The shorthand we use to describe our design philosophy is “people, place, purpose, planet and production”. This is our framework for creating, discussing and assessing our design.
People: Human experience is at the heart of our approach. We design for all people who work, travel, visit, learn and live in the spaces and places we create.
Place: We recognise the sacred lands of our First Peoples, and through design we respect and acknowledge the landscape, climate, history, culture and custodial presence that defines place.
Purpose: Working with all stakeholders, we explore the purpose of each project, to reach its full potential beyond the functional brief.
Planet: Sustainability and resilience is championed in every aspect of our business. We aim to make our impact on the environment a net positive for our planet.
Production: How the built environment can be intelligently, efficiently and safely put together drives our design thinking. We have the technical and digital expertise to make liveable and resilient places – we call it production.
We believe sustainability is multi-faceted; it’s about taking responsibility for the environmental impact, cultural heritage, economic viability and social significance of our work.
Our designs are resilient to whatever the future holds. We create projects that are sensitive to a changing climate, responsive to technological developments, and built to contribute to healthy and happy communities for generations to come.
Architectus has built a strong practice culture around the exceptional skills of our people – committed design professionals trusted by our clients to realise their vision. Our staff of 380 brings together architects, interior architects, digital design and delivery experts, urban designers and planners with a breadth of local and global experience.
We embrace the diverse backgrounds of our people and the rich perspective they bring to our studio.
Our leaders have inspiring portfolios and deep sector experience. Every one of our projects is led by a dedicated Principal, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our clients to achieve world-class design.
Collaboration is an over-used word however, at Architectus, we really know what it means. It’s not just cooperation or sharing, it’s about embracing the unexpected, bringing remarkable minds together and breaking down barriers to enrich outcomes.
We are renowned for our ability to partner on projects; sometimes we partner with other architects, and we always partner with our clients.
We are digitally agile, and our process is rigorous. We pursue new horizons using a sophisticated set of tools to uncover, test, and refine the genesis of what makes each project special. Our engagement with clients, stakeholders, users and communities runs deep and wide.
Through this process of research, iterative exploration, invention and refinement we arrive at solutions that stand the test of time and are noted for their rationality, ingenuity and beauty.
We are a digital leader in our industry, embracing technological advances and the opportunities that arise from an innovative mindset.
Our in-house technology consultancy has expertise in 3D prototyping, laser scanning, software engineering, data management and computational design.
We utilise the most sophisticated tools to analyse data, forecast challenges and visualise solutions that are imaginative, precise and efficient.
Architectus Australia is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Independent Director Ben Lehmann with Executive Directors Ray Brown (CEO), Barry Aarons (COO), Ruth Wilson, Simone Oliver and Mark van den Enden.
The Board presides over the Executive and Design Management Groups; a company structure that institutes best practice across all operations. All Principals have a stake in the business and are invested in delivering successful outcomes for our clients.
Reconciliation
Action Plan
At Architectus people and place are pillars of our design approach. We are acutely aware that we design places and spaces that occupy the unceded lands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and that these Traditional Owners retain the greatest connection and knowledge of place. We want to acknowledge our Traditional Owners, work with them and learn from them. Now is the time to put our intention into action, and for Architectus, our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is an essential part of our commitment to action. We want to make reconciliation tangible in our practice, our process and in our built work. Reconciliation Australia’s RAP framework provides us with a structured approach to build and encourage reconciliation.
Download the Architectus Reflect RAP
About the artwork
Architectus commissioned Heather Kamarra Shearer to complete a unique art piece to support our first Reconciliation Action Plan. This artwork is both a representation of a ‘map and an agreement’, at the start of the Architectus reconciliation action journey, that expresses the elements of cultural understanding required for Architectus to effectively contribute to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The understanding between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal world views are represented by the two halves of the symbol for Aboriginal community and the protractor coming together and completing the circle in the centre of the painting is surrounded by people of all cultural background. This symbol of balance, understanding and mutual respect is set in the centre of the perspective, acknowledging that achieving this balance is still off in the future. But may-be not too far away.