Enjoy this fascinating conversation between Julie Nichols and Reem Daou, as they share their passion for architecture and empowering communities, their experiences travelling and working in other parts of the world and how this has influenced their perspectives on good design.

Our conversationalists for this episode are Julie Nichols, a Senior Lecturer at UniSA; and Reem Daou, a Graduate of Architecture at Russell & Yelland.

In this engaging episode, Julie and Reem discuss their passion for architecture and the way it can help sustain you through different phases of your career. Julie reflects on her experiences working in Malaysia, Indonesia and the UK, stressing the value of site-specific design and community involvement. Reem shares her experiences of travelling and observing local architecture, which has influenced her design perspectives. Both agree on the potential for architects to empower communities and create spaces that foster social inclusion and resilience.

Julie and Reem explore the question: “What does good design mean?”. As an educator, Julie aspires to an intensive way of interrogating briefs in design studios to ensure the needs and desires of end users are adequately considered. Julie and Reem discuss the benefits of learning on site, the beauty of sampling a bit of everything in your career, and their ideal-world aspirations for Adelaide (“a radical kind of intervention” focused on connectivity and amplifying community).

This episode of Parlour POD was produced with the assistance of the Alastair Swayn Foundation through a Design Audio Grant. Thanks!


This episode was recorded live on Kaurna Country at the 2023 Adelaide Winter Salon. Held at Swanbury Penglase on 29 June 2023, the Salon was organised by Alison McFadyen. Photos: Ben Liew.