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. 

Sam Cox is a landscape designer who learnt his craft from one of the leaders in naturalistic garden design, the late Gordon Ford.He takes us on a tour of his garden and reflects on how we can all learn from the natural contours of the landscape.

Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, Founder and CEO of the Better Cities Initiative, discusses reinventing apartment living by exploring the lack of individuality in contemporary designs, comparing old vs. modern apartments, reflecting on the impact of neoliberalism, and advocating for prioritizing the common good in urban design.

What role can the humble duckweed play as humans embark on missions to the Moon and Mars?And what lessons can be learned about food security here on Earth?Professor Matthew Gilliham is the director Plants for Space, a consortium of academics who are turning their attention to this question of botanical survival.

Colin Bisset, an expert in architectural history and design, takes us on a journey exploring the world's great monuments. From the grandiose Albert Memorial in London to the brutalist November Revolution Monument in Berlin. The podcast discusses the commemorative symbolism at Hiroshima's Peace Park and the abstract Yugoslavian memorials, touching on themes of remembrance, unity, and the transformation of monuments over time.

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 and co-curator of Back to Black, an exhibition at Old Government House, Parramatta. She charts the changing cultural meanings associated with this darkest of hues.

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.

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.

The total area of degraded land in Australia is eight times the size of Tasmania. The need to replant diverse native species is more urgent than ever. But with a critical shortfall in the availability of native seeds, how can we replant degraded ecosystems and meet Australia’s ambitious international targets? Read more: Only 10% of native plants can be bought as seed – a big problem for nature repair. Here’s how we can make plantings more diverse (The Conversation, 10 June 2024)

See a weed, pluck it out, right? Maybe it’s not so simple.Tim Entwisle speaks with John Dwyer whose new anthology, "Weeding Between the Lines," offers a provocative rethink of what weeds are and how we approach them - in our backyards and in the bush. Learn moreWeeding Between the Lines by John Dwyer