Five by Five

Spend five minutes with five Members from around Australia. Gain some insight on the projects that they are working on, the challenges they have overcome, and why they became a Design Matters National Member.

Name: Alex Willis Tile: Design Manager Company: Willis Design Group P/L

Name: Jim Woolcock Title: Director Business: SUHO

Name: Keira Nicholson Title: Building Designer & LHA Assessor Company: Collective Design Agency

Name: Ross MacKinnon Title: Director & Principal Company: MacKinnon Design

Name: Wen-Chi Tseng Title: Director Company: Arc T-Lab

Alex Willis

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

A split level house on a sloping block adjoining a State forest, to BAL 40 requirements on a P class site and applying lightweight framing construction, using the topography of the site.

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

There were two:

The Mount Lawley three storey mixed use development; value $5million. A highly complex building design project that had everything. Not only was it a heritage project but also including a liquor shop, restaurant, two offices and eight apartments. There were eighteen consultants from lift specialists, acoustic, civil, fire aside from the usual structural, mechanical; and electrical. In addition to all the design, documentation 3D, I was the heritage specialist. I would go to the site almost every week addressing any questions. Often I would witness anything up to fifty trades on site; it was a fast build time of eleven months. Construction included: tilt-up, masonry brick, lightweight wall and floor, suspended concrete, lightweight roof; all apartments included a mezzanine floor. It was an exciting project. South Fremantle, South Street project – Commercial, value $1million. This was a derelict building. Having seen better days, this one hundred years old consisting of shops and an adjoining house, it was in a terrible run-down and dilapidated condition. There was graffiti on all the walls, squatters and it was uninsurable. On behalf of the owners, my task was to bring this building to today’s standards, better still to be in use. I was the heritage expert, managing all the assessments and writing of reports. I also successfully processed this through the local authority heritage and planning departments in a very quick time. Now the build is complete, the outcome is remarkable. Better still, the owner and builder faithfully followed my directions not only through the documentation but also from site meetings.

1:5

The Pantheon, Rome. Right: Library and Learning Centre, Zaha Hadid Architects.

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

This was a project located in the sand dunes. However, we had no idea how we were to obtain views of the ocean, the dunes, trees obscured much. To resolve this, I used a drone, not easy on a sloping, sandy, deeply wooded site. Together with the surveyor and drone specialist, I was able to photograph at different levels. From there, I was able to set my floors, allowing for eye-level observation. The outcome, a beachcomber style, lightweight framed house, is set high upon steel posts. I was able to verify the floor heights using the drone on a subsequent visit; after all, a $1 million house was at stake!

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

1. Passion 2) Be prepared to move sideways in your career 3) Always learn something new 4) Get out and about – look at buildings not only their materiality but also form. 5) Travel heaps – understand how buildings and urban spaces work together or not. 6) Understand your opinion will change over time.

Why did you join Design Matters National?

I joined because it is a nationwide group of people, the Professional Development activities and seminars, and the ideas and comments on the Facebook group.

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

Other member practices, such as type of work, where and experiences.

What is your favourite finish or feature?

Recycled brick

What is your favourite architectural style?

Heritage complimented by the contemporary

What is your favourite Australian building?

St Georges Cathedral, Cadogan Song School, Church House, City of Perth designed by Palssis Architects. An absolute beautiful looking building – sheer artistry.

What is your favourite international building?

The Pantheon, Rome, simply because it has an un-reinforced dome, where the aggregate mix diminishes in size as it reaches the artistic ocular - truly remarkable engineering

Which designer currently inspires your work?

There are many out there, such as: Kerry Hill Architects; Zaha Hadid – extraordinary places; Glen Murcutt and Robin Boyd – too vast a topic of conversation.

Jim Woolcock

Why did you join Design Matters National?

Design Matters National is the best NatHERS Assessor Accrediting Organisation (AAO). I have been a member of the technical committee for a number of years and have been impressed with the DMN management as they have focused on supporting and improving the skills of thermal performance assessors.

SUHO joined Design Matters National as a designing member to take advantage of the proforma documentation when we started our in-house studio.

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

Getting the building industry to recognise the benefits of assessor accreditation is an ongoing problem. Currently, anyone can use the software and start assessing buildings, even without accreditation. As with many technical professions, it takes time and effort to build up the needed skills to assess buildings correctly. This is an ongoing challenge.

Why did you become a thermal performance assessor (TPA)?

Modelling buildings enables issues to be fixed before they are set in concrete (quite literally)... I believe all buildings should be energy positive and comfortable to live and work in. This is the goal of Thermal Performance Assessor’s - we model buildings to identify and address issues and use that knowledge to inform our clients of ways they can improve the performance of their buildings.

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

Hubble launched in 2020 as a start-up in Adelaide’s Technical Hub, Lot 14. The aim of Hubble is to allow anyone to understand the thermal performance of a building and how it relates to cost, energy efficiency and comfort.

I am providing my years of experience in building modelling, and the Hubble team is feeding that into an AI engine to create the new tool.

What is your favourite software tool?

AccuRate - it is the most flexible tool because it has all the possible variables available. Pity it has such a terrible user interface... I’m looking at you CSIRO.

How has thermal performance assessing (Energy Rating) and energy efficiency changed over the years?

Overall, it has become a lot more structured. This is because assessor procedures are set for all TPA’s rather than being open for the interpretation of individual assessors.

There has also been some stringency creep with changes to the software engine increasing the stringency of the star rating requirements.

You have been on the TAC for TPAs for a few years now, why did you join?

I am interested in advancing our profession and people’s understanding of what we do. There is lots to be done in order to get recognised in the building industry. It would be great for us to be registered building practitioners.

Do you have any words of wisdom for students wanting to be part of or who is currently working in your profession?

Firstly, get a good understanding of building physics. You need an understanding of physics in order to know what to look for when you want to improve a building.

I recommend Introduction to Architectural Science by Steven Szokolay, a good introduction to building physics for TPA’s.

Keira Nicholson

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

We currently have a few residential renovations and commercial developments underway. I work closely with clients guiding the design with communication, codes interpretation and honest responses. I like to assist clients in understanding any limits to their building to create their designs together. Allowing their input from initial design concepts with renovations, we work closely with Builders who have clear and open communication for the owners to have a close working team to help them achieve budget and improved liveability.

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

I have enjoyed projects that push my comfort zone, multiple code interpretation and problem-solving, medical fit-outs, renovations for existing commercial buildings, social housing, and projects focusing on access solutions.

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

My biggest business challenge was realising it all started with me. I had to look after myself both physically and mentally; otherwise, how could I excel at creating unique spaces for others. Learning to back myself first, see the skills and abilities I have, and rediscover why I love this industry.

Trusting my skills knowledge and realising we are unique exactly as we are and how we do what we do.

Understanding some of my biggest hills to climb were there to help level me up to new versions of myself.

With the design, the biggest challenge is following my instincts and redirecting clients to someone they align with if we do not click. Some clients challenge my communication skills and have unrealistic budgets and expectations.

Also, trust my interpretation for initial concepts and not second guess myself.

Because when I do and spend too much time re-changing the design, clients often change plans back to the initial concept.

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

Go out on-site to see the construction process. Don’t be afraid to ask questions; there are no stupid questions, just bad teachers. Don’t be afraid of failure. Dust yourself off and take a step. Create a network, don’t be afraid to connect with others in this industry. Celebrate and learn from the wealth of knowledge in this industry.

Why did you join Design Matters National?

I enjoy seeing and supporting other designers. There are some insanely talented people in this community.

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

It would be great to learn more about updates in Codes and regulations, programs and legal support.

What is your favourite finish or feature?

The use of wood in a design. Wood adds depth, warmth and is versatile both as a dominant and architectural feature.

What is your favourite architectural style?

I have fallen for the Scandinavian inspired designs for residential. And for commercials, my favourite buildings intrigue, challenge or inspire me either by form, internal environment, or materials regardless of style.

What is your favourite Australian building?

WA Museum Boola Bardip. Bold clean lines direct focus to the existing red brick heritage building retained.

What is your favourite international building?

Antoni Gaudi House of bones. Strong dominating external façade and fluid whimsical curves of the interior, it is art in structure.

Which designer currently inspires your work?

I don’t have any one designer who inspires my work. When I attend places or see works that call out to me, I must investigate. If it inspires or intrigues me, I research the building elements or spend time touching, staring, and taking photos.

Ross MacKinnon

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

We are currently working on a project called ‘Rivercabin’ on the banks of the Delatite River and at the foothills of both Mt Buller and Mt Timbertop in the Victorian High Country. We are bringing to the project a sensitivity of the landscape, being on the Delatite River. Our design response encapsulates a butterfly roof form which is reflective of the deep gorge chasm land profile. The project is extending on an existing 2-storey attic style tiny house and is contrasted with a modern cantilevered concrete room additional encased in glass and galvanised corrugated steel walls and roof.

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

Our favourite project is the Eastern Innovation Business Centre (EIBC) Small Business Incubator and Innovation Hub located in Mulgrave and completed for the City of Monash in 2015. The project entailed writing the RDAF grant creating the vision, feasibility study, design response, project management, steering group committee and incorporated science-led innovation technologies alongside Monash University. The project included integrated water cycle management ‘IWCM’ innovative vertical biofilter garden system to treat greywater and stormwater from the EIBC building and surrounding landscape.

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

A client’s brief expressed the requirement to select and detail the project with non-toxic, chemical-free environmental building materials in a house renovation project in Euroa. This project also required the use of low embodied energy considering the life cycle analysis of the building materials.

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

To harness and master their creativity and visions through the use of freehand drawings before applying them to their computer modelling.

Why did you join Design Matters National?

To be a part of the building design community for direct contribution and professional development through the Design Matters network.

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

A focus on renewables, energy systems and environmental products applied to contemporary building design.

What is your favourite architectural style?

The wool shed vernacular in the Australian landscape.

What is your favourite Australian building?

The Opera House for its complexity in detail, its beauty and its engineering prowess.

What is your favourite international building?

Basilica de la Sagranda Familia by Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona.

Which designer currently inspires your work?

Glenn Murcutt

Sydney Opera House, designed by Jørn Utzon.

Wen-Chi Tseng

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

I am working on a mix-use building, four-unit ground dwellings, seven-unit terrace houses, two restaurants renovations, a nail salon fit-out, and a few renovation residential projects.

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

My favourite project is mix-use building in the practice. I think it is interesting to design a complex building, and it is challenge too.

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

The biggest business challenge is to manage the projects according to the project schedule. We do project stages to track each project’s working time.

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

Keep working hard and ask if unsure. Be confident and do your best. Be humble to learn from a leader.

Name: Wen-Chi Tseng Title: Director Company: Arc T-Lab

The double-helix staircase is made with slick concrete.

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

Critical thinking, workplace management skills

What is your favourite finish or feature?

My favourite floor finish is raw concrete, external wall feature is timber cladding corporate with steel frame.

What is your favourite Australian building?

Sydney Opera house.

What is your favourite international building?

La Sagrada Familia

Which designer currently inspires your work?

Tadao Ando architect

Keep working hard and ask if unsure. Be confident and do your best. Be humble to learn from a leader.

Concrete helical staircases that twist around the centre of the He Art Museum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando.

true zero carbon challenge

Design a custom three bedroom plus study home that produces more power than it uses over a year, calculates the embodied carbon in materials and, the home must repay its entire carbon debt by 2050, the year of net-zero housing.

The home will be a minimum of 7 stars and projects will be judged on aesthetics, functionality, passive solar design elements, material choices, and minimisation of broader sustainability objectives. This competition is like no other and will give participants a tremendous advantage when the 7 star Whole of Home energy efficiency rating is introduced under the new National Construction Code 2022.

The True Zero Challenge will pave the way for building designers and energy assessors to be publicly recognised, in particular by consumers, industry, government, and home builders, for their incredible skillsets to design homes of the future. The Footprint Company

The Footprint Company

The Footprint Company is an Australian business providing streamlined, easy to use, designer specific tools to help Architects and Designers lower the embodied carbon in their designs. Their products enable you to research, benchmark and compare embodied carbon for building materials.

The GreenBook is a product research tool listing over 3,000 building materials along with proprietary generic assemblies and benchmarks. The Footprint Calculator is a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool to help you set embodied carbon targets from project inception and quickly analyse, amend and summarise results. These platforms are web accessible 24/7 or can even integrate directly into 3D modelling. All entrants will receive a complimentary licence to use The Footprint Company’s online Calculator for the period of the competition.

Sustainability Victoria

Sustainability Victoria (SV) is a statutory authority of the Victorian Government. In addition to administering the FirstRate5 house energy rating software and Pilot Whole-of-Home tool, SV delivers a range of waste and emissions reduction programs targeted at accelerating Victoria’s transition to a circular, climate-resilient economy.

IN COLLABORATION with