Why Doesn’t Where You Live Feel Like Home? — with Urban Designer David Engwicht

We tend to think of home as the space inside our four walls. But for David Engwicht, home doesn't stop at the front door – it extends out into the neighbourhood beyond. David is a master placemaker and urban designer – he explores how the design of our towns and cities can either bring us closer or push us apart. With his cowboy boots, heavy-framed glasses and 'Pat Cash' hair, he's more like a rock ’n’ roll philosopher than an urban thinker. His philosophy was shaped by a nomadic childhood, living in 30 different homes and attending 26 schools. This experience taught him that home isn't something we find; it's something we create. In this conversation, David talks about the social bonds modern life has eroded and the small, everyday gestures we can make to rebuild that trust. From turning his own garden in Brisbane into a public park, to travelling the world with a folding throne in a suitcase, David’s work is a lesson in how designing for community can lead us to a deeper sense of belonging. To hear more from us: YouTube:

You can listen to Why Doesn’t Where You Live Feel Like Home? — with Urban Designer David Engwicht online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Why Doesn’t Where You Live Feel Like Home? — with Urban Designer David Engwicht is an episode from The Modern House Podcast by Matt Gibberd.

This episode is 64:22 long.

This episode was published on Apr 30, 2026.

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