With a career that spans almost 60 years, Glenn Murcutt AO is no stranger to the changing world of architectural practice. His work, which is ongoing, has won numerous prestigious awards, notably the Australian Institute of Architects’ 1992 Gold Medal, and the 2002 Pritzker Prize.
In this episode of Design Speaks Weekly, Glenn joins Architecture Media editorial director Katelin Bulter to discuss poetics and pragmatism in architecture, reflecting on how the creative spirit of architecture survives in an evolving industry, and offering insights from his earliest and most recent projects – including the two most significant design lessons learned over a long and storied career.
Further reading:
Revisited: Marie Short House (1974) by Glenn Murcutt
https://architectureau.com/articles/revisited-marie-short-house/
Revisited: Simpson-Lee House
https://architectureau.com/articles/simpson-lee-house/
Revisited: Done House by Glenn Murcutt
https://architectureau.com/articles/Done-House-by-Glenn-Murcutt/
Glenn Murcutt, the ‘pavilion architect,’ on his MPavilion
https://architectureau.com/articles/glenn-murcutt-mpavilion/
Music, desert and sky: Cobar Sound Chapel
https://architectureau.com/articles/cobar-sound-chapel/
2024 Eat Drink Design Awards: Hall of Fame
https://architectureau.com/articles/2024-eat-drink-design-awards-hall-of-fame/
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Why prefab? | Stuart Vokes and Dan Burnett
In the first episode of the Design Speaks Weekly podcast, architects Stuart Vokes of Vokes and Peters and Dan Burnett of Blok Modular discuss their collaborative journey in modular design and prefabrication.
This construction method has myriad advantages, including material and cost control, reduced construction time and high adaptability. It also has the potential to create solutions for two of the greatest contemporary challenges: the housing crisis and the climate crisis.
Stuart and Dan unpack these opportunities and reflect on the lessons learned from their collaborative modular design projects, such as Blok Three Sisters, which was named Australian House of the Year at the 2025 Houses Awards.
Further reading:
Project review: Blok Three Sisters by Blok Modular with Vokes and Peters
https://architectureau.com/articles/blok-three-sisters-by-blok-modular-with-vokes-and-peters/
2025 Houses Awards: Australian House of the Year
https://architectureau.com/articles/2025-Houses-Awards-Australian-House-of-the-Year/
Project review: Blok Belongil by Blok Modular with Vokes and Peters
https://architectureau.com/articles/blok-belongil-by-blok-modular-with-vokes-and-peters/
Project review: Blok Stafford Heights by Blok Modular and Vokes and Peters
https://architectureau.com/articles/blok-stafford-heights-by-blok-modular-and-vokes-and-peters/
Design Speaks Weekly brings you the biggest stories in Australian architecture and design. Produced by Architecture Media, each episode explores a key theme shaping the built environment, paired with the latest industry news and analysis. As an extension of the Design Speaks event series, this podcast opens up vital conversations to a wider audience, wherever you are.
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