$5(92/87,21$5<&(5$0,&0$7(5,$/̞6$3+,5.(5$0,.

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S T R AT E GY | M A N AG E M E N T | F I N A N C E | L E GA L | H R | T E C H N O L O GY | L E G I S L AT I O N

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
ISSUE 159 | 2019

LARKI TECHNOLOGY
ROI FROM COMPETITIONS FINANCE
NDIS GROWTH TYPOLOGY
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Albert Mo
and Eid Goh
ARCHITECTS EAT
– THREE INTO TWO
DOES GO…
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 16
+
FEATURE INTERVIEW
Albert Mo and Eid Goh
from Architects EAT
explain how three into
two does go

CONTENTS

AR REGULARS BUSINESS 36 STRATEGY

How architectural
10 EDITORIAL 25 TECHNOLOGY practices can develop
Haley Hooper meets resilience in fluctuating
12 QUOTES Simon Cookes to get markets, by Deborah
the low-down on LARKI Singerman
14 OPINION
Julia Cambage AIA CEO 28 INTERNATIONAL 38 GROWTH TYPOLOGIES
Amelyn Ng explores NDIS and the
41 EMERGING PRACTICE Autodesk Revit with Yale opportunities it offers,
Natalie Mortimer meets lecturer and former vice by Melissa Rymer
founder of WALA, president at Autodesk,
Weian Lim Phillip G Bernstein

64 BRAIN TRUST 32 FINANCE

What do you expect Jos Maple investigates
to be the greatest what ROI can be gained
opportunity for your by entering competitions
practice in 2019?

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

CONTENTS

DESIGN APPLICATION AR ADVISER

44 LEAD PROJECT 60 ANOTHER BRICK IN 58 DORMAKABA

13 Cremorne Street THE WALL Easy as one, two, three –
by Architects EAT HHC 2018 winner unveiling the mysteries
of master keys
52 EMERGING PROJECT 62 SHOWCASE
Downside Up house New products under
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THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

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 Publisher
Joanne Davies
10 EDITORIAL [email protected]
(03) 9948 4929
Associate Publisher
Lachlan Oakley
lachlan.oakley @ niche.com.au
(03) 9948 4952

NICE TO SEE YOU…

Editor
Madeleine Swain
madeleine.swain @ niche.com.au

TO SEE YOU NICE

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Production

I
Production manager
n the editorial of the last edition I was warbling on about the potential ROI of just being nice – how,
Marie Delrieu
despite the widespread belief that diving in first and elbowing all and sundry out of the way as [email protected]
you clamber up the ladder of success is the only way to go, there can actually be fiscal returns to Editorial designer
doing the right thing. And reaching out to those ascending behind or alongside of you to give them a Keely Goodall

helping hand can not only feel good, but can even benefit your bottom line. Design and digital prepress
Karl Dyer
One of the unmistakeable take-outs of the interview we conducted with the cheery twosome over at
Publishing
Architects EAT for this issue’s cover story expands on this idea. The ever affable Albert Mo says, “I think
Chairman
we are a generation of architects that are willing to share. We talk a lot and that’s one way for us to learn Nicholas Dower
how to run a business.” When he and the E of Architects EAT, Eid Goh, first started out, they knew very Managing director
little about the practicalities of managing their own company, but they were never afraid to reach out for Paul Lidgerwood

assistance. Having worked for practices like Six Degrees in their uni days, they were happy to call up their Publisher & Commercial director
Joanne Davies
former colleagues and ask for advice. And those colleagues were just as happy to provide it, it appears.
Financial controller
Can you say the same? As a typically reserved and stiff upper lipped Brit (well, perhaps a little less Sonia Jurista
so the longer I’m here) the idea of asking for advice or help sticks in my craw a bit. Heavens, I don’t
Subscriptions
even like asking for directions when in unfamiliar terrain (see, it’s really not just a gender thing…). I Subscription enquiries
always think I’m being an imposition and that I really should be able to work things out and muddle on Call 1800 804 160 or email
[email protected]
through alone. But all the evidence points to that being a silly and misguided notion.
Cover:
After all, I know that, if the boot is on the other foot, and anyone is ever foolish enough to ask Albert Mo and Eid Goh
me for some practical advice, I’m only too delighted to try and assist in whatever meagre way I can. © Samara Clifford
Perhaps I should have faith that others feel the same. Stock images via 123RF
And for anyone starting out in their own architectural practice or other small business, perhaps the Printing
first and wisest thing they can do is assemble a veritable smorgasbord of mentors and advisers who Southern Colour

can help steer them through the white and black water rapids that so often accompany the early years
of any fledgling company.
After all, as Ecclesiastes tells us, there is nothing new under the sun (although me quoting the Architecture and Design Division
Bible in this forum may be a first…) and any conundrum or dilemma you wind up facing you can bet Architectural Review is a publication
of Niche Media Pty Ltd
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And the way to find out is to simply put your hand up, type that email or dial that number and ask Melbourne VIC 3004
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12 QUOTES

“WE TRIED TO BUILD

AN ARGUMENT
AROUND THE NEED
FOR FUNDAMENTAL
PROCESS
IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE BUILDING
INDUSTRY,
TO ADDRESS
INEFFICIENCIES, RISKS
“I THINK WE ARE A
AND LOW-PROFIT
GENERATION OF “HAVE OPERATIONAL MARGINS”
ARCHITECTS THAT ARE SYSTEMS
WILLING TO SHARE / PHILLIP G
UNDERSTOOD
WE TALK A LOT AND BERNSTEIN
BY STAFF, PAGE 28
THAT’S ONE WAY FOR COMMUNICATION
US TO LEARN HOW TO CHANNELS WELL
RUN A BUSINESS” ESTABLISHED,
/ ALBERT MO FLEXIBLE WORK
PAGE 16 ARRANGEMENTS
AND A CULTURE
THAT VALUES
TRUST, DIVERSITY
AND IS FREE FROM
DISCRIMINATION,
STIGMA AND
BULLYING”
/ SUE LESLIE
PAGE 36
“MANAGING A
PRACTICE MEANS
“AS ARCHITECTS, “WHEN THE TAKING ON NEW
OUR PASSION IS FOR COMPETITION IS RESPONSIBILITIES
DOING DESIGN AND A LARGE PROFILE AND OBLIGATIONS,
MAKING BEAUTIFUL ONE [ENTERING] ONES THAT REQUIRE
BUILDINGS THAT IT IS GOOD FOR A DIFFERENT SKILL
ENHANCE THE LIVES EVERYONE LOOK SET FROM THE ONE
OF AS MANY PEOPLE AT THE ATTENTION YOU’VE HONED FOR
AS WE CAN… [LARKI] THE SYDNEY YOUR WORK AS AN
IS DEALING WITH POOL GAINED ARCHITECT BUT
COMPLEXITY IN AN FOR EVERYONE THERE ARE ALSO
EASY WAY” INVOLVED” PARALLELS”
/ SIMON COOKES / TAI ROPIHA / JULIA CAMBAGE
PAGE 25 PAGE 32 PAGE 14

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 “WE ARE NOT
COMPELLED TO
SQUEEZE THE
SPACE AS MUCH
AS SOMETIMES,
BUT THESE
BUILDINGS ARE
STILL BEING BUILT
BY DEVELOPERS,
SO COST-
EFFECTIVENESS IS “SECTORS LIKE
ESSENTIAL ” OFFICE SPACE,
“WE DIDN’T WANT / JEREMY HEARN INDUSTRIAL, STUDENT
SOMEONE OUTSIDE PAGE 38 ACCOMMODATION,
THAT DIDN’T REALLY AGED CARE AND
UNDERSTAND THE BUILD-TO-RENT ARE
OFFICE CULTURE TO ALL SHOWING SIGNS
COME AND DICTATE OF STABILITY AND
HOW WE WOULD PROSPECT”
OPERATE ” / NIGEL HOBART
/ EID GOH PAGE 64
PAGE 16

“AFTER AN
EXTENDED PERIOD
OF ECONOMIC
CONTRACTION AND
PEPPERED FORTUNES,
THE NOW LITHE
ARCHITECTURAL
PROFESSION OF “POSSIBLY THE
WESTERN AUSTRALIA GREATEST
IS RISING OUT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR
THE BUST DUST OUR PRACTICE
“AS FAR AS I AM ON AN UPLIFT IN IN 2019 IS IN
CONCERNED THE FORTUNE WITH THE RESEARCH
RECEPTIONIST IS AS MORE ENQUIRIES ECONOMY,
CRITICAL TO OUR YET TEMPERED PARTICULARLY IN
SUCCESS AS THE BY SLUGGISH MEDICAL RESEARCH
DIRECTORS ARE ” APPROVALS” FACILITIES”
/ ADAM HADDOW / SALLY MATTHEWS / ANNE CLISBY
PAGE 36 PAGE 64 PAGE 64

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

14 OPINION

TRAINING AND LEADERSHIP

SKILLS THE KEY
RECENTLY APPOINTED AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS CEO JULIA
CAMBAGE IS NO STRANGER TO WHAT SHE SEES AS SOME COMMONLY-FACED
CHALLENGES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH EXTENSIVE COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCE
DERIVED FROM MANAGING MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACTS AT THE HELM
OF AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST PRIVATE PROCUREMENT COMPANY TO MANAGING THE
WORLD’S OLDEST YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM, CAMBAGE IS KEEN TO POSITION
THE INSTITUTE AS A PARTNER FOR ITS 11,000-STRONG MEMBERSHIP.

M
ost people who are moving valued and looked after, means they will
into a business of their own always go the extra mile for you.
find it a transition that is both My ambition, coming to the Institute,
exciting and terrifying in equal measure. is to elevate even further the value we
On the one hand, you’re becoming your offer members. I want our members
own boss and taking charge of your to see the Institute as a partner in their
future – an exhilarating prospect. On the practice. Somewhere they can turn to
other hand, suddenly you must contest easily access everything from peer-
with a horde of things that you may reviewed design notes to important
not be familiar with. Without the right regulatory updates.
support structure in place, that can be I see our role as one of bringing
very daunting. architects together and championing
Managing a practice means taking the profession. Our mission is to develop
on new responsibilities and obligations, and promote a strong architectural
ones that require a different skill set from profession and be the public voice for
the one you’ve honed for your work as architecture. Achieving this means not
an architect. But there are also parallels. only helping our members build their
For example, architecture has long capability, but also enhancing our own. I
been a highly regulated profession. So aim to ensure that everyone has access
while you may be extremely proficient to the right tools and resources they
at ensuring compliance with things like need to perform at their peak.
the National Construction Code and I’ve always believed that to achieve
Julia Cambage Architects Act, running a successful growth you need to pick your market and
© John O’Rourke
studio means contending with a whole speciality area. For me, a good business
new regulatory realm. is one that has a defensible market
From managing GST and other position. You’ve got to be strong in the
taxation requirements to grappling market and able to diversify your product
with the complexities of the industrial range and services.
relations system, you will need to build Above all else, make sure your
and expand your skills and also know vision and values are at the forefront
when to seek specialist support. of your business.
I’d strongly encourage new business Ultimately, there’s only one secret to
operators to seek further leadership skills success in most businesses and that is
training. Because that’s how you grow to surround yourself with good people.
and protect your team. Providing great People are the most valuable currency;
leadership to loyal employees, who are it’s just that not everyone realises it. ar

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

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16 LEAD PROFILE

THREE INTO TWO DOES GO

ALBERT MO AND EID GOH, OF MELBOURNE-BASED PRACTICE ARCHITECTS EAT, HAVE
BEEN RUNNING THEIR OWN SHOW FOR MOST OF THEIR CAREERS BUT WITHOUT ANY
BUSINESS SPECIFIC TRAINING, THE EARLY YEARS SAW PLENTY OF TRIAL AND ERROR.
ONE OF THEIR SMARTEST MOVES, THEY SAY, WAS HIRING A BUSINESS COACH.
/ MADELEINE SWAIN

W
ith a wall full of prize certificates and a formidable raft (“which I hated in high school!”), he swiftly realised that he not only
of acclaimed projects under its belt, Architects EAT is really enjoyed the discipline, but was also really good at it.
one of Australia’s most beloved and successful small Mo, on the other hand, grew up in Geelong, in regional Victoria
practices. Established at the dawn of the new millennium by three and had a passion for design from the start. He aspired to be a graphic
young architects, it has been run for the last decade or so by two designer, but enrolled in architecture when he couldn’t get into the
of those founders – the E and A of the practice name, Albert Mo RMIT course he wanted.
and Eid Goh. During their time at Melbourne, the pair had a compulsory year out
Mo and Goh met at Melbourne University, but didn’t really click until to work with an architectural practice. They both spent a period with Six
a process of attrition made their association inevitable. “There were 150 Degrees Architects, while Goh also had a couple of months overseas.
in the first year, a mixture of architects and 50-odd builders,” recalls The idea of running their own practice came quite early – prompted
Goh. “Obviously, it shrank and shrank until we had to look at each other, by a telephone call from their erstwhile associate. Mo was writing his CV
because the final year became a bit more intimate. It ended up being at the time, preparing to look for work in Sydney, so turned to his father
quite a close-knit community and that’s when we started exploring the for his input. “He actually gave me really good advice. He said, ‘Look,
idea of opening a practice.” you’re still really young. Even if you go out and try for two years and fail,
What they had in common right from the get-go, however, was you are still a young man. So why don’t you give it a go?’ And that’s how
a shared tendency to work quickly. “Even back at university we’d be we started.”
the students that would finish our work and be helping other people,” Borrowing money from their families for the initial infrastructure,
says Mo. For him, the fact that he was studying architecture at all their enterprise was helped along by an early commission to design a
was something of an accident. Born in Hong Kong and growing up golf driving range in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
in various places, including Singapore, as an international student in They did make some early decisions that served them well,
Melbourne, his intention was to study photography at RMIT. His father however, underlining their commitment to the company.
put the kibosh on that by proclaiming, “if you’re going to do that, “We really decisively said that we were going to rent an office and
you’re going to pay for your own school fees,” Mo recalls. “So I chose not work from home… someone’s garage or study room or whatever,”
architecture, not as a second option, I did like it anyway, but it was a says Mo.
kind of deviation from what I intended.” For the best part of the next decade the three founders – E, A and
Discovering that studying the subject was not just about science T – ran the practice before parting ways. It’s clear that the split wasn’t
and physics, but that he also needed to understand history and theory entirely joyful, although Mo and Goh are keen to stress their former

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

© SAMARA CLIFFORD
THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE
 LEAD PROFILE 19

“[MY FATHER] SAID, ‘LOOK, YOU’RE

STILL REALLY YOUNG. EVEN IF
YOU GO OUT AND TRY FOR TWO
YEARS AND FAIL, YOU ARE STILL
A YOUNG MAN. SO WHY DON’T
YOU GIVE IT A GO?’” – ALBERT MO

+
Albert Mo and Eid Goh on…
Motivating staff
Goh: When staff sees that you’re committed to a purpose, then
you transfer that energy to them, then it invigorates them. Then all
the happy vibes pass on to the lower tier. Even though we’re quite
structured, we still get involved with the intermediate and junior staff.

Growth areas
Mo: We started doing single residential houses, as well as small
cafés. But we found an opportunity in Victoria to grow into bigger
scale hospitality work, namely hotels or shopping centre precinct
developments, which starts to go into urban design and human
movement. We have also seen a lot of education work coming
through. Being a practice, it’s really important to be able to adapt to the
economic environment that you are in.

Advice to young architects

Goh: A lot of people will say, ‘Well, I’m not busy and there’s no work.’
Then you open a newspaper and you see billions of dollars invested into
schools, for example. The work is all out there, so get out there and do
everything, because you don’t know when your next work is going to
come in. You don’t know when it’s going to stop.

Technology
Goh: I love it, just because it opens doors to different ways of how we
can obviously document a building, view a building, look at it from the
air.
Mo: We invested money in VR (virtual reality) as a tool both internally
and as a presentation to clients… but clients would latch onto
something that was not resolved yet and start nit-picking from day one.
That became a really unexpected task for us to manage, so we have put
a stop to that for now. We’re just using it as an internal design tool, until
we find a better way to actually control and manage it.

Expansion
Goh: There’s always that romance of opening a branch potentially in
Hong Kong or Singapore, but if we do, we actually feel that one of us
has to be there to set it up for, say, a year. So psychologically you have
to be prepared to be away from your home for a while, or take your
family with you. That has slowed down our ambition.

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

20 LEAD PROFILE
 LEAD PROFILE 21

“A LOT OF YOUNGER PRACTICES,

TO GET COMMISSIONS, THEY
DEVALUE THEIR SERVICES, DO
A LOT OF PRO BONO WORK,
OR WORK AT DISCOUNTED OR
MATES’ RATES.” – EID GOH

colleague’s contribution. “Without all three of us there wouldn’t be a “A lot of mistakes were made,” concludes Goh, ruefully.
practice, so… obviously he contributed to a large extent to our earlier What they did have was support. Other local practices and
foundation,” says Mo. individuals, such as their former colleagues at Six Degrees, were always
“Big time!” adds Goh. happy to pick up the phone. “I think we are a generation of architects
that are willing to share,” says Mo. “We talk a lot and that’s one way for
GROWTH us to learn how to run a business.”
They both also agree, however, that the practice has ascended to One of the things they learned was not to undersell their own work.
another level since. In 2008 there were around seven or eight staff, “A lot of younger practices, to get commissions, they devalue their
whereas now they’re close to 25. At one point they did expand to services, do a lot of pro bono work, or work at discounted or mates’
30, but found that was heading in the wrong direction for them. “We rates,” says Goh. “Over a cumulative period of time, this has an adverse
quickly withdrew as a means of controlling the chaos and number of effect on the branding, with self-esteem, and also on how the general
people we had to manage,” explains Goh. public sees architecture.”
Due to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2020, the practice’s current They say the biggest mistakes they made in the early years were
model is that Mo and Goh remain as sole directors and proprietors of compromising on briefs, but at the same time they learned how to run
the business, supported by senior management teams. Those senior the business by approaching it in the same way they would an actual
positions are very carefully thought through, they say. “We wanted to architectural project. “We think creatively. We know there’s a set task, so
have a more creative way of thinking how we position our staff,” says we find a way to do it,” explains Mo.
Mo, “and we welcome the input. Rather than giving them an arbitrary
meaningless title, we wanted it to mean something.” JUMPING OFF THE HAMSTER WHEEL
“The important thing in the feedback that we’ve had is that, once In the early days of EAT, there wasn’t much thought given to how it
you give someone a boundary or sector or particular duty, this means would evolve. “It became very much like the hamster wheel, where
more than the title of ‘associate’ or ‘director’,” says Goh. you just keep working and completing a job, working and completing
When the practice started, it was the pair of them looking after all another job,” recalls Goh. But after the split in 2008, the pair realised it
the administration, IT and human resources – areas they really knew was time to take stock and plan strategically.
very little about. How did they manage? The first thing they did was rebrand. They organised new collateral,
“A lot of the time it was probably through trial and error,” admits Goh. and a new website and then looked at really future-proofing the
“Learning on the fly,” adds Mo. business. Realising their most important asset was their human

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

22 LEAD PROFILE

“LET’S DROP THE SUCCESSION

PLANNING. LET’S JUST TREAT
THIS AS THE FIRST DAY OF OUR
PRACTICE AND KEEP GOING.” –
EID GOH

resources they began to reinvest in them, equipping the staff better and
moving offices from South Yarra to a bigger and much more impressive
space in Collingwood.
Most importantly, they hired a business coach, who came in and
helped them to restructure the entire practice. The process took nearly
a year, but was certainly worth it. “It was a very well controlled program
that we set out to achieve different milestones at particular times,”
explains Goh.
Integral to the new business model was promoting one of the staff to
be the general manager of the practice. “Why we did that was we didn’t
want someone outside that didn’t really understand the office culture to
come and dictate how we would operate,” adds Goh.
This has been a great success, leaving room for the duo to
concentrate on the bigger picture. Goh talks of taking the architect
out of the equation and putting on a business operator’s hat. “Most of
the time we get it right. I think the fact that we’re quite agile allows us
to shift and turn very quickly.” They currently estimate that they spend
20 percent of their time designing and the remaining 80 percent on
running the business. But outside of the practice they’re “still working,
still thinking, still resolving a detail…”
And what of succession? Architects EAT is still a relatively young
practice but have they considered what happens later?
Goh says he does think about it every Saturday, when he’s relaxing
with a latte. “Then you come to Sunday and go, ‘Let’s drop the succession
planning. Let’s just treat this as the first day of our practice and keep going.’
“I think we love our job so much that every year we come closer to
2020, it feels like it’s still our first year of Architects EAT.” ar

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com
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 TECHNOLOGY 25

WHAT LARKS,
PIP!
LARKI IS A NEW SOFTWARE THAT PROVIDES EXCEPTIONALLY DETAILED
THREE-DIMENSIONAL FILES – POINT CLOUD SURVEYS MADE UP OF
MILLIONS OF SITE DATA POINTS, ENSURING GREATER ACCURACY THAN
VIA TRADITIONAL TWO-DIMENSIONAL SURVEYS.
/ HALEY HOOPER

“IT’S DEALING WITH

COMPLEXITY IN AN EASY
WAY.” – SIMON COOKES,
LARKI FOUNDER.

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

26 TECHNOLOGY

T
he LARKI software was created
with the intention of making
architects’ lives easier. The start-
up’s founder Simon Cookes (who is also
an architect) sums its appeal up simply:
“More design, less monkey work.”
Establishing the metric parameters
of the existing site and buildings is
critical to every project, and can take
considerable time, effort and project
budget. LARKI offers detailed surveying,
and site and building information in
three dimensions (point cloud) and BIM
(building information modelling) formats
that can be downloaded online and
directly imported into design models.
It’s a new process and concept that
is working to better support architects
through the laborious pre-design work
of establishing the site and existing
conditions. All architects want this side
of the pre-design to be faster, more
accurate and, if possible, cheaper.
Using LARKI to acquire site information,
the actualities of the site and existing
context are represented in x, y and z
dimensions (3D), with millions of point
references. This is a highly descriptive
way of ensuring it’s clear exactly what
the site conditions are, from Heritage
detail to site quirks, wonky existing walls,
irregular curves, sloping surfaces/falls or
organic forms. above left:
Simon Cookes
Once these aspects of the site are
captured, geo-located and situated in
a model, they can then be precisely

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 Three-dimensional scanning, photo- suit each architect’s workflow, including
grammetry technology and such types SketchUp and Revit, among others.
“IT PROVIDED US ALL WITH
of digital advancements are undertaken “It provided us all with an actual
AN ACTUAL ‘MOMENT IN TIME’ to produce a sophisticated level of ‘moment in time’ snapshot of the entire
SNAPSHOT OF THE ENTIRE assessment and comprehensive data site, even the graffiti on the walls,”
SITE, EVEN THE GRAFFITI sets. says Furness. “It’s great to be able to
Cookes advocates letting technology understand what’s going on in the area
ON THE WALLS.” SHANNON
do the job it does best, allowing to that degree.”
FURNESS, EX BREATHE architects to focus on looking after This is information that will be
ARCHITECTURE. the areas that need their human touch continually referred to for the life of the
– the creativity, the empathy and the project, and sets a solid foundation for
exploration of design. the project going forward.
managed and addressed inside the Cookes describes LARKI as offering Cookes refers to LARKI as “a 3D urban
project constraints. The advantages “reliability, affordability and efficiency”.  optimiser” and says he believes that,
of accurately understanding the sooner rather than later, these three-
complexities of a site upfront, in detail NIGHTINGALE VILLAGE dimensional translations of reality will be
and in three dimensions, are invaluable, Architect Shannon Furness recently left an integral and standardised part of the
in terms of both design integrity and Breathe Architecture to return to New architectural process.
time/cost/delay. Zealand. Before he went, however, he
The aim for LARKI is to empower built used LARKI on the recently approved INNOVATION IN ACTION
environment practitioners to get the Nightingale Village project due to be Start-ups like LARKI are making the most
basics organised with ease. This enables constructed this year in Duckett Street, of real world/virtual world data-sharing.
developers and architects to direct their in the inner north Melbourne suburb of These technological data-sharing
attention towards design, where their Brunswick. Furness rates the importance interfaces are emerging rapidly and
time is best invested. of establishing the site context for this starting to influence the Australian three-
“As architects, our passion is for neighbourhood at “precinct scale”. dimensional digital built environment
doing design and making beautiful He says LARKI was able to deliver this market in very beneficial ways. Working
buildings that enhance the lives of as context in three dimensions and provide and submitting documentation in three
many people as we can,” says Cookes. a “consistent, common starting point” for dimensions will one day become the
LARKI lets designers focus on design, six different architecture firms all working norm, across architecture and planning.
and trusts the metrics of recording a site within the site. Currently, governance frameworks are
to machine exactness, which eliminates LARKI provided site information to being developed to support this industry,
much of the human error that is possible all of the various architecture studios deciding on the best ways to capture,
in a traditional survey. in “a bunch of differing file formats” to hold and integrate data, while realising the
benefits for the property sector at large.
Cookes describes LARKI as being
like a ‘data bank’, a source for convenient
withdrawal and secure, trusted
site information. He has worked on
formulating a concept that makes a set
of site information available for common
and multiple use, avoiding the single-use,
repetition of a traditional process. It’s “easy
sophistication” he says, with a typical
architect’s tendency towards dualism. “It’s
dealing with complexity in an easy way.”
Alongside that digital efficiency,
LARKI is a platform that provides a
three-dimensional sharing economy
– a powerful network effect spanning
our changing and growing geospatial
environments. For architects, it optimises
and complements the way they already
work – in three dimensions, in detail and
with a future focus. ar

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

28 INTERNATIONAL

AUTODESK REVIT
REVISITED
ARCHITECTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE THE CONTROL
PROCESSES OF CONSTRUCTION, OR WATCH CONTRACTORS TAKE ALL THE
RESPONSIBILITIES AND, WITH THEM, THE REWARDS, SAYS PHILLIP G BERNSTEIN.
/ AMELYN NG

at Autodesk, Bernstein speaks about the small firms utilise one or more BIM
strategic development of Autodesk Revit software programs.” Having been
vis-à-vis an evolving AEC landscape, and thoroughly involved in this advent
how BIM technologies are reshaping the and uptake of BIM through the
business of architecture in the US. fabric of US professional practice,
technology and pedagogy, how did
AR: What brought you to architectural you see BIM emerge in architecture
technology? and construction?
Phillip G Bernstein: I started my The idea of parametric solid modelling
architectural career in the late 70s – the had been around decades before the
height of the US recession – where I term ‘BIM’ appeared in the early 2000s.
worked as a coder in lieu of architectural High-end manufacturers in aerospace
work. This was when Boeing and Airbus and automobiles – such as Boeing,
were using CAD, but architecture had Ford and General Motors – had been
not yet caught up. I continued to be using modelling tools for a long time.
interested in both architecture and They could afford the computational
computer programming, and 20 years infrastructure, control the supply
Phillip G Bernstein © Sean Airhart. ago, while I was a principal at Pelli Clarke chain and, by extension, control the
Pelli, Autodesk asked me to join at the information flow. These large companies
executive level. At this time, the company dictated employee and subcontractor
was ‘verticalising’. [This is] where one participation in that supply chain.

O
ver the last two decades, takes a generalised product – namely, Their top-down approach meant there
BIM (building information AutoCAD – and develops individualised would be no discussion about using
modelling) has gained markets: architecture, civil engineering, different software, format compatibility
prevalence in the architecture, manufacturing, construction and so on. or interoperability. This is quite different
engineering and construction (AEC) I left practice in 2000 to lead Autodesk’s than the building industry.
industry as a ubiquitous modelling architecture business unit, which grew I saw two major coefficients of
technology. Key to this development has over 16 years to what is now Autodesk’s friction to bringing BIM technology to
been global software vendor Autodesk, specialised AEC business. the building industry. First, architects,
a familiar name to most architects engineers and contractors couldn’t
since the advent of computer aided According to the American Institute afford the computing power. Second,
design (CAD). Phillip G Bernstein is an of Architects’ ‘The Business of it was impossible to build consensus
architect, technologist and lecturer in Architecture 2016’ report: “96 on what the information exchange
Professional Practice at the Yale School percent of large firms, 72 percent standards should be. Since Autodesk
of Architecture. Formerly a vice president of midsized firms and 28 percent of released AutoCAD as an industrial-

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

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30 INTERNATIONAL

strength architectural and engineering Technologies. There had been several today; when we bought the start-up
software, the .dwg file soon became experiments within Autodesk to build they had no revenue at all. But while
a de facto data exchange format for a disruptive AEC technology, but for their business value proposition – that
the profession – the Microsoft Word of numerous internal and external reasons, parametric modelling was really good
drafting. As more designers transitioned none of them were successful. When at improving working drawings – was
from paper to the PC platform in 2000, you’re part of a large corporation with a misinformed, their core technological
several developers from Parametric flagship product like AutoCAD, declaring idea was really interesting: that, beyond
Technology Company (PTC) – then a that the future is something else (like mere geometry, design should be based
major technology supplier to the US BIM) creates a sceptical dynamic that on a behaviourally correct, parametric,
manufacturing industry – saw parametric surprised me as a newcomer to ‘big information-rich representation of a
modelling as beneficial to the building company culture’. The CEO foresaw building. To differentiate this from other
industry and started a company called difficulties with internal development standard 3D modelling tools, we created
Revit Technologies to build that software. (building things ourselves), so we bought the term ‘Building Information Modelling’
Revit Technologies, then a little company. and with it we announced a shift in
How did Revit come to be owned by It was much faster than building the Autodesk’s AEC strategy.
Autodesk? tool ourselves. As a grown-up software
A few years after I joined Autodesk, it company, Autodesk is really good at What drove architects to adopt this
became clear that the long-term future bringing industrial-strength software new approach? Were there changing
of the building industry could not rely to the market, which requires support, project types, contracts or practice
merely on AutoCAD. It was then that distributions, sales and so on. While operations that warranted BIM?
we decided to buy the company, Revit Revit is a multimillion-dollar business That’s if you take a retrospective view.

BIM hospital © image courtesy of Autodesk Inc

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

It wasn’t quite as sophisticated as that.
For me, in my role as senior architect at
Autodesk and a strategic leader in this
discussion, I formulated the argument
that information flows in AEC were
somewhat broken. The building industry
– certainly, the architectural discipline
– has historically seen relatively poor
profit margins, high-risk ratios and low
investment in technology. We weren’t
exactly sure what the disease was, but
there were plenty of symptoms… None of
the other software vendors were making
an argument beyond technological
determinism, just extolling the virtues
of software functionality. They were all
saying, “This is a better tool than that.”
Instead, we tried to build an argument
around the need for fundamental
BIM MetaData © image courtesy of Autodesk Inc
process improvements in the building
industry, to address inefficiencies,
risks and low-profit margins. We
argued that key to this change was (D&C) contract typically sees the First, it is possible to organise a building
improved information technology and architect novated to the contractor. If BIM information model such that it comprises
informational transparency. Therefore, motivates integration on the contractual a series of interlocked models, so you
the first thing to do was to change level, one fear is that as contractors get know who did what to whom.
architecture’s representational platform – larger, this will become the de facto Revit also has a very detailed script of
hence, the Revit acquisition. operational reality for architects… every keystroke. If you had to, you could
That is possible, if construction go back and unpack who did what to
How did this ‘BIM turn’ affect actual continues to get more complex – and your model although that would not be
building projects? not just physically more complex, but much fun. Over time, I believe we’ll start
As BIM discussions emerged in the US, it as the information becomes more to see blockchain-type arrangements,
inspired the philosophy that computers complex. And that is, if architects so you know exactly who did what
could create more collaborative remain disinterested in understanding when, in a locked and unchangeable
constructs to work in, in turn affecting and managing the control processes environment. Of course, this issue existed
the ways of delivering projects. In the of construction. Contractors will be when I was using AutoCAD; you could
mid-2000s, for example, BIM became happy to take all the responsibilities never be sure who was manipulating
conflated with Integrated Project Delivery and, with them, the rewards. And I your backgrounds. Currently, Autodesk is
(IPD). These were eventually separated: happen to think that’s not a particularly developing technology that makes very
one was an idea about technology, the positive thing for our profession. But it detailed transactional records of actions
other, an idea about project delivery. is a possibility. in a collaborative environment. But the
You wouldn’t do an IPD project without real trouble is when one can’t definitively
BIM, but they’re not coincident. I would What about liability? With increased identify who’s responsible for a decision:
argue that technology catalysed a way technical collaboration, integration how then do you allocate the risk? And
of thinking about how the business and inputs, there is also a blurring of that’s a big question – in an industry
operations of the building industry labour boundaries, data ownership where so many get sued. This isn’t
could work that would not otherwise and accountability… simply a technological issue – delivery
be possible. And it’s still continuing to Yes. In a project delivery model models should also evolve in a way that
unfold today. where it’s possible for everyone to benefits projects while managing risks
touch and manipulate the data, the more coherently. Stunting the use of
Would you be concerned about lack of clarity about who created the technology today based on
the architect’s displacement in information, who takes responsibility risk approaches from the era of hand
increasingly integrated delivery for its implications, can be a real issue. drawing seems to me a little like setting
methods such as Design-Build? There’s a technological and project speed limits for cars based on the
In Australia, the Design and Construct delivery dimension in response to this. capacity of horses… ar

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

32 FINANCE

EVERYONE’S
A WINNER (BABY)
RATHER THAN SEEING THEM AS A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES THAT RARELY PAY
DIVIDENDS, YOU COULD REGARD COMPETITIONS AS A WAY TO GROW YOUR PRACTICE’S
REPUTATION AND EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE MUCH MORE TO OFFER IN THE WAY OF
REWARDS THAN SIMPLY PRIZES FOR WINNING THEM.
/ JOS MAPLE

Residence Irish Prime Minister, image courtesy OMA

Y
ou are participating in one of Sound familiar? But does it have to go that can be harnessed from mere
the many open call international this way? participation in such competitions,
competitions. Your firm has Today there are myriad architectural regardless of the jury’s final decision.
worked hard on the entry. Your concept competitions to choose from. A large
is solid, your response to the site and number of them are open to all – from OMA – THE PR MACHINE
design requirements excellent, and your experienced firms to those just starting As Rem Koolhaas has advocated,
presentation is of a high standard. So out with no real-world projects under you ‘need to do what you want to be
submission day comes: ‘roll the dice’. their belts and everything to gain. doing’. In the infancy of OMA, Koolhaas
Either win and claim the glory, or lose By stepping away from the standard made the decision to invest time in
and end up with hundreds of hours of thinking of win/lose, some smart architectural competitions as a way to
sunk cost with nothing to show for it. architectural firms have seen the benefit position the firm as a thought leader

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

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 “COMPETITIONS ARE AN
INVESTMENT INTO YOUR
OWN BODY OF IDEAS,
INTERNAL CULTURE AND
METHODOLOGY. THEY ARE
A GREAT PLATFORM TO
EXPLORE IDEAS THAT CAN
CARRY THROUGH INTO
OTHER PROJECTS.”
– JOHN CHOI, CHROFI

Theatre (completed 1987) and the

Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam
(winning competition 1987, construction
completed in 1992).
OMA’s ability to generate value
out of a non-winning entry was also
Parc de la Villette, image courtesy OMA seen in its submission for the Jussieu
University Library (Paris, 1992). In
publishing this largely theoretical project
in urban design and large-scale civic n the residence for the Irish Prime to an architectural audience, the practice
projects. This strategy paid off for OMA Minister and State Guests, which promoted itself as an avant-garde firm
through its successful self-instigated won first place (1979), but the project among peers, which undoubtedly
PR efforts from both the winning and remained unbuilt. helped to recruit great talent to the firm.
non-winning competition entries. The publicity that was generated Interestingly, many architects today
Notably, OMA’s founder, Koolhaas, around these proposals positioned still speak of the significance of OMA’s
had a background in journalism. Early OMA as far more than a small residential concept for Jussieu Library, yet can’t
competition entries that gained significant architectural firm. This strategy worked name the firm that won the competition
PR and helped to launch the firm include: and resulted in some of OMA’s earliest or know anything of the project that was
n the new Dutch Parliament Building, built works being the significant civic actually built – another example of the
non-winning entry (1978), and projects of the Netherlands Dance enduring power of good PR.

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

CHROFI – THINK BIG AND ACT
LONG-TERM
Perhaps you are looking to move your firm
away from small-scale residential works to
larger public commissions? “Competitions
are a way to escape the Australian vortex
of alt(eration)s and add(ition)s,” says Tai
Ropiha, director at CHROFI.
Rather than than waiting for a
would-be patron to come along and
commission a public work, you can
cleverly leverage the unbuilt in order
to position your firm in the mind of
potential future clients. And, in doing so,
you will place the value on your firm’s
ideas, not simply your fees.
Award-winning Australian firm

“COMPETITIONS ARE
AN INVESTMENT INTO
YOUR OWN BODY OF IDEAS,
INTERNAL CULTURE AND
METHODOLOGY.” – JOHN
CHOI, CHROFI

CHROFI has successfully established

its business on a foundation of
competitions, commencing with the
winning proposal for the Times Square
ticket box (TKTS) in New York City (1999).
The proposal was successfully built and
applauded as an urban intervention CHROFI’s TKTS 1999, 123RF’s Lembi Buchanan © 123RF.com
that created amphitheatre seating for
people-watching in Times Square,
while also providing the required Recreation Centre competition in 2014, DEVELOP THE RIGHT
ticketing sales function. The PR Ropiha explains, “When the competition is STRATEGY FOR YOU
generated from the competition entry a large profile one [entering] it is good for To gain the most from participating in
truly launched the firm. everyone. Look at the attention the Sydney competitions, a post-competition PR
In the intervening years CHROFI has Pool gained for everyone involved.” strategy should be developed from the
won further competitions and lost others. And don’t forget the element of outset. This strategy can then be used
Importantly, the unsuccessful entries fun. As John Choi, founding director to inform decisions, including tailoring
are not hidden away from sight, but are at CHROFI, states, “Competitions are the submission requirements to best
proudly presented to the architectural an investment into your own body of provide the strongest set of images for
media. CHROFI understands the power ideas, internal culture and methodology. PR purposes. Competing, win or lose,
of good PR, which helps to position the They are a great platform to explore has benefits if you are smart about it.
firm, as well as outwardly express its ideas that can carry through into Lemons are useful, you can always make
learnings and engagement in current other projects.” And as far as the lemonade. Perseverance is essential to
architectural dialogue. Referencing the office morale goes, “It’s more fun to getting the big pay-off! So what have you
Sydney Gunyama Park Aquatic and compete on ideas!” got to lose? ar
36 STRATEGY

UNIQUE STAYING
POWER
PROJECTS STALL, PRIZED ASSOCIATES LAND JOBS OVERSEAS, THE ECONOMY IN YOUR
SPECIALIST FIELD TANKS, AND OFF-THE-PLAN APARTMENTS GO WAY, WAY OFF HOW DO
ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES PLAN FOR – AND COPE WITH – THE BUSINESS OF STAYING
IN BUSINESS?
/ DEBORAH SINGERMAN

This is against a backdrop of forces out n design distinction and excellence

of your control – and what a difference on well-founded evidence (not just
it makes when they are favourable. For media perception).”
Alec Tzannes, the 35 years or so of his Resilient practices also “treat all
studio, Tzannes, have been relatively staff respectfully, reflected in ethical
stable. As its founding director, he workplace behaviours including above-
reflects on what he believes “has been market remuneration and employment
a reasonable time to practise as an of motivated, talented people
architect. The underlying forces that encouraging their development as a
shape our workload have increasingly whole person as well as their professional
favoured the development of the attributes,” he says.
discipline and improved integration This is consolidated by ensuring that
with society”. “people feel part of the design process
Aiding this, he cites “for New South and are properly acknowledged for
Wales, the mandatory use of architects their work to clients and the broader
for multi-residential projects above community”.
a certain scale (State Environmental Haddow agrees. Even during the most
Planning Policy 65, circa 2001) and the heartbreaking times “when work dries up”,
creation of the City of Sydney Local he believes that “you do everything you
Adam Haddow Environmental Plan, mandating Design can to pedal faster, to eke something out
© Matthew Densley Excellence from about the same time, of nothing”. These are tough words that
both securing structured roles for challenge practices to not only maintain
architects that previously did not exist”. “the status quo of running the business”,
“I’m not sure that you can succeed as Nevertheless, architects can never but also stress the need to create new
an architect if you don’t have a good rest easy. Winner of the 2018 Australian opportunities and direction. During quiet
dose of resilience,” says Adam Haddow, Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal, moments, “you have nothing to lose
principal director at SJB Architects. Tzannes believes the following skills and and generally a lot of time to be able to
“Our job is to find something – within values will benefit architects whatever commit! Resilience in this realm is about
a brief, from a site, within the context – the circumstances: moving forward when often everything
and exploit or refocus that to leverage n “relevant knowledge and practical around you is pulling you back!” he says.
experience and convince clients to win skills Tzannes adds that when the business
rewarding work. We need to shift people’s n ethical values and behaviour (and is under stress, it is still important to
opinions or expectations about what it is working for entities that share these protect “values [and ensure] margins
they want, or what they think is necessary values) are maintained”. Stay “consistent in the
or important. This takes persistence and, I n maintaining professional integrity marketplace to ensure all clients get
would contend, resilience.” (reputation), and the same message about who we are,

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 Alec Tzannes
© Toby Burrows

+
TACTICS TO SECURE
RESILIENCE
Be open to new opportunities
emerging from previous work.
CASH FLOW AND DIVERSITY __________
A practice is not sustainable, however,
Refocus, experiment and
unless finances and operations are under
learn to convince clients by
control, Haddow contends. Resilience
stems as much from “leaders of the strengthening past skills and
business creating the right conditions experience.
for excellence as it is about delivering __________
excellence itself. Architecture is a Do not settle for an easy option
collective exercise. To achieve something
when a more difficult route
what we cost and what are our points of great, we need people to be striving
challenges and educates.
difference,” he says. for the same ambition within conditions
__________
Organisational adviser Sue Leslie that allow them to be their best…
has an informal, but best-adhered to, scaling the business accordingly, Persist and encourage clients
bottom line. She recommends having providing clients with quality assurance, to follow a broader brief or
“operational systems understood by within an environment that supports overcome a site constraint.
staff, communication channels well people, considering their differences __________
established, flexible work arrangements and life shifts from early career through
Invest in staff, technology and
and a culture that values trust and having families and later to finding
diversity, and is free from discrimination, balance and fulfilment”. management systems.
__________
stigma and bullying”. Haddow says SJB’s embedded
“Without these matters properly culture “supports a fair, even and Enhance resources to allow you
understood and managed, there isn’t equitable workplace”. The firm is now to produce your best designs.
a business to talk about or worth focusing on diversity as an essential __________
being part of or worth investing in,” ingredient of resilience. “For too long the
Respect, be honest with, support
Tzannes says. middle-aged white man (of which I am
acutely aware I am one) has controlled and involve your staff and team,
__________
Sue Leslie
the industry,” notes Haddow. “We are
focusing on helping to create pathways Monitor and control finances
that make it better for everyone who to cover economic downturns as
is a part of our studio. As far as I am
well as the good times.
concerned the receptionist is as critical
to our success as the directors are.”
To the joy of many in Sydney’s
architecture community, Haddow you have to get Anne [Proudfoot,
opened The Architect’s Bookshop who ran the Australian Institute of
in Surry Hills at the end of 2018. “In Architects’ bookshop Architext for
retrospect, this was a small act of 28 years], and I did.”
resilience. It provided a place for the Haddow and the store manager
general promotion of architecture in know that a bookshop is more than a
Sydney, and an opportunity to design place to buy books; it is also a place to
a bespoke retail shop. When you are survey what is happening in the world,
spending your own money, you’re doubly and where “you bump into friends
committed to getting it right!” and colleagues”. And it is on such
He says non-architects thought him tangible intangibles that a profession’s
mad, but those in the industry said, “and resilience rests. ar

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

38 GROWTH TYPOLOGIES

INCLUSION
FOR ALL
IN THE LATEST IN AN OCCASIONAL SERIES
DETAILING GROWING SECTORS FOR ARCHITECTURAL
PRACTICES, AR LOOKS AT THE OPPORTUNITIES
AFFORDED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NDIS.
/ MELISSA RYMER

A
new housing market specifically support to live independently in the
for people with disability was community.
established in Australia in July The NDIS will be making payments
2016. With the introduction of the to housing providers that cover the
National Disability Insurance Scheme costs incurred and provide a return on
(NDIS), we are now, finally, turning investment at market rates (five to 12
away from segregated and institutional percent). If the NDIS’s housing funding
disability housing and moving towards works well in every Federal electorate in
genuine and appropriate housing Australia, more than $75 million will be
options and the potential to live with spent to create over 60 new dwellings.
greater community inclusion. The NDIS Providers in this market will need to
has introduced a funding stream to build access an additional $5 billion in capital
new accessible and affordable housing over the next five years.
for 28,000 Australians with disabilities. By
providing people with disability funding ON THE GROUND
for housing, in this market-based system, Robert Caulfield and Jeremy Hearn of
people with disability now have choices Caulfield Krivanek Architects talk about
over where they live, with whom they live the challenges of designing for the
and how they are supported. In other NDIS: “Architecture, in this case, is an
words, people with disability will have interesting conundrum because we are
the same housing choices as every other not meeting our real clients until after
Australian. the buildings are completed – even
This housing funding is designed though the eventual clients may have
only for people under 65 with very high very specific needs. The way the funding
disability-support needs. This is around model has been arranged prevents this.
six percent of all NDIS participants. We are required to design buildings with
They receive a package of support that certain minimum standards and the
includes annual funding to pay for the ability to be easily reconfigured.”
cost of their housing. The participant The underlying aim of the funding
has a separate amount in their package bodies is to give disabled people the
to pay for reasonable and necessary most similar living environment to

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 the bulk of the population as can be for care staff. Necessarily the proportions
managed, while ensuring that their of the buildings and their spaces change
“EACH GOVERNMENT particular requirements are catered for. when wider corridors and rooms are
AUTHORITY HAS DIFFERENT Caulfield agrees that embarking on this required.
GUIDELINES, AND THERE path has been a “big learning curve”. He “This can be an advantage to the
says, “Each government authority has designer as more generous spaces are
ARE VARIOUS STANDARDS
different guidelines, and there are various generally more attractive to people,”
AND CODES TO ADHERE standards and codes to adhere to.” says Hearn. “We are not compelled
TO.” – ROBERT CAULFIELD, The typologies remain the same as to squeeze the space as much as
CAULFIELD KRIVANEK those in use for residential buildings all sometimes, but these buildings are
over the city, but with an extra bedroom still being built by developers, so cost-
ARCHITECTS
and bath and sometimes an office added effectiveness is essential.”

Caulfield
Krivanek
Architecture
NDIS housing
interior
render.

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40 GROWTH TYPOLOGIES

“WE ARE NOT COMPELLED

TO SQUEEZE THE SPACE AS
MUCH AS SOMETIMES, BUT
THESE BUILDINGS ARE STILL
BEING BUILT BY DEVELOPERS,
SO COST-EFFECTIVENESS
IS ESSENTIAL.” – JEREMY
HEARN, CAULFIELD KRIVANEK
ARCHITECTS

Caulfield
Krivanek
Architecture
NDIS housing
front view.

Caulfield and Krivenek area about to NEW BREED live here,” he told Urbandeveloper.com
begin construction on a block of eight Summer Housing is part of a new breed in August 2017. He sees significant
apartments in Doncaster in Melbourne’s of developers who are designing a slate opportunities for the property industry
east, aimed at people who require ‘high of developments that will provide various flowing from the NDIS. “Greenwich
physical support’. housing options to accommodate Village is one example. There’ll be others
A specialist group house for adults people with a range of disabilities. over time; it will just become par for
with autism in Cranbourne is also in its Scheduled for completion in early 2019, the course.”
early stages of construction. While it may Greenwich Fairfield, designed by award- While there are many logistical and
look like a conventional building, it has winning firm JCB Architects, will include bureaucratic challenges to overcome
been designed to withstand some robust 10 apartments designed for people with within this sector, clearly the rewards
behaviour, so the building structure will disability throughout a medium-density, are great, for all parties concerned.
be more rigorous. 77-unit private development. In this No longer will someone with multiple
Discussing the architectural high-end project, Summer Housing has sclerosis or quadriplegia have no option
appearance of this new typology, partnered with building giant Grocon, but to reside in an aged care facility,
Hearn says, “Aesthetically, we try which has been one of the first of the in many cases, they will be able to live
not to do anything different than we major developers to enter this new independently and, in all cases, with
might for anybody developing new housing market. dignity and the level of care that is
residential accommodation. We try The perspective of Grocon’s needed. ar
to produce good average residential executive design manager, David
accommodation with the necessary Waldren, is that people with disability Footnote:
extra facilities integrated into the are a significant part of the market. For further reading, see the PwC and SF
design – modern efficient design with “If we don’t go down the path of white paper, NDIS Specialist Disability
enough personality to be recognisable, providing housing for people with Accommodation: ‘Pathway to a Mature
but not so much that it screams, disability… we’ll preclude 14 percent Market’, www.pwc.com.au/publications/
‘Look at me!’”  of the population from being able to ndis-specialist.html.

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 EMERGING PRACTICE 41

EMERGING:
FLYING SOLO: WALA
AR SPEAKS TO FOUNDER OF ARCHITECTURE FIRM WALA AND
ITS SOLE PRACTITIONER, WEIAN LIM, ABOUT HIS PATH INTO THE
INDUSTRY AND THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING A FLEDGLING
PRACTICE ALONE
/ NATALIE MORTIMER

W “THERE ARE PARALLELS TO BE

eian Lim’s passion for architecture was sparked by an
interesting childhood that saw him spend many years
travelling the globe and living in architecturally rich cities MADE BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE
such as Seoul, Tokyo and London.
“My father is Malaysian-Chinese and worked for an international
AND THE BUSINESS OF
bank for many years. His role was to set up international branch offices ARCHITECTURE – BOTH CAN
globally, which required him to travel to foreign cities for long stretches
at a time,” recalls Lim.
BENEFIT FROM MANAGEABLE
“My family would follow him on this global road trip and, since my DOSES OF EXPERIMENTATION,
birth, we were fortunate to have lived in many burgeoning cities. My
exposure to some of the best cities for architecture has been purely
INNOVATION AND RISK, AND IT’S
accidental, but memories of my childhood in these environments THIS MENTALITY I TRY TO CARRY
have greatly influenced how I perceive architecture in a diverse and
multicultural landscape.”
WITH ME DAILY.”
While the family settled in Singapore, Lim’s family nucleus has
always felt stretched across the globe – his father may have been
working in India, and elder sister studying in Australia. It was these
formative years spent with a slight sense of displacement that led Lim After graduating, Lim returned to MGA+D and continued to work there
to find ways to define what it meant to feel at ‘home’ in his immediate for a few more years prior to starting his own practice. He was fortunate
built environment. to be part of award-winning projects during his time at MGA+D and
“This is perhaps why I subconsciously gravitated to residential through these projects Lim was successfully chosen as one of the
architecture in my professional career – chasing a desire to define recipients for the 2012 Dulux Study Tour. “This enabled me to further
a personalised and meaningful sense of what it means to be home,” my ongoing education in architecture and meet some of the best
he explains. practitioners in architecture today,” he says.

STARTING OUT GOING SOLO

Lim began his career interning at small practices in Singapore and AR: Had you any experience of starting up a studio or business before?
Melbourne while studying at the University of Melbourne. During a year Weian Lim: None whatsoever! My knowledge going into private
out he landed a student position at Matt Gibson Architecture + Design practice was limited to books on start-ups, observations taken from
(MGA+D) as one of the practice’s first staff members. The experience previous workplaces and conversations with fellow sole practitioners
afforded him the opportunity to shadow the director and learn first-hand and small business owners.
the many facets of managing projects and running a small business. Having spent some years at MGA+D, I was privileged to have
“I was thrown in the deep end that year and had to pick up witnessed the studio’s trajectory and transition from a small-sized
competency at everything at once – designing, documenting, practice to a medium-sized one. It provided a useful reference in plotting
consultant liaison, client management etc,” he says. the course for my own business and setting up a framework for growth.

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42 EMERGING PRACTICE

“THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE Unsurprisingly, small practices tend to be the most sensitive to market
changes and perception. We have had some amazing clients who
SAID ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE recognise the value that architects bring to the table and it is our hope

NATURE WITHIN THE SMALL that we are able to continue to, in our small way, educate the public on
great architect-led designs.
PRACTICE COMMUNITY – THE Second, I think it’s vital to have a form of work/life balance – which

SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND is open to interpretation! It seemed impossible at the start as every
waking hour was spent working on getting the business off the ground.
GENEROSITY ON OFFER FROM In time, however, once established workflow and systems are in place,

FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS balancing work and life becomes more manageable.

HAVE PROVED INVALUABLE.” Can you tell us how your studio operates?
I’ve mainly operated as a sole practitioner for the first three years.
Recently, I’ve taken on two draftspersons to assist with documentation.
They work remotely and are employed on a casual basis.
As a sole practitioner, I welcome my clients (the homeowners)
to be involved in the design process. I see this not as an invasion of
the ‘architect-led-design-process’, but as a form of collaboration
Today, I’m still running my studio as a sole practitioner and am sharing where the clients and I have opportunities to talk about ideas,
office space with another amazing architecture practice. There is interrogate the esquisse and offer valuable input. The client does
something to be said about the collegiate nature within the small feel more invested in the design and they appreciate being involved in
practice community – the support structure and generosity on offer the early design stage.
from fellow business owners have proved invaluable.
I keep reminding myself that no challenge is insurmountable or What currently inspires you and your work?
necessarily entirely unique, so when I’m faced with a particular problem, The studio is inspired by travel, the people we meet and their cultures.
someone else may have found a solution to the same problem! Over the last few years I have been able to revisit the cities of my
There are parallels to be made between architecture and the childhood and experience them through a new lens. It was refreshing
business of architecture – both can benefit from manageable doses of to relearn everything I thought I knew, and return to Australia with a
experimentation, innovation and risk, and it’s this mentality I try to carry newfound perspective. I hope the philosophies I adopted in my travels
with me daily. translate to the type of architecture I want to be doing – one that is
highly responsive to its context, occupant-centric, yet able to promote
What were the biggest challenges you faced in starting up the community engagement.
studio, and how have you dealt with them?
The biggest challenge starting out was putting myself out there in the What is your proudest moment in your career?
market without an established reputation. Even with low overheads – I Being selected for the Dulux Study Tour in 2012. I was working a MGA+D at
was working from my spare bedroom at the time – cash flow was a the time and it was actually Matt [Gibson] who supported my nomination
major source of stress and the low prospect of work compounded the for the prize. It was personally an honour to have been recognised by the
issue further. jury for this award, but even more heartfelt was the support from Matt and
An idealised situation of transitioning from part-time work to a him believing that I was worthy to be considered for it.
fully-fledged practice was unfortunately not my reality and I had to
build a reputation from scratch without much of a financial safety What is your favourite project to date?
net. Thankfully, I had generous support from friends and fellow My favourite project so far is the one that was completed in
architects, which helped me secure the first few small scale projects to December 2018, but yet to be released. We haven’t photographed it
get me on my way. I am forever grateful to some of our very first clients yet, but we’re looking at getting it out there soon. It’s a residential
who were willing to take a chance on an ‘unknown’ and support local alteration and addition to a 100-year-old art deco duplex in Kooyong
Australian designers. on a long and narrow site. The original Heritage house was restored
and our new rear double-storey extension had to contend with multiple
What do you find most difficult about running a business? challenging overlays.
The challenges I faced starting out are still some of the challenges I
face today, such as managing cash flow and work/life balance. Where do you see yourself and the studio in the next five years and
As architects we are trained to fuss over every detail and convince beyond?
ourselves that our passion for our work is enough to sustain us – to The main focus over the next five years will be growth – to continually
a point where we sometimes neglect the practicalities and pitfalls of build a portfolio that supports our brand and values, and to take on
running a business. It is all too easy to dismiss the lack of financial likeminded staff who are passionate about the same things we are.
incentives for ‘passion projects’ or ‘legacy builds’ down to us doing it for We also seek to expand our network in the hope of collaborating with
the love of the craft, but the reality is that in doing so the value of our complementary design disciplines to take on a more holistic design
profession to society diminishes. approach to projects. ar

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com
 LEAD PROJECT 45

13 CREMORNE
STREET
Project description.
Located in Cremorne, Melbourne, this project is the outcome of
a unique brief put together by K&K Industries to create a modern
workplace. Central to the brief was the need for comfort, style and
workplace flexibility.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY © DEREK SWALWELL

Architects EAT was commissioned to design and partially fit out

a seven-storey commercial building complete with its own ground
floor café. The 2900-square metre building features 10 offices over six
levels, each protected by striking gold mesh balconies that soften the
concrete creation.
Internally, Architects EAT took the brief as an opportunity to explore
some unconventional aspects of workplace design and introduce
spatial experiences from other project typologies such as hotel suites,
ergonomics of casual dining eateries and retail design. Drawing from
these typologies, experimentation with joinery – such as a fixed lounge,
floating timber workstations, industrial type door and window fittings
and a pivot-hinged bookshelf (leading to the hidden en suite) – gives
the environment a domestic and casual feel as you progress through
variant spaces.
Sloane Ranger Café is the welcome that draws the guest to this
development. Through its soft, neutral colourway and earthy tones,
the interior of this space is a calm and soft response to the building’s
industrial bones.
True to the ever-evolving nature of this once industrial Melbourne
suburb, Architects EAT has embraced the rich history of Cremorne,
while adding layers of refinement and contemporary design. This
project celebrates the assemblage of elements with precision –
elements that have dual purpose: aesthetic expressions and
pragmatic solutions.

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46 LEAD PROJECT

Q and A with the lead architect – Albert Mo.

How was Architects EAT chosen for the project? The gold pleated façade on Cremorne Street has complex
The client is a shopfitter that we have collaborated with on many past underlying meanings: the accordion folds compress the impression
projects, and we are quite familiar with the site in Cremorne, as they of height of the building to a more human/pedestrian experience;
have been there for number of years. We have talked about this project the horizontal lines continue the linearity of the street façades; and
on and off casually, and EAT was fortunate enough to have been the precision of construction of the pleats speaks of the craftsmanship
engaged by them. that exists in the shopfitting scale. (What’s the point of designing
something only to find out later that the builder is not capable of
What was your main inspiration for the design and how did it differ [executing it]?)
from other recent Architects EAT projects? Whereas the Dove Street ‘back’ façade is our little contribution
It has been difficult to conceptualise and accept three things together to the pre-existing Cremorne industrial context – the unassuming red
– a new urban narrative, a tight urban site and an aesthetic that speaks bricks together with the finer hit ‘n’ miss articulation add back that
of our client. character to the familiar streetscape.
The architectural outcome is greatly different from other EAT
projects. It is flamboyant and loud; however, it is appropriate for the site What was the timescale between commission, design and
and the client. completion?
I suppose it is still very ‘us’, being that we create buildings that are The project was commissioned in late 2013 and was completed in
intimately connected to their function and individual context. early 2017, so almost four years from start to finish.
How involved were the clients during the design and build?
The client was supportive from the very beginning. Being in the
EXPERIMENTATION WITH
industry has also helped them understand what they are getting JOINERY… GIVES THE
into. This was also the largest building that they have built, so a lot
was at stake for them. So, yes, they were definitely very involved
ENVIRONMENT A DOMESTIC
from start to the end. AND CASUAL FEEL AS YOU
Were there unexpected or confounding obstacles that arose
PROGRESS THROUGH
during construction? VARIANT SPACES.
As we were not only being engaged as the architect, but also as
the interior designer for the ground floor café and their top floor
office fitout on separate contracts, our roles have been blurred and
not clearly defined. This made the flow during construction quite
confusing, and at times difficult.

Has there been any need to revisit the project since

completion and, if so, were those issues resolved easily?
We haven’t been asked to go back much at all. As they have built,
managed and occupied the building themselves, they’ve pretty
much taken care of all, if any, issues that might have happened.

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Post occupany evaluation.
AR CONDUCTS AN INFORMAL POST OCCUPANCY How was the briefing and consultation period handled?
EVALUATION OF 13 CREMORNE STREET WITH A How long did it take and were there any obstacles or difficulties
SPOKESPERSON FOR K&K INDUSTRIES. along the way?
The briefing and consultation process was quite organic, and EAT asked
What were the top five elements that were most important for the a lot of questions to tease out what we actually wanted, and how we
finished building to have integrated into the design? see the building functions. That was quite an enjoyable process. Then
■ a unique and iconic façade the obstacles came at planning. It took us [some] months, back and
■ a building that demonstrates our craftsmanship forth with the Council, changing design to suit, VCAT (Victorian Civil
■ best practice ESD principles that are practical and Administrative Tribunal), fighting the neighbours, everything – you
■ create a new urban experience in Cremorne name it.
■ commercially viable and sustainable, and
■ best in class offices in Cremorne. How involved were you during the construction period and how
long did that process take?
How was Architects EAT chosen for the project? The construction was completed by our own company, and it took us
We have worked on numerous projects that EAT has designed over the about a year and a half.
years; through this relationship we not only found their design to be
exceptional, they actually care about each of their projects as if it were Now that the project is finished:
their own. This working relationship slowly became a friendship, and How well does it respond to those top elements, individually?
developed into the trust for EAT to undertake this project. I think the building works like a treat!

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50
50 PROJECT
LEAD PROJECT

Are there any unexpected or surprising elements that have

become apparent through daily use?
Yes and no. Like any other building, there are things that need to be
ironed out, like the air-conditioning system and the car stackers, but
nothing out of the ordinary.

What has been the reaction from other visitors/stakeholders?

I think the building really surprised the market. I believe we are still the
most sought after and valuable office building in Cremorne. Everyone
loves it and wants a piece of it, and everyone is trying to develop
[something] similar in the area now.

Are there any elements that will need further adaptation or

augmentation?
I really want my rooftop party venue, but that’s another story
and probably another trip to VCAT!

Have you needed to go back to Architects EAT with

any queries or responses to the project?
I think they are all media queries more than anything else,
and the boys definitely deserve all the attention!

Project details.
Client: K&K Industries
Location: Cremorne, Victoria
Architects: Architects EAT
Principle architects: Albert Mo, Eid Goh
Project team: Sarah Magennis, James Coombe, Harvey Sy
Interior designer: Architects EAT
Site area: 504.74 square metres
Budget: $6 million
Building surveyor: Group II
Fire consultant: Integrated Fire Services
Mechanical/electrical consultants: ECM Group
Structural engineer: Structural Edge
Traffic management: Zav Traffic
Town planner: Urbis
Design year: 2014
Completion: 2017
Project scope: Seven floors including lobby, café and offices
Builder: K&K Industries
Site parameters:
Level 0 floor area: 510.74 square metres/96.47 percent (including lightwell)
Level 1 floor area: 470.0 square metres/88.78 percent
Level 2 floor area: 467.7 square metres/88.35 percent
Level 3 floor area: 467.7 square metres/88.35 percent
Level 4 floor area: 419.2 square metres/83.68 percent
Level 5 floor area: 383.3 square metres/72.41 percent
Open space area: 24.64 square metres/4.65 percent
Building site coverage: 504.74 square metres/95.35 percent
Permeable surfaces: 24.64 square metres/4.65 percent

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 LEAD PROJECT 51

ARCHITECTS EAT HAS

EMBRACED THE RICH HISTORY
OF CREMORNE, WHILE ADDING
LAYERS OF REFINEMENT AND
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHY © TATJANA PLITT
 EMERGING PROJECT 53

DOWNSIDE UP HOUSE
WEIAN LIM SHARES INSIGHT INTO DOWNSIDE UP HOUSE,
AN EXERCISE IN DESIGNING ‘BIG HOME FEATURES’ ON A
SMALL FOOTPRINT
/ NATALIE MORTIMER

Architect’s statement. The site for Downside AR: How did the Downside Up house project come to you and how
Up house was passed over many times before our client and design did it evolve?
team saw potential for the space, in spite of its odd shape and modest Weian Lim: The owner of the house is a builder with whom I have a
130-square metre size. Without a creative architectural intervention, the prior working relationship. He had originally purchased the long-vacant
original Heritage house may have continued on its path of disrepair. property with the intention of giving the house a simple cosmetic
The result is a contemporary double-storey addition that reflects facelift to add to his investment portfolio. He contacted our studio to
good passive design principles and celebrates the prevalent pitched get a second opinion and, after a couple of conversations about the
roof motif of Heritage-listed buildings in the neighbourhood – the inner site’s potential, it became apparent that something more exciting could
Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. be realised in this place.
Our studio had sought to successfully add another meaningful
chapter to the story of this humble Victorian. The house subverts What were the existing conditions?
the typical ‘rear-ground-level-extension-facing-a-backyard’ approach The house is located on a corner allotment that is pinched in by the
without compromising light, space and quality of living. main street (Richardson Street) and a laneway (Little Greig Street),
which gives it its irregular, triangular ‘pizza’ shape that tapers towards
the rear. The south side of the house is backed up against a double-
storey neighbour; its two-storey red-brick wall runs almost the entire

“IT HAS BEEN A REASSURING length of the subject site.

The original house was a double-fronted weatherboard Victorian
EXPERIENCE THAT OUR in a near dilapidated state. As a classified ‘Significant Heritage Place’,

CLIENT WAS ABLE TO many of the house’s external finishes and internal appurtenances had
been left untouched for many years. The multiple lean-tos towards
RECOGNISE THE VALUE AN the rear of the site are not unusual for this era’s typology – these

ARCHITECT CAN BRING TO tacked-on structures are prone to adaptation in response to functional
requirements and this is evident in the varying heights and roof pitches
A PROJECT, ASIDE FROM that indirectly reflect the physical constraints forced upon them by the

THE PERFUNCTORY AND site’s irregular geometry.

There were signs of rudimentary renovation attempts by previous
NECESSARY.” owners, such as replacing the flooring in the living and kitchen areas

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THE BATTEN PRIVACY SCREEN
COMPRISES ALUMINIUM
EXTRUSIONS TO ACHIEVE A
MACHINE-GRADE UNIFORMITY
THAT JUXTAPOSES
WONDERFULLY AGAINST THE
HAND-LAID WEATHERBOARD
CLADDING OF OLD.

with vinyl tiles, and erecting a new outhouse structure tacked on behind
the laundry. But, by and large, the original house remained untouched
and was in need of love.

Tell us about the brief and what it involved.

The brief started off with the basic functional premise of maintaining
a three-bedroom house at the very minimum, and making use of the
neighbour’s double-height boundary wall to introduce a second storey
volume to the rear of the property.
In contrast to the convoluted and dimly lit layout of the original
house, the new extension had to be well lit, feel larger than it is (despite
its small footprint) and ultimately marry in seamlessly with the front
Heritage building.
Our client understood the challenges and constraints the site
presented and was open to creative ways in crafting a design solution.
We were given a very wide berth throughout the design process
to pitch any and all ideas to the client, all the while mindful that no
compromises could be made to abundance of light, affordance of
space and quality of workmanship.

What was the inspiration for this project?

The façade treatment and articulation of the new addition drew The polycarbonate wall plays a part in bringing more light into the belly of
inspiration from the previous forms of the old lean-tos. The new the home. Rather than succumbing to a traditional solid wall punctuated
façade celebrates the classic pitched roofs of old Victorians in the with windows, we designed this PC wall to literally be a ‘wall of light’ and
neighbourhood by referencing these triangular shapes in the upper emanate diffused daylight uniformly into the main living zones.
floor’s external batten screen. This batten screen not only presents In working with neutral tones, the selection of external and internal
a clear external graphic to the laneway, but also protects privacy finishes became more vital in order to introduce texture via different
by shielding views into the neighbour’s gardens. A full-height, clear building materials. New insertions such as windows and glazed sliders
polycarbonate wall on the internal face of the upstairs living spaces still are framed in aluminium to contrast against the double-sash, timber-
allows for northerly light into the rooms. During the day, soft daylight framed windows of the old house. In extending this choice of material,
illuminates the elevated living spaces and, when the sun sets, these the batten privacy screen comprises aluminium extrusions to achieve
spaces become lanterns under the night sky. a machine-grade uniformity that juxtaposes wonderfully against the
hand-laid weatherboard cladding of old. A cement composite sheet
How did you make your material choices? panel product was used for the new boundary fence, arranged in a
We wanted the new building design to be contemporary, but still be able stretcher-bond pattern to add to the collection of geometries along the
to complement the existing weatherboard structure. A strong colour laneway elevation.
palette of whites was employed to elevate the visual impact the house
has along the street and laneway, and give it a crisp and clean look that How involved was the client throughout the design process?
the original building was in desperate need of. Even though we were As the homeowner was the builder, the line between builder and client
adding a lot more building, it still needed to feel light and bright. And was very fluid, which resulted in a collaborative process from day dot.
nowhere else is that more evident than in the moment you walk through A lot of trust was placed in us to fulfil the brief and then some. There
the front door and face a full-height sashless window at the end of the was no preconceived notion from either party of what the final house
hallway to lead your eye to an outdoor garden and beyond. should look like, so there was implicit trust in the design process and

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56 EMERGING PROJECT

Downside Up house – section

the result is a house that is responsive to its immediate context and natural cross-ventilation on a warm day. Highlight louvre windows in the
highlights the best attributes of the site. master bedroom allow for passive heating and cooling. All new glazing
and skylights are double-glazed for thermal efficiency.
Were there any specific requests or things you had to take into
account during the design process? What were the biggest challenges and how were they resolved?
One of the other stipulations in the brief was to rescue the front of the The shape and size of the site were always the primary constraints that
house, which was in a severe state of disrepair. We worked closely with the architecture had to work with. We knew that a typical ‘rear-ground-
the local council and its Heritage adviser to achieve a design outcome level-extension-facing-a-backyard’ treatment was impractical for this
whereby the new addition can be undoubtedly contemporary and house, so we subverted the status quo by promoting the living spaces
distinguishable without diminishing the significance and character upstairs and having all bedrooms organised at ground level. This allows
of the Heritage building. Part of the new addition’s building volume is us to borrow inherent privacy and security afforded by a new boundary
moulded by the regulatory Heritage guidelines of the area, particularly wall facing the laneway, and have the bedrooms feel sheltered. Upstairs,
sightlines from the street. Much time and care was spent during the the living spaces now sit above the neighbouring roofline and are able
design process to find the right balance of geometries to ensure that to open towards uninterrupted views and daylight.
the Heritage building still maintains its presence when viewed from the
main street, but turn the corner into the laneway and the new addition What is your favourite element of Downside Up House?
has its moment to shine. Our favourite space is the upstairs open living area with the end-to-end
We worked very hard from the outset to ensure we were not polycarbonate wall. The room is bathed in a constant soft glow that
wasteful in apportioning space where space is a premium. This is negates the need for artificial lighting throughout the day.
evident in the final layout, which remained faithful to the original There is so much variance in light and shade coming through the
schematic design drawings. This meant we were tussling and fussing polycarbonate, and when the sun hits the wall just right, the triangular
over millimetres to make sure the proportions of every single room were shades of the batten screen beyond reveal themselves to add another
just right. narrative layer to the space.

What environmental considerations are there in the design? How do you feel about the completed project?
The house was designed with good passive design fundamentals It has been a reassuring experience that our client was able to
in mind. The main living spaces are elevated and face good solar recognise the value an architect can bring to a project, aside from the
orientation to the north. Inherent sun shading is addressed partly perfunctory and necessary.
from the batten screen, as well as from the light diffuser insulation in We are grateful to our client for having put so much trust in us
between the polycarbonate sheets. A high level of thermal insulation is as designers and to be able to repay that faith by exceeding his
also achieved with this cavity insulation. expectation of what this house could be. We are also thankful that we
Vertical gardens in the front verandah and rear yard are positioned had this opportunity to test out ideas and keep a dialogue going with
to face north. At ground floor level, windows are located to promote the homeowner to receive any post-occupancy feedback. ar

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

58 AR ADVISER

EASY AS
ONE, TWO, THREE
ADVANCES IN MASTER KEYING MEAN THAT LOCKS CAN BE
CHANGED AND INSTANTLY REKEYED WITHOUT A LOCKSMITH
EVEN IN ATTENDANCE DANIELLE LORD EXPLAINS HOW IT WORKS.

I
n one of those crushing blows instances, accessing the doors they’re main user of the property wanting to allow
designed to disappoint 99 percent required to access. a cleaner, for example, to have access
of AR’s readership, I’m here to tell you And master keys have been around can insert their key and turn it to the eight
that despite what you’ve learned at the for a long time – allowing, for example, o’clock position. This will allow the cleaner
movies or from reading books, there is cleaning staff to access every room in a to enter when appropriate, inserting
really no such thing as a skeleton key. school without needing individual keys their own key and operating the door as
Yes, there are keys that have been filed every time. normal. After they have left, the owner/
or cut so that they can unlock a variety The innovations in this space revolve tenant is able to re-insert their key and turn
of warded locks, but in the widest sense around the way the mechanical world it back to the 12 o’clock position, reverting
of the term – no. And, of course, most of locks and keys is being linked to the the lock to its previous status and
of you actually do know this already. electronic one. You may now find keys preventing further entry by the cleaner.
Because logically there simply couldn’t that have a key clip over the top of them. And this technology has now evolved
be one key that fits every lock in the This then allows that key to have access further with the development in Austria
world – there are just so many different control through front door readers of and Switzerland of a design known as a
shapes of keys or, as they are known in buildings, with the mechanical part of the SAT (Secure Access Temporary) function.
the trade, profiles. And if you look at the key operating the internal mechanism of This generally uses a Euro/profile cylinder
broach of the key, where the cuts are, the door. and means that if a tenant or main user
this has a particular shape to it and not This means that when a system is is away and a casual user has the right
every key fits every lock. Everyone knows being upgraded – in an office building or key, they still can’t get access unless the
this deep down, but still you hear them educational facility, for example – users cylinder is turned to the right position.
say, “Oh, I wish I had a skeleton key.” are able to utilise a mechanical system This has myriad applications and
What do exist, however, are master within the building and an electronic one possibilities in aged care, dementia care
keys, which perform a similar function… on its outside. or places that require regular visitors
to a point. In a nutshell, master keying such as healthcare workers or the
allows convenience and security to an ADVANCES aforementioned cleaners, but especially
end user, so that they can go through It is now also possible to change access when perhaps not all of these visitors are
their building using just one key, in most with the way the key is used. A tenant or necessarily well-known or trusted.

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 gets handed over to the real estate system, which requires two chambers in
agent or property manager. As soon as the cylinder of each lock, lessening the
“THE VERY LATEST MASTER
they enter their key, this automatically expansion of the system. It’s a little more
KEYING SYSTEM IN THE overrides the original setting and the technical and is a system not generally
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS construction workers can no longer gain favoured by locksmiths, as it is difficult
WHAT HAS BEEN TERMED THE entry. And this is done without the need for them to allow for expansion due to
for rekeying or a locksmith coming on to the presence of the chambers dedicated
ONE, TWO, THREE METHOD.”
the site. The new key simply trips a wafer to construction keying.
inside the cylinder, which automatically
changes the combination of the coding OTHER APPLICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION KEYING inside and denies access to the first key. The one, two, three method can be
The very latest master keying system in The final phase is when the real mightily useful in other scenarios.
the construction industry is what has estate agent sells the property to the Imagine a person who has had their
been termed the one, two, three method. end user, who enters the third key, which handbag or briefcase stolen, and their
Simply put, this means when a building kicks off the second wafer, meaning the first key was in it, along with their address.
goes into construction, the security real estate agent too is now unable to They could simply call their partner or
system has three phases. The first phase access the property with their key. housemate, who could go home, use
in an apartment building, for instance, This approach clearly saves a whole their first key to get in and then retrieve
sees one key given to all the people on- lot of time and trouble – there is no need the second key from whichever safe
site. All of the necessary stakeholders to rekey, no need to relock and that place it had been secreted in, use that on
and construction workers are able to second key throughout the construction the front door and the system would be
operate every single door with the same phase saves a lot of money as it instantly rekeyed, kicking out key number
key throughout the construction stage. eliminates the very real chance of white one. It’s as easy as one, two, three! ar
At the next stage, when, for example, goods and other valuable fixtures and
white goods have been placed in the fittings being stolen. Danielle Lord is product marketing
apartments and it’s important to ensure Previously it has been necessary manager – Mechanical Key Systems |
that this is where they stay, a new key to rely on a two-level construction key dormakaba Pacific.

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

60 APPLICATION

ANOTHER BRICK IN
THE WALL
THERE ARE AWARDS PROGRAMS FOR PRACTICALLY EVERY IMAGINABLE
ASPECT OF THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
APPROPRIATELY THIS INCLUDES ONE DEVOTED TO THAT MOST HUMBLE,
YET INTEGRAL, ELEMENTS OF OUR WORLD – THE BRICK.
© PETER BENNETTS

Learning and Teaching

Building, Monash University, by
John Wardle Architects

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 © TREVOR MEIN

E
ach year, the prestigious Horbury structural capabilities. But rarely do we The forms of the brick towers within
Hunt Commercial (HHC) Award see it used as elegantly, creatively and the interior serve to frame spaces.
celebrates innovation and simply beautifully as in the Learning and They are also reminiscent of other brick
craftsmanship in commercial brickwork. Teaching Building. structures. They share their tapering and
The category is the pinnacle of curvilinear character with the pottery
showcasing brick design for the industry. THE PROJECT kilns of Stoke-on-Trent in England, for
The Horbury Hunt Award The Learning and Teaching Building (LTB) example. This reference to an industrial
categories include commercial and for Monash University is a multi-faculty landscape suggests the process of firing,
residential built projects that exemplify learning facility that serves a significant which starts with malleable clay and is
outstanding craftsmanship and proportion of the student teaching load abstractly akin to the process of learning.
innovation through the use of clay face for the Clayton Campus. The custom extruded brick elements
brick and pavers. Innovative formal learning and are striking visual markers that extend
The most recent deserving Think teaching spaces are complemented the materiality of the ground plane
Brick winner was John Wardle Architects by informal learning hubs that deliver a upward. They draw the eye toward the
for its superb work on the Learning and variety of study settings. sawtooth roof and skylights above, while
Teaching Building at Monash University’s The interior forms and materiality accommodating a range of formal and
Clayton Campus, underscoring an reflect a blurring of interior and informal learning spaces inside.
increase in the use of the material exterior spaces, and between A quote from the 2018 Think Brick
in Australian tertiary education building and campus. Streets, jury panel sums up the winning project’s
buildings. With the advent of a notable courtyards, bridges, balconies and appeal:
construction boom in this typology, stairs are transformed into ravines, “The way they’ve infilled the perp end
brick has again soared in popularity, clearings, strands, perches, nests and of the glass is bespoke and elegant. It’s a
thanks to its durability, resistance to amphitheatres that are choreographed really brave and confident resolution of
extreme weather events and endless to make an interior landscape. the design outcome.” ar

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

62 APPLICATION – SHOWCASE

◄
Dulux
Professional DryErase
There are no ideas too little, only spaces too little to put them in.
Professional DryErase will transform classrooms and offices into
boundless erasable surfaces, giving you the space you need to
communicate, connect and accelerate learning and collaboration.
No matter where you use it, minds will open and fill with big ideas.
dulux.com.au

▼
UCI ahead of the game
When it comes to sit-to-stand workstations UCI is ahead of the
game with Interchange and Paradigm, as both products provide
optimum dimensions, safety, stability, durability and strength for
sit-to-stand workstations.
Paradigm was the first sit-to-stand workstation to receive full
certification and was developed by UCI through extensive research
into flexible working environments that improve productivity.
Interchange is founded on principles of flexibility and adaptability
and the designer has the opportunity to configure the product in
whichever way best suits the setting.
Both Interchange and Paradigm have been certified to the new
Australian Standards by Furntech (AFRDI). ▲
uci.com.au Halliday + Baillie
HB640 series
The Halliday + Baillie narrow flush sliding door lock provides a
seamless and flush solution for narrow aluminium and
steel joinery.
Halliday + Baillie is proud to announce that it has recently
collaborated with ALSPEC (aluminium systems specialist) to design
and tweak special parts to perfectly fit the HB640 series and to
officially launch the Halliday + Baillie sliding lock range as a major
part of its offering into its Proglide and Hawkesbury Top Hung and
SwanEvo range.
See your Halliday + Baillie or Alspec representative for a manual and
further information.
hallidaybaillie.com
alspec.com.au

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

 ►
Australian Trellis Doors Co
H&M shopfront windows
The Australian Trellis Doors Co (ATDC) has installed retractable
security shutters across three adjacent shopfront windows for global
retailer H&M in Adelaide. By configuring these doors on a side-by-
side parallel set of top tracks, ATDC was able to install them in a way
that they all overlapped each other and folded back to a common
storage bay.
This was made achievable through the use of multiple up/down
locking mechanisms, which created a seamless lock-up situation. For
further information on ATDC’s full range of commercial security
shutters, call 1800 657 435 or visit the website.
trellisdoors.com.au

◄
Locker
Locker’s custom-made perforated metal
The only limit to the design of your façade is your imagination. Locker’s
perforated metal products are custom-made, adding a visual spark
to dull structural façades and screens. Our vast library of tools allows
you to create truly one-of-a-kind patterns and designs. Part of our
ethos is ensuring that you always get a solution that suits your exact
requirements. Discuss your needs with our expert team and we can
manufacture a perforated metal project unique to you.
locker.com.au/architectural/perforated

►
Zip
The smart and stylish kitchen essential
The latest innovation in Zip Water’s HydroTap range is the Zip
HydroTap Celsius All-In-One Arc – the ultimate in design and
functionality. This smart system offers instant filtered boiling, chilled
and sparkling drinking water, plus unfiltered hot and cold water all
wrapped up in a single and stylish HydroTap. A source of design
inspiration and wellness, available in 12 contemporary finishes, the Zip
HydroTap Celsius All-In-One Arc complements any kitchen or office
and provides great tasting water every time.
zipwater.com

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

64 BRAIN TRUST

BRAIN TRUST
THIS ISSUE AR ASKS A PANEL OF EXPERTS THEIR RESPONSE TO THE FOLLOWING
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO BE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR
YOUR PRACTICE IN 2019?

existing projects – such as ‘value

capture’ design masterplans
/ ANNE CLISBY creativity and design with well-
designed project and maker
for level crossing removals, SENIOR ASSOCIATE, spaces fostering innovation and
and holistic masterplans for a DENTON CORKER collaboration, as something that
number of Victoria’s primary MARSHALL will flow through all levels of
tertiary education providers – are Possibly the greatest education, as educators try to
crucial to capitalising upon these opportunity for our practice in grasp the impact of automation
opportunities. In the private 2019 is in the research economy, on jobs. This is also likely to
sector, the current climate particularly in medical research spread into the workplace, as
of stagnating housing prices facilities. We expect many companies start to research
and uncertain lending/foreign clients to take advantage of the and focus on where they can
investment conditions has Federal Government’s $1.3 billion add real value and growth as
resulted in a number of ‘design Medical Research Future Fund. work becomes increasingly
optimisation’ opportunities that We see particular growth in the automated. We are eager to
/ BRODIE BLADES seek to refine existing approvals biotech sector, with projects translate our knowledge about
to further elevate their calibre of focused on bionics, advanced creating incubator hubs and
ASSOCIATE bio-fabrication and gene innovation spaces into the
urban design outcome.
DIRECTOR, SJB technology, and are enthusiastic commercial workplace and help
We also anticipate significant
Urban design holds a privileged urban design opportunities in about being a part of developing companies to future-proof with
position in Victoria, as great regional Victoria in 2019, too – new laboratory types and spaces cultivating creativity
urban design is embedded particularly now that the level of workspaces that will augment specific to their industries.
in many of our historic population growth and migration this vital research. Sustainability will continue
and contemporary urban in many of Victoria’s regions is Education remains a focus to be embedded in everything
environments and is increasingly rivalling that of the gold rush with the current trend to
becoming expected by the era. SJB is currently leading a STEM+M (Science, Technology,
myriad people who engage number of masterplanning and Engineering, Mathematics +
with our public places and structure planning projects in Medicine) projects encouraging
spaces. While this has and regional centres such as Ballarat, students to engage in open-
will continue to translate to Wangaratta and Mansfield that ended investigations fostering
significant opportunities for the seek to capitalise upon these real investment from school to
SJB Melbourne studio in 2019, it opportunities by proactively university – commercialisation
will also translate to significant balancing population growth with of products to market, driving
opportunities for all Victorians to valued aspects of the existing a segment of the Australian
further elevate our state’s design ‘feel and function’ of each. economy being the ultimate
agenda over the coming year. Critically, however, we see prize. We are excited how our
For example, in metropolitan the greatest opportunity for the recently completed Biomedical
Melbourne, the unprecedented practice to be the same in 2019 Learning and Teaching Building
level of current public sector as in every year: the talent of our at Monash University and the
infrastructure investment young, dynamic team producing Science and Technology Hub at
presents a rare opportunity to our brand of independent, Melbourne Grammar School are
reimagine aspects of our existing collaborative and unbiased looking into these shifts.
urban fabric. A number of our urban design. We see a renewed interest in

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

we do. Melbourne Quarter Sky
Park is a great example where
publicly-accessible open space
floats above the ground creating
an indoor-outdoor space for
office workers and much needed
public greenspace in the dense utilising mass media to spread / SALLY
city core. We hope that our their message. That’s dissolved MATTHEWS
project sets an environmental with the advent of digital media,
benchmark, leading to and savvy marketers now hyper-
DIRECTOR,
opportunities for our practice target unique messages to small
MATTHEWS
to showcase more innovative groups and individuals at a
AND SCAVALLI
approaches to design and human scale.
ARCHITECTS
sustainability in 2019. This shift is mirrored in Looking back on 2018, generally
architecture and interior design. as a profession things were pretty

/ NIGEL HOBART Increased accessibility to ideas

has given people unprecedented
‘tight’ over here in the West.
Like a playground seesaw
MANAGING power to express their identity. when things were going
PRINCIPAL, It’s resonating and creating gangbusters over there (Eastern
ROTHELOWMAN significant opportunity for states) and the arc of the
Our greatest challenges response. seesaw flew high into the air,
represent our greatest The challenge then becomes: we in the West were hitting
opportunities. how do designers create a style the ground with a thump and support of women remaining in
Markets in the three largest that allows incredible flexibility a bounce and another thump. architecture as careers mature.
Australian cities are shifting. Within for individuals, without creating After an extended period of Opportunity for our practice
these adjustments, sectors like incredible complexity for economic contraction and is to (as often quoted on football
office space, industrial, student developers? peppered fortunes, the now commentary) ‘make the most of
accommodation, aged care and It’s a multifaceted task that lithe architectural profession of opportunities’. Our practice will
build-to-rent are all showing signs requires a highly collaborative Western Australia is rising out continue to explore and traverse
of stability and prospect. With this attack. It’s about us responding of the Bust Dust on an uplift in a range of project types whether
knowledge, at a strategic level, our through design to the consumer’s fortune with more enquiries yet they be in education, residential
challenge is advising clients who wish for a more individual, tempered by sluggish approvals. or commercial, and metro-based
have been heavily involved in the identity-driven outcome in their Issues on the 2019 western or regional.
residential cycle on how to step home or work environment. horizon for our profession: the Opportunities also lie in
into emerging opportunities with The great dichotomy new state planning guidelines, collaborations and associations
confidence. is this – unique design ‘R-codes volume 2 Apartments’ with other professions, enabling
Simultaneously, design itself requires collaboration. It’s for higher densities, inviting more an expanded range of expertise
is transitioning in style from our collaborative approach involvement from architects to be offered to our clients
minimalism to individualism. and expertise across Sydney, to achieve better outcomes, These collaborations come
Let’s take marketing as an Brisbane and Melbourne that has ongoing education of the state with the bonus of a cross-
analogy. Traditionally, marketers Rothelowman ideally placed to government as to the value of pollination of ideas leading to
defined a large target audience, rise to the challenge in 2019. architects and the continued richer outcomes. ar

ISSUE 159 australiandesignreview.com

66 SKELETONS

STOCKHOLM PUBLIC LIBRARY

IN SKELETONS, AR LOOKS AT NOTABLE AND ICONIC BUILDINGS WHEN THEY
WERE STILL JUST A TWINKLE IN THEIR CREATOR’S EYE.
/ MELISSA RYMER

C
ommonly regarded as
one of the most influential
European architects of
the early 20th century, Eric Gunnar
Asplund built the Stockholm Public
Library in Sweden’s capital from 1918
to 1923. It is regarded as a superb
example of Nordic Classicism and a
successful integration of classicism and
modernism. Europe was recovering
from the horrors of World War I, and
the original design borrowed elements
from Greco-Roman architecture. It was
also clearly inspired by the work of
French Neo-Classical architect, Claude
Nicolas Ledoux and his Rotonde de
la Villette (1784). Originally, the library
began with columns at the entrance,
decorative motifs and a large dome
in the centre but, as time passed, its
design progressed to become a more
functionalist and modernist work. The
quintessential great central dome
was modified to leave the ‘drum’, an
impressive cylindrical form, as the

central design element and all decorative

elements were pared back.
The library building has a strict
geometric design with a square base
and the drum, which contains the main
hall of the library. An open courtyard
in the centre of the cylinder rises three
levels and the only points of access to
the central area of the library are in the
four tangent points. The combination of
spherical and cubic forms was a frequent
Asplund motif, which can be found in
such projects as the oval hall on the top
floor of the Villa Snellman in Djursholm.
The Stockholm Public Library was
the first library in Sweden to implement
the principle of open shelves, where
visitors could access books without
seeking assistance from library staff, a
concept that the architect observed in
123RF’s Hans Christiansson © 123RF.com
US libraries. ar

THE BUSINESS OF ARCHITECTURE

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