The Home Front, Lessons in Living

The Home Front, Lessons in Living

In episode two of our special series The Home Front we look at how Australians have lived together in the past—and what those lessons might offer us today. From the tightly packed worker’s cottages of the early 1900s, where strong community bonds helped people get by, to the bold experiments in communal and cooperative living during the 1970s, Australians have long found creative ways to share space. Now, as the housing crisis deepens, one State Government (NSW) is reviving the idea of the housing pattern book—a fast-track design initiative that encourages density, sustainability, and smarter living. But are Australians ready to embrace the idea of “home” not as a private fortress, but where shared space and personal privacy coexist?

Extraordinary Everyday: Why today’s bikes are still stuck in the 1800s

Do you remember your first ride? For kids, it’s a first taste of freedom. For others, it’s transport, fitness—or both. But here’s the twist: for all their variations, the bike’s core design hasn’t changed since the 1800s. So why are those designs still so successful? We go back to where it began—and to the ideas that still carry us today.

The Home Front, Owning the dream

Why do so many Australians see owning a home as the cornerstone of the Great Australian Dream? In this opening episode of our special series The Home Front, we unpack the historical, cultural, and political forces that shaped Australia’s deep-rooted obsession with home ownership. From post-war prosperity to the rise of suburban ideals, we trace how the dream took hold- and why that dream no longer fits the realities of today.

How the sari became fashion’s ultimate chameleon

It’s a single strip of cloth that has shaped centuries of style and identity.Worn for thousands of years across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, the sari is one of the world’s most enduring—and adaptable—garments. From sacred ceremonies to high fashion runways, it has continually reinvented itself while carrying deep cultural meaning. But how has one garment continued to feel fresh, relevant and strikingly modern over so much time?

How an interior designer really sees your home

What do designers notice the moment they walk through your front door? Interior designer Adelaide Bragg and photographer and author Robyn Lea reveal how they read a room—translating light, objects and atmosphere into deeply personal stories. We explore their collaboration on City, Coast and Country and what it takes to style and capture uniquely Australian homes with meaning, not just bea