Five by Five

What are you working on now, and could you share something unique you’re bringing to the project?

Passive house or ‘passivhaus’ – depending on your preferred wording. Bringing next-level thermal efficiency into common use. Working with some innovative and extremely clever local builders and energy consultants is currently really satisfying.

What is/are your favourite project/s you have worked on and why?

I had some very open-minded clients, with excellent taste, in my local town. They bought a block with an old house – we knocked it down but salvaged beautiful floorboards, hardwood from the frame, about seven types of red bricks and pressed tin ceiling lining. We designed and built a new house, extremely energy efficient, with lots of north facing glass, a great outdoor connection, accessible and very modern. We then included the salvaged materials – bricks as reverse brick veneer, floorboards as wall lining, hardwood for cabinetry, and pressed metal for a feature wall into the new build.

To date, what has been your biggest business/design challenge and how did you overcome it?

I think, learning how to deal with clients successfully. In a way, designing is SO easy, that’s why we’re in this game after all. But really, it’s such a team effort to bring together an inspiring and successful project that you love so much that, you wish you could live there yourself.

In terms of professional development, what do you want to know more about?

As independent practitioners we need to be proficient at a whole range of tasks. Running a small business, dealing with clients, staying super-organised and efficient, as well as being experts at design. There’s always more to learn across a range of functions.

What is your favourite finish or feature?

Not a finish, I’m flexible with clients’ preference there, but a feature would be, extremely strong passive solar and thermally efficient design. There’s no reason not to design for the local (and changing) climate. I work mostly in winter-cold climates up to sub-alpine and even with Passivhaus building envelopes, we still need strong passive solar design to really make them work. Plus who doesn’t love natural light and fresh air?

What is your favourite architectural style?

Generally vernacular buildings, and those inspired by the vernacular. We’ve still got a lot to learn about addressing the core functions for a building, being highly responsive to its local environment, and adaptable with material and technology choices, to create something unique, sustainable and long-lasting.

What is your favourite Australian building?

A tent in a national park. As a family we’ve travelled a lot in Australia, from the Alps to the Kimberley and many places in between.

Title: Director

Company: Eco:Logical Building Design, North East Victoria

Do you have any words of wisdom for a student wanting to work in your profession?

Get hands on experience in a range of related fields. I grew up with serial owner building parents, and therefore have a reasonable amount of construction experience. There is no substitute for knowing how things go together! Similarly be sure to work with, and for, a range of people before you start your own practice, such as designers, architects and builders as you learn something different from everyone. Be inquisitive and ask lots of questions.

What is your favourite international building?

Guess what? It’s still a tent in a national park.

Which designer currently inspires your work?

Why did you join Design Matters National?

So many of us work alone or independently so we need DMN to collectively progress our industry.

I’m enjoying seeing the work come out of Lighthouse Architecture in Canberra, they have a similar climate to mine (based in north eastern Victorian high country), producing adaptable and very thermally efficient buildings, and have embraced the ‘suburban vernacular’ of the Canberra suburbs. 3:5