Épisodes

  • Episode 6 - Modernist Love
    Sep 16 2025

    What’s the best way to save our 20th Century architecture? Tim and Kev travel to Manchester to meet the charasmatic Eddy Rhead, from The Modernist, part of a group who believed they’ve found the secret.

    The Modernist is a bookstore, publisher and exhibition space which is part of The Modernist Society, a Manchester organisation “dedicated to celebrating and engaging people with twentieth-century architecture and design through publishing, events, exhibitions, and creative collaborations.”

    It was created in 2009 by Jack Hale, Maureen Ward and Eddy Rhead. Since then they’ve published a regular magazine, books, hosted events, run tours and opened a shop front that also holds exhibitions.

    You can visit The Modernist on their website here (https://the-modernist.org) including signing up for their newsletter on the bottom on their homepage. And follow them on Instagram here (@themodernist)

    You can check out Peter Hook’s excellent book, The Hacienda: How Not to Run a Club here (https://www.readings.com.au/product/9780062307958/9780062307958)

    You can find pictures and videos on 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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com

    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud

    Guest: Eddy Rhead (@just_some_fella)

    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.

    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp

    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media

    Video Production: Ned Williams

    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    58 min
  • Episode 5 - BONUS CHAT - Flying High.
    Sep 11 2025

    In this very first bonus episode, Tim and Kevin continue their deep dive on the evolution of airplane design, revisit some of their favourite plane movies and hatch a plan about taking their own Spitfire and Harrier Jump Jet for a test flight.

    Tim and Kevin chat about a few movies during this episode including
    The V.I.P.s (1963)
    Mortadella (1971)
    The First of the Few (1942)
    The Dam Busters (1955)
    Battle of Britain (1969)

    Correction - Kevin mentioned a book by Matt White, but it is actually by his brother Rowland White (whoops) and is called Vulcan 607, details here:
    https://www.rowlandwhite.com/?portfolio=vulcan-607

    And the book about the making of the film, Battle of Britain is by Leonard Mosley
    (published 1969, ISBN 0297179098)

    You can find pictures and videos on 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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new
    adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the
    Australian Institute of Architects (@aus_institute_architects) and is produced with the
    support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Video Production: Ned Williams
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    50 min
  • Episode 5 - Flying High
    Sep 9 2025

    On a mid afternoon flight from Copenhagen to Heathrow, Tim and Kev pull out the microphones to discuss their favourite airplanes of all time, trade helicopter stories, reveal the worst plane food of all time…and a whole lot more.

    Plus this coming Friday they prove that there can never be enough jet fuel propelled plane talk when they unleash their very first bonus episode full of all the air chat that they couldn’t fit in the first episode.

    You can find pictures and videos on 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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com
    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new
    adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the
    Australian Institute of Architects (@aus_institute_architects) and is produced with the
    support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Video Production: Ned Williams
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    39 min
  • Episode 4 - 24 Hours in Wrexham
    Sep 2 2025

    Tim drags a reluctant Kevin to the Wrexham, the Welsh town that shot to fame when actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought their struggling football team in 2020. How has it really changed? They gave themselves 24 hours to find out.


    Wrexham, a historic market town in North Wales, was once best known for brewing and coal mining, with its football club, Wrexham AFC, quietly toiling away in the lower leagues since 1864. That changed in 2020 when Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club, sparking a global wave of attention. Their ownership and the hit documentary Welcome to Wrexham, turned the town into a cultural
    phenomenon and gave its proud community football team a place on the world stage.


    Photos of Tim and Kev in action at Wrexham can be found on their Instagram page - @big_design_adventure


    If you want to visit Wayne at the Turf - https://the-turf.co.uk


    You can also follow Wayne and the pub on Instagram @turfwxm

    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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com

    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud

    Guests: Wayne from The Turf

    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.

    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp

    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media

    Video Production: Ned Williams

    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    56 min
  • Episode 3 - Thunderbirds Are Go!
    Aug 26 2025

    Tim and Kev delve into the weird world of science fiction string puppets from the many iconic TV series produced by Gerry Anderson. From Thunderbirds to Space 1999, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and not forgetting UFO. Stand by for Supermarionation.


    For behind the scenes stories of Anderson’s work and how the puppets never could walk properly, visit the brilliant YouTube collection of Century 21 films here:
    www.century21films.co.uk


    Here’s an explanation of the Ondes Martenot, the early keyboard synthesiser, used by Oliver Messiaen, Daft Punk and Radiohead - but also by Barry Gray to evoke the menace of the Mysterons in Captain Scarlet:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondes_Martenot


    You can hear almost all of Barry’s oeuvre on this Spotify link
    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Im4Wqd4Fd89BE61r7R7ED?si=JODPO6hRTBO5BC
    D2Z-arjg&pi=jIXIC8EpQ2eyT


    And if you’re a devoted nerd, listen to the Gerry Anderson Podcast:
    https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-gerry-anderson-podcast/id1396254711


    As a treat you can watch the 90 minute full-length feature film Thunderbirds are Go!
    here: https://youtu.be/uNx7AR_j31Q?si=k5DVY-lvf7fvhJD_
    The opening sequence of airport architecture and aircraft is inspirational. The Martian Exploration Centre interior is magnificently 1960s. The Swinging Star sequence with Cliff Richard and the Shadows (as puppets) is hilarious.

    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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com

    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud

    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.

    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp

    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media

    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    59 min
  • Episode 2 - The Art of Living Closely
    Aug 19 2025

    Tim and Kev head to London to explore a radical 1960s housing development where prospective residents must pass an interview before moving in. But will they make the cut?

    Winscombe Street consists of five terrace houses in Camden, London, England, designed by the architect Neave Brown for himself and a collective of four other families in the mid 1960s.

    For more details and original images from Winscombe, visit - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/neave-browns-skilfully-composed-winscombe-terrace-listed

    And https://www.modernism-in-metroland.co.uk/blog/anatomy-of-a-house-no16-winscombe-street

    Or check out this book on Neave Brown’s work https://bookshopbyuro.com/products/part-of-a-city-the-work-of-neave-brown-architect

    There’s a great film by RIBA about his work on YouTube here

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VZYiM9HBH0w

    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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com

    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the Australian Institute of Architects (@institute_architects_aus) and is produced with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud

    Guests: Jo McCafferty and Declan McCafferty

    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land, Australia.

    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp

    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media

    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    58 min
  • Episode 1 - Rocking the Suburbs
    Aug 12 2025

    To kick off the big design adventure, Kevin heads to the Sydney suburbs to visit Tim in
    his 1950s modernist home. Plonking themselves at the table, they launch into a wide-
    ranging conversation covering the trials and tribulations of kitchen renovations, the folly
    of our before-and-after culture, and just how much Tim tidied up the house for Kev.

    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 hello@bigdesignadventure.com


    Know someone who would love this podcast? Please help us share this exciting new
    adventure.

    Big Design Adventure is proudly sponsored by Space Furniture (@spacefurniture), the
    Australian Institute of Architects (@aus_institute_architects) and is produced with the
    support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation (@alastairswaynfoundation).

    Hosts: Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud
    Big Design Adventure is produced by Modernister Films on Wallumedegal land,
    Australia.
    Executive Producer: Shelley Kemp
    Audio Production: Madeline Joannou – Mylk Media
    Music: Kit Warhurst (@kitwarhurst)

    Please note this podcast is not currently available in the UK or Ireland.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Voir plus Voir moins
    48 min