The Learning Space category at the INDE.Awards is supported by Autex Acoustics.

SpeakingOut is where we engage with jury members, past winners, luminaries and those shortlisted from previous years of the INDE.Awards. This episode – available to watch live on Instagram – features a conversation with the esteemed John Wardle of Wardle, hosted by Jan Henderson.

Jan Henderson: John, welcome to SpeakingOut. There’s so much to say about you. In 2020, Wardle was the winner of the Learning Space category with the Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne Project. You’ve also received many other awards, including the Gold Medal from the Australian Institute of Architects. You’re known as the architect’s architect, and everyone knows your name and work. How did you come to be an architect?

John Wardle: Gosh, that’s deep in the annals of history. I think I sort of drifted to it from many angles and influences, including extensive travel as a child. Our parents took us to places defined by their urban character, which must have informed my sense of space. Growing up on the edge of Geelong, I witnessed the city’s growth firsthand. This evolution and the transformation of farmland into housing subdivisions likely directed me toward architecture, a profession I’ve found immensely rewarding.

JH: You’ve given a lot back to the country and the globe with your work. Let’s talk about one project, the Ian Potter Southbank Centre. What did you want to achieve in the design, and what were the challenges and innovations involved?

JW: This project involved many of my team members over an extraordinary length of time. Partner in the Practice, Megan Dwyer, and I worked on test and business cases for nearly a decade. It was a landmark project for us, marking the trajectory of our practice into new territories. Despite all the preparation, we had never delivered a conservatory before. This project allowed us to innovate, like shifting the site to enable a linear park connecting the Art Spine at Sturt Street to the heart of the VCA campus. We also implemented playful design elements, such as sliding screens and viewing portals, which made the space both functional and visually engaging.

JH: Looking ahead, what do you see as the most important direction for architecture and design in the next decade, especially in education?

JW: We’re working in a period of amazing complexity and rapid change. Architects must respond to this complexity and the urgency of building more responsibly. The design must respond to change over time, considering the planet’s needs and gaining greater knowledge from Indigenous culture and practices. This approach is a defining aspect of our practice, led by our Indigenous leader, Michael McMahon. Our projects strive to foster engagement with Indigenous knowledge, landscape custodianship and cultural practices.

JH: Your practice has evolved significantly. You now have a studio with partners and are also located in Sydney. Can you tell me about this evolution and the pillars that guide your practice?

JW: Our practice is guided by several philosophies: Climate Active, which focuses on innovative responses to environmental challenges; Collective Memories, which emphasises shared values and common understanding; Material Invention, which is about our curiosity and technical expertise in making; and Blurring Boundaries, which explores the merging of programmatic responses and the impact of buildings beyond conventional boundaries. We have five partners now, and while we considered many names, we landed on Wardle to reflect the collective effort and bright minds leading and contributing to our work.

JH: It’s been a fascinating conversation, John. Thank you so much for being here and speaking out with me today.

JW: Always great to speak with you, Jan. Thank you.

We are proud to feature such influential voices in our SpeakingOut series, made possible by the support of Autex Acoustics, the Category Partner for the Learning Space at the 2024 INDE.Awards. Stay tuned for more inspiring discussions with leading figures in architecture and design.

You can also watch the interview on Instagram here.

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