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The Local Project

The Local Project •

Mondrian Gold Coast by Fraser & Partners, Studio Carter and Alexander &CO

Beachside locales are often characterised by a free-spirited charm and laid-back energy, but Mondrian Gold Coast, Australia’s first luxury lifestyle property by Mondrian Hotels, elegantly breaks the mould with its elevated coastal flair. Situated at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, a seaside suburb known for its sparkling sand and surf, the 24-storey hotel comprises studios, suites, private beach and sky houses, a bio-wellness spa and event spaces, and two podium restaurants. The architecture and construction were respectively helmed by Melbourne-based Fraser & Partners and Brisbane-based The Barrett Group, while the interior design was divided between Sydney-based Alexander &CO. and Studio Carter, a California-headquartered practice previously enlisted to design Mondrian Singapore Duxton.
The Local Project •

120 Collins Street by Hassell

Some things get better with age—though, as Ingrid Bakker, Principal and Co-Leader of the Commercial and Workplace sector at Hassell, will attest, they sometimes need a little help along the way. Such was the case with 120 Collins Street, a landmark skyscraper on Melbourne’s Collins Street, originally completed by Hassell in association with architect Daryl Jackson in 1991, whose ground floor and entrance had gradually lost their lustre. To restore the 35-year-old spaces to their former glory, Hassell returned to lead the transformation, drawing on their deep connection to the building’s heritage to create a revitalised, future-facing experience that honours the original while meeting contemporary expectations.
The Local Project •

Michael Kirby Building by Hassell

A few years ago, Macquarie University’s Wallumattagal Campus, situated on Dharug Country in Sydney, Australia, looked a little different. Where now stands Michael Kirby Building was a tired circa-1985 structure that masqueraded as the administration centre. When Hassell ultimately took up the gauntlet of reimagining the space into a modern learning destination, the intent was never to undo the past, but to honour it in making room for the future. Inaugurated in March 2024, Michael Kirby Building—christened after the former Justice of the High Court of Australia and the university’s first Emeritus Chancellor—is an object lesson in adaptive reuse. The 8,500-square-metre upcycled building emerges from the shadows of its predecessor, serving as a modern home for Macquarie University Law School and the University’s Department of Philosophy. In remaining committed to its lifelong pursuit of educational excellence, the institution has also positioned the building as a support facility for the larger campus.
The Local Project •

Mondrian Gold Coast by Fraser & Partners, Studio Carter and Alexander&CO

Beachside locales are often characterised by a free-spirited charm and laid-back energy, but Mondrian Gold Coast, Australia’s first luxury lifestyle property by Mondrian Hotels, elegantly breaks the mould with its elevated coastal flair. Situated at Burleigh Heads, Queensland, a seaside suburb known for its sparkling sand and surf, the 24-storey hotel comprises studios, suites, private beach and sky houses, a bio-wellness spa and event spaces, and two podium restaurants. The architecture and construction were respectively helmed by Melbourne-based Fraser & Partners and Brisbane-based The Barrett Group, while the interior design was divided between Sydney-based Alexander &CO. and Studio Carter, a California-headquartered practice previously enlisted to design Mondrian Singapore Duxton.
The Local Project •

[Print] Greg & Lesa Faulkner at Home

A few times a year, Greg and Lesa Faulkner leave their residence in San Francisco and disappear into the wilds of Martis Valley—a forested Californian vale on the outskirts of Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the U.S. Their retreats are far from casual escapes; they’re purposeful returns. Years ago, the couple—Greg, co-founder and principal of the California-based Faulkner Architects, and Lesa, who helms the firm’s interior design—acquired a 2.5-acre parcel in this rugged highland, with a promise to honour the land in their effort to make it home. Set at 2,100 metres above sea level and cloaked in towering Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines, tangled manzanita, and the crisp perfume of wild sage, the site asked not just for attention, but reverence.
The Local Project •

Garden House by Openspace Architecture

Garden House may be physically situated on the sylvan shores of Saanich Inlet, just north of Victoria on Vancouver Island, but the waterfront residence exists metaphysically somewhere between the West Coast of America and the refined minimalism of Japan.
Conceived and constructed over a period of seven years, Garden House is as much a part of the landscape as the forest that surrounds it. The property comprises three buildings – a single-storey main house of 929 square metres, a guesthouse and a...
The Local Project •

Greg and Lesa Faulkner At Home

A few times a year, Greg and Lesa Faulkner leave their residence in San Francisco and disappear into the wilds of Martis Valley, a forested Californian vale on the outskirts of Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, the United States’ largest alpine lake. Their retreats are far from casual escapes; they’re purposeful returns. Years ago, the couple – Greg, the founder and principal of California-based Faulkner Architects, and Lesa, who oversees interior design at the firm – acquired a 10,000-squaremetre parcel in the highland, with a promise to honour the land in their effort to make it home. Set at 2,100 metres above sea level and cloaked in towering Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines, tangled manzanita and the crisp perfume of wild sage, the site doesn’t just invite attention but reverence.
The Local Project •

Sliding Door Hardware by Halliday + Baillie - The Local Project

Halliday + Baillie’s sliding door hardware is crafted for projects where every element must align at the highest level. Whether in a minimalist apartment or heritage transformation, the hardware seamlessly integrates into a range of design contexts without compromising performance. A prime example is the HB690 privacy set, chosen for the restoration of the iconic Raffles Hotel in Singapore – proof that when it comes to combining design integrity with mechanical precision, few can rival Halliday...
The Local Project •

Pointe Living by Luigi Rosselli Architects and Atelier Alwill

If there’s one thing Luigi Rosselli Architects and Atelier Alwill can do – and do well – it’s to create 10 homes where there once stood only one. Pointe Living, a nine-storey apartment development in Sydney’s bustling Edgecliff neighbourhood, is a testament to this ambition, transforming a modest footprint into a cohesive ensemble of contemporary residences without sacrificing light, space or a sense of community.
The stack of 10 standalone residences – articulated to suit its narrow site – repr...
The Local Project •

Timber & Tones House by Studio Soleil and Bullivant Architecture

A melting pot of Italian restaurants, eclectic cafés, verdant parks and heritage homes, Sydney’s Leichhardt layers Mediterranean charm with cultural histories and modern conveniences. Timber & Tones House by Studio Soleil reflects these surroundings, balancing old-world character with contemporary sensibilities.
For Studio Soleil, the priority was preserving the interbellum bungalow’s historic identity while embracing a bold, modern extension. “The challenge lay in marrying the two – ensuring ea...
The Local Project •

Void House by Light and Air

A typical New York City brownstone is characterised by its iconic stoop, narrow facade and warm-hued sandstone exterior, often punctuated by tall windows and classic 19th-century details. Many also feature a narrow period staircase perpendicular to the length of the building – a feature that New York City–based studio Light and Air considered more limiting than liberating, restricting how the space could be used. In designing Void House, a 300-square-metre brownstone in Manhattan’s Carnegie Hill neighbourhood, the practice rotated the rowhouse staircase ninety degrees, transforming it from a mere functional thoroughfare into the home’s pièce de résistance.
The Local Project •

In focus: Halliday + Baillie - The Local Project

Architectural hardware often goes unnoticed – concealed as hinges behind doors, channels under drawers and brackets beneath stairs. Since its inception in 1995, New Zealand company Halliday + Baillie has sought to rewrite this narrative, elevating joinery staples with superior design, materials and finishes.
For more than 30 years, Halliday + Baillie has supplied clients with quality hardware for both commercial and residential spaces. “We’re an architectural fittings company, predominantly door...
The Local Project •

Measured’s Furniture Inspires a Well-Lived Life - The Local Project

A life well lived – this is the aspiration of Measured, an Australian furniture company known for its thoughtfully crafted, enduring design.
Founded by designers Ceci Thompson and Aydin Keyvanloo, Melbourne-based studio Measured reimagines the idea of intentional living with pieces where well-balanced elemental forms and a considered design approach lend a sense of harmony to their surroundings. Whether on a patio, in an office or a hospitality setting, Measured’s furniture strives to contribute...
The Local Project •

Larkspur by BOSS Architecture

Larkspur, a midcentury-inspired dwelling designed by Denver-based BOSS Architecture, harmonises with the surrounding 1960s residences yet conceals a secret imperceptible from the street: a storybook backyard that turns with the seasons.
For the architects, the ambition to create a garden that matched or even surpassed the home itself inspired the idea of an L-shaped plan that would shelter the backyard from two perpendicular street frontages. While one wing was designed to accommodate a garage,...
The Local Project •

Articolo Studios’ New Melbourne Flagship Showroom by Studio Goss

Though defined by angular volumes, the showroom possesses an earthy quality, an approach that reflects the nature of the objects it houses: all of Articolo Studio’s lighting features brass as a base metal, with some pieces finished in bronze. The space reflects the studio’s focus on the inherent beauty of the materials featured in its ranges. “We create lighting and a complement of sculptural furn...
The Local Project •

Gantri’s Consciously Crafted Lighting

From nebulous table lamps to traffic-signal-inspired floor lights, each Gantri piece is a sculptural statement that empowers self-expression and channels an unexpected whimsy that feels both contemporary and timeless. Its design language, paired with its eco-conscious ethos – each light is crafted from a biodegradable, plant-based polymer derived from sustainably grown, non-GMO sugarcane – has made it a firm favourite in the A&D world. Gantri lighting has featured in Time, Dezeen and Architectur...
The Local Project •

Kastex’s Sublime Architectural Wall Finishes - Product Feature - The Local Project

For architectural wall finishes brand Kastex, no two walls are alike. The Melbourne-based, family-run company has long upheld an ethos of craftsmanship, creativity and customisation, treating every surface as a blank canvas and an opportunity to tell a tactile story. Sustainable materials and methods underscore its commitment to responsible design, ensuring beauty never comes at the expense of the environment.
The Local Project •

Blind Dormer House by Anya Moryoussef Architect

Anything Anya Moryoussef Architect touches feels like an optical illusion – or, at the very least, becomes one over time. Blind Dormer House – a 1920s home in Toronto’s Wychwood neighbourhood, rejuvenated a few years ago – is a compelling case in point. While preserving its pre-war identity, in both profile and materiality, the designer subtly reconfigures the interior, turning the home away from the street and toward a view that had been hiding in plain sight all along: a grand, century-old oak tree. In renovating the heritage structure, practice principal Anya Moryoussef introduced additions so deftly integrated that it’s difficult to discern where – or even whether – the old meets the new. A contemporary home was inserted between the original gable ends, forming a two-and-a-half-storey volume with a mirror-image roofline that blends effortlessly into the streetscape. As Moryoussef puts it, “it’s reinvented by a brush with surrealism.”
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