This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Shaneen Fantin is an architect who challenges us on some of the assumptions about living in the Tropics and advocates design solutions that use less space, consume less energy, and maximize flexible indoor/outdoor spaces to create places that will bring us joy, cost us less and increase our interaction with the natural environment and community.


Shaneen Fantin is a Designer, Thinker and Writer. She is Director of POD (People Oriented Design) – a multi-disciplinary architecture, design, research and community engagement practice based in Cairns. Shaneen is also the Chair of the FNQ committee for the Australian Institute of Architects and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at James Cook University.
Shaneen has spent much of the last twenty years working in remote and regional areas with multi-cultural clients and she has a penchant for observing how people use space and create home in the places they live.


About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)