Talking Architecture & Design – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Foolscap Sydney Studio Director Ellen Rosengren-Johnson brings a unique international perspective to Australian design, having spent a decade in Norway delivering award-winning hospitality and residential projects before returning home. 

Her work is defined by a deep commitment to collaboration with local makers, craftspeople, and suppliers – a skill she’s currently bringing to life in the boutique retail fit-out for Alpha60 in Sydney (due to be completed in spring 2025).

In this interview, Ellen explains the sheer importance and enduring legacy of hospitality design done well.

The latest episode of Talking Architecture & Design features John Czechowski, Senior Associtae at Gray Puksand, whose career spans more than three decades of shaping public and multi-use precincts across Australia. 

Born in Canada and trained at the University of Toronto, with formative studies in Florence and Paris, his practice has stretched from infrastructure and stadia to high-rise living and large-scale master planning.

In this conversation, Czechowski reflects on how precincts have evolved from purely functional places into community-defining spaces. He explains the delicate balance between commercial viability, accessibility and cultural identity, stressing the importance of listening to community voices rather than treating consultation as an afterthought. 

The discussion also explores the unseen decisions that shape the built environment, from long-term material performance and compliance to the role of pathways and in-between spaces that guide how people experience a precinct.

Technology, climate resilience and cultural diversity are all pressing forces in design, and Czechowski offers insight into how these will influence the next generation of projects. 

This podcast is brought to you in association with Moddex, proud sponsors of our 2025 Commercial series of podcasts.

This is the story of Sydney House, a transformative mixed-use development that redefines luxury living while honouring over 130 years of built legacy. 

Rising above the historic facades of the former City Tattersalls Club, this elegant composition is more than just a building—it’s a conversation between past and present. 

From the scalloped rhythms of the tower to the carefully restored Victorian and Art Deco details, Sydney House embodies sensitive addition and contemporary expression. 

In this podcast, Phillip Rossington, Principal of BVN and Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director of FJC Studio, share some of the key creative forces behind the project and unpack the design philosophy, challenges, and vision that shaped one of Sydney’s most refined architectural ensembles.

As the founder of the Design Partnership, Callie van der Merwe began his career as an architect in the early 1990’s before changing over to hospitality architecture in the early 2000’s.

Since then, he has completed multiple award winning and successful hotel and hospitality interior spaces all over the world with a signature philosophical approach of design for predictive behaviour.

In this interview, he reveals the secrets of designing a successful & vibrant restaurant.

This podcast is brought to you in association with GH Commercial proud sponsors of our 2023 Commercial series of podcasts.

 

In the wake of their recent architectural alliance in a bid to deliver a number of mixed-use projects throughout Australia, Farrells' Stanley Krummeck and CM+'s Dick Nugent sit down with Jarrod Reedie for Episode 170 of  Talking Architecture & Design.

They talk backgrounds, expertise in various sectors and their plans for the future, namely the various metro systems in state capitals and subsequent over-station developments.

Craig Baudin, is a highly credentialed and experienced contemporary architect and also a principal at Fender Katsalidis.

Craig has had an active role in the development of some of Australia’s most significant city-shaping projects projects that revitalise entire neighbourhoods – breathing new life into a forgotten or under-utilised area through new mixed-use precincts.

As the lead Australian Architect for Central Place Sydney, Craig’s design introduce more than 130,000 square metres of commercial floor space to the surrounding area offering the largest premium-grade workplace available in Tech Central.

He explains how the buildings will boast world-leading sustainable design in a location with and unrivalled connectivity with direct transport links to Sydney and surrounds.

This podcast is brought to you in association with AWS, proud sponsors of our 2023  Sustainable series of podcasts.

Karen Primmer grew up the daughter of an architect and fostered a passion for great spaces, effective design and construction. 
  
Karen Primmer has over 20 years of experience as a senior leader in Corporate Real Estate, with a focus on property strategy and creating workspaces that improve individual performance and bring people together. 

Karen’s extensive expertise and multi-faceted industry knowledge covers transactions, design, project delivery, property operations, and client services. 

Primmer's deep understanding of how these streams overlap and impact each other enables her to help clients develop bespoke workplace strategies that enhance company culture and empower productivity, collaboration, and innovation.

She talks about modern office design and how office design is evolving in Australia.

Jules Di Bartolomeo is the Verosol (Australia) Managing Director, with an MBA from Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia who has built a solid reputation for company 'turnarounds’ and building sustainable businesses.

Jules has 25+ years experience in profitably growing multisite, complex businesses across Australia, Asia and New Zealand and his experience spans both B2B and B2C environments in Financial Services, Retail and Manufacturing.

He explains the concept behind Verosol's Net Zero Manufacturing facility and how as well as why Verosol is now a leader in window coverings and performance fabrics and why it's not only focussed on the sustainability but also more and more focussing on ideas such as True Green Awareness and the company's  Future State concept.

This podcast was proudly sponsored by Verosol, global leaders in solar control fabrics.

Doug Southwell is an Architect and Director of Scott Carver who has witnessed the increasing demand for hospitality spaces and sensibility across multiple building typologies, including within the growth market of build to rent residential accommodation and commercial repositioning.

Tina Fox is the head of Interior Design at Scott Carver with extensive experience in a variety of hospitality work cross the UK, Europe and Australia NZ from Casinos and cabaret to food and beverage venues.

Together, they headed the Scott Carver team that refurbished the Sydney's iconic Theatre Royal.

In this exclusive interview, they go through the process of modernising this decades old, Harry Seidler-designed entertainment venue.

This podcast is brought to you in association with Stormtech  proud sponsors of our 2023 Hospitality & Retail series of podcasts.

Professor Michael Stacey is an award-winning architect, who combines practice, teaching, research and writing, based in London at the Bartlett / UCL and Michael Stacey Architects.

Professor Stacey is the author of a wide range of publications and books including Component Design, 2001, Digital Fabrication, 2004, Concrete: a studio design guide, 2011, Prototyping Architecture, 2013, Aluminium and Durability, 2014, second edition 2015, Aluminium Recyclability and Recycling, 2015, Aluminium: Flexible and Light, 2016, and Aluminium: Sympathetic and Powerful, 2020.

In this exclusive and wide-ranging interview, Prof Stacey explains why Aluminium is an amazing and underrated building material and why in many ways, we are now well and truly in the 'Aluminium Age'.

This podcast was sponsored by DECO Australia who specialise in a range of quality aluminium building products and durable decorative finishes for effortless, beautiful living.