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The Local Project •

[Print] Architects at Home: Inside Rob Mills's Howqua Home

Long before he created Howqua River Lodge in the Victorian Alps, architect Rob Mills knew that a quiet life in the countryside was written in his stars. “I had already built a beach house in the city and enjoyed that experience enormously, but as I grew older, I was in search of something quieter,” says the founder and principal of Melbourne-based Rob Mills Architects, whose pursuit, in due course, led him deep into the Howqua Valley—a region prized for its magnificent panoramas. “I'd been holidaying there with my family and friends my entire life, but land in this valley is very rare. Then, by chance, about 15 or 16 years ago—maybe more—a parcel of land became available.” Seeing it as an opportunity to step into his next chapter, Mills purchased the land, spending the following years manifesting a residence grown slowly from the earth, nourished and sustained by the elements themselves.
The Local Project •

Woollahra Apartment by Porebski Architects

There’s something special about designing a home for oneself – but something even more meaningful about creating one for one’s parents. Perched atop a building in a leafy enclave beside the heritage-listed Rosemont Estate, the three-bedroom residence offers beautiful harbour views, but its true charm lies in how the duo transformed it into a timeless setting for their mother’s cherished collection of antiques and art. “We were lucky to get the opportunity to redesign it,” says D’Alisa of the home, which they thoughtfully downsized to accommodate her sculptures, vintage furniture and beloved objets d’art – treasures gathered over the years with their father, retired architect Andre Porebski. “These pieces really informed our approach; the challenge was finding ways to integrate them seamlessly into the new design.”
The Local Project •

Ricotta House by Paul Tilse Architects and Sarah Gibson

From the street, Ricotta House appears to be just another century-old Spanish Revival residence in Griffith, one of Canberra’s original suburbs. In reality, it’s a sophisticated exercise in illusion – an elegant reinvention of its 20th-century form. Designed by Paul Tilse Architects in collaboration with the owner, furniture designer Sarah Gibson of Design By Them, the revitalised home and its extension embody Gibson’s modern yet grounded approach to materiality and form.
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Pittella Celebrates 50 Years

For more than five decades, Pittella has quietly shaped Australia’s architectural landscape through the language of Italian craftsmanship. Known for its meticulously crafted architectural doorware – designed and manufactured in Italy – the family-owned studio has become synonymous with detail, material integrity and subtle luxury. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the architectural doorware brand continues its legacy of innovation and design excellence while exploring new directions in bathroom fittings.
The Local Project •

SABI Launches its Béton Collection - The Local Project

As pets become more intrinsic to the rhythms of our lives, the gap between our thoughtfully designed spaces and the objects our pets use each day feels increasingly disparate. SABI emerged from this cultural moment, with a recognition that the products our pets live with deserve the same level of consideration we grant to the rest of our homes. In place of accessories, the brand imagines something more deliberate: objects conceived as part of the interior landscape, shaped with the same sensibility and intention we bring to furniture. This became the foundation for what SABI calls pet furniture – sculptural, tactile forms designed to belong, not simply exist, within a room.
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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