Dan Martin - Designing and Planning for Biodiversity

In this episode, Aileen Chew and Daniel Moore speak with Dan Martin, an environmental planner, designer, and academic whose career bridges architecture, geography, and environmental policy. Based in the south-west of Western Australia, Dan co-leads the practice Super Natural while lecturing in landscape architecture at the University of Western Australia. His work reflects a deep commitment to biodiversity, design equity, and the future of sustainable urban growth. Our conversation explores Dan's research into the unique biodiversity hotspot of south-west Australia, where ecological richness collides with the pressures of urban sprawl. He shares insights into how planning and design can foster "better infill," weaving living infrastructure and density models that both respond to climate realities and enhance community wellbeing. Dan also reflects on the power of mapping as a process—more than a technical tool, it's a way of storytelling and envisioning possibilities for landscapes, ecologies, and urban futures. From rethinking Perth's growth patterns to reimagining how data, illustration, and design can communicate complex ecological systems, Dan brings a rare and holistic perspective. His insights remind us that architecture and planning are not only about shaping built form, but about protecting life systems and revaluing the landscapes we depend upon. Our sponsor Brickworks also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find 'The Art of Living', 'Architects Abroad, and 'The Power of Two', at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform. If you'd like to show your support please rate, review, and

You can listen to Dan Martin - Designing and Planning for Biodiversity online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Dan Martin - Designing and Planning for Biodiversity is an episode from Hearing Architecture by Daniel Moore.

This episode is 45:51 long.

This episode was published on Sep 11, 2025.

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