we wanted to share it with our Design Speaks Weekly listeners. This episode beings with Isabelle asking Andrew, “what is it about public projects that interests him?”

Further Reading

Generation exchange: Fees and procurement
https://architectureau.com/articles/generation-exchange-fees-and-procurement/

The many pathways to public work
https://architectureau.com/articles/the-many-pathways-to-public-work/

Contributor: Andrew Nimmo
https://architectureau.com/contributors/Nimmo-Andrew/

Contributor: Isabelle Toland
https://architectureau.com/contributors/Toland-Isabelle/

Renowned Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is best known for his large-scale immersive installations that harness ephemeral materials, including light, air and water, to explore topics of time, the natural environment and the effects of climate change. 

For this episode, Landscape Architecture Australia editor Emily Wong sat down with Olafur at the opening of his latest exhibition, Presence, at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, which runs until 12 July 2026.

They talk about nature in cities, the tensions between the natural and human-made worlds, and the need to face the trauma of the climate crisis.

Further reading
Holding space for the future: Olafur Eliasson
architectureau.com/articles/holding-space-for-the-future-olafur-eliasson

Olafur Eliasson: Presence
architectureau.com/calendar/exhibitions/olafur-eliasson-presence