THE MAIN CHAIR
Le Space, Collingwood
Le Space, Collingwood
The materials in this series of chairs tells a story about the role of designers in protecting our planet today. The timber used in The Main Chair would have gone to landfil due to the dark “imperfections” caused by the Black Saturday bushfires. We instead embrace these unique qualities, which make each chair a one of a kind piece. We work with local suppliers & craftspeople to create unique pieces with ethically and sustainably sourced materials.
Designed & Made in Australia.
Above: Lori in conversation with Detroit based DJ & Producer Theo Parrish, at High Note, Northcote. Watch the full interview here.
FUTURE CAVE
We have worked with designer and change-maker Joost Bakker on his latest carbon sequestering, zero-waste ecosystem house that fosters endangered birds and butterflies, grows food, closes the loop on wasted resources and cleans the air we breathe.
Why build a house when you could build an ecosystem?
The steel truss portal frame is welded offsite by robots, reducing manufacturing time and waste. The house is built upside down — the weight of the soil on the roof acts as a ballast, removing the need to pin the building down with concrete footings, saving cost and C02 emissions.
The walls and ceilings are made from straw, the most wasted agricultural resource in the world, locking up almost 40 tonne of C02 in the building.
We have worked with designer and change-maker Joost Bakker on his latest carbon sequestering, zero-waste ecosystem house that fosters endangered birds and butterflies, grows food, closes the loop on wasted resources and cleans the air we breathe.
Why build a house when you could build an ecosystem?
The steel truss portal frame is welded offsite by robots, reducing manufacturing time and waste. The house is built upside down — the weight of the soil on the roof acts as a ballast, removing the need to pin the building down with concrete footings, saving cost and C02 emissions.
The walls and ceilings are made from straw, the most wasted agricultural resource in the world, locking up almost 40 tonne of C02 in the building.
The green roof is planted with native flowers that foster native butterflies and bees — plants that would normally be eaten by rabbits on the ground can thrive on the protected roof.
The green roof is designed like a wicking bed ensuring plants always have enough water to thrive, as well as insulating the building thermally and acoustically. This means the roof detains stormwater, reducing flood risk and relieving pressure from the civic stormwater system. Water is the key to life.
COASTAL RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
The aim was to preserve the physical traces of memories attached to the building while updating the plan to stay relevant to an evolving family over three generations with the addition of a kids room and a bathroom, and a renovation of the kitchen, main bathroom and deck.
Precise interventions and small extensions transform the existing plan into expansive and warm spaces. The design interventions celebrate the relaxed mid-century modernist architecture — an approach to architecture which was always more about living than looking.
The removal of the front and rear fences is a small but radical act, softening the edge with the street and inviting wildlife to wander into the garden to graze, lounge and roam freely without barrier.
The aim was to preserve the physical traces of memories attached to the building while updating the plan to stay relevant to an evolving family over three generations with the addition of a kids room and a bathroom, and a renovation of the kitchen, main bathroom and deck.
Precise interventions and small extensions transform the existing plan into expansive and warm spaces. The design interventions celebrate the relaxed mid-century modernist architecture — an approach to architecture which was always more about living than looking.
The removal of the front and rear fences is a small but radical act, softening the edge with the street and inviting wildlife to wander into the garden to graze, lounge and roam freely without barrier.
While many 50-year old houses are demolished for the convenience of a fresh build, the retention of 80% of the existing building fabric was a sensitive use of resources to add another 50+ years to the life of this building.
With over 73 million square metres of school zoned land in Greater Melbourne, schools represent a significant land holding and opportunity to enhance biodiversity in urban regions.
MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ART, DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Studio WASTED
Imagine if new school buildings were biodiversity hubs and bushfire-proof sanctuaries, creating beautiful campus environments and community hubs of growth, life and learning.
This is a Master of Architecture studio taught by Frank Burridge at Monash University School of Art, Design & Architecture, exploring wasted materials and circular economy for new education buildings in Victoria.
Studio WASTED
Imagine if new school buildings were biodiversity hubs and bushfire-proof sanctuaries, creating beautiful campus environments and community hubs of growth, life and learning.
This is a Master of Architecture studio taught by Frank Burridge at Monash University School of Art, Design & Architecture, exploring wasted materials and circular economy for new education buildings in Victoria.
Student work by DilumWimalaratne
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Student work by Nikita Ho
![Student work by Nikita Ho]()
By integrating 3D LiDAR scanning, the proposal aims to redefine the museum's role in engaging diverse audiences, preserving cultural heritage for future generations, and drawing new connections between digital archival material from museums around the world.
GALLERY DESIGN
The Ian Potter Museum of Art
This proposal embraces technological advancements to redefine the traditional museum experience. The 3D LiDAR scanner captures detailed spatial data of each artefact, enabling the creation of high-fidelity digital replicas. These digital representations serve as the foundation for an interactive and customizable exhibition space. Visitors can explore the collection virtually, allowing for a more inclusive and accessible experience.
The Ian Potter Museum of Art
This proposal embraces technological advancements to redefine the traditional museum experience. The 3D LiDAR scanner captures detailed spatial data of each artefact, enabling the creation of high-fidelity digital replicas. These digital representations serve as the foundation for an interactive and customizable exhibition space. Visitors can explore the collection virtually, allowing for a more inclusive and accessible experience.
RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION & EXTENSION
Hobart, Tasmania
Australian families are increasingly choosing to live together in multi-generational configurations. Whether the cause is convenience, necessity, or a choice to combat the rootlessness of modern life. This house participates in a quiet but nationwide urban growth pattern.
Australian families are increasingly choosing to live together in multi-generational configurations. Whether the cause is convenience, necessity, or a choice to combat the rootlessness of modern life. This house participates in a quiet but nationwide urban growth pattern.
The project is a renovation and extension of a charming cottage on a steeply sloping site in Hobart, Tasmania. The family was looking for a strategy to allow for downsizing while also keeping the house open and adaptable to future family living configurations.
We split the 4-bedroom, 2-storey cottage into 2 self-contained 2-bedroom flats and added a garden studio — a vertical duplex-and-a-half.
This strategy has allowed for a range of family living configurations across three generations, absorbing all of life’s big changes: downsizing, upsizing, interstate moves, itinerant children, new grandchildren and retirement, as well as accommodating extended family and guests.
The key is getting the level of together-apartness just right so the inhabitants can care for one another and feel connected without co-habitants getting in each other’s hair — separate entries but a communal garden, the option to effortlessly share a meal or retreat to a private deck to enjoy solitude.
We split the 4-bedroom, 2-storey cottage into 2 self-contained 2-bedroom flats and added a garden studio — a vertical duplex-and-a-half.
This strategy has allowed for a range of family living configurations across three generations, absorbing all of life’s big changes: downsizing, upsizing, interstate moves, itinerant children, new grandchildren and retirement, as well as accommodating extended family and guests.
The key is getting the level of together-apartness just right so the inhabitants can care for one another and feel connected without co-habitants getting in each other’s hair — separate entries but a communal garden, the option to effortlessly share a meal or retreat to a private deck to enjoy solitude.
