03. Member Matters

Sketch Book

VIETNAM

Trying not to wake my sleeping family, I sneak to the balcony overlooking a small Vietnamese town. The view of the South China Sea is fantastic however, it is not what I feel a need to sketch. Being a building designer attracts me to the waking-up streets of the old part of this coastal Vietnamese town, where a mix of French-influenced and typical narrow concrete houses fill the valley. In this early hour I am not the only one awake - the air is already filled with the constant noise of motorcycles, bangs from construction across the road and the aroma of sweet Vietnamese coffee from cafes.

Tatiana Volodomanova

The technology and hustle of the 21st Century offers very little free time to do something I love - sketching the surrounding environment. The luxury of creating sketches is limited to time spent away from home, away from the perpetually busy family-work life here in Melbourne. The urge to depict usually occurs when I find myself in a very different, unfamiliar environment that has to be absorbed through observation, sketching and memorising and where relying on photos only is not good enough.

Email your sketch and inspiration to editor@designmatters.org.au

GUM DEPARTMENT STORE, MOSCOW

Visiting my hometown offers endless possibilities to visit historical places and buildings. It is easy to get overwhelmed in this bustling city where the East meets the West. What to sketch, when there are too many choices and too little time, packed with seeing family and friends? Often nothing. A rare occasion is finding refuge in a cafe in this historical shopping centre, hidden away from the crowds and starting a sketch. Half an hour later realising there is no time left, so this sketch will be finished later. Must take a photo or two.

Tatiana Volodomanova

JASPER, CANADA

Often a sketch does not have to depict the most famous and exciting architecture. Instead, it can be of just a common building inscribed in a beautiful environment, where the eyes are attracted to the landscape and the building just happens to be there and there is an overall balance in this scene. It is also important that the scenery for sketching is seen right from the window of a place where we are staying during the cold season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tatiana Volodomanova

Building Design AwardsDesign Matters National Meet the judges of the 2020

John Armsby Dianne Bayley Tim Ellis Roy Hodgson

John Armsby, Armsby Architects.

John grew up and studied Architecture in Tasmania and worked for several years there, moving to Melbourne in the 90s. When he left university, all he wanted to do was design, but he quickly got absorbed in detailing and the Craft of putting a building together. After that, he didn’t want to design anything until he’d studied his Craft. He worked with a number of profile firms in Melbourne, Queensland and London before founding Armsby Architects around 2008. He found himself in Tasmania and wanting to get back to Melbourne, so he established his firm while treading water waiting to get back. He never really saw himself as continuing the firm once he got back to Melbourne, however, after arriving and thinking about looking for a job he thought, ‘hey, I’ll give it a year and see what happens’, and what a year that was. The whole world economy crashed and while every other firm in Melbourne had work evaporating, he found he had it coming in constantly. Now he finds himself 12 years on and thinking, he might just give it another year to see what happens. See John’s InterVIEW on Page 14 & 15.

Dianne Bayley, Pasco Design.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Interior Design (RMIT) in 1985, Dianne joined SJB Architects as their first interior designer, and established the interior design department and resource library. At Robertson’s Commercial Contracts, Dianne designed and documented various aspects of the Port Douglas Mirage Resort over two-years, including hotel, condominiums and country club. She discovered a passion for residential and hotel design at Stephen Akehurst and Associates, spending 10 years developing both interior and building design skills working on large country homes and Sebel, Metro and Parkroyal hotels, nationally. Seeking further challenges, Dianne took on the role of design manager at HPA Architects/Mirvac where she designed and managed multiple housing, high-rise and hotel projects including Beacon Cove, Kingston Heath, South Yarra/Como Hotel site, and Docklands Yarra’s Edge apartments. In 2000, she became a registered building practitioner/building designer and established her own design business – Pasco Design. Over the past 20 years, Dianne has consulted to national residential developers and designed many residential projects, including renovations, extensions and new homes, throughout Melbourne.

Tim Ellis, Glow Design Group.

As a graduate of Victoria University, Tim’s first role was with a Swiss-German architect who brought him up to date with cutting-edge architecture and design. Tim studied the thermal importance of buildings and later became accredited in thermal performance, before becoming registered and setting up Timothy Ellis Building Design. Tim’s wish was to form a group to utilise not only the building design and drafting skills he had gained but also include skills in interior design and photography which belonged to those around him. Tim has always aimed to design for one’s environment and keeps a sustainable approach to the forefront when designing. He is proud to say that over his career his drawings have been presented on “Belle Magazine” online, and a project for which he did drawings was featured in “Grand Designs” magazine in the UK. Tim is on the Committee of Management of Design Matters National. He has also taught a night class of Sustainable Building Design and Design Presentation of Architectural Drawings at Victoria University.

Roy Hodgson, Roy Hodgson Design.

Roy graduated from RMIT with a Certificate of Technology in Architectural Drafting, and is involved with TAFEs as a judge and through ongoing student-mentor programs. A registered building practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority, Roy founded Roy Hodgson Design in early 1990, drawing on his reputation within the residential, seniors living and aged-care sectors. Roy leads a team of draftspersons and architects who

Peter Jackson Narelle Lockwood Peter Lombo Fleur Pitman

are client-focused and driven to complete projects to the highest possible standard. Roy has been an active member of Design Matters National, having joined in 1992, serving on the editorial committee, as Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Member, then President from 2004 to 2006. He was honoured with becoming a Fellow in 2007 and has represented the DMN as Chair of the Course Development Steering Committee for the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural); sat on the Course Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Sustainability (Built Environments); and presented at WorkSafe Week on OH&S issues and at Building Practitioners Board’s CPD Awards.

Peter Jackson, Peter Jackson Design.

Peter has over 40 years’ experience in the building design industry, starting his career with Robert McLauchlan (BDAV president 1993-1997), and working for Rob for 10 years, broken up by four years of world travel. Living in London in the early ’80s, he worked with Christopher Libby, a prominent London architect, on large-scale urban design projects. Back in Melbourne in 1990, Peter established Peter Jackson Design, specialising in heritage renovations, and country and coastal properties. He also designs new homes and renovations for people with special needs. Being a parent of a 21-year-old daughter with special needs, Peter appreciates and understands how a well-designed home can alleviate challenges faced by people in wheelchairs. A member of the BDAV/DMN for 28 years, he has until this year entered a project into every Design Awards. He has won 80 awards in total, including HIA Awards. Read an InterVIEW with Peter on pages 14-17 of the August issue of INTERSECT.

Narelle Lockwood, Narelle Lockwood Design.

Narelle has over 30 years’ experience in the building design industry, initially working for city-based building design and architectural firms. Fifteen years ago, Narelle established Narelle Lockwood Design, with offices now in Gippsland, the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne. Narelle is passionate about the environment we live in and enjoys designing form and function with this in mind. She is also a Certified Passive House designer. Narelle was awarded a Fellow membership of Design Matters National in 2017. She was an industry lecturer in the building design course for Holmesglen and RMIT for over 10 years, teaching mainly Commercial Construction and Complex Architectural Projects. Narelle held a board position of the Building Practitioners’ Board, representing Victorian building designers, and now contracts to the VBA providing assessments in the area on building design registrations.

Peter Lombo, Archsign.

Peter graduated from RMIT University in 1986 with an Associate Diploma of Architectural Technology and founded Archsign in 1988. He has led his practice through more than 30 years of building and design services in Victoria, personally overseeing the design, documentation and construction of all Archsign projects. Peter’s passion for collaboration and rapport with his team deliver the best possible quality and value for clients. His direction is prominent in the quality assurance of the design, documentation and construction phases, including the ongoing coordination with client representatives, project managers and consultants. Peter has represented Archsign as a Committee of Management member of Design Matters National and the Building Practitioners’ Board. Archsign has gained numerous design awards from industry bodies, both state and national, over the years of service.

Fleur Pitman, Eco Select.

With 30 years’ experience in the building industry, Fleur has qualifications and expertise in building design, building project management, sustainability and thermal performance assessments. After starting her career as a residential building designer, she worked for 10 years in retail design and construction as building Brett Seriani project manager for Target Australia. This experience allowed her to assess sustainable solutions while optimising cost, buildability, and aesthetics. She established Eco Select in 2008, responding to the needs of architects, building designers, and developers for specialist advice on sustainable building. She provides knowledge and expertise to support clients to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability in the residential sector. In 2013, she built her 8.5-Star sustainable home, giving her the lived experience and insights to achieve the optimal comfort and performance for her clients. Her goals are to provide naturally comfortable solutions while bringing sustainable design into the mainstream.

Brett Seriani, Seriani Designs.

Brett started his career in architectural design in 1994, in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He has worked within the Architecture and Engineering community since that time and holds qualifications in both. With his roots coming from Western Canada, his designs embrace the natural elements of the environment and emphasise the selection of sustainable materials. He is also a certified passive house designer, and he holds strong beliefs that all buildings need to be comfortable, provide healthy environments, be built with sustainable materials, and provide economic benefits to its occupants. His engineering designs support his architectural vision on the use of sustainable materials within the structural systems, and heavily promote the use of timber and engineered wood products, such as CLT, Glullam, LVL, as well as various other engineered wood products available within the building community. He is active within the passive house and engineering associations in Australia, and still maintains strong relationships with his peers in North America. Read an InterVIEW with Brett, on pages 14 and 15 of the July issue of INTERSECT.