Michael from the Block

It’s not every week that a building designer pops up on a reality TV series attracting 600,000+ viewers an episode. Design Matters National Member Michael Taouk did just that in early August, on Channel’s Nine’s long-running renovation competition reality TV series “The Block”, raising the profile of the building design profession exponentially across Australia. We caught up with Michael to find out what it was like to be invited into TV land and have his design talents displayed on national television.

Why did you become a building designer?

As a child, I loved to draw and I have always been interested in the problem solving and creative aspects of building design. I see building design as a combination of these three interests.

Where did you do your study?

I studied at Holmesglen TAFE in Melbourne, part-time at night school over seven years, while working full-time in the corporate world. I have also completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Swinburne University.

That’s not the usual path into building design. How was that experience?

It was tough. I sacrificed a lot, especially weekends to complete assignments, but looking back, I’m glad I persevered as it has given me a great career path.

Where do you work?

In early 2020, I started a design and construction business called Toak Projects, with my brother, based in Preston, north of Melbourne. Toak Projects now employs a building designer and an architect. We used ‘Toak’, the phonetic version of our surname, which is Lebanese, as the name of our company because it is easier to spell and to remember.

Tell us about the first year of Toak Projects’ operation and how you find running the business.

Another difficult, yet rewarding time. We were fortunate to have some amazing initial clients who specifically wanted to work with Toak Projects. They gave us the opportunity and allowed us the flexibility to grow and develop with them.

What kind of projects are you working on now?

Toak Projects specialises in bespoke builds, ranging from a single-dwelling to multi-unit developments. One of my favourite upcoming builds is a multi-unit development complete with basement and elevators. Each unit is 30sqm, with luxury finishes.

How did the opportunity on “The Block” come about?

My brother [joiner Paul Taouk; the “hot tradie” with 15.2K Instagram followers as @paultaouk!] has worked as a carpenter on “The Block” for the past two years, so it was through that relationship that I was introduced to the show.

When did you first appear on the show and in what context?

My first appearance was in the second episode of the current, 17th series of “The Block”. The show’s host, Scott Cam, introduced me as the ‘architectural draftsman’.

From left to right: Jesse and Kirsty, Michael and Paul Taouk, working on House 5, in Hampton, Vic.

What is “The Block”?

In case you’ve been living under a rock, “The Block” sees couples compete to design and build high-end homes then sell them at auction for the highest price. The current, ‘Fans versus Faves’ themed series offers an around-the-clock view of what happens when you take five determined couples (or twin brothers, as is the case in this series) and five properties (this year in Bronte Court, Hampton, in Melbourne’s south-east), give them equal-sized budgets, and just weeks to out-design and out-build each other to see who becomes the ultimate winner and walks away with their prize of $100,000.

Your clients on “The Block” are Jesse and Kirsty, on House Five. Can you share how, as a building designer, you added value to their project?

House Five is a large, double-storey home and, compared with a single-storey building, the extra storey adds another level of complexity. Being a building designer has allowed me to provide valuable advice on not only the structural elements but also what potential buyers will be looking for, and design to their specifications.

Are there any Michael Taouk ‘signature’ features in House Five?

Definitely! I can’t give too much away before each week airs, however, it will be impressive.

Was the experience of being on “The Block” what you were expecting?

The experience was much more difficult than I had expected. It was daunting having to assist designing a whole house layout without notice and meeting short deadlines. Having several cameras recording your every move knowing that an error could be nationally televised was unnerving.

Why do you think your house will win “The Block”?

I think House Five will win because it had a building designer assisting with the design process. Collaboratively working with my brother Paul, the builder and the tradies allowed for innovation and synergy.