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Ever wondered what architects mean when they talk about "programme"? In our latest deep dive, we crack open this fundamental concept that shapes everything from the tiniest apartments to sprawling civic buildings.

This episode begins with a seemingly simple question: what exactly is program in architecture? We explore how program operates simultaneously at multiple scales—a house within a street, a road within a city—creating nested relationships that influence design decisions. Through examples like OMA's Seattle Library with its stacked functional boxes unified by a faceted glass facade, we see perhaps the most literal translation of program to architectural form.

The conversation weaves through bubble diagrams (an early design tool), form following function (or is it the other way around?), and experimental approaches that challenge conventional spatial definitions. Gerard shares several fascinating concepts including his "advent calendar house" where floor hatches reveal different functional spaces beneath. We discuss how regulatory constraints and client expectations often limit such experimentation, particularly in residential contexts, while highlighting how program innovation frequently emerges most powerfully in constrained circumstances like tiny houses.

What makes this exploration particularly valuable is recognizing that program isn't just a technical exercise but a powerful design driver. By thinking creatively about how spaces function, relate, and transform, architects can create more compelling environments without relying solely on expensive materials or dramatic forms. Whether you're designing your own space or simply curious about how buildings work, understanding program reveals architecture's deeper purpose: creating meaningful human experiences through thoughtful spatial relationships.

Listen now and you'll never look at a building the same way again. Have you encountered spaces with particularly brilliant programming? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

Chapters:

• 0:00 - Introduction to Understanding Program
• 9:42 - Defining Program: Bubble Diagrams & Form
• 19:46 - Program as Architecture: Notable Examples
• 29:55 - Form Follows Function: Design Approaches
• 39:54 - Reinventing Walls: Alternative Spatial Definitions
• 48:05 - Program Innovation: Experimental Dwellings

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What happens when award-winning architects and builders challenge the notion that sustainable, high-performance buildings must sacrifice aesthetics? This thought-provoking conversation brings together Passive House experts who are transforming New Zealand's built environment through buildings that are both beautiful and functional.

Architect Rafe Maclean shares how client feedback about a poorly-performing design prompted his journey into building science, while Joe Lyth reveals the heartbreaking reality of watching his children develop respiratory issues in cold, damp rental properties. Builder Josh Atkins describes his frustration with energy-inefficient new homes that cost homeowners thousands in ongoing expenses. These personal stories highlight why performance isn't just about sustainability—it's fundamentally about health and comfort.

The guests dismantle common misconceptions about high-performance buildings, particularly the idea that Passive House certification requires boxy designs with minimal windows. Through their work, they demonstrate how constraints often generate more creative, thoughtful architecture. As Joe explains, "If you've got a blank canvas you can do anything, and you don't necessarily need to judge all your decisions." The discussion explores how early collaboration between architects, builders and clients allows performance requirements to enhance rather than limit design possibilities.

Perhaps most compelling is their suggestion to shift terminology—referring to conventional construction as "low-performance buildings" rather than elevating better practices as "high-performance." After all, would anyone willingly purchase a "low-performance refrigerator" that might spoil your food? This reframing helps normalize better building standards as baseline expectations rather than premium add-ons.

Ready to experience architecture that looks beautiful and actually works? Subscribe to hear more conversations that challenge convention and inspire better building practices.

Key Links:

• https://www.rafemaclean.co.nz/
• https://www.welarchitecture.nz/
• https://www.compound.co.nz/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwuFra50HN8
• https://passivehouse.nz/

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction with expert guests

14:44 - Personal journeys into high-performance building

34:52 - Performance vs aesthetics in design

43:15 - Constraints breed creativity

54:49 - Education and passive house perception

1:01:46 - Architecture education and closing thoughts

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Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!

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What happens when architecture becomes more accessible through images than through physical experience? This question forms the backbone of our conversation with Nina Boyd, a New Zealand architect currently working in Paris.

The traditional architectural pilgrimage—traveling to see important buildings firsthand—has fundamentally changed. Where Alvar Aalto's visit to Italy completely transformed his design approach, today's architects arrive at celebrated buildings having already seen countless images online. This digital pre-exposure creates a curious paradox: greater accessibility to architectural imagery but potentially diminished impact when finally experiencing spaces in person.

Nina shares insights from her recent Scandinavian travels, exploring how Finnish towns balance high density living with beautiful public spaces. The conversation takes a candid turn when discussing famous buildings that disappointed in person—Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao described as "facadeism" and certain parametric designs criticized for poor finishes despite conceptual brilliance. These confessions reveal the gap between architectural celebrity and genuine spatial quality.

Working internationally exposes architects to different budget realities, material access, and planning approaches. While New Zealand struggles with limited resources for bespoke elements, the team explores how collaborating with local craftspeople could produce distinctive architectural moments without breaking budgets. This "small batch" approach to custom design might actually represent the future—creating architecture with a genuine human touch that resists both global homogenization and AI-driven processes.

Perhaps the most compelling insight emerges near the end: the architectural breakthrough might not require overseas travel at all. Looking inward to local craft traditions and small-scale collaborations could yield more authentic design expressions than chasing international trends. After all, architecture's most powerful aspects—temperature, texture, acoustic qualities, social interactions—resist digital flattening and demand physical presence.

Ready to rethink your architectural inspirations? Listen now, and join the conversation about where true design epiphanies come from in our digital age.

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction with Nina Boyd

6:04 - Traveling Through Scandinavia

15:50 - Architectural Exposure and Inspiration

26:48 - Working in International Architecture Firms

35:36 - Famous Buildings That Disappoint

49:36 - Bespoke Design and Human Touch

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Follow us on @designpriciplespod on Instagram and if you wish to contact us hit our DMs or our personal pages. We love to hear from you it really encourages us to keep going and the ideas and feedback we get from the listeners is awesome!