EDIT Book Club | Summer 2024
The EDIT Book Club is a vibrant gathering that champions the exchange of ideas, drawing inspiration from the timeless power of books.
Hosted in the EDIT Kitchen at Cosh Living, this seasonally curated series brings together a community of readers who appreciate the art of deep, meaningful storytelling.
The EDIT Book Club wrapped up its final event of the year in Melbourne with an intimate and inspiring conversation between Kylie Forbes, Creative Director of Cantilever, and Tamsin O’Neill, founder and editor of green magazine.
Celebrating green magazine’s 100th issue, the event was a chance to recognise Tamsin’s input over two decades of championing sustainable architecture, thoughtful design and community-focused innovation.
With the EDIT Kitchen at Cosh Living as the refined backdrop, the chat began with reflections on the magazine’s origins. Tamsin shared her journey from architectural photography to launching a publication dedicated to sustainable design at a time when it was largely overlooked, explaining that: “a mentor suggested to me that there was nothing out there for people that were really into sustainable architecture.”
Guided by a passion for environmentalism (which harked all the way back to her childhood) and a commitment to showcasing clever, accessible design solutions, green magazine has become a vital resource for the Australian design industry.
Evolving over the years, the content within the magazine has shifted from instructional, retrofit-focused features to longform stories exploring the people, processes and philosophies behind groundbreaking projects. By publishing diverse work that balances aesthetic appeal, functionality and environmental responsibility, green magazine continues to sit in its own space in the media landscape.
““What I admire most about green magazine is how it drills down into small, actionable ideas while showcasing projects with broad, transformative impact,” ”
A recurring theme through the conversation is the role of community in sustainable design. Tamsin elaborating that, "Community is an enormous aspect of sustainability, and more and more we realise that communities are essential for our health and mental wellbeing." Seeing this as an integral driver, Tamsin is increasingly focusing on shared spaces, adaptive reuse of existing buildings and shifting toward showcasing smaller, multi-functional homes.
As the conversation wound down, the gathering reaffirmed green magazine’s enduring relevance and its ability to evolve while staying true to its core values.
Attendees were treated to a preview of the 100th issue, which features a curated mix of projects, from the first Nightingale build in Sydney to innovative community gardens and furniture made from mycelium and algae. The issue also spotlights thought leaders in sustainable design and explores innovative approaches to architecture that prioritise social and environmental impact.
The final EDIT Book Club of the year was a fitting celebration of green magazine’s milestone, leaving guests inspired to think deeply about the intersection of design, sustainability and community. And what better way to commemorate it all than with a plant, and some copies of green mag to take home.
With the senses heightened by the delicious smells emanating from the EDIT Kitchen, a group of friendly faces gathered in Melbourne for the second edition of the EDIT Book Club.
The event was gracefully hosted by Kylie Forbes, Creative Director of Cantilever, who candidly interviewed the two special guests – Meni Valle, a respected Greek food writer and cookbook author; and Stephanie Stamatis, a long-time collaborator of Meni’s, and art director and photographer.
