Design Speaks Weekly

John Ellway is one of Australia’s leading residential architects. Since establishing his practice in 2017, he has received multiple state and national awards, including Australian House of the Year for Three House at the 2021 Houses Awards.

His residential designs prove that living well doesn't require a large footprint: with thoughtful planning and the strategic use of light, views and landscape, smaller homes can be rich in both spatial experience and functionality.  

In this episode, Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses Magazine, talks with John about creating homes that are compact, practical and a delight to live in.

 

 

Further Reading

Breezy lyricism: Three House
https://architectureau.com/articles/three-house/

Winner: Australian House of the Year
https://housesawards.com.au/gallery/2021/australian-house-of-the-year/2P6WIMX7QYX

Full bloom: Terrarium House
https://architectureau.com/articles/terrarium-house/

Niwa House by John Ellway
https://architectureau.com/articles/niwa-house-john-ellway/

Hopscotch House by John Ellway Architect
https://architectureau.com/articles/hopscotch-john-ellway/

‘A place to picnic’: Cascade House
https://architectureau.com/articles/cascade-house-john-ellway/

A neighbourly disposition: Twin Houses
https://architectureau.com/articles/twin-houses/

How a speculative development won Brisbane’s house of the year
https://architectureau.com/articles/twin-houses-john-ellway/

2025 Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
https://architectureau.com/articles/2025-Eleanor-Cullis-Hill-Award-for-Residential-Architecture-Houses-Alterations-and-Additions/

2019 Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
https://architectureau.com/articles/2019-national-architecture-awards-eleanor-cullis-hill-award-for-res-alts-adds/

Angelo Candalepas is one of Australia’s most influential architects working today. Since founding his multi-award-winning practice, Candalepas Associates, in 1999, he has made a significant contribution to the civic fabric of Australian cities, with major cultural projects including Punchbowl Mosque and the forthcoming The Fox: NGV Contemporary.

In this episode, Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, speaks with Angelo about the delicacies of designing cultural buildings and how architecture can embody the aspirations of a city.

 

 

Further reading:
Punchbowl Mosque by Candalepas Associates
architectureau.com/articles/punchbowl-mosque

Winning design revealed for NGV Contemporary
architectureau.com/articles/winning-design-revealed-for-ngv-contemporary

Candalepas’s new addition to Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral precinct approved
architectureau.com/articles/candalepass-new-addition-to-sydneys-st-marys-cathedral-precinct-approved

Spirit of generosity: Birchgrove House
architectureau.com/articles/birchgrove-house

The Porter House Hotel and the Castle Residences by Candalepas Associates
architectureau.com/articles/the-porter-house-hotel-and-the-castle-residences

Angelo Candalepas
architectureau.com/contributors/Candalepas-Angelo

Murcutt, Candalepas-designed central Sydney tower approved
architectureau.com/articles/murcutt-candalepas-designed-central-sydney-tower-approved

As an established architect and a member of the Australian Greens, Elizabeth Watson-Brown is a strong advocate for the built environment – particularly when it comes to sustainability and social equity.

Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 as federal MP for the seat of Ryan, Elizabeth ran her own practice for 21 years, and went on to become design director and design strategy leader for national architecture practice Architectus.

In today’s episode, we hear Elizabeth’s insights on practice and politics, and get her thoughts on how architecture can contribute to the pursuit of affordable and desirable housing.

Further Reading
An optimistic act: From architecture to politics
architectureau.com/articles/an-optimistic-act-from-architecture-to-politics

‘We need a public-led approach to the way we develop our cities’
architectureau.com/articles/we-need-a-public-led-approach-to-the-way-we-develop-our-cities

Peak design bodies meet federal MPs to promote urban design priorities
architectureau.com/articles/Peak-design-bodies-meet-federal-MPs-to-promote-urban-design-priorities

First House: Elizabeth Watson-Brown
architectureau.com/articles/ngungun-house

Yan Lane Duplex
architectureau.com/articles/yan-lane-duplex

Simon Pendal is founder of Fremantle-based practice Simon Pendal Architect, and associate professor and co-chair of the Studio Programme at The University of Notre Dame.

His work has been widely recognised in publications and awards – most recently winning the 2026 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work in collaboration with Whadjuk Balardong Elder Robyn Collard.

The winning project, titled “Walyalup/Fremantle – What If,” introduces town planning incentives to encourage the opening-up of Country via a network of green archipelagos.

This project highlights that, when designing to restore environment and culture in cities, there is a need for thinking at both a micro and macro scale – where big ideas require thousands of smaller acts. 

In our first episode for 2026, we’ve invited Simon to talk to the value of smaller projects and how their collective contribution to city-making changes the way we live.

 

 

Further reading:
In profile: Simon Pendal Architect
architectureau.com/articles/In-Profile-Simon-Pendal-Architect

Architecture as functional sculpture: Beaconsfield House
architectureau.com/articles/beaconsfield-house

Meet the owners of Beaconsfield House
architectureau.com/articles/meet-the-owners-of-beaconsfield-house

South Perth House by Simon Pendal Architect
architectureau.com/articles/South-Perth-House-by-Simon-Pendal-Architect

North Perth House by Simon Pendal Architect
architectureau.com/articles/north-perth-house-by-simon-pendal

Carine House
architectureau.com/articles/carine-house

There is a lot to be learnt from traditional practice, but architects have the capacity to tackle greater social and environmental issues as well – and a new generation of Australian architects is being particularly proactive about using design to address contemporary problems.

Earlier this year, Design Speaks held The Architecture Symposium: What’s next for practice, an event that provided a snapshot of the approaches and projects being pursued by this emerging group.

As part of the symposium, Rory Hyde of the University of Melbourne and Grace Mortlock of Other Architects sat down to share their observations and opinions on the future of practice. Rory and Grace have, in their own way, each carved a career in architecture that is intentionally unconventional.

It was such a great conversation that we wanted to share the discussion with our Design Speaks Weekly listeners. This episode begins with Grace asking Rory, whether the next generation of architects are being unconventional enough.

 

Further reading:

Twelve principles for ‘next gen’ architectural practice
https://architectureau.com/articles/twelve-principles-for-next-gen-practice/

Profile: Other Architects
https://architectureau.com/articles/profile-other-architects/