S2 Ep 6 - The Queenslander

Tim and Kevin pull on their hard hats for a tour of 66 Portland Place, the striking 1934 London home of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Chair of the RIBA Board of Trustees Jack Pringle guides them through the building as it’s being stripped back, restored and reimagined as a new, more welcoming public home for architecture. Along the way, they uncover the work of designer Miriam Wornum, whose colourful original interiors have been hidden or lost over the decades and Jack also reveals plans for a new home for the incredible RIBA archive. To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on [email protected] Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

It’s a bonus episode with Pippa Goldfinger, especially curated by Kevin for you. Works best if you listen to the main episode first - Series 3, Episode 9.

Tim and Kevin head to West London to borrow the keys to an apartment in Trellick Tower, the iconic Brutalist apartment block designed by Hungarian émigré architect Ernő Goldfinger — an absolute banger of an example of social housing. Joining them on the sofa is Ernő’s granddaughter, Pippa, who shares her very personal story of growing up around her incredibly progressive grandparents, particularly at 2 Willow Road, Ernő’s groundbreaking modernist development that became a very modern multigenerational home and is now a much-loved National Trust house museum. Pippa, who also leads a creative life as Head of Design at Design West, paints the most wonderful picture of the incredible life her grandfather led as we explore his significant legacy. Learn more about Design West on their website – designwest.org.uk Check out 2 Willow Road on the National Trust website – nationaltrust.org.uk To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on [email protected] Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

This week Kev drags a slightly confused Tim to Leigh, outside Manchester, to explore Leigh Spinners Mill, a vast former cotton mill. He’s less confused when he finds out it’s been given an extraordinary new life as a thriving community hub. Built in 1913 for the Horrocks family, the mill is a reminder of the textile industry that once dominated Greater Manchester, shaping its towns, communities and skylines before its decline during the 20th century. Joining the lads is planner and heritage expert Catherine Dewar to talk about Britain’s remarkable industrial heritage, why we need to find new uses for old buildings and why restoration doesn’t always need to mean making everything perfect. Today the mill is home to artists, small businesses, a cinema, theatre, gym, archery club, computer museum, hypnotist and a clairvoyant. Yes, it’s as bonkers as it sounds but you are going to find out why it works. It’s amazing what happens when you “Don’t knock the bloody thing down.” Leigh Spinners Mill gets five stars from Tim. Follow the mill on Instagram (@spinnersmillleigh). Catherine Dewar has had a 30 year career in managing change to heritage across England, and was most recently Historic England’s Regional Director in the North West of England. In March 2026, she left her director role to set up her own consultancy, providing place leadership and progressive heritage advice across the development, heritage and culture sectors. Catherine is an urban planner by training and in heart…passionate about making places that not only work but that also bring people joy. She likes nothing more than exploring new towns and cities, and all their nooks and crannies! She has a particular soft spot for industrial heritage in all its scarred, rusty glory. (More details on her website catherinedewar.com) To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on [email protected] Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure. Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation) in Australia. The Royal Institute of British Architects (@RIBA) in the UK and New Zealand Institute of Architects (@nziarchitects) in New Zealand.

What makes a well-designed hotel? This listener question set off a chain of events that created a cavalcade of hot takes, extreme rants about the state of modern hotels, a potted history of motels, a small-scale therapy session about the lettering on bottles in hotel bathrooms, a revelation about an unexpected adult movie star, and the rest you can find out for yourself. This is another feedback episode, powered by your wonderful emails To view images from this episode, head to our Instagram page - @big_design_adventure And be sure to follow Tim Ross (@modernister) and Kevin McCloud (@kevin.mccloud1) We’d love to hear from you, reach out to us on [email protected] Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.