GRAND HOMES
HEREVER YOU LIVE in Brisbane, chances are you’ve had the pleasure of walking through a space Barbara Albert has designed. Barbara and her team at Alkot Studio are behind some of the city’s standout retail precincts, including West End’s $1.1 billion Sekisui House development, West Village. There’s no one quite like Barbara in her industry. Charismatic and vivacious, her passion is immediately infectious. Knowledge like hers hasn’t been acquired overnight. Having lived in Australia for the majority of her life, Barbara has experienced the evolution of retail in the country. Her experience spans over 20 years, across a vast number of projects and developments, from large multi-use precincts to smallscale neighbourhood centres and everything in between. Established in 2015, Alkot Studio, formerly known as The Retail Designers, has gone from strength to strength under her leadership, flourishing into a multidisciplinary studio specialising in high-end residential, retail, and hospitality Interior Design, as well as Retail Design Management. Much of Barbara’s success comes from the long-standing and rich relationships she has cultivated with clients and landlords. She also has strong bonds with the Alkot Studio team, especially her wife Ana. The two met six years ago while Ana was living in Melbourne, with Barbara flying back and forth for a year before they eventually settled in Brisbane. Their shared passion for design sparked their love, and it has continued to blossom over the years, with the couple tying the knot in 2018. An architect, Ana worked for several high end design firms in Brazil and has become an invaluable member of Alkot Studio, bringing with her a wealth of technical knowledge that has transformed the design studio. The couple love to travel, often finding themselves wandering the streets and admiring the architecture and interior marvels of whichever city they’re in. This appreciation for different places and cultures has greatly benefited their work with Alkot Studio, allowing them to approach their design with fresh ideas and trends not yet seen in Australia. A life partner in all senses of the word, Ana has been an inspiring force in Barbara’s life, both personally and professionally. Their latest adventure is their most exciting one yet … the couple has just welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world. With her natural knack for adaptability and resilience, there’s no doubt, Barbara, alongside Ana, will take motherhood in her stride.
56 covemagazine.com.au
– Issue 89
A LKOT S TU D I O.CO M . AU 35 CHESTER STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY 07 3076 0205
