Series Two: Catalyst Conversations
Catalyst projects are projects that precipitate or seed change.
This new podcast series presents a series of knowledge building activities explore five interconnected, significant Victorian built environment themes and architectural projects that have effects beyond their boundaries connecting people to place through good
design.
All of the projects are aspirational legacy projects that seek to leverage good design in the provision of public benefit and public value beyond the straightforward delivery of bricks and mortar.
This production was made possible with support from the Alastair Swayn Foundation. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org (http://alastairswaynfoundation.org).
Series One: This is Public
This is Public is a series of interviews with the thinkers, doers and advocates who are shaping our city. The first series asks big questions about the future of our city, with a special focus on built and natural environments and the people who shape them.
Hosts Emma Telfer and Sally McPhee saw the opportunity to make more public the stories, ideas and issues that are being addressed by Open House Melbourne’s expanded public program.
As a city, Melbourne is undergoing radical growth and transformation, but to plan for its full potential, we need to understand its past and realise collective ownership over its future. This is Public responds to Open House Melbourne's mission by making critical city issues more public, providing a thought-provoking resource about the future of our city.
Series one was brought to life by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, a program dedicated to enhancing city life alongside the Metro Tunnel. Episodes are recorded at and supported by The Espy, one of Melbourne’s most cherished and significant public meeting houses.
The Catalyst podcast series unpacks clever design solutions in the built environment. Join host Tania Davidge in conversation with designers and field experts as they explore themes and issues that act as catalysts for creative design thinking.
In this episode, we are looking at the End of Life as a Catalyst for the design of palliative care facilities. We speak with Dr Mark Boughey (https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/34353-mark-boughey) from St. Vincent's Hospital (https://www.centreforpallcare.org/page/116/meet-our-team) and Dr Rebecca McLaughlan (https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-mclaughlan-1632759) from University of Sydney (https://www.sydney.edu.au/architecture/about/our-people.html), to consider the design of the places in which we might die and reflect on how we can live a good life, right up until the end. It will look at what it means to die with dignity and address how we can help our loved ones to lead the conversation, allowing them agency at the end of life.
What impact can good design have on spaces focused on the end of life?
Guest speakers:
Dr Mark Boughey, Director of Palliative Medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital
Dr Rebecca McLaughlan, Academic and Researcher at Sydney School of Architecture, Design & Planning, University of Sydney
Please note: This episode discusses topics that may be upsetting to some listeners, including end of life and palliative care. Please take care while listening and contact Griefline at 1300 845 745 if you need further support.
The Catalyst Podcast series is presented by Open House Melbourne and produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. The Catalyst podcast series was recorded at The Push (https://www.thepush.com.au/), Collingwood Yards.
>>
Open House Melbourne is an independent not-for-profit organisation that fosters public appreciation for architecture and public engagement in conversations about the future of our cities. Find out more at openhousemelbourne.org (https://openhousemelbourne.org/).
The Alastair Swayn Foundation advances Australian architecture and design culture. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org (http://alastairswaynfoundation.org/)
Image: Genesis Lake, Bunurong Memorial Park. Photo: Jonathan Lang for Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.
15 Oct 2024
S2 Ep4: Play as Catalyst
The Catalyst podcast series unpacks clever design solutions in the built environment. Join host Tania Davidge in conversation with designers and field experts as they explore themes and issues that act as catalysts for creative design thinking.
In this episode, we are looking at Play as a catalyst for design, creativity and engaging people with the city. We speak with Professor Lisa Grocott (https://www.lisagrocott.com/) from Monash University (https://www.monash.edu/mada/design/people/lisa-grocott) and artist, Mike Hewson (https://mikehewson.co.nz/), to explore the ways play and a playful mindset can foster connection and creativity in the city. We look at how we play in the city and the ways in which design can foster playful connections in an urban environment.
Cities are not only for living and working – cities are also places where we play. Play can be many things. It can be creative and active or reflective and imaginative. Play is about discovery and curiosity, and it’s good for the body and the soul.
Guest Speakers:
Lisa Grocott, Professor of Design and the Director of WonderLab at Monash University
Mike Hewson, Artist
The Catalyst Podcast series is presented by Open House Melbourne and produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. The Catalyst podcast series was recorded at The Push (https://www.thepush.com.au/), Collingwood Yards.
>>
Open House Melbourne is an independent not-for-profit organisation that fosters public appreciation for architecture and public engagement in conversations about the future of our cities. Find out more at openhousemelbourne.org (https://openhousemelbourne.org/).
The Alastair Swayn Foundation advances Australian architecture and design culture. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org (http://alastairswaynfoundation.org/)
Image: Rocks on Wheels. Photo: Dianna Snape.
8 Oct 2024
S2 Ep3: Audience as Catalyst
The Catalyst podcast series unpacks clever design solutions in the built environment. Join host Tania Davidge in conversation with designers and field experts as they explore themes and issues that act as catalysts for creative design thinking.
In this episode, we are looking at Audience as a Catalyst for design through the lens of Performing Arts Centres. Professor Katya Johanson from Edith Cowan University and architect and founding director, Ian McDougall from ARM Architecture (https://armarchitecture.com.au/), help us unpack the relationship of audience to the design of the contemporary performing arts centre.
The modern performing arts centre has its roots in the 1960s. These centres were designed as iconic buildings which spoke to their important role in our cities and towns. Although they were founded with great intentions- of bringing the arts to a wider public audience - they have traditionally showcased the ‘high arts’ to a relatively narrow cross section of the community. Contemporary arts institutions, however, aspire to reach a broader demographic and tell stories that connect with a greater cross-section of the community.
If the Arts are for everyone - what is the role of the Performing Arts Centre in contemporary society and what does this mean for the design of these Centres? As the role of the Performing Arts Centre has evolved and the audience it’s seeks to speak to has broadened what does this mean for the for the design of the Performing Arts Centre?
Guest Speakers:
Ian McDougall, Founding Director of ARM Architecture
Katya Johanson, Professor of Audience Research and Associate Dean for the Creative Humanities at Edith Cowan University
Further Reading:
Katya Johanson is also co-author of the article, alongside Hilary Glow, ‘The problem with permanence is that you’re stuck with it: The public arts centre building in the twenty-first century’ (https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2017.1290610) from the International Journal of Cultural Policy (2017)
The Catalyst Podcast series is presented by Open House Melbourne and produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. The Catalyst podcast series was recorded at The Push (https://www.thepush.com.au/), Collingwood Yards.
>>
Open House Melbourne is an independent not-for-profit organisation that fosters public appreciation for architecture and public engagement in conversations about the future of our cities. Find out more at openhousemelbourne.org (https://openhousemelbourne.org/).
The Alastair Swayn Foundation advances Australian architecture and design culture. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org (http://alastairswaynfoundation.org/)
Image: Friday night market at Geelong Arts Centre. Photo: Peter Foster, courtesy of ARM.
2 Oct 2024
S2 Ep2: Flood as Catalyst
The Catalyst podcast series unpacks clever design solutions in the built environment. Join host Tania Davidge in conversation with designers and field experts as they explore themes and issues that act as catalysts for creative design thinking.
In this episode, planner Jane Keddie from Hansen Partnership (https://hansenpartnership.com.au/team/directors/jane-keddie/) and architect James Davidson from JDA Co. (https://jdaco.com.au/) discuss how planning and design can work with the weather and environmental flows to mitigate risk and rethink our relationship to water.
The climate crisis is driving more and more extreme weather events. In Australia flood and fire are impacting our urban areas. Australians have always had a connection to coastal living and more and more the places we love are under threat of inundation.
In the midst of a climate crisis, where we are seeing increasing extreme weather events, how can we plan and design for flood? Is it simply a matter of barricading our buildings against the flood waters or can we work with the ebbs and flows of our water eco-systems to design in a more responsive way?
Guest Speakers:
Jane Keddie, Director of Strategic Planning at Hansen
James Davidson, Founder and Principal at JDA Co.
The Catalyst Podcast series is presented by Open House Melbourne and produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. The Catalyst podcast series was recorded at The Push (https://www.thepush.com.au/), Collingwood Yards.
>>
Open House Melbourne is an independent not-for-profit organisation that fosters public appreciation for architecture and public engagement in conversations about the future of our cities. Find out more at openhousemelbourne.org (https://openhousemelbourne.org/).
The Alastair Swayn Foundation advances Australian architecture and design culture. Find out more at alastairswaynfoundation.org (http://alastairswaynfoundation.org/)
S1 Ep5: This is Public: Resistance and Regeneration
In this episode, we explore resistance and regeneration in the city across the decades. A city is constantly changing, developing, regeneration yet every generation resists this change. Landscape amnesia or creeping normalcy sets in, where people believe the city has always been in the form they know and love and want little change during their lifetime.
What are some of the most significant campaigns against change in the city? And have they been warranted? What was lost and what was gained? What is the underlying reason for resistance?
We also interrogate how developers/development give back to the city in generous and meaningful ways if demolishing or changing much-loved aspects of the built environment. How are they soothing us during times of major disruption and is the healing balm working?
Resistance and Regeneration interviews include:
Felicity Watson, Executive Advocacy Manager from the National Trust Victoria talks about key moments in Melbourne’s history that have truly shaped the city.
Sophie Kvist and Anna Muessig from Gehl Architects discuss the evaluation of the Metro Tunnel Creative Program.
19 Feb 2020
S1 Ep4: This is Public: Rights to the City
In this episode we look at the themes emerging from Open House expanded July program – access and inclusivity in the city, specifically blindness and vision impairment in response to the Urban Tactility program.
Urban Tactility is an installation and public program exploring the sensory city and design + disability as part of the Open House Melbourne July 2019 program. Building on the thought-provoking nature of the Sensory City tours we ran in partnership with OoPLA in 2017 & 2018, the Urban Tactility installation is designed to inspire people to connect with the experience of those living with low vision and blindness and the way they navigate the city.
Through associated walking tours, workshops and talks, developed in collaboration with Vision Australia, the project will directly engage multiple public communities with a focus on people living with blindness or low vision, senior adults, and children, along with the broader Open House audience.
We explore the underlying two-fold agenda of Urban Tactility – a chance to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes and also think about how the city can be improved and redesigned for different communities and users.
30 Oct 2019
S1 Ep3: This is Public: Collective Agency
The third episode of This is Public responds to the 2019 National Architecture Conference theme: Collective Agency.
25 Jul 2019
S1 Ep2: This is Public: Future Needs
As a partner of the Living Cities Forum (with Naomi Milgrom Foundation (http://www.naomimilgromfoundation.org/)), Open House Melbourne’s second episode of This is Public focuses on the conference theme: Future Needs.
Hosts Emma Telfer and Sally McPhee spoke with Forum speaker Christopher Hawthorne (https://livingcitiesforum.org/christopher-hawthorne), Chief Design Officer for the City of Los Angeles, and Rob Adams (https://creative.vic.gov.au/design/BoDW-program/rob-adams), Director of City Design at the City of Melbourne about how design responds to future needs in our cities, specifically LA and Melbourne.
In this fascinating long-form conversation with two city design leaders, we traverse densification to de-growth, innovation to adaptive re-use, transforming ideas into decisive action, and playing the long game in city transformation.
Photo credit: Living Cities Forum by Tom Ross
13 May 2019
S1 Ep1: This is Public: Waterfront
The first episode of This is Public documents Open House Melbourne’s special Waterfront program for Melbourne Design Week 2019.
Open House took a deep dive into the role design could play in reframing our relationship with water, with a special focus on urban waterways and Birrarung (the Yarra River). All of the guests interviewed on the podcast participated in the Waterfront program.
This is Public: Waterfront Interviews include:
(2:35) Dr Melissa Neave from RMIT University and Andrew Kelly, the Yarra Riverkeeper, explore the flow on effects of past urban design decisions, current challenges and possible futures for the river;
(20:22) Paul Thomas from Rail Projects Victoria explains how the Metro Tunnel project navigates complex tunneling under the Yarra; and
(30:25) Michael O’Neill from Yarra Swim Co and Andre Bonnice from WOWOWA Architecture share how the Yarra Pools proposal encourages connection and contact with the river.
Contact Open House Conversations
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Open House Conversations?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
