14 minute read
02. InterVIEW
JOHN ARMSBY
Architect, Armsby Architects 2020 Building Design Awards Judge What are you working on now?
I have a few projects on the go at the moment which are mainly mixed-use apartment projects however, I’m currently mainly focused on a project in Fishermans Bend which includes a neighbourhood shopping centre with a number of commercial floors and a few hundred apartments
What have been your favourite projects and why?
My two favourite projects to date are definitely Richmond Icon, at the former Dimmeys in Richmond, which was for me a formative project in that it was the first major project after establishing Armsby Architects and it was a true test of whether I was going to have what it takes. It is a big task to redesign a project steeped in such history and especially so as it was originally designed by Harry Tompkins, who founded Tompkins Shaw and Evans in East Melbourne where I cut my teeth in Melbourne Architecture shortly after arriving here from Tassie.
The second project is Green Edge in Cremorne which sits two doors from Dimmeys, and was my first chance to really push sustainability as far as I could take it for a client who wanted to have sustainability as long as it didn’t cost anything, so the key was to incorporate sustainability which also could serve other purposes such as the splayed buttress wing walls that removed west-facing glass from the building but also ensured privacy and overlooking were controlled whilst also improving energy efficiency.
To date, what has been your biggest design challenge and how did you overcome it?
Once again, Dimmeys has been my biggest design challenge as it had to satisfy not only Council but also Heritage Victoria who were following completely different agendas, as well as the sense of responsibility that goes with taking on such a glorious, although faded gem that was the tired old building known as Dimmeys. Alila Ulawatu, Bali - WOHA WOHA.net
Do you have any words of wisdom for a student wanting to work in your profession?
The thing I try to instil into my students is to keep your eyes open to the buildings we see every day, try to look at how something might have been detailed, and to absorb as much information as you can about various ways of tackling design solutions as there are normally several ways you can design something and there aren’t usually any specific rights or wrongs, however IF you know what your options are and you have a number of them then you can make an informed decision on which direction to take. In design there really aren’t any limits beyond your own personal ones so the only way to advance is to keep expanding your limits. There is usually nothing wrong with making an error as long as you learn from it and don’t repeat the error.
Why did you join Design Matters National?
I originally joined because I was a Thermal Performance Assessor and this really allowed me to hone my skills in energy efficient design. I was rating a large number of apartment projects right across Australia for a number of high-profile firms and this allowed me an opportunity to explore hundreds of apartments’ designs and learn from what I saw work or not work. I should think I’ve rated a few thousand apartments during that period but, as my own office workload has developed, my time for taking on that type of work has diminished, however I learnt what I needed at the time to be able to produce Green Edge where there are apartments with ratings as high as 9.7 stars and all are 8-stars or more.
Left: PARKROYAL COLLECTION on Pickering, by WOHA.
Right: Green Edge in Cremorne. Photographer: Peter Clarke - Latitude Media. Latitude.com.au
In terms of professional development, what do you want to know more about?
I am perpetually distracted by Prefabrication and mainly Cross Laminated and Massive Timber construction. I see it is the future of construction and the rate at which it has been adopted throughout Scandinavia gives a good indication of how quickly that rate of change is coming.
What is your favourite finish or feature?
My favourite finish is definitely natural. I prefer natural timber, natural concrete, natural zinc. I’m known for not really liking to add colour to my building unless it has a specific purpose for being there.
What is your favourite architectural style?
I love mid-century modern, especially the beautiful long lines found in Palm Springs and the Case Study Houses. I so wish I’d been an architect 50 years earlier however, I also love designing BIG buildings. I’m all in the less is more camp on that and KISS (keep it simple stupid).
What is your favourite Australian building?
Without a doubt it is Sydney Opera House. It’s the only building that you could show someone a photo in Kurdistan or Timbuktu and they would likely recognise it straight away.
What is your favourite international building?
I have a few. I first fell in love with Casa Mila in Barcelona. Gaudi was such a talent. I also visited projects he did at 23 years old and it is hard to fathom being so talented at 23, as he was. More recently, I’ve fallen for PARKROYAL COLLECTION on Pickering in Singapore by WOHA. I saw it being constructed when in Singapore staying at Marina Bay Sands so had to go back and stay immediately after it opened. I am also intrigued by vernacular design and seeing how traditional building ideas can be reinterpreted to enrich a new design.
Which designer currently inspires your work?
Here I’d really have to point again to WOHA. The PARKROYAL COLLECTION on Pickering is magic but their Alila Villas at Uluwatu in Bali are simply breathtaking. My father passed away while I was away in Bali and I needed a moment to reflect. Our driver took me to a great temple he knew of but it was strangely closed and as we left I saw the Alila sign telling me exactly where I should go to say goodbye. All I can say is I find their work soulful. Stunning buildings cantilevering over the sheer cliffs with pounding seas 100m below was exactly the soulful place I needed on that day.
Green Edge in Cremorne. Photographer: Peter Clarke - Latitude Media. Latitude.com.au
BELINDA STEWART
Owner, 3875 design & drafting Belinda has worked in the building industry for more than 31 years; eight of those with a local Bairnsdale engineering firm, then changing direction slightly, and spending nearly 13 years with a successful local Building Design company, Tantaro Design. Before Belinda established 3875 design & drafting in October 2009, she spent a few years obtaining some knowledge on the other side of the desk, at a building surveying company. To present good design ideas, her company utilises computer-aided building design and drafting, and in-house FR5 thermal performance assessments which complement a client’s brief and vision for their project. Additionally, she outsources such services as engineering, town planning and bushfire management assessments. Residential projects can include new builds, renovations, decks and pergolas, whilst industrial/commercial projects can range from an industrial shed to a complete commercial refurbishment.
What are you working on now, and could you share something unique you're bringing to the project?
Wow... Currently, I am working on a range of projects from a covered area/deck, a retail/industrial building, alterations/ additions and few interesting, small but modest new homes. With some amazing consultants by my side, my structural design/drafting background, and approximately 23 years in the architectural field, the company can offer a broad range of design advice and options.
What are your favourite projects you have worked on and why?
A local residential project currently underway comes to mind. The client went from the vision of a two-storey residence to a single-storey, once budget constraints were explained. She was so accommodating of the advice and knowledge offered that, even at this early stage (the roof has only gone on this week), she is so excited (as am I for her) to be seeing her dream become a reality.
To date, what has been your biggest business/design challenge and how did you overcome it?
Making the decision that, in order for the business to move forward (and to keep my sanity), I need to transition from sole practitioner to an employer. Advertising for the position brought forward many candidates (more than I expected), with one hopefully starting in the near future.
Do you have any words of wisdom for a student wanting to work in your profession?
Ask questions... be a sponge. There is so much to learn and so many facets to this industry. That’s what I love about it: the diversity.
Why did you join Design Matters National?
When I worked for Tantaro Design (a multiple award-winner, back in the BDAV days), I could see there was a real camaraderie between the BDAV Members. Everyone appears to want to help their fellow building designer. This is evident with these Member profiles, the Facebook page, and the forum online. No-one comes across as above anyone else. I wanted to still be a part of that family.
In terms of professional development, what do you want to know more about?
I think more business-specific tools. Time management advice and possible apps out there that could make life easier. I can get distracted at times! Also, I am loving the webcasts of our some our designers. I just want to learn more about what our Members are doing, being inspired and being able to proudly say, ‘Hey, I am building designer, too’.
Stairs at house designed by architect Harry Seidler and his wife Penelope Seidler
What is your favourite finish or feature?
Simply, I would have to say a great, well-designed alfresco area with an open fireplace. Being a lover of camping and the outdoors, I do love a good local red wine around a nice fire!
What is your favourite architectural style?
Although not practical from an energy efficiency perspective, I just love the clean lines and transparency (but not the lack of privacy) that they had. I believe it epitomised the classic Californian dream, which other countries caught on to, including Australia!
What is your favourite Australian building?
Nightingale Apartments in Melbourne. I love the concept of affordability, sustainability and good design for inner city apartment living. It just ticks so many boxes.
What is your favourite international building?
Again, some of the Californian mid-Century buildings are fascinating. But to tell the truth, off track here, the pyramids still intrigue me! House on the canal - 3875 design & drafting
Which designer currently inspires your work?
To be honest, I am inspired by all designers, especially our Members. The level of detail, design and innovation is second-to-none. The designs showcased in our magazine clearly show building designers can design buildings as well as (if not, in some cases, better than) our architect colleagues.
Why did you become a thermal performance assessor (TPA)?
I sort of fell into it... Whilst working at a building permit office, the opportunity came up for someone to offer the services of a TPA as there were many applications coming into the office that didn’t have a thermal assessment or they required to be checked over for specification relevance (i.e. correct thickness of batts in walls, etc.). From there, I did my TPA short course at Box Hill in 2010, which led to becoming a registered building practitioner (architectural draftsperson). I didn’t realise how interesting it would be, as you are educating people every day on how to achieve good energy efficiency/design for their home. Some listen, some not so much, but the majority of people are now seeing the benefits beyond just the minimum 6-star requirement.
Tell us about challenging project you’ve worked on as a TPA.
Just completed a rating for a ‘renovation’ which really was a complete re-build, therefore the RBS required it to meet six-star minimum. Problem was, it had already been quoted by a builder and thus trying to educate the builder, architect and client that the specifications already quoted probably (and didn’t...) work for a six-star home was challenging, to say the least. Upon speaking to the client themselves, I was able to advise as to what would possibly be required to get it to six stars and even though the specifications were higher than previously quoted, they were grateful for the down-to-earth, grass-roots advice and, ultimately, complementing the design with great thermal comfort.
What is your favourite software tool?
FR5 would have to be the easiest of the main three NatHERS rating tools, and it appears to be one of those more commonly used in Victoria for ‘everyday’ homes.
How has thermal performance assessing (energy rating) and energy efficiency changed over the years?
Software has evolved incredibly from when it was first introduced in 2004, as have the Government requirements for better energy efficiency. One main thing that has changed over the years, and is still changing, is clients’ education around energy efficiency. Some clients now come with a list of ‘energy efficiency’ requirements they have investigated in order to get the best star-rating for their budgets. Sometimes this is a plus and sometimes a negative, as not all projects will tick the box with the specifications presented – especially if the design is not on par for good energy efficiency (i.e. orientation, large amounts of
glazing, etc.).
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