Listen to this entertaining, thought-provoking conversation between Perth-based architects Heather MacRae and Felice Burrows, as they discuss the power of travel, social impact, people-centred design, and changing perceptions.
Our conversationalists for this episode are Heather MacRae and Felice Burrows. Heather is an Associate at The Fulcrum Agency and Felice is the Co-founder and Director of Architects&Co. They share circuitous routes to their architecture careers, a strong interest in social impact and making a difference, and a sceptical view of the high design elements of the industry.
They discuss their shared passion for travel and work in marginalised communities, with Felice working in India on The Anganwadi Project, and Heather securing the Gus Ferguson Travel Scholarship and working as an intern in Chile.
“It cemented for me this idea that architecture really does have a lot of meaning and there is a lot of impact possible.”
Heather Macrae
In the years since, Felice has become a committee member of The Anganwadi Project and Heather has focussed on community masterplanning in remote Aboriginal communities.
In this fascinating episode, they discuss the things that have sustained them in their career journey – values-based projects, building relationships and meaningful volunteer work. They unpack the need for architects to redefine themselves, to change others’ perceptions around the self-serving aspects of the profession, and to focus on people and process rather than the outcome alone.
This episode was recorded live on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country at the 2023 Perth Spring Salon. The Salon was hosted by Brickworks Perth Design Studio on 17 August 2023. Convened by Suzie Hunt, it was a collaboration with #WorkWomenWisdom. Photos: Dan McBride.
