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Development is often seen as the enemy of the environment and local communities. But, as this conversation proves, thoughtful and balanced development and design can be a force for good in the world.
Spaces. They influence every part of our lives – our health, wealth and happiness. Each week on the Spaces podcast, Sam Buckby shares the insights of leading building and design experts to help make our buildings smarter and create healthier and happier spaces.
Prepare to be envious of this week’s guest. Tom Palmer is an Aussie bloke who trained as a landscape architect is Sydney. He now spends his days travelling the world helping create sustainable property developments that help the environment, wildlife and community that they exist in.
Along the way he’s helped design and construct amazing developments, particularly in wilderness areas of Africa, for the likes of Microsoft’s Paul Allen. It’s a fascinating job, a fascinating life, and, as you can imagine, Tom’s got a bunch of great stories and thoughts on sustainable development to share.
Here’s some of the places Tom takes us:
- – Tom’s journey from Sydney landscape architect to London and the Milton Group
- – How he accidentally became the company’s ‘Africa guy’
- – Using developments to fund environmental and community programs
- – Balancing returns with wildlife and community needs
- – Why people are attracted to a simpler, slower pace of life
- – Stories of a jet-setting designer’s life
- – The challenges and rewards of working in wildest Africa
- – Balancing contemporary design with strong local influences
- – Thoughts on sustainable development and its future
- – The concept of holistic sustainability
- – His new Australian venture
- – Why Africa gets under your skin (in a good way), and more
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Show notes & podcast production provided by Amplify