PodcastsArtsBig Design Adventure

Big Design Adventure

Tim Ross & Kevin McCloud
Big Design Adventure
Latest episode

35 episodes

  • Big Design Adventure

    S3 Ep 1 – Mary Featherston A Home That Lifts The Spirit

    23/06/2026 | 1h
    Tim and Kevin head to Melbourne for a special conversation with celebrated Australian designer Mary Featherston in her groundbreaking home, designed by Robin Boyd in 1967 - an intergenerational house where family life and creative work have been intertwined for almost six decades.
    One of Australia’s most influential voices in design, Mary reflects on the evolution of her home over nearly 60 years with wisdom, generosity and razor-sharp insight.
    While her early career is best known for her furniture collaborations with her husband, Grant Featherston, Mary has more recently focused on creating progressive learning environments for children. In this conversation, she generously shares the ideas and philosophies that have shaped that work.
    Joining Tim and Kevin is Mary’s son, Julian Featherston, who also lives in the house and led the recent alterations that have ensured this remarkable home will continue to serve the Featherston family for many years to come.
    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
    And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
    We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Guests: Mary Featherston and Julian Featherston
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • Big Design Adventure

    S2 It’s A Bonus Episode

    09/06/2026 | 18 mins.
    In this very special bonus mini episode, we have some huge news about our episode available exclusively on cassette, some even bigger news about another huge launch that’s definitely not on cassette.
    What else? A preview of Series 3 (which begins June 23) and Kevin’s incredible impersonation of a seagull.
    If you would like a copy of our cassette, they are available at modernisterbooks.com
    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
    And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
    We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia, Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • Big Design Adventure

    S2 Ep 15 - Art and Architecture Janet Holmes à Court AC

    12/05/2026 | 57 mins.
    Tim and Kevin head to Perth to meet businesswoman, arts patron and National Living Treasure Janet Holmes à Court AC inside her extraordinary private gallery housed in a former paint factory.
    Janet’s gallery is open to the public and her belief that art should be seen by everyone is central to the generosity she shows as an indefatigable champion of the arts in Australia.
    This is an illuminating conversation about the intersection of art and architecture, the unique nature of Western Australian culture, and then some totally random stuff that is also going to make you happy.
    Janet is fab. You will love her.
    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
    And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
    We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Guest: Janet Holmes à Court AC (gallery.hac)
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • Big Design Adventure

    S2 Ep 14 - The Hypnotic Charm of an Iconic House

    05/05/2026 | 41 mins.
    Tim and Kevin head to Canberra to meet architect Shannon Battison, a former President of the Australian Institute of Architects, who spent a considerable amount of time designing the perfect home for her family.
    Then she threw a rather large spanner in the works and bought them a new one — a 1970s experimental house designed by her mentor.
    To make matters worse, it’s quite small and needs substantial repairs, or, to be more precise, it’s partially falling down.
    What’s driven her to take this on? Which member of her household talked her into it? Is this both the best and worst thing she’s ever done?
    And why do iconic houses seem to hypnotise people and leave them powerless to their charms?
    This is your chance to find the answers to these questions and more.
    You can follow the restoration journey of Rivendell on Shannon's Instagram - @_studio.sdb
    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
    And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
    We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia, Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Guest: Shannon Battison (@_studio.sdb)
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • Big Design Adventure

    S2 Ep 13 – A Feedback Episode

    28/04/2026 | 46 mins.
    There’s quite a large amount of your emails in the Manila folder, and it’s time to get through them. We have questions, corrections and some rather bonkers observations.
    We are also looking to launch the most ridiculous extension to the podcast that anyone could imagine. A rather large small clue is in the graphic above.
    Rate, subscribe and give yourself a high five.
    Neil Clerehan audio courtesy of Traces Films
    https://www.tracesfilms.com
    To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure
    And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1)
    We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia, Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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About Big Design Adventure
Two mates, Tim Ross — comedian, broadcaster, and self-described design nerd — and Kevin McCloud — pundit, writer and celebrated host of Grand Designs — have teamed up for a new podcast: Tim and Kev’s Big Design Adventure. In this audio escapade, the architectural enthusiasts embark on a rollicking (and occasionally shambolic) journey, sharing their love of design by visiting buildings that inspire them, meeting the people who create or inhabit them, and diving deep into the places that shape and spark their imaginations.
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