Light, Cities and Architecture

Architecture is changing: So what does it mean for the next generation of graduates and the future of the profession?

Is architecture still about design?

Melbourne-based architect Antony DiMase joins writer and editor Justine Costigan to reflect on the changing nature of architectural practice and a profession that has evolved far beyond its traditional business model.

In this episode, Justine and Antony explore how the architect’s role has shifted, whether regulation stifles creativity or helps deliver safer, more sustainable buildings, and the implications of outsourcing work overseas for the next generation of graduates. They also examine how social media and co-design are broadening the conversation about who architecture is for.

At the heart of the discussion is a question of value: what do architects bring to a project beyond the drawings, and how do their relationships, collaboration and coordination help bring a project to life?

It’s a conversation for aspiring architects, anyone planning a build or anyone curious about the people and ideas that shape our streets.

High in the Andes of Peru, 2,400 metres above sea level, Machu Picchu stands as one of the world’s great architectural achievements. But the extraordinary stonework, terraces and temples of Machu Picchu are just part of a much biggerstory.

In this special episode of Light, Cities & Architecture, AntonyDiMase and writer and editor Justine Costigan explore the architecture, culture and legacy of the Incan Empire. Recently returned from Peru, Justine shares her experiences visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco and other significant Incan sites,offering a firsthand perspective on a civilisation that built an enormous and sophisticated empire in little more than a century.

How did the Incas construct precisely fitted stone buildings without mortar, iron or modern machinery? How did they govern an empire without a written alphabet or currency? And what can their agricultural systems, infrastructureand approach to building in one of the world’s most challenging landscapes tell us about architecture today?

The conversation also explores the relationship between architecture and nature, from buildings aligned with the sun, moon and stars to agricultural terraces engineered to manage water and erosion. We consider why Incan buildings have survived centuries of earthquakes while many Spanish colonial structures have not—and what this reveals about architecture that is genuinely rooted in place.

The episode also looks beyond the romance of Machu Picchu. Antony and Justine discuss the violence of Spanish conquest, the destruction of Indigenous architecture and culture, and the misleading story of Machu Picchu as a “lost city” supposedly discovered by the West. They explore how Incan traditions survived through cultural and religious syncretism, and how Indigenous influences continue to shape Peruvian culture today.

Finally, the conversation turns to modern Peru: its extraordinary natural resources, food culture, agricultural knowledge, relationship with tourism and the enduring pride Peruvians have in their heritage.

This is a story about stone, landscape and extraordinary ingenuity—but also about whose history gets told, what survives conquest, and what architecture can teach us about culture, resilience and our relationship with place.

Special thanks to:

Suzanne McLeod at Image on Line in Collingwood where we recorded our podcast.

And to Veronica Perez for podcast editing.

Australia is entering a new era of climate accountability. As mandatory carbon reporting becomes law, businesses are being forced to rethink how they measure risk, manage emissions, and remain competitive. At the same time, the explosive growth of AI is driving unprecedented demand for data centres—bringing new questions about energy, water, infrastructure, and the environmental cost of our digital future.

In this episode of Light, Cities & Architecture, architect Antony DiMase is joined by sustainability consultant Luke Fernandez and architect Ahmed Elsayed to unpack one of the most significant shifts facing the built environment and Australian industry.

Together, they explore Australia's new Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS), how climate disclosure requirements are reshaping supply chains and procurement, why architects are increasingly leading sustainability conversations, and what the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure means for communities, energy systems, and climate policy.

The discussion also examines the gap between voluntary sustainability initiatives and enforceable regulation, the growing importance of embodied carbon and climate risk in design decisions, and whether our economic models are equipped to deliver a genuinely low-carbon future.

This conversation connects architecture, business, technology, governance, and climate into one compelling story about the systems shaping the places we build—and the future we're creating.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why Australia's mandatory carbon reporting laws are transforming corporate governance.
• How climate disclosure is reshaping supply chains and procurement.
• The role architects play in reducing embodied carbon and driving sustainable design.
• Why AI data centres are becoming one of Australia's fastest-growing environmental challenges.
• The policy gaps between digital infrastructure growth and climate responsibility.
• Why legislation—not voluntary action—is emerging as the key driver of meaningful emissions reduction.
• How new economic thinking, including Doughnut Economics, challenges traditional models of growth.

Whether you're an architect, engineer, sustainability professional, business leader, policymaker, or simply curious about the intersection of climate, technology, and the built environment, this episode offers valuable insights into one of Australia's most important transitions.

"This isn't just about carbon reporting or data centres—it's about how we design the systems that determine what kind of future we build."

https://www.finance.gov.au/government/public-data/data-and-digital-ministers-meeting/national-framework-assurance-artificial-intelligence-governmenthttps://www.digital.gov.au/ai/ai-in-government-policyhttps://new.gbca.org.au/news/gbca-media-releases/gbca-launches-sustainable-data-centres-program/

Special Offer: ASRS Essentials CPD

To celebrate the podcast, Luke is offering free access to the ASRS Essentials CPD for the first 20 registrations.

https://www.netzero.org.au/course/asrs-essentials-cpd

• First 20 people: Free with coupon code ARCH-CPD
• After the first 20: Regular price $87
• 
  
• To contact Luke: [email protected]

Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation in Marseille remains one of the most polarising architectural landmarks of the 20th century. A bold experiment in modernist housing, it envisioned a radical new way of urban living, one that was both efficient and communal. While celebrated by many architects for its innovation, it has also faced criticism for disregarding the social and cultural complexities of real cities.

In this episode of Light Cities Architecture, writer and editor Justine Costigan and practising architect Antony DiMase delve into the legacy, mythology, and reality of this Brutalist icon. Was it a revolutionary step forward, or an idealistic vision that fell short? And, given the choice, would either of them choose to live there?

Tune in to find out.

Links:

Fondation Le Corbusier https://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/en/

Unité d’Habitation tours https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/discover-marseille/culture-heritage/discover-the-sites-and-monuments-in-marseille/cite-radieuse-of-le-corbusier/

Instagram: @lightscitiesarchitecture

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-costigan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-dimase/

Credits:

Editor: Suzanne McLeod

This episode was recorded at Image online, Abbotsford, Australia.

Ayn Rand’s philosophical novel The Fountainhead is one of the most-read and most and quoted books of the 20th century. Dismissed and loved in equal measure, it polarised critics and readers.

The Fountainhead expressed Rand’s strong beliefs about the role of the creator, the need for freedom, and the moral imperative of self-interest. One of the few novels dedicated to the profession of architecture, The Fountainhead’s ideas about architects and architecture continue to influence how we think about the profession today.

In this episode, Antony and Justine discuss the novel, its pros and cons, and why it is still a treasured reference for right-wing thinkers today.

Quote:

“In reviewing my career to date, I came to the conclusion that I have worked on a true principle: the principle that constant change is a necessity of life.

Since buildings are an indispensable part of life, it follows that architecture must change constantly.

I have never developed architectural prejudices for myself, but insisted on keeping my mind open to all the voices of the times.

The fanatics who went around preaching that all structures must be modern were just as narrow minded as the hidebound conservatives who demanded that we employ nothing but historical styles.

I do not apologise for those of my buildings which were designed in the Classical tradition.

They were an answer to the needs of their era. Neither do I apologise for the buildings which I designed in the modern style.

They represent the coming better world. It is my opinion that in the humble realisation of this principle lies the reward and the joy of being an architect.”

The character of architect Peter Keating, The Fountainhead

Links:

John Crace on Ayn Rand, The Guardian, 2009

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/mar/11/ayn-rand

Social:

Instagram:

@lightscitiesarchitecture

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-costigan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-dimase/

Credits:

Editor: Justine Costigan

This episode was recorded at Image online, Abbotsford, Australia.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/always-for-youLicense code: FKADBZMC5CF0HIR8

Join architect Antony DiMase and writer and editor Justine Costigan as they discuss the rise of NIMBYs and YIMBYs and how these groups reflect the growing dissatisfaction with the way our cities are planned.

We welcome your feedback, questions and topic suggestions. To get in touch email [email protected]

Referenced in this episode:

Tom Cowie’s story about the Thornbury church

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/empty-church-ignites-tension-between-heritage-and-housing-20240424-p5fm7b.html

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/always-for-you

License code: FKADBZMC5CF0HIR8

Join architect Antony DiMase and writer and editor Justine Costigan as they explore the impact of war on cities and the people who live in them. From current battlegrounds in Gaza and Ukraine to historical conflicts, they discuss what happens to cities when buildings and infrastructure is destroyed, the different approaches to rebuilding, and why we need to be talking about this right now.
We welcome your feedback, questions and topic suggestions for discussion.

To get in touch email [email protected]

Referenced in this episode:
What does it take to rebuild a city destroyed by war

Modern War Institute at West Point, 31/02/2023

To Rebuild Cities After War, Look to the Past
By Sameh Wahba and Joanna Masic
Wired Magazine 22/12/2022

The numbers that reveal the extent of the destruction in Gaza
By Archie Bland
The Guardian, 08/01/2024

Music credit:
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/always-for-you

In a new format for Season 3 - Antony is joined by writer Justine Costigan. Together they explore the recent announcement by the State Government to demolish the Housing Commission Towers in Melbourne. Justine and Antony discuss how this announcement goes against the trend of retrofitting projects here and around the globe, the implications for the people living in the towers, and the project's place in the wider housing discussion.

We welcome your feedback, questions and topic suggestions for discussion. To get in touch email [email protected]

Referenced in this episode:
Grand Parc public towers, Bordeaux, France

Renovation architects: Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal

• Pritzker Architecture Prize 2021
• European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award: winner 2019
• Living places Simon Architecture Prize: winner 2016

“Never demolish. Always transform, with and for the inhabitant."Jean Philippe Vassal

"For people with a passion for sustainability there's never been a better time to be alive." - Andre Egan.

This podcast our guest is Andrew Egan, who, fascinatingly, operates a commercial asset management company that focuses on circularity. Have you ever thought about the lifespan of office furniture? How many chairs, desks, cubicles and kitchens exist in offices worldwide? And, crucially, how many materials were mined, forged and sewn together to make a single chair, only for modern corporate culture to reduce its lifespan to seven years.

This enormous and often unseen issue is what Egans Asset Management brings to the forefront, and offers a neat solution for.

Listen into the episode to hear about the history and growing need to manage the production and output of corporate spaces.

Author, Professor and recently, Poet Brendan Gleeson joins LCA to discuss the gravitational power and development of cities, with a focus on Melbourne.

With a background in geography and urban planning, Brendan is interested in the human relationships developed through planning and architecture. He is a member of the Melbourne Centre for Cities within the University of Melbourne and is the author of 14 books, most recently Records of The Loss Property Department of Gardiner Reserve. I am excited to dive in and hear his perspective on the past, present, and future of Melbourne and urban economics.

Ideally, this episode will provide some insight into the history and complexity of cities and urban planning, and provide hope on the key future issues cities will face in a warming climate.