Listen to this rich, wide-ranging conversation between Julie de Jong and Kate Hislop, as they discuss the highs and lows of regional practice, and the power of mentoring in academia. Working, children, domestic admin, dogs, ageing parents, dealing with the bumpiness of life… Kate and Julie cover familiar terrain, as they discuss the need for careful balancing and integration in a multi-faceted life.
Our conversationalists for this episode are Julie de Jong, Director of H&H Architects and Kate Hislop, the Head of the School of Design at the University of Western Australia.
Their spirited discussion covers Julie’s experience of regional practice, from losing the design ego to the beauty of regional towns, the priority of lifestyle and being a real participant in the local community. Julie is candid about her time studying, working and living in the city for more than a decade before choosing a life in Albany. “It was a breath of fresh air when I got back to the regions and started having regional clients who spoke the same language as me.”
I wear jeans to work and Blundstones for real … I can go to the Bogan bingo and not have to buy an outfit!”
Julie de Jong
From the importance of community engagement and adapting to the unique models of practice in regional areas, Kate and Julie highlight the opportunities to be found while practising architecture in the regions. They also point out the challenges of regional life, with the constant battle to keep talented country kids in the regions and the struggle to secure adequate funding for education and infrastructure.
Kate shares the attraction of academia, with a strong emphasis on mentoring, sponsoring and supporting students. She describes the experience of living a complex, multi-faceted life and the need for integration – from work to children to caring for ageing parents. “For me, it’s been 20 years of juggling family and work. But actually, I think it’s more about how you try to integrate and deal with the bumpiness … you know, life is really bumpy.”
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 Whadjuk Nyoongar Country at the 2022 Perth Spring Salon, which was part of Fremantle Design Week. Held on 18 October 2022 within the space of the XYX Lab exhibition, HyperSext City, the Salon was convened by Suzie Hunt and run in collaboration with #WorkWomenWisdom.
