URGE Collective’s Post

How might Biomimicry help us understand the context of a problem in order for us to respond locally, not with one-size-fits-all solutions? In this episode of the Coconut Thinking podcast, I speak with Bronwen Main and Frank Burridge. Bronwen is a landscape architect and co-founder of Main Studio, where she focuses on sustainable, nature-inspired designs that transform urban spaces. Her work emphasizes ecological restoration, community well-being, and biodiversity, creating environments that encourage people’s communion with nature. Bronwen also contributes as a lecturer and mentor, sharing her expertise with emerging architects. Through her innovative projects and community engagement, she promotes environmentally responsible design practices that blend aesthetics with ecological integrity and sustainable urban living. Frank is an architect and co-founder of Main Studio, a creative practice that blends architecture, art, and landscape design with ecological and community-focused principles. As a Teaching Associate at Monash University and a registered architect with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria, Frank is known for his innovative, sustainable projects. His work includes high-profile projects like Zac Efron’s planned “Futurecave” in New South Wales, embodying his commitment to creating functional, environmentally harmonious spaces. Bronwen and Frank are the architects (along with IBUKU Studio) who are designing Green School Bali's Biomimicry for Regenerative Design Lab, a first of its kind space in a K-12 school, where learners of all ages come together to explore and apply biomimicry principles for regenerative design We discuss: 🥥 How biomimicry provides hope because we learn [from/as/with] Nature, which has already tested out infinite problems for over 3.8 billion years (at least!); 🥥 The design process behind Green School's Biomimicry for Regenerative Design Lab, in which students and educators participated, as did the Natural world and the contact of Bali, education, and the current state of the world; 🥥 How Biomimicry allows us to understand our place in Place, which is fundamental to opening up new possibilities for learning in schools and beyond. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/eEN25U82 Or your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/dmsV8RkY Charlotte Hankin Leslie A Medema Andy Middleton Denise DeLuca Daniel Kinzer Nick Lane Ross Hall Luis Alberto Camargo Louka Parry Dr Richard Owens FRSA Richard Dawson Emily Liebtag Daniel Christian Wahl Jenny Andersson Education in Motion

[28:50 minute mark] - "10 years ago, there wasn't even a language for sustainability... Nowadays, we can discuss solutions." Anders Lendager. "Sustainability in 2024 reminds me of how we talked about social media in 2010." ~me. ;) I highly recommend this podcast based on recent conversations with destination changemakers challenging the status quo: Peter Moynes Shelby Luzzi, MTA, Morgan Mingle, Lauren Bruggemans, Alison Conroy, Jac Callan, Jason Holic, Carolina Mendonça, Paul Seaman and Whitney Edwards.

Great to have our very own Oliver Heath on the Material Matters podcast. Something we get asked a lot in our line of work: are all natural materials ‘good’? As a visiting lecturer at UoB, teaching on the materials & technology module led by gem barton, I would use the example of asbestos. A naturally occurring mineral found in rocks and soil, mined for its desirable properties as a fire resistant insulator, asbestos is now a known human carcinogen - many many years after being introduced to our built environment. Some have even forgotten it was taken from nature in the first place! ‘Good’ needs to be holistically considered; taking into account user and non-user health, all consequences of extraction along the supply chain, and the regenerative capabilities of the raw materials. As someone who was exposed to asbestos as a child, I can’t stress enough the importance of understanding the fabrics which make our spaces, as well as the continued understanding of the impact of exposure to harmful materials, through asbestos exposure registers or similar.

Have you ever considered how the spaces around us not only shape our lives but also serve as a catalyst for social and community transformation?🌍 In this new episode of Conscious Insights, Visionary Spaces: Landscape Architecture as a Catalyst for Change, I sit down with Mark Johnson and Scott Jordan of Civitas to explore the impact of thoughtful design on our cities and communities. Mark, reflecting on decades of work, shares: "Public space is where we share experience. Civitas makes places for people to make memories." In this episode, we explore: 🌱 Transforming Forgotten Spaces: How neglected areas can be reimagined into thriving community hubs. 🤝 Fostering Connection: The role of public spaces in bringing people together and enhancing belonging. 💡 Leadership Through Design: The powerful parallels between urban transformation and conscious leadership. 🌍 Honoring True Nature: Rediscovering the essence of places to elevate well-being and collective consciousness. Curious about how visionary spaces can inspire change in the way we live, lead, and connect? Listen in and discover what’s possible! Watch or Listen Now: YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ga8v7TcB Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gKXy5BxE Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gzw8g6qq Your insights matter! Please subscribe, rate, and share your thoughts on this episode. Let me know who you’d like to see next on Conscious Insights, and help us spread the word about reimagining communities and leadership for a better future. #ConsciousLeadership #UrbanTransformation #LandscapeArchitecture #CommunityDesign #SocialChange #Wellbeing

Storytelling is so important to the design and planning profession. Not only does it connect us with the community impacted by our plans, but as Cleckley said in our recent interview, it's a gateway to empathy. Check out the episode at https://loom.ly/Aqg5kuc or wherever you get your podcasts. #empathy #empathicdesign

📢 PODCAST ALERT!! 🎧 . Spikes, armrests, harsh lighting, annoying music. . These are all forms of #defensivedesign and #hostilearchitecture >> ways in which design of public spaces deter people from using them for sleep, rest or self-care. . Listen to my conversation with Cara Chellew on #PovertyUnpacked #podcast to learn more about this form of #urbanplanning and how it especially affects #homeless people. . https://lnkd.in/eYBZE3RY

Weekends are perfect for tuning into some podcasts and great radio content. One of my favorite shows, hosted by Andrew Tuck, explores global trends in urban development, among other topics. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the pulse of cities around the world. #podcasts #radio #urbandevelopments #placemaking #miami #detroit #pittsburgh #queens #nyc https://lnkd.in/dgPq-ks4

rajesh sharma had described Vasudevan Rajasekharan Kadalayil as a walking-talking Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. He was fairly bang-on! We discuss his POV on various topics and issues. In sync with how our podcasts have been, while we fluidly move from one subject to the other, I personally was touched by how neutrally Vasudevan Rajasekharan Kadalayil looks at various dimensions on the same subject- disagreements, opinions and choices, all thrown in! Give this episode a listen and let us know what you think. https://lnkd.in/gTXvuEds

Exciting news: Lloyd Alter's new book 'The Story of Upfront Carbon' launches tomorrow in the UK. Here's the link you need to buy your copy. https://lnkd.in/ehk5PMwT And we're going to be chatting to him in our next podcast (stay tuned). #ClimateChange #Environment #UpfrontCarbon

OPEN CITY PODCAST! This week, I had the privilege of joining Sahiba Chadha on the Open City Podcast to explore key topics shaping the future of our built environment. Here’s what we discussed, along with my reflections: 📉 The scrapping of the Government’s Office for Place: While this could negatively shift focus away from quality and architecture, it might also bring renewed emphasis to the process of good design—less about "beauty" as an end product and more about collaborative, community-driven approaches. 🏬 New powers for councils to tackle empty High Street units: This move is much needed and long overdue. High streets are hubs of community action and deserve investment. However, for this to succeed, there must also be support for those repurposing these spaces to ensure their long-term viability. 🏠 Restricting Right to Buy for new council homes: Protecting existing housing stock is essential, and this policy is a step in the right direction. But let’s not forget the root issue—we urgently need more housing stock to meet growing demand. 🏛️ Listing ‘coming of age’ buildings: Preserving late 20th-century architecture is incredibly important. These structures represent a pivotal era in design and need protection as part of our evolving heritage. 🔗 Listen to the episode here, https://lnkd.in/e6DY6R4T, and let me know—what are your thoughts on these developments? How do you see them shaping our communities? #Architecture #UrbanDesign #CityPlanning #HousingPolicy #OfficeForPlace #OpenCityPodcast