NaturalsCool

It’s not everyday that you hear a success story that’s changing the face of our cities. In this podcast we speak with David Basulto, founder and editor in chief of Archdaily to hear his personal story. David and his partner grew the most widely read architecture website in the world; 300 000 daily readers and about 70 million page views per month. It's fun, smart and informative. see more at www.naturalscool.com Find David and Archdaily www.archdaily.com

Vernon Collis tenaciously questions how we see and do things as architects and engineers. We spoke with him about his fierce and thorough inquiry of his own views and those of the building industry. Vernon Collis has developed an integrated design consultancy that specialises in resource efficient, sustainable design for developing countries. His multidisciplinary architectural and engineering practice works on projects throughout Africa.... see more at www.naturalscool.com Find Vernon Collis http://www.collisassociates.net

Péter Pozsár, Orsi Janota and the core team from Hello Wood are reshaping architectural education as you read this. We spoke with them about their cutting edge approach and future visions. During their week-long Summer University in the beautiful Hungarian countryside near Budapest, students from around the globe connect, learn, laugh, party, create and explore a practical way of gaining knowledge and real experience; otherwise known as ‘experiential learning’ on the job... see more at www.naturalscool.com Find Hello Wood http://www.hellowood.eu

Listen to this motivating story of a sculptor who takes action on his insights. Known for his remarkably intricate plant sculptures, Nic Bladen is an acclaimed South African jeweller and sculptor. His dream is to create complete libraries of plant sculptures, which preserve and record the biodiversity and beauty of different plant landscapes for future generations. What's striking about Nic's biography is his passion and commitment to his life and work. His uniquely individual direction is founded on the absolute trust he invests in his sometimes fleeting yet intense insights. Followed by sustained effort and unwavering follow through. As a result, he's developed a unique practice with specialised skills. see more at www.naturalscool.com Find Nic http://www.nicbladen.com

Listen to this uplifting story of how one woman's resourceful creativity has created a thriving business that a community of women and their families can depend on. Doron Shaltiel from Quazi Design innovates with up-cycled waste paper magazines to create beautiful design pieces, jewellery, interiors and lighting. Based in Swaziland, all their products are hand made by local women empowering them through skill sharing and a living wage. What really warms our hearts is the atmosphere that's created in their workshop. It's a therapeutic space where a community of artisans feel free to share their lives, grow friendships, care for each other in times of crisis and build their confidence as women who are now free to make their own choices through economic independence. see more at www.naturalscool.com Find Doron & Quazi design http://quazidesign.com

Listen to the unusual journey of this top end furniture maker. It's as dynamic and original as the furniture itself. David Tragen creates bespoke and limited edition furniture, sculpture and lighting as well as offering short woodworking courses from his rural Cheshire workshop in the UK. The career path of a freelancer, like David, is often very different to that of someone graduating from a formal institute. A clear professional direction and self-assuredness are qualities that need to be built from the inside out. Nothing is laid out with clear signage and ready-made manuals. see more at www.naturalscool.com Find David http://davidtragen.co.uk

Listen to this insightful discussion with Cyril Coetzee , a highly accomplished painter, lecturer and curator who has exhibited widely in South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, India and the US. After painting the portrait of Nelson Mandela, used on a South African stamp, he was later commissioned to paint a wedding portrait of Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel. In this conversation Cyril distinguishes between realistic and expressionistic portraits. And how a visually accurate likeness is very different to a psychological likeness. see more at www.naturalscool.com Find Cyril http://www.cyrilcoetzee.co.za

Tune in to this discussion with a world class luthier who's much more than just a guitar maker. The theme implicit in this discussion, is a lietmotif common to all artists - what we create, creates us at the same time. So what happens to us when producing a guitar, painting, ceramic sculpture or a building? As the creative process challenges, stretches and frets us, we change. Over time, even decades, our thinking can become clearer, our feelings deepen and our capacities strengthen and refine. These qualities percolate into all aspects of our lives. see more at www.naturalscool.com Tom Bills crafts guitars that look every bit as good as they sound. He's been doing this since 1988 for players and collectors worldwide, including the likes of Carlos Santana. Based in St Louis, Missouri, USA, he has written a book called the Art of Lutherie, sharing his valuable insights on how to make beautiful guitars. Follow us on www.naturalscool.com Find Tom www.tbguitars.com http://theartoflutherie.com

Listen to the integrated approach of this architect who really lives and loves his practice. David’s passionate and warm hearted approach to design includes ‘deep listening’. This means quietening yourself down to become more present in the moment, with all your senses and awareness. To be in-touch with the site, your clients, your colleagues and yourself. Deep listening stands as a counterpoint to technology, which both speeds up our lives and encourages absence in our immediate reality. When talking or texting on a mobile phone, trawling facebook, TV etc; our awareness moves out of the our immediate environment and experience of time into a kind of timeless zone in cyberspace. Can our method of designing embrace the complexity of our times without becoming onesided, so that our buildings embody our full humanity? see more at www.naturalscool.com David Barrett's studio, based in Boulder, Colorado has been awarded many times by the American Institute of Architects, notably in 2013, he was officially honoured for his contribution to architecture and society on a National level. Follow us on www.naturalscool.com Find David http://www.barrettstudio.com

Listen to the uniquely creative world of this London ceramicist. Kate's enthusiasm for the life force in nature, that which animates the growth of plants and the coming to fruit, gives her works a feeling of vitality and warmth. Her work stimulates us to feel more alive and emotionally connected. Is it possible to find common sculptural ground where the clarity of the architectural process is combined with the crafters artistic spontaneity? see more at www.naturalscool.com Kate Malone is an internationally acclaimed ceramicist whose work has been exhibited in over a hundred solo and group exhibitions from London to Miami , New York and Japan. Follow us on www.naturalscool.com Find Kate http://www.katemaloneceramics.com

You’ll enjoy this chiseled discussion, touching the heart of the crafter. Colin speaks of the importance of not only what you craft and how you craft it, but also how it crafts you. How your daily activity is the workshop for your own development as an individual. see more at http://www.naturalscool.com Colin Rock is a celebrated South African craftsman and artisan, with rich and varied experience in a number of mediums. He's a master guitar maker, experienced jeweller and builds exquisite custom designed furniture with Andy de klerk at Cabinetworks, using time-honoured joinery techniques. Follow us on http://www.naturalscool.com Find Colin https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colin-Rock-Inc/237147122997075?fref=ts https://instagram.com/colinrock_atelier