Blueprint For Living - Separate stories

Grand tours for the aristocracy in centuries gone by were filled with art and architecture to fulfil the senses.But what would such a tour look like today if only places created in the 20th and 21st centuries  were on the itinerary?Richard Weller is a landscape architect who has pondered this question in his latest book, To the ends of the earth- a grand tour for the 21st Century. This interview first aired in July 2024.

From the velocipede in the early 1800s to its more modern incarnation, featuring tubular metal frames, wire-spoked wheels, pneumatic tyres, and gears, design writer and critic Colin Bisset gives us a potted history of the development of the bicycle.This interview first aired in March 2024.

The city of Paris is about to enact an ambitious new climate Plan and at its heart is a commitment to building a cyclist friendly urban centre.This interview first aired in March 2024.

Colin Bisset takes us on a tour of the some of the world's greatest commemorative monuments.From London's Albert Memorial to Berlin's November Revolution Monument, they speak of a desire to immortalise and elevate a particular viewpoint of history.This interview first aired in June 2024.

Can cemeteries be a boon for the living as well as a place for the dearly departed?Tania Davidge, Executive Director of Open House Melbourne, believes so. She argues that cemeteries can provide much needed open space in our crowded cities to be enjoyed across the generations.This interview first aired in June 2024.

What role has the colour black played in mourning fashions since the time of Queen Victoria?Dr Lorinda Cramer is a fashion historian at Deakin University. She charts the changing cultural meanings associated with this darkest of hues.This interview first aired in June 2024.

Chef Jamie Oliver selects the last meal he would have on this earth- his mum's roast dinner.Surrounded by friends and family, he believes a Sunday roast would be the best final meal, with all the trimmings.This interview first aired in June 2024.

Colin Bisset turns his attention to that iconic fashion item, the T-shirt.This segment first aired in May 2019.

Kyle Chayka, a staff writer at The New Yorker and author of 'Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture,' dives into the blandness of contemporary aesthetics. He critiques the cultural uniformity rampant in coffee shops and social media, illustrating how global algorithms promote the 'least offensive' choices. Chayka discusses the tension between bland experiences and our chaotic reality, highlighting the rise of comforting background music as a refuge. Join him as he explores the impact of algorithms on creativity and genuine engagement in art.

Angela Riechers, author of 'The elements of visual grammar: A designer's guide for writers, scholars and professionals', discusses the history of Neutraface and explains how and why this typeface became so ubiquitous.This interview first aired in May 2024.