ADAD Website:
Middle Dural House Live
18.7.24

We have uploaded Barton Taylors beautiful photography of our very recently completed Middle Dural Project to the ADAD website !

This labour of love, contour hugging escarpment augmentation is the second long running collaboration between ADAD and Mallinger Constructions following our North Curl Curl Project from 2018.

6 peaked Shou Sugi Ban clad, Victorian Ash CLT supported structures straddle the ridge, linked by glazed art and cellar lined contemporary colonnades, nestled within a comprehensive landscape = designed to the approach revered to the valley.

Check out the shoot here: ADAD Middle Dural House .

 

Builder Interview:
Pymble House
28.5.24

Today we conducted very successful on site interviews and project appreciation sessions with our shortlisted builders, team, and clients.

Such sessions are invaluable to all parties. Only ADAD prior builder collaborators, or rightly recommended by trusted parties are invited to this stage, – so clients get the all-important vibe check.

Peaceful, optimistic, shared vision and integrity are important drivers for this, the most crucial third act of the architectural process – shaping a perfected contract sum, and timeframe, with skilled builder and completed documentation to build.

Watch this space!

 

Conceptual Unlock:
Macmasters Beach House
15.5.24

The addiction to wowing our clients through architectural thinking and design is what keeps the dream team endlessly filled with optimism and energy.

Our 1st Concept Design presentation was a case in point today, there is nothing quite like seeing clients’ eyes widen, japs open, as they begin to see their homes from the inside – in multiple future states.

We love what we do as much as our clients!

We look forward to finalising a single vision now for our MacMasters Beach client family, before developing this scheme, design, budget, and timing further towards reality.

 

Tender Time:
Pymble House
10.5.24

Very excited to have our lovely clients sign off on our signature ADAD full Documentation, Consultant Documentation, updated Opinion of Probable Cost, and recommended Building Contract to begin the pre-Construction Tender Process.

Andrew selects his top 10 head contractors based on past ADAD projects, then screens for skill level and budget or scope fit to narrow the shortlist. Andrews then personally calls 5 with the goal of available, excited, keen and suitable tenderers to begin the costing can contractual lock in to bring this family’s build into reality over the next 9-12 months, the final stage – Construction.

Watch this space!

 

ADAD Panellist:
AIA On The Fringe
3.5.24

Andrew was honoured to participate as a panellist on the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Regional event On The Fringe at Gosford Regional Gallery today.

There as an electricity in the room on the future of Andrews home region, with leading architects for Melbourne and Sydney, Indigenous knowledge researchers, government, developers, council and young creatives all caught up in the vision and current groundswell.

The winds of change are coming – watch this space!

 

On the Market:
Middle Dural
26.4.24

Our Middle Dural Project, second collaboration with Mallinger Constructions after our North Curl Curl House, is officially on the Market.

We were surprised and chuffed that ADAD Middle Dural is being marketed by John McGrath himself, founder and CEO of McGrath Estate Agents is leading the marketing campaign for this expansive, contemporary rural homestead,

ADAD look forward to defending our 100% track record of suburb topping sales for the handful of our projects that have sold over the last decade.

We will add this project to the ADAD Website soon – stay tuned!

 

Masters Keynote:
Anatomy of a Project
16.4.24

Andrew was honoured to deliver the final lecture to graduating 5th year professional practice architecture master’s students at the University of New South Wales today.

The subject of mastering the practice, business, law, finance and professional communication of delivering visionary designs out in the worlds is extremely close to Andrew’s heart – and he laid raw a very difficult large project and all the contractual lessons, gaps, and hard-won knowledge that came with delivering it.

To quote Marx: “Philosophers have only interpreted the world… the point is to change it”

 

Shoot Day:
Middle Dural
15.4.24

Beautiful Sydney autumn light today shooting our Middle Dural House with photographer Barton Taylor. This significant contemporary rural home is the second collaboration with builder Malinger Constructions, and photographer Barton, after our North Curl Curl House journey that began so many relationships previously.

We can’t wait to see the results – stay tuned!

 

Concept Approval!
Bondi Multi Res
28.3.24

It is always a great feeling to have our ADAD Concept Designs enthusiastically approved to progress to Developed Design – a first critical step from Pure Ideas, to 3 Dimensionally resolving and beginning the cost control process for our clients to bring our original ideas into reality over the coming year.

This marks our second public space Multi Res project after Yarranabbe Gardens success, bringing Sydney’s ageing Modern Masterpieces into contemporary masterpieces with minimal demolition is an ADAD sweet spot.

Watch this space!

 

AIA Central Coast:
Rise of The Regions
23.3.24

Andrew has been invited as a panellist on the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Regional CPD event On The Fringe – the first ever to be hosted on the Central Coast.

After a Melbourne City childhood, Andrew spent his formative years on the NSW Central Coast, before a life of global travel and setting up ADAD and his family in Sydney.

In 2015 ADAD launched a regional studio on the Central Coast as a city complement, and supporting the regions, their sustainable development and the lives of young regional professionals is a passion.

If you are interested in attending Friday May 3rd, 2024 at Gosford Regional Art Gallery, grab your ticket here from the Australian Institute of Architects Website.

 

City Tour:
Seidler and the MCA
13.3.24

Andrew led Western Sydney University 3rd year Architecture students through Sydney CBD with life-time colleague, Professor / Chair of Architecture Dr. Michael Chapman, and ADAD 2IC Brandon, to unveil the secret to why Harry Seidler’s towers are still a league of their own today.

Eternal Students is an ADAD Core Value, Andrew is constantly learning from his mentors, constantly mentoring in ADAD and at universities, and encouraging ADAD team members to do the same is a key part of our culture.

 

Mentees Mentor:
Paying it Forward
6.3.24

Andrew and Brandon have been appointed as design studio tutors in the rapidly expanding and energetic 3rd Year High Rise Architecture Programme at Western Sydney University.

2024 marks Andrews’s 20th year of mentoring the next generation across Australia’s Architecture Schools, and as an ADAD Core Value, marks year 2 of having the ADAD team actively mentor in and outside the studio with him.

The future looks bright!

 

Student Wins:
AIA Student Awards
4.3.24

We are super excited to learn that students that Andrew mentored and taught in the Affordable Housing Studio he led during 2023 have gone on to win the highest accolade the Australian institute of Architects NSW across all NSW Architecture Schools for the Undergraduate Degree.

Congratulations Hai Feng Yeo, Jordan Ritter and Joshua Medbury for their joint commendation fir the NSW Undergraduate Medal!

The Future Looks Bright!

 

ADAD Amazon Prime:
Unbelievable Builds
29.2.24

We are over the moon that our extremely popular North Curl Curl House Grand Designs Australia Episode, has been collated in the top 10 out of more than 100 episodes for an international audience on Amazon Prime Series: Unbelievable builds!

The episode can be purchased here on Amazon Prime or watch within Australia streaming via Binge.

It is no secret that Andrew is a John Lautner LA Modernist fanatic, to have our own home described as a ‘James Bond Villain lair’ – where Lautner’s’ Chemosphere House rose to fame.

 

Interior Install:
ADAD Middle Dural
13.2.24

When the joinery arrives to an ADAD home it is a very special day.

Our clients can truly see the finishing touches at that point – imagining in vivid detail the elevated daily living experience they are about to exist in – that t that point has only resided in the dream theatre of their minds.

This significant contemporary rural home is 800sqm, multi winged charred recycled blue gum sheathed multi-generational forever home.

It is ADAD’s first Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structured residence, and the charred black timber, porcelain and steel joinery echo the steel wood burning fireplaces throughout this magnificent, serene homestead.

Watch this space!

 

New Project:
MacMasters Beach House
21.2.24

We are very excited to kick off our latest project at Macmasters Beach today!

Transforming this unique triangular, load bearing beach house to suit the needs of a growing family is the kind of challenging existing building and challenging natural landform complex challenge that we thrive on here at ADAD.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

Concept Approval!
Holgate
23.3.24

It is always a great feeling to have our ADAD Concept Designs enthusiastically approved to progress to Developed Design!

This a first critical step from Pure Ideas, to 3 Dimensionally resolving and beginning the cost control process for our clients to bring our original ideas into reality over the coming year.

Our clients at Holgate House are pumped to progress to the Developed Design of their emerging team home!

 

Client Feedback:
High Design Amazing Service
16.2.24

A little known public fact, is that ‘The Other Wow! Factor’ – is an ADAD Core Value that we live by. We internally review our projects equally on highest standard design, and highest standard client service.

This is why today’s client email meant so much to the team:

”I appreciate both your high standards in both DESIGN (amazeballs) as well as service… we will simply go with your recommendations…no need to justify… we both know you are F*CKING SH1T H0T ”

Wow!

 

Full Agency:
UNSW Professional Practice
2.2.24

Andrew has been appointed by his 2nd university to tutor and lecture into the Professional Practice of Architecture at the University of New South Wales.

Andrew’s passion is mentoring young creatives, at ADAD, in his community Andrews Notes, and across Australian Architecture Schools – Business and Professional knowledge is essential for young creatives to achieve their visions built in reality for their (future) clients.

This Is so fundamental to all Andrew does, that 2 Core Values at ADAD are ’Eternally Students’ and ‘Create Positive Impact’

 

New Project:
Holgate Homestead
13.1.24

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Holgate today!

This contemporary rural valley homestead will stitch existing structures and float into the landscape, providing a beautiful, connected sanctuary for this lovely family, their dogs and their horses to grow over time.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

ADAD on Tour:
LA Pinnacle Homes
10.1.24

Every few years Andrews returns to the source of his initial inspiration to be an architect – the Canon-defining Los Angelino homes by Lautner, Morphosis, and Gehry within the Hollywood hills during the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

Like revisiting old friends Andrew returned with his sketchbook, to deepen his understanding as his practice knowledge and ADAD portfolio deepens and expands.

 

ADAD on Tour:
Canadian High Rise
31.12.23

The power and awe of vertical cities has enthralled Andrew since as inaugural Eric Parker Travelling Scholar in 2002 – saw him living out of home for the first time – the sleepy beach suburb of Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast – to a Midtown Manhattan walk up through friends of legendary Modernist Col Madigan who insisted to the Jury Andrew win this scholarship based on his drawings, design and enthusiasm as a dreadlocked 21 year old.

High rise post covid in the age of housing shortage – inevitably now means residential high rise. Andrew studied BIG, Norman Foster in Calgary over the new year, along with museums Studio Bell by Allied Works and Calgary Central Library by Snohetta.

 

KoN HQ:
Entrepreneurs
6.12.23

New Project!

We were humbled to be asked by Kings of Neon to design their new commercial creative space for their rapidly growing Digital Business today.

The ADAD Central Coast ‘Dojo’ – our second regional creative space after our City of Sydney original Darlinghurst Creative Space – Wis(c)h which began a movement – was founded with Kings of Neon founder, and the idea for this business was birthed id pandemic.

The astronomic growth over the last few years lad ADAD to take over the Dojo, and KoN to need their own bespoke HQ.

The future looks bright – watch this space!

 

The Future Is Bright:
ADAD Housing Exhibition
4.11.23

Opening tonight’s ‘City within a City’ 3rd year studio graduating exhibition at the University of Newcastle was a truly humbling experience.

Andrew had course coordinated maybe the most important architectural problem of our time – mass, social, low-cost housing solutions to attack the housing crisis, housing affordability for young Australians and the carbon heavy crisis of building.

Andrews true passion, and the ADAD Mission is living (through ADAD) and giving lives of creative fulfillment (through delivering ADAD projects for clients, through ADAD in house team mentoring, and through teaching in University Architectural Schools).

When we found out there was no budget to give these students their graduating exhibition – ADAD fully funded the exhibition itself – paying it forward in so many dimensions at once was a 2023 highlight.

 

Full Documentation:
Pymble Heritage Project
15.11.23

With Council Approval finally in hand, we kicked of our full documentation services today for our Pymble heritage project,

ADAD Full Documentation is the 2nd cornerstone of the 3-part ADAD full service. After our extended, famed1st ADAD Design phases, extracting and completely creatively rearticulating your dreams, visualising, pushing boundaries, controlling costs, and fighting for approval – this 2nd stage involves a large quantity of exact construction drawings.

Your first value add is an invented, 1 off, and approved ADAD creation.

The nature of your dream house being one off, is that we must resolve at a detailed level, many unique parts – that is the secret to our final builds being executed at such high detail, and in such an original way.

Finally, the 3rd Cornerstone is ADAD Tendering and Fully Contract Administering your build – ensuring builders are a values fit, capable of executing our bespoke detailing, lump sum tender at your approved budget, and then our CA ensures actual delivering of value stacks 1 and 2 in reality.

 

Interior Kickoff:
Middle Dural House
10.11.23

With the Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) structure and charred, recycled Australian Hardwood clad linked pavilions complete – we turn our attention to a substantial interior design development – where we further condense and refine your big ideas, and yet projects big ideas – to the human scale of touch and feel.

There will be a substantial Joinery package across all wings of this rural contemporary homestead – an ADAD specialty – watch this space!

 

Schematic:
City within a City
12.10.23

We were very impressed with the work of Newcastle University Design students in their nuanced and empathetic schematic design presentations for their ‘City within a city’ – housing crisis high density solutions for the Mayfield renewal corridor.

This studio, the final in the undergraduate degree, is led by Andrew, with star ADAD team member Brandon as 1 of the group tutors.

Paying it forward – the future looks bright!

 

DA Approved:
Pymble Heritage Project
13.10.23

After a prolonged and challenging Council Approvals process involving 3 amendments, countless meetings, external experts and most importantly: Sticking to our guns on behalf of our clients and avoiding cost blowouts – Our Pymble Heritage contemporary transformation is finally DA approved!

Watch this space as we move into Full Documentation, Assemble the Final consultant team, and start the ADAD concept Design DNA’s natural expansion through technical resolution towards fully resolved and costed building for stress free high-quality and timely construction.

 

ADAD High:
Paying it Forward
9.10.23

Today wraps a fantastic week of hosting Noah and Korbin, 2-year 10 work experience future architects in the adad studio!

Andrew actively mentors any age group that has the architecture bug, and steering high school students pre degree is an important milestone.

Starting with the industry and profession overview, Andrew answers each and any questions candidly, then kicks off with What is Design? What is Architecture? Then moving towards Siting and Drawing Foundation 01, ADAD Core Values and Mission – before mixing live participation in all Live projects, and small completable tasks.

This year the boys got to experience Andrew leading a university design course, crit presentations, the campus, as well as the office.

Pay it forward.

 

ADAD Binge:
Grand Designs Streaming
6.10.23

We are over the moon to learn that our North Curl Curl House Grand Designs Australia episode is now streaming on Binge!

Our magnum opus was the post popular episode on Season 8 (episode 3) and went on to feature on the Cover of Grand Design Australia Volume 2, plus winning the highest Australian housing award for 2021: HIA Australian Home of the Year.

Learn more about our project here – watch here – buy the book here.

If you would like further information about the first steps to creating your own ADAD Grand Design, get in touch with Andrew directly here.

 

Community of Practice:
D + D + D
28.9.23

As part of his Creative Practice PhD, Andrew was invited to present his unique approach to detailing architectural works in contrast with 2 fellow architectural PhD candidates – Drew Heath and Darren Lowe.

Iron sharpens iron – and it is a pleasure to critically defend their 3 complementary approaches to architectural detailing to panellists of visiting professors every 6 months.

 

Journeys:
AD UoN Practice Masterclass
12.8.23

Andrew was invited to give a practicing architect masterclass to university of Newcastle final year master’s students today – one of Andrews favourite things to do.

As all universities continue to trend towards academic heavy teaching staff, over practicing architect academics that have professional experience to reinforce the education – Andrew feels a large responsibility and calling to bridge this divide and answer all questions from tomorrow’s visionary architects.

 

CC Kickoff:
Queenscliff Waterfront
7.8.23

Very excited to kick off our Construction Documentation for our DA approved Queenscliff waterfront today!

Contract Documentation is where we fully resolve all our bespoke planning, massing and spatial work that has led up to fully costed DA applications, into the detailed instruction set to build our creations.

Stay tuned!

 

Dulux Alumni:
15 Year Reunion
4.8.23

Tonight marked an epic 16-year reunion of the past 16 years, top 5 per year Australian emerging architects as selected by the Australian Institute of Architects, and Dulux representing industry.

It was so incredibly humbling for Andrew to be recognised, as the inaugural winner back in 2008, in front of such esteemed industry peers, mentors, media and industry tonight in the Grand St Kilda Ballroom in 2023.

The impact of this scholarship on Andrew and intentionally dedicating himself to paying it forward to the next generation in the studio and at university, has provenance in Dulux and the AIA continuing to do so for Andrew in a compounding way now for 15 years.

The Future Looks bright.

 

Gosford Mixed Use:
Rise of the Regions
1.8.23

Exciting progress today and Andrew met with leaders in business and investment in Gosford’s CBD on the Central Coast to flesh out a series of mixed-use projects to kickstart an enlivened, diverse, cultural CBD as part of a wider plan to rejuvenate the Central Coast underrated, almost-waterfront connected CBD.

Watch this space!

 

Approved:
Queenscliff Waterfront DA Approval
17.7.23

We are over the moon with the news that our Development Application has received DA approval for our clients on our Queenscliff waterfront project!

With a series of revisions, and expert analysis provided by ADAD for a win-win outcome for planners, neighbours and clients without the expense of Land and Environment Court, we have crafted a beautiful, sustainable approach to major alterations and additions on the Manly Lagoon, protecting Riparian Landscape and Public Domain thresholds.

This is the second through-pandemic project that ADAD has redesigned, and seriously cost reduced for our clients over an unforeseen challenging, ‘out of our hands’ situation where now permanent, large material and labour construction costs rose during the enforced shutdown – essentially redesigning from ground up – doing whatever it takes for our clients and their families.

Watch this space!

 

Solving Housing:
City within a City
14.7.23

Andrew was honoured to be invited to course coordinate the final undergraduate design studio in the University of Newcastle’s Bachelor of Architecture undergraduate degree – which kicked off with maximum enthusiasm today,

What better way to tackle the great current challenges of housing shortage, post-industrial cities and climate change than aby mobilising the passionate, creative critical thinkers towards solutions.

Stay tuned for updates.

 

Interior Kickoff:
Pymble Heritage Project
29.6.23

ADAD has a series of processes to deliver our clients maximum value, one of which is kicking off our Interior Full Documentation package during a DA approval process – only in extreme prolonged council circumstances such as this very special project.

Post Pandemic construction cost hikes required a 65% budget slashing to keep our clients ambitions and budget aligned.

Similarly, we can assist keeping programme aligned by fully resolving the components and sequences of our drawings that we know will not need adjusting at all, to limit risk of early documentation.

Watch this space!

 

New Project:
Maroubra House
27.6.23

Super excited to kick off our latest transformation for a lovely young family in Maroubra!

This project is one of a suite of 3 super-streamlined ADAD concept experiments – an offer we are very excited to bring to the market to service projects that otherwise might land in the hands of untrained drafts people – expanding our offers to deliver our Mission.

Watch this space!

 

DA Approved:
Matcham Valley Villa
23.6.23

Our clients are owner the moon with the excellent news that our Matcham Valley Villa received DA Approval from Central Coast Council today!

This idiosyncratic artist villa in a hidden valley has been lovingly caretaken by our entrepreneurial clients and their family, and this careful ADAD stitching through colonnades, greening and opening out to a partially formed axis to the upper Dam on site, has been as much informed by Palladio as contemporary minimalism, along with our client’s creative business hearts and permaculture site management.

Watch this space!

 

Top Dollar:
Freshwater Sold Off Market
15.6.23

A bittersweet day for our clients, as they successfully sold their property with ADAD DA after a loving design development process prior to kicking off construction to suit their changing needs.

ADAD has a 100% rate of suburb topping record sales in each of eth few instances one of our designs has been sold prior to construction. $2.1m-3.5m was the industry average for freshwater homes. In the year of ADAD involvement, ADAD Professional Fees produced a 2,000% return of value added.

We have since met with the new owners, who will build eth vision, and are working on another project for the original clients.

Win, Win, but bittersweet.

 

Contracts Signed:
Collaroy Canopy
14.6.23

A huge milestone for our clients at Collaroy today, with the specialist fabricator tensile canopy contract signed.

When project have a specialist custom element this significant, it needs to be de-risked and mobilised prior to the head contractor for the remaining works.

Watch this space!

 

Shoot Day:
Freshwater House
1.6.23

Beautiful Sydney winter light this morning shooting our Freshwater House location with photographer Taylor to finalise our pre Private-Sale architectural marketing material for our Freshwater House

We go above and beyond for all of our clients, in the rare instance they need to sell on prior to construction – we whip into marketing mode to maximise sale value for them.

Sydney’s premium reals estate agents love it – it is a gift to assist their campaign. Bittersweet to see an ADAD masterpiece sold on before construction, but serving our clients is our number one priority.

 

DA Approved:
Collaroy Canopy
26.5.23

Always a huge day of excitement and relief for our clients when their DA is approved – and our Collaroy Canopy clients are no exception!

This very exciting semi-public restaurant project in Collaroy is greatly anticipated by the local community, surfers and tradies, and long overdue.

Our committed team has now gained unanimous council support for our 2nd DA Modification in a long journey to completing this vision, after supply chain offshoring during the pandemic shutdown demanded an entirely new material and structural specialist canopy that remained Australian.

Watch this space – construction slated for delicious public completion in 2024!

 

ADAD PhD:
Drawing Thinking
26.5.23

Andrew presented his nearing completion practice-based PhD to an esteemed panel of RMIT and UoN professors, Award Winning Architects, past mentors, and current students today to an overwhelmingly positive response.

This multi-year invited PhD has tracked and unearthed the ‘tacit knowledge’, the seemingly automatic – but inherently unique – internal design thinking and reaction in action when ‘established masters’ (Leon Van Schaiks words!) undertake this.

Andrews unique thinking through drawing techniques will be exhibited, disseminated to up-and-coming architects, and continue to be produced day in day out within the studio walls of client’s projects – the magic that happens between each client presentation.

 

DA Lodged:
Pymble Heritage Project
12.5.23

We are very happy to lodge our Pymble House Development Application with the Kurringai Council today.

This hardworking respectful and inventive alteration and extension to the Eastbourne heritage cottage in Pymble perseveres the historic, is carbon and budget prudent with more recent less sympathetic previous additions – then cascades and hinges effortlessly along the landscape towards the northern bush aspect.

Watch this space – we will be adding our Pymble House to our website soon, with construction forecast early 2024!

 

New Project:
Whitebridge House
11.5.23

Momentum building!

Today marks our second ‘pure architectural thinking’ value service (yet to be named), tailored to very low budgets that 99% of the time get captured by a draftsperson, builder direct, owner direct – and never wind up affordable, high quality, or timely.

We are limiting this business test to 5 projects, and the completion of which we will assess value vs viability, feedback, fun factor, and many other variables.

Architecture for all!

Check out our un-named value service here* (trail expected to be complete and on ADAD website by early 2024)

 

New Project:
Copacabana House
24.4.23

Huge news – today was signed first contracts on a specialised pay it forward ADAD service that Andrew has been business planning, testing, and gaining market feedback for almost 2 years.

All will be revealed in the coming months – but this service is a super-cost effective, pure value architectural service, by the dreamteam, that is cost-comparative to a draftsperson – or worse – builder led process with no drawings or contract at all – to specifically target budgets that are too low for even the least expensive architects.

Massive Value – and a Social Good. Watch this space!

Check out our un-named value service here* (trail expected to be complete and on ADAD website by early 2024)

 

DA Lodged:
Matcham Valley Villa
10.3.23

Pop the champagne, another client’s vision lodged for development approval!

Our Matcham Valley Villa is a creative stitching of an idiosyncratic family home, fusing generations of memory, symbiosis through permaculture with the valley itself, and work life blended staging for this entrepreneurial family’s expanding fashion empire.

Watch this space!

 

DA Lodged:
Queenscliff Waterfront
24.1.23

Super excited to finally lodge our latest ADAD waterfront significant alteration and addition to a large family home at Queenscliff!

This generous and carbon conscious surgical alteration to a heavy, dark and large multifamily home includes carving courtyards for airflow, floating roof planes for light, universal accessibility measures, and cascading hanging gardens to blend invisibly into the Riparian jungle as the clifftop site spills down to eth manly lagoon foreshore.

Watch this space – Construction slated for late 2023 pending favourable council approval!

 

ADAD on Tour:
OMA in Indonesia
13.1.23

Andrew took the opportunity to take his family on a well-earned break over Christmas and breaks for an architecture family mean scouring and analysing some of the world’s best buildings.

OMAs Potato Head Studios in Seminyak is a magnum opus post-modern criticality and luxury on the beach. A super-scaled Le Corbusien La Tourette convent diagram, circulation is celebrated, and the cell-like individual rooms are marketing genius filled with OMA spatial jokes, Rem’s books and earthy details.

A joy for Andrew is reflecting on the past year at ADAD and planning for the next within a word class architectural work with his family.

Recharged for 2023!

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome (Back) Scott
11.1.23

Like the Mafia, you never really leave the ADAD dream team!

We were very excited today to welcome back team member no 1 from 2013, Scott Kirby as senior architect to assist on the documentation finalisation and contract administration of some of our larger residential projects preparing to tender and hit site.

Welcome back Scotty!

 

Council Approval:
Gosford Mixed Use
9.12.22

Super exciting news with the council approval of our expanded CBD streetscape public activation on our Gosford Mixed Use project!

This is the second in a series of micro projects we are paying it forward with to local businesses in the currently languishing CBD of Andrews home region – the Central Coast.

Inspired by the transformation of Newcastle CBD witnessed first hand through Architecture School under Marcus Westbury’s brainchild renew Newcastle, then again by ADADs own initial City of Sydney raging creative success that started a movement at Wisch

Part of the ADAD mission is to give back to the future creative and public life of his home region – Create Positive Impact is an ADAD Core Value.

Watch this space!

 

Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
8.12.22

Tonight was the 14th annual reunion of the top 5 per year Australian emerging architects as selected by the Australian Institute of Architects, and Dulux representing industry.

Andrew was the inaugural winner back in 2008, and it is a humbling honour to return each year and support those earlier in their journey of excellence.

The future continues to look very bright!

 

ADAD Website:
Bondi Rooftop Online
5.12.22

We have uploaded Tom Fergusons’ beautiful photography of our recently completed Bondi Rooftop Project to our website.

This second phase to our original Bondi House project is typical of the lifetime ADAD experience – forever homes totally customised to family’s needs, including the ability to further alter as family needs progress through generations.

Check out the shoot here: Bondi Rooftop.

 

ADAD Vision:
Expanded Mission
27.11.22

Today Andrew introduced the dream team to his expanded ADAD Mission of which they are an integral part.

ADAD enables lives of creative fulfilment.

We believe in revolutionising architectural practice, revolutionising architectural education, and in the success of individual architects.

We live and breathe these beliefs through our ADAD Core Values culture of:

Optimism
Brilliance
Team 1st
Leadership through Action
Focused Discipline
The Other Wow! Factor
Eternally Students
Make a Positive Impact

 

ADAD AI:
Parametric Dreams:
25.11.22

Very excited to be pushing our technological limits today, form finding and deploying parametric surface modelling with specialist fabricator and team of engineers for our Collaroy project.

Bringing together the intersection of traditional hand frame sketching, drawing, and the latest fabrication technology keeps ADAD at the cutting edge!

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Scott
21.11.22

We welcome Bachelors Grad Scott to the ADAD dream team today!

Scott is a super driven young designer and will be supporting, and supported by, the entire team across all ADAD projects.

His ambition to realise innovative architecture our in the world, high energy, great attitude, and team playing results orientation forged playing 1st grad cricket back in South Africa is music to the dream team’s ears.

Welcome Scott!

 

Developed Design Approved:
Freshwater House
14.11.22

Big news and happy client faces today as the team had our developed design approved for DA submission!

Developed Design is the 3D iterative continuation of our Concept Design process, where we walk clients through their spaces, infuse with materiality, coordinate other specialist consultants, and fine tune our cost opinions as the design becomes more solidified.

Approval for DA means our clients love the design, sign off on the projected build cost, then we switch to attack mode to protect their vision and have it approved by Council – in this case, Northern Beaches Council.

More updates soon!

 

MBA Awards Finalist:
Bondi Rooftop
12.11.22

We are over the moon that our Bondi Rooftop project has been shortlisted in the Master Builder Association 2022 awards tonight.

Unlike the Australian Institute of Architects Awards, the Master Builders prize construction quality and budget value above all else, and our Bondi Rootop courtesy of Bespoke Constructions was delivered at an exceptionally lean price point for its quality.

Check out the project on our site here, and stay tuned for the awards results!

 

Dreamteam Tour:
ADAD Northern Beaches
9.11.22

Andrew took the team on a tour of ADAD projects throughout the Northern Beaches of Sydney today, sites of our most awarded, well known, and exciting emergent projects.

We started off with a site meeting and visit at our Collaroy Canopy project, followed up with a check measure of our Freshwater House, before dropping in on ‘unnofocial 5th band member’ Seb from Husk and Co Joinery at Brookvale before finishing off at our epic, completed, North Curl Curl House.

Andrew’s vision of embedded mentoring, means showing the team, young and established, what drawings mean what before building, during, and after.

 

Concept Approved:
Pymble House
4.11.22

There is nothing we love more than the smiles and ‘Wow!’s from our clients over the hour when we walk them through our bespoke ADAD Concept Design – we are truly as excited as our clients and excitement is infectious!

This arcing, hinged, elegant courtyard to platform contemporary counterpart ot their heritage listed cottage Eastbourne’ in Pymble, is now approved to progress to Devoloped Design – where we fully three-dimensionally develop the concept, bring on vetted specialist consultants, and start costing in detail.

Watch this space!

 

A Considered Insertion:
The Local Project
29.9.22

Our award winning, bespoke feel good project – the Lawler Residence – was featured today in The Local Project: A Considered Insertion. In Bronwyn Marshalls own words:

“The insertion exists under many guises, becoming the centre of the home and a feature in itself. Its positioning defines the living, dining and media spaces while also acting as an art gallery, in parts, offering hanging facilities as well as concealed storage and allowing for open display”

“Ensuring the existing heritage features were retained, the intent was to create a womb-like space that embraced its occupants and was healing and regenerative. The resulting 8.2m-long insertion is made of American oak and allows uninterrupted views outward, connecting the inner experience of the home with the area they so lovingly chose to submerge themselves within”

Read the full article here – and find out more about our project here.

 

Nihilartikel:
Watt Space Rupture
29.9.22

The incredible annual arts festival Nihilartikel opens in our Watt Space Gallery tonight.

Featuring fictitious entries in reference works, these recent works by leading local artists explore rupture in photographic materials.

Our Watt Space Gallery is so close to our hearts – in the Post Industrials City of Newcastle where Andrew was studied architecture and teaches still, the vision of a city campus by ADAD predated actual following government plans now fully enacted.

The Watt Space Gallery itself encourages arts students to actively sell, market, and engage as a practicing professional artist – again unique – and an ability Andrew actively encourages in his staff and creative mentees.

Get more info here – on till 5.11.22

 

DA Submission:
Gosford Mixed Use
28.9.22

Elated clients with the speedy submission of their DA to Central Coast Council today!

ADAD actively supports young creatives and entrepreneurs at every opportunity – and when the chance came to expand the liquor license of this small Central Coast start-up as a beginning piece to revitalising Gosford’s still dilapidated downtown – we jumped to help.

As an architecture student living in Newcastle, witnessing the Renew Newcastle’s 1st seeds of transforming Hunter Street, to our Wisch project back in 2012 that successfully kickstarted the revitalisation of a forlorn stretch of Darlinghurst in the City of Sydney – this is a keen area of passion for ADAD.

Watch this space!

 

Symposium:
ADAD at PERI
11.9.22

Andrew presented his ongoing creative practice research today at the September Practice Ecology Research Symposium at Newcastle University today.

It is an invaluable symposium where purity of unique tacit knowledge – the subconscious artistic mastery – of invited practitioners is put through its paces – independent of client, budget, or authority factors – a purity of how consistent the master is with him or herself.

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

ADAD AI
Project Management
1.9.22

Synchronicity today in the studio today on our Collaroy Canopy Project!

As with most of the ADAD dream team, Andrew first met team member Brandon as his design Tutor at UoN, in Brandon’s case through a radical technologically driven surface architecture studio as a second year students.

Reality is stranger than fiction, where today Brandon and the specialist engineers on our canopy project tweaked a live form finding parametric model between NSW and QLD, to optimise rainfall, surface properties, and structural loads.

The future is cool!

ADAD is the fusion of Andrews highly experienced traditional Mastery of design, documentation and construction through the hand to computer. This is melded with the latest technological advancements employed by eth dream team in combination – the best of both worlds.

 

Contract Completion:
Bondi Rooftop
30.8.22

Today marks the bittersweet end of a project, the final Contract Completion Milestone for our Bondi Rooftop Project.

Contract Completion occurs at the very end of the Defects Liability Period – the full 12 months from Practical Completion (when our clients move into their new home, and it legally ceases to be a building site and returns to a home).

Although all defects are taken care of in the finial weeks pre move in, this 12 month allows for anything subtle, across the full 4 seasons of a year, to be noticed and solved.

This marks the second full project lifecycle completion for our lovely, lifetime clients after our initial Bondi House, until next time!

Check out Tome Ferguson’s photographs of the finished DAD Bondi Chapter 2 hereA, and Brett Boardman’s photographs of the original ADAD Bondi Chapter 1 here.

 

NSW Arts Invitation:
Sydney Modern
26.8.22

Andrew was flattered at the invitation by the Australian Institute of Architects to attend the Sydney Modern pre-public-opening presentation by director Michael Brand, SANAA and Architectus today.

Andrews architectural and top-tier city making was forged as Design Architect on the MCA Australia Redevelopment 2006 – 2012, resulting in a partnership offer at his previous firm before launching ADAD late 2012.

ADADs own Watt Space Gallery won the Australian Institute of Architects Blacket Prize, Public Architecture Award and Small Project Architecture Award in 2016.

Learn more about Watt Space Gallery here.

 

New Project:
Pymble House
16.8.22

Super excited to kick off our latest project today!

Our clients reached out as they had a unique brief, and truly humbling words for the ADAD team.

Their heritage listed cottage ‘Eastbourne’ is ‘pressured’ from an unsympathetic 90s addition that disconnects the authenticity to the street – and sun and air to the north.

An elegant contemporary heritage solution linked to land is out ADAD specialty, however it was the next line that humbled us.

“We are between 2 Walter Burley Griffin early Australian Modern masterpieces. We now want a contemporary Australian modern masterpiece – and ADAD building.”

Wow! Challenge accepted…

 

New Project:
Gosford Mixed Use
9.8.22

Some very exciting news today as we kick off our latest, community driven project.

Gosford Is a still languishing CBD of Andrew’s home beachers, the NSW Central Cost, so when the opportunity came to build out business strategy and urban vision for a dedicated Central Coast entrepreneur, ADAD jumped at the chance.

This mixed use, 24 hour economy project will bring diversity and much needed cultural activity, streetscape activation, and use diversity at the heart of this CBD ready to reawaken.

Building on our successful elements from Andrews Teaching with RAIA Gold medallists on urban design over the last decade, ADAD’s own W(i)sch success story at the City of Sydney, and our Watt Space Gallery’s spark of the wider Newcastle renewal – we cannot wait for the knowledge from previous successes to be applied to our own local community.

 

Developed Design Approved:
Matcham House
29.7.22

Our Valley Villa Matcham House received Developed Design approval from our wonderful clients today!

This careful urban stitching of this idiosyncratic originally artist built home and studio in a hidden valley on the NSW Central Coast was designed carefully and sensitively by the dream tea for our family of fashion entrepreneur clients with their permaculture expertise front of mind.

It navigates the both the unique geometry of the existing homestead and defers to an already established incredible sprawling landscape masterplan by Michael Cooke Garden Design through careful exterior and interior editing responding to both these voices.

 

Developed Design Approved:
Byron Bay House
28.7.22

After an intense workshopping process between ADAD and our jet setting entrepreneurial client, in person in Byron Bay, and via zoom between Sydney and LA, this evolving forever home, business HQ and event space – our Byron Bay House has her approval to move towards Development Application lodgement!

Andrew drew on his decades of museum design expertise to deliver this significant home in a manner that was homely to our client and her 6 children in home mode, could host her in house team of 5-10, broadcast global events from the site, or host multi-hundred person women in business regular conferences.

All while respecting land and place. We love a challenge!

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Jye
21.7.22

Big news: we welcome Bachelor of Architecture Grad Jye to the ADAD dream team today!

Jye is a super talented Spatial and Visual Designer and will be supporting – and supported by the entire tea across all ADAD projects.

His passion for environmentally and socially conscious architecture, personal ongoing research into disaster preparedness for people with disabilities will be further nurtured through our work.

Welcome Jye!

 

Developed Design Approved:
Galston Gorge House
23.7.22

Huge milestone for our most ambitious residential project yet.

Our Gorge House is an interleaved multi-generational home, embedded into the land via a series of land-art rammed earth arcs, terracing ‘hugs’ for a multitude of family mode spaces, within, and into Sydney’s mystical Galston Gorge.

Designed carefully by the dream team first by Andrews Hand, then collectively through physical models and digital models each with increasing complexity for this family of serial entrepreneurs, their kids, their parents, their animals, the land and the future we cannot wait to reveal more as this project progressed.

Approved Developed Design means we have fully costed and engaged relevant consultants at this ‘level’ of design, to switch now from idea generation and fine tuning – to battle stations and team assembly for DA preparation and Approval.

 

ADAD AI:
Pointcloud Dreams
16.7.22

Our talented dream team is always experimenting with the latest technological advancements, and today we add 3D point cloud internal scanning to our detailed Measure Up Process – and additional early aspect of Concept Design for any project where we will be altering / amending / extending or purely transforming the interior of an existing building.

The Heritage cottage Eastbourne at our lasts Pymble House project, is such a project. Surveyors capture landscape details, wider context all external features and exact levels, and the ADAD dream team capture all internal details for 3D modelling base conditions.

The addition of point cloud adds layers of current inhabitation – exactly how items are bunched, strewn, bursting or overcrowded within our clients home – adding richness to our first moves.

Exciting!

 

ADAD Studio:
Regional Expansion
1.7.22

A milestone for our studio today, as we officially take over the occupation of our entire warehouse in response to our growing team, growing wonderful clientele, and growing scope of projects.

The Rise of the Regions continues!

 

ADA Awards Night:
Awarded 1st Place
2.6.22

Tonight was the official ADA Awards Night, where the ADAD team were awarded the 1st place ADA for 2021 – for Australians Best Fireplace Design – for our floating sandstone hearth within our Castlecrag House.

Congratulations to the entire team, our clients were humbled by this recognition, and we look forward to the construction of this project slated for late 2022!

Watch this space…

 

Schools In:
Andrew’s Notes Video
8.5.22

Viral Video!

On a whim, the team decided to film Andrew’s infamous ‘big-picture-explanations-through-diagrams’ in the studio, part of the ADAD in house constant mentoring to new students, new grads, and emerging architects.

We grabbed chalk, and went large format external, where a crown od non architects even stopped by to ask questions!

In the spirit of paying it forward – if you are an architect considering starting your own studio, curious, or planning it out – follow Andrews Andrew’s Notes community where battle tips from, the reality of someone who’s done it, doing it, and loves it – is posted honestly for all to learn from.

Happy Friday – keep creating – keep teaching!

 

Concept Approved:
Byron Bay House
28.4.22

Our Concept Design for our Byron Bay House project was enthusiastically Approved by our client today!

This melding of home for herself and 6 children, extended family and guests, business HQ, and worldwide broadcast and events facility sits gently and effortlessly in the incredible Byron Bay hinterland.

Italian Palladian villa planning was deconstructed to link, separate and enclose such an extensive and eclectic mix of functions, all delivered with the signature ADAD bespoke contemporary twist in client individuality and passive environmental High Design.

Watch this space!

 

Concept Approved:
Woodstock
27.4.22

Our client representative committee unanimously approved our twin conceptual design masterplan approaches to the upgrading of multi public and shared spaces to the modernist heritage listed Woodstock Apartments in Bondi Junction today!

We offered twin solutions, as the reality of post pandemic construction price hikes are being factored into Quantity Surveyor and Builder potential costing – but no one yet knows for sure.

This protects the DNA of our clients Concept at multiple price points as this unique time in recent history plays out0 then with certainty, we can pounce within a static approved budget in a changing world

Watch this space!

 

Pure Fire:
Castlecrag House
24.4.22

We are stoked with the news today that our fireplace design within our Castlecrag Project has been awarded the ADA 2021 award for Australia’s best architectural fireplace design for 2021!

The floating 3-Dimensional carved sandstone hearth references the Walter Burley Griffen modernist heritage of Castlecrag’s context, and the spatial fulcrum of the homes design itself, spilling down the escarpment towards Sugarloaf Creek.

 

AIA Awards Presentation:
Bondi Rooftop
28.3.22

Variation on a Theme.

We are very excited to present our Bondi Rooftop project to the Australian Institute of Architects Awards Jury today.

This is a very special project for us. ADAD’s first client, and first project, back in 2015, was our Bondi House. ADAD’s latest project– and same forever client – in 2021, is the further adaptation of our original Bondi House.

A forever house indeed, this adaptation responds to changing family needs, a changed post pandemic world, and a maturing practice at ADAD.

Tighter and less expensive, quicker, council free CDC pathway – yet and even more refined finished product in many ways.

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Brandon
9.3.22

We welcome Brandon to the ADAD dream team today!

Brandon is a super-talented Designer, Thinker and Skater, and will be leading our bespoke residential projects alongside Andrew and the ADAD family, as he pursues his dreams of Architectural Registration at ADAD.

Welcome Brandon!

 

Concept Approved:
Galston Gorge House
25.2.22

Our refined Concept Design was approved for Design Development today on out most ambitious and extensive project to date – our Galston Gorge House!

Three sweeping land-art arcs nurture different meta functions in this multi-generational family home: the multi modal home itself, our clients entrepreneurial base camp, and their sanctuary for the host of animals that themselves form key stakeholders over the long term.

Watch this space as this incredible home develops!

 

New Project!:
Byron Bay House
22.2.22

Andrew has returned today from his Byron Site Visit to kick off our latest project – Byron Bay House!

ADAD specialties of complex landform respect, complete individually crafted experience, and deep knowledge of our growing exclusive entrepreneur / family / extended family clientele make this a match made in heaven.

Watch this space!

 

Concept Approved!
Grays Point House
19.2.22

Our Concept Design for an ethereal enclosed courtyard atop a spectacular and ancient ridgeline at Gray’s Point was enthusiastically approved today!

ADAD Concept Design includes physical models, detailed existing CAD models, and musty importantly – Andrew’s hand drawn, focused, concept design iterative process 1 on 1 with the clients.

This is the 1st instance of ADAD magic. Upon client Approval for the next stage, we move into the 2nd instance of ADAD magic: ADAD Design Development – the 3-dimensionalising, costing, bringing in specialist consultants, all in a fun and stress-free way – the ADAD Service.

 

Bondi Photoshoot:
Bondi Stage 2
15.12.21

A perfect Sydney summers day for one of the most enjoyable post completion milestone celebrations for our clients, ADAD team, and photography friends: Shoot Day.

Photographer Tom Ferguson was on location today, with Holly Irvine adding styling tweaks to our wonderful forever clients eclectic furnishings and art.

Andrew uses shoots as a teaching moment for the team, we see details as completed, how big design moves play out, and the positive effects of time on beautiful natural materials.

A summer lighting storm on the street and some makeshift traffic control concluded the shot – we can’t wait to see Tom’s Photos of ADAD Bondi Stage 2 once completed!

 

ADAD Catwalk:
Double Shoot at Bondi
15.12.21

Fashion label Aje photo shoot crossed over with our own shoot today, completing their ‘Resort 22 Scent of Summer’ location shoot at our original Bondi House.

The team were impressed!

ADAD homes are all unique, visually spectacular and cinematic, by virtue of our design sensibilities and audacious clientele.

Bondi has been location host to Calzedonia, Victoria’s Secret, and a boutique dental practice since completion.

Contact ADAD Media here if you have an enquiry regarding the possibility of an ADAD work as location – not all are available.

 

Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
10.12.21

Andrew Donaldson attended the Australian Institute of Architects 14th year Dulux Study Tour Alumni Reunion in Sydney tonight.

A highlight of each year, especially as other past winner have themselves branched out to massive success, the tour is awarded to the top 5 emerging architects in Australia each year, now an epic 70 strong incredibly talented Australian alumni.

Andrew was the inaugural winner of this award in 2008.

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Ben
9.12.21

We welcome Ben to the ADAD dream team today!

Ben is a super-talented Photographer and Digital Creator and will be leading our in-house Podcast Studio development, and media / online education expansion in addition to soaking up every faced of the architecture studio within our famed embedded mentoring practice model.

Welcome Ben!

 

New Project:
Bondi Junction Multi Res
30.11.21

Super excited to kick off our lates multi-res project today!

Off the back of our Yarranabbe Gardens and Potts Point Apartment successes, where we cemented our expertise in sensitively contemporarily transforming heritage listed Sydney modernist Apartment icons, we can now add the Woodstock Apartments in Bondi Junction to our growing portfolio.

As the housing crisis continues to escalate, ADAD is focused on servicing small, multi residential spaces in addition to our 1 off bespoke home speciality to benefit a wider section of society.

Watch this space!

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Sahiba
12.11.21

We welcome Sahiba to the ADAD dream team today!

Sahiba is a super-talented Architect, Writer and Spoken Word Artist and will be leading our Public and Multi Res projects as well as gaining site experience as part of our bespoke residential team.

Sahiba was University of Newcastle graduate of the year 2019, completing her thesis project on the slums of her hometown, Chandigarh. This project received both the 2019 NSW AIA Architectural Communications Award and the 2019 Commissioner KG Hoffman Prize in Urban Design.

Welcome Sahiba!

 

New Project:
Point Piper Canopy
7.11.21

An incredible Site Visit to our latest project today at Point Piper!

Wolseley Road is considered the ‘Absolute Pinnacle of Australia’s Elite’, and we are privileged to have a bespoke jewel box of a project to emerge here.

Invited directly, through word of mouth, from a repeat client over the last decade, to kick this off at all is testament to the ADAD teams unwavering reputation amongst a small, grateful and respected circle.

It’s unlikely we can post much publicly, but what we can – we will!

 

OC Approval!
Bondi Stage 2
12.10.21

Huge day today on site for the entire construction team, consultant team and design team – with our Certifier granting Occupation Certificate Approval for our Bondi Rooftop.

Congratulations dream team – and congratulations to our client family!

Occupation Certificate Approval marks the completion and commissioning and signoff of the Construction Certificate Approval works, themselves stamped and approved construction documents that build off our clients original Stamped DA Development Approval set of Drawings.

Legally – this marks the transition from building site – back to residence -and any cosmetic defects, cleaning or tweaks can now occur as our family moves back in,

Congratulations!

 

ADAD Studio:
Podcast Dreams
29.9.21

A very exciting expansion at the Dojo today, as we expand alongside KoN to share our space as a 2-business studio.

We have both grown over the last 12 months with expanding teams, as other friends businesses have downsized or morphed elsewhere

Our next phase for the dojo is to set up a dedicated podcast studio – where Steve’s Marketing expertise will broadcast to his audience, and Andrews ‘Andrew’s Notes’ architectural mentoring will be broadcast to our growing community of young ambitious architects, between registration and starting their own business.

Pay it forward – the future looks bright!

 

Developed Design Approved:
Queenscliff House
13.9.22

After extended optioning and post pandemic construction cost hikes that neither our studio, our clients, or even our builders can do anything about – we have finally settled on a distilled version of our approved Queenscliff House Concept Design – Developed into a scheme that retains a whole lot more of the existing base build, to do what we insist at ADAD:

Your ADAD vision – delivered at your personal budget.

20-40% world-wide price hikes have been extremely challenging, and with a lot of additional work, we have delivered.

Watch this space – we are on notice that we will be revisiting all our current projects where budgets are set in stone.

This is a design thinking skill in-itself, as this once a generation rise cannot be tempered through finishes reduction alone – and none of our clients would accept a 40% floor plan reduction either.

We will post an article on our various solutions to pay this knowledge forward once we are post construction and can critically and accurately look back.

Watch this space!

 

Peak of Perfection:
North Curl Curl House
31.8.21

The HIA have a North Curl Curl House Featured Article on their site today in honour of our North Curl Curl House winning their HIA Australian House of the Year Award 2021.

We are pinching ourselves at the continued success of this work, in design circles, craftsmanship circles, and now mutually collaborative circles.

This article focuses on a select few of Mallinger Constructions suppliers, the tapestry of which our incredible ADAD Architectural Design and ADAD Interior Design could not be realised without.

Congratulations team!

Learn the whole story about our North Curl Curl House here.

 

Highest Australian Housing Award:
Elite Agent
3.8.21

We are honoured to be featured on Yo Elite Agent today.

Our North Curl Curl House, having already topped the ratings for Grand Design Australia (Season 3 Episode 8), is making waves off the back of its recent coveted HIA Australian House of the Year Award 2021.

Our masterwork ticks all the boxes, the pinnacle of public recognition, industry design awards, and luxury market sale price.

 

Australian Home of the Year 2021:
North Curl Curl House
30.7.21

We were humbled by incredible news tonight.

Our North Curl Curl House won the highest Australian housing award for 2021: HIA Australian Home of the Year.

Our magnum opus won the coveted HIA Australian Home of the Year and the HIA Australian Custom Built Home (across all budget ranges) in the 2021 Annual Awards.

Congratulations to master builder Mallinger Constructions, client and builder for our masterpiece and team ADAD including Scotty, Brendan and Marty over the years, who with Andrew meticulously designed and documented every aspect of this house – as with all ADAD projects.

Go Team!

 

New Project:
Galston Gorge Clifftop
27.7.21

We are very excited to kick off our latest project atop Galston Gorge today!

This sprawling paradise along Galston Gorge will capitalise on our ADAD expertise in the creative transformation of complex urban and natural environments in service of site, the greater public interface and of course gifting our clients a totally unique, bespoke forever home.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

Earthworks in Paradise:
Whitsundays House
27.7.21

Earthworks began today in paradise on our Whitsundays Project!

This incredible project sits on challenging terrain in the Whitsundays paradise in Queensland adjacent national park – we are keeping this project under wraps at the moment – but stay tuned!

Construction will continue well into 2022 and we will add this project to website soon – watch this space!

 

Dear Young Architects…
Andrew’s Notes Launch
28.6.21

Dear students, architects thinking of taking the plunge, or those who have just launched…

Founder Andrew Donaldson launched a passion project he has had in the works for a long time today.

Andrew’s Notes is Andrew Donaldson’s no-holds-barred notes for architects, graduates and students on taking the plunge, setting up your studio, realising your dream.

Live from an architect who has done it, loves it and practices it.

Join the tribe – Sign up for free!

 

Concept Approved:
Queenscliff House
9.6.21

Our Concept Design for our Queenscliff clifftop waterfront project was gleefully Approved by our clients today!

A 4 story fall from entry towards manly lagoon, with a very large existing disjointed home, has been carefully altered, to retain embodied carbon, admit light and air where there is none, and generously layer new entry sequences and outdoor spaces while protecting the riparian lagoon to cliff semi-public threshold below.

Watch this space!

 

Move In Day:
Bondi Stage 2 Completion
11.6.21

After 7 exhilarating months, our client family finally moved back into their spectacularly transformed home today.

This project is very special to us here at ADAD.

A second stage for a growing family at their much loved original ADAD forever home, this project is a contemporary modernist twist on our original theme that flexes for sun views thresholds and connection as the family grows.

This project bridged the Covid 2021 Lockdown, and its successful, on time and on budget delivery is testament to a fantastic team of client, builder, architect and consultants.

We will photograph this project to add to our website as soon as the Sydney lockdown ends to add to our website – watch this space!

 

DA Approval:
Castlecrag House
4.6.21

We are over the moon with the news that the Willoughby Council has granted DA Approval to our exciting Castlecrag Project today!

Documentation will begin immediately on this ecologically driven escarpment house within a bushfire zone, with Construction slated for late 2021.

Watch this space!

 

Concept Approved:
Matcham House
28.5.21

Our Concept Design for our Matcham House was overwhelmingly approved for Design Development today!

This super challenging Tuscan inspired off-grid homestead holds precious long term memories for our Entrepreneurial client family. We are retaining the idiosyncratic siting, form and materials – stitching together green roof colonnades and adding a wing to harmonise with the existing axis, from entry across pool to Dam.

Watch this space!

 

Andrew Donaldson:
Visiting Architects and Experts Program
15.5.21

Andrew Donaldson was invited to appear under the Visiting Architects and Experts program at the University of Newcastle today.

Andrew’s no-hold-barred notes on the realities of practice outside of the University Studio are a yearly crowd pleaser for the Master Students, on the brink of graduation, a segue from the philosophy of architectural practice to the reality – and today was no exception.

 

Symposium:
ADAD at PERI
1.5.21

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present his creative practice research at the UoN Practice Ecology Research Intensive at the University of Newcastle today.

PERI spans the cutting edge of architecture, landscape, urban and digital creative practice research – and the opportunity to have ADAD design process and methodology critiqued and sharpened by the sharpest minds in Architectural Academia is extremely valuable, it remains an honour for ADAD to be invited.

 

Breaking Ground:
Collaroy Canopy
14.4.21

Demolition began today on site at our Public / Private Collaroy Canopy Project!

Under wraps for the moment – this incredible project alters a very Australian Northern Beaches institution in a very generous way…

Construction is slated to wrap late 2021. We will add this project to website soon – watch this space!

 

ADAD Logo:
Logo Bible Entry
30.3.21

We were humbled to see our incredible ADAD Logo designed by friends and superstars M35 feature in the revised international logo bible “Logo” by Michael Evamy today.

The 1st edition of Logo featured the 1000 logo designs throughout history essential the design disciples development, and we are absolutely stoked to see our ADAD logo chosen as one of the handful of global contemporary logos essential to the updated edition.

Logo is available in all good bookstores.

 

New Project:
Valley Permaculture
26.3.21

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Matcham today!

This vast family property will be strengthened, finessed, and extended to deliver our wonderfully talented clients dual brief for a family forever home that can switch between fashion launches and events for their booming label.

Our 1st local project to be run from the ADAD Central Coast Warehouse, we cannot wait to see this one develop along with the team.

#RiseoftheRegions

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Amber
1.3.21

We welcome graduate Amber as the latest member of the ADAD dream team today.

Amber is a super-talented graduate obsessed with sustainability, permaculture, pattern making and alternative construction.

She will head up the New Regional ADAD Central Coast Warehouse and assist Jemima, Marty, Andrew and the team across all projects as she heads towards registration in the coming years.

Welcome Amber!

 

New Project:
Queenscliff Waterfront
28.2.21

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Queenscliff today!

This steep, absolute beachfront house will capitalise on our ADAD expertise in the creative transformation of complex urban and natural environments in service of site, the greater public interface and of course gifting our clients a totally unique, bespoke forever home.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

DA Approval:
Colloroy Canopy
28.1.21

We are over the moon with the news that the Northern Beaches Council Council has granted DA Approval to our delicious and secretive Collaroy Canopy Project today!

Documentation will begin immediately with Construction slated for early 2021.

Watch this space!

 

ADAD Studio 2:
Rise of the Regions
26.1.21

In Super exciting news personal news– ADAD is opening a second Warehouse Collaborative Studio on the NSW Central Coast, where founder Andrew spent his teenage years.

Stay Tuned.

2021: #RiseoftheRegions

 

Top Form:
Australian House & Garden
19.1.21

Our North Curl Curl House has a generous 10-page feature: Top Form in Australian House & Garden Magazine out today!

In Stephen Crafti’s own words on our magnum opus: “Thanks to the brave owners and a forward-thinking architect, an incredible Sydney site now has the striking home that it deserves.”

Our North Curl Curl House was featured on Grand Designs Australia on Australian Television and won the HIA trifecta of NSW Custom Built Home $2 million – $4 million budget range, NSW Custom Built Home across all budget ranges, and the coveted 2020 HIA NSW Home of the Year.

As with all of our projects: Architecture and Interiors by the ADAD dream team.

 

Urban Theatre:
Belle Magazine
14.1.21

We are honoured to learn that our Potts Point Apartment is featured: “Urban Theatre” in Belle Magazine’s Optimistic Welcome 2021 Issue!

In our clients describe thier completed interior in their own words: “Multifaceted, transformative and beautiful”.

The Project recently won the Small Architecture Awards at the Australian Institute of Architects Awards NSW Chapter 2020 .

Belle Magazine available now in all good bookstores.

 

DA Approval:
Whitsundays House
11.12.20

We are over the moon with the news that the Whitsundays Regional Council has granted DA Approval for our northernmost Australian ADAD project: our Whitsundays House today!

Documentation will begin immediately with Construction slated for early 2021.

Watch this space!

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Matt
10.12.20

We welcome student architect Matt as the latest member of the ADAD dream team today.

Matt is a super-talented and already accomplished industrial / product / graphic designer and will be spearheading interiors, bespoke objects and fitting design alongside Jemima, Marty, Andrew and the Team.

Welcome Matt!

 

Breaking Ground:
Bondi Stage 2
9.12.20

Demolition began today on site at our Stage 2 of our Bondi Project!

A second stage for a growing family at their ADAD forever home, this project is a contemporary modernist twist on our original theme that flexes for sun, views, thresholds and connection as the family grows.

Construction is slated for completion early 2021. We will add this project to website soon – watch this space!

Check out the original Bondi House in more detail here: Bondi House.

 

Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
3.12.20

Andrew Donaldson attended the Australian Institute of Architects 13th year Dulux Study Tour Alumni Reunion in Sydney tonight.

A highlight of each year, the tour is awarded to the top 5 emerging architects in Australia each year, now an epic 65 strong incredibly talented Australian alumni.

Andrew was the inaugural winner of this award in 2008.

 

Builder Appointed:
Bondi Stage 2
22.11.20

Very excited to appoint Bespoke Home Building as Head Contractor for our Stage 2 Bondi House project today

A second stage for a growing family at their ADAD forever home, this project is a contemporary modernist twist on our original theme that flexes for sun, views, thresholds and connection as the family grows.

Check out the original Bondi House in more detail here: Bondi House and watch this space.

 

Cliffhanger:
ADAD Best in State
21.11.20

Our North Curl Curl House featured on the front cover of the HOME Magazine lift-out of the Saturday Daily Telegraph today.

“A Cliffhanging Win” is a very kindly written article by Catherine Nikas-Boulous, documenting the amazing winning-streak of our North Curl Curl House today.

In her own words: “The 2020 House of the Year is an incredible build inside and out of four connected pods on a steep site at the Northern Beaches”.

Congratulations Team ADAD on the design and to Mallinger Constructions for the immaculate execution.

 

Triple Win:
2020 Home of the Year
20.11.20

We received incredible news today – our North Curl Curl House has picked up the Housing Industry Association NSW Chapter trifecta of Awards.

Our magnum opus project won: NSW Custom Built Home within the $2million – $4million construction budget range, NSW Custom Built Home across all budget ranges, and the coveted 2020 HIA NSW Home of the Year.

Congratulations team ADAD!

 

DA Submission:
Locals Only
11.11.20

We are very happy to lodge our delicious Collaroy Public / Private / Commercial / Local Project Development Application with the Northern Beaches Council today.

This incredible project alters a Northern Beaches institution, Australian in every way.

We are keeping this project under wraps at the moment – but stay tuned!

 

DA Submission:
Surfers Paradise
21.10.20

We are very happy to lodge our Whitsundays House Development Application with the Whitsundays Regional Council today.

This incredible project sits on challenging terrain in the Whitsundays paradise adjacent national park.

We are keeping this project under wraps at the moment – but stay tuned!

 

Lean In:
ADAD Design Secrets
9.10.20

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present ADAD’s unique Design Process methodology to NSW Members of the Australian Institute of Architects today.

This was a great honour to present amongst mentors on behalf of the next generation of young architects.

Our Potts Point Apartment is 1 of 5 national finalists in Interior Architecture design projects in Australia’s premiere architectural awards programme: The Australian Institute of Architects National Awards 2020.

Watch out for the AIA Youtube Live Awards Ceremony November 5th at 7pm AEDT!

 

National Shortlist:
Covid-19 Anthem
30.9.20

We were totally thrilled today to be informed that our Potts Point Apartment has progressed to shortlisting for consideration in the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards for Interior Architecture 2020!

We are over the moon to be shortlisted amongst Australia’s 5 absolute best interiors, amongst our idols, mentors and peers and wish every entrant the best of luck.

 

DA Submission:
Castecrag House
2.9.20

We are very happy to lodge our Castlecrag House Development Application with the Willoughby Council today.

This incredible project sits on challenging terrain within the northern Castlecrag escarpment, overlooking the ravine, local waterfall and Sugarloaf Creek towards Sydney’s Middle Harbour.

Watch this space – we will be adding our Castlecrag House to our website in the New Year, to be constructed in 2021.

 

Ask an Expert:
Andrew Donaldson
1.9.20

Andrew Donaldson was invited as an expert panellists to assist UoN students in preparing their Design A Marker Public Space Design Competition.

Andrew continues his bookend his involvement teaching design and visual communication to 1st year undergraduates and design and architectural practice to 5th year masters students.

Good luck all!

 

Dezeen Awards:
ADAD Worldwide
13.8.20

We were absolutely stoked today to be informed that our North Curl Curl House has been longlisted for consideration in the Dezeen International Awards for House Interiors 2020.

The company is incredible, including international superstars Foster & Partners and Australian master John Wardle Architects.

Good luck all!

 

Castle in the Sky:
Grand Designs Magazine
15.7.20

We were honoured to learn that our North Curl Curl House, which recently premiered on Grand Designs Australia on Australian Television, has a 9-page feature in the current Grand Design Australia Magazine.

In the words of Louise Smithers in her Castle In The Sky feature: “the house ensures your jaw never leaves the floor.” We aim to inspire!

Grand Designs Australia Magazine Issue 9.2 is available now in all good bookstores.

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Jemima
6.7.20

We welcome project architect Jemima as the latest member of the ADAD dream team today.

Jemima’s extensive experience will be harnessed leading both our public projects and our larger more complicated bespoke new house projects alongside Andrew.

Welcome Jemima!

 

AIA NSW Architecture Awards:
Potts Point Apartment Win
3.7.20

Our Potts Point Apartment won a prestigious Small Project Architecture Awards at the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Awards tonight!

The competition was very strong and we are humbled by the honour. Our Potts Point Apartment now progresses to the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards in November – stay tuned!

Check out the project in more detail here: Potts Point Apartment

 

New Project:
Bondi House / The Sequel
2.6.20

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Bondi today!

We are undertaking stage 2 for our original Bondi House clients, whose “Hollywood on Holiday” Palm Springs inspired forever home needs expanding as their family grows and evolves.

We are humbled to continue the journey for our clients, an honour to reconnect with our 1st ADAD house.

Checkout the original Bondi House in more detail here: Bondi House and watch this space.

 

New Project:
Surry Hills House
21.5.20

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Surry Hills today!

The historic Surry Hills terrace will be transomed to open to the north and connect to the public park and light rail recently completed by the City of Sydney that has itself transformed Surry Hills.

Our client is a friend of the ADAD family – we look after our collaborators!

Watch this space.

 

PhD Retreat:
Creative Practice Research
20.6.20

Andrew, Drew Heath and Derren Lowe were invited to undertake Creative Practice PhD’s at the University of Newcastle – with the aim of capturing their separate and combined tacit knowledge through diverse drawings methodology – always in the aid of realising exceptionally detailed architecture in the world.

The trio catches up regularly to refine thinking, drawings and philosophy in parallel to practicing and teaching architecture – this retreat-taking place at one of Drew’s Construction Sites on the Far South Coast of NSW.

Andrew received his Confirmation of Candidature in 2018, and continues to teach Design, Architectural Practice, and Digital Communications in parallel to practice at the University of Newcastle.

 

ADAD Exhibition:
Unfinished Business
10.6.20

Our friends at The Architects Bookshop have invited our Whitsundays House concept model to be exhibited as part of the Unfinished Business Exhibition in their Surry Hills space later this month.

Our Whitsundays House is a knife-edge soaring plane on a spectacular site in Queensland’s Whitsundays heading towards Development Application submission, and the model expresses and distils this idea.

Check out the exhibition at The Architects Bookshop 499 Crown Street Surry Hills from June 15th-19th 2020.

 

Australia’s Best:
Vogue Living Australia
13.5.20

Our Potts Point Apartment featured as no.1 project in Vogue Living Australia’s 25 of Australia’s Best Small Houses, Apartment and Units today.

We are humbled to have this very special, small and precise jewellery box interior transformation of Emil Soderstens’ iconic Franconia Apartments featured amongst Australia’s most considered small spaces – especially as we continue our current COVID19 isolated lives.

Check out the more details on our Potts Point Apartment here.

 

Premiere:
Framing the View
12.5.20

Richard Leplastrier is Australian Architecture royalty – and Anna Cater’s 15-year n the making documentary ‘Framing the View’ Premiers on ABC Television at 9:30pm tonight.

Andrew was very fortunate to be taught by Richard almost 20 years ago, and has been teaching alongside him for the last 5 years at the University of Newcastle continuing the tradition for the next generation of Australian Architects.

Don’t miss it!

 

NSW Shortlist:
AIA Small Project Architecture
21.4.20

We were totally thrilled today to be informed that our Potts Point Apartment has also been shortlisted for consideration in the Australian Institute of Architects New South Wales Award for Small Project Architecture 2020!

We are over the moon to be shortlisted amongst our idols, mentors and peers and wish every entrant the best of luck.

With current COVID19 restrictions, face to face Juries will take place over Zoom in May, we will keep you updated.

 

ADAD Worldwide:
Grand Designs UK
2.4.20

Following the wonderful Australian premiere in July, our North Curl Curl House had its international premier on Grand Designs Australia tonight in London!

The incredible journey for us here at ADAD, our clients, builder, and massive, far-reaching team has been captured on film brilliantly by the GDA crew.

ADAD North Curl Curl on Grand Designs Australia is viewable on the Lifestyle Channel, Foxtel, on Australian TV – and will be screened in the future on ABC Fre To Air TV.

We will keep you updated.

 

ADAD Presentation:
Australian Institute of Architects
27.3.20

Andrew Donaldson presented our Potts Point Apartment at the New South Wales Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter amidst some stellar competition today for the AIA Architecture Awards – Small Project Architecture 2020.

Presentation via dispersed conference call was unique in response to our collective COVID19 isolated lives – a challenge in itself.

Good luck to all the entrants and stay tuned for updates as the awards season progresses.

 

National Shortlist:
Dulux Colour Awards
20.3.20

We were absolutely thrilled today to be informed that our Potts Point Apartment has been shortlisted for consideration in the Dulux Colour Awards Residential Interior Category!

Stay tuned for updates as judging progresses. Best of luck to all the entries!

 

Finance:
Architectural Practice
16.3.20

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present ADAD’s unique Architectural Practice Fee Proposal methodology to Architecture Masters students at the University of Newcastle today.

Andrew continues his bookend his involvement teaching design and visual communication to 1st year undergraduates and design and architectural practice to 5th year masters students.

 

National Shortlist:
2020 Houses Awards
10.4.20

We were absolutely thrilled today to be informed that our Potts Point Apartment has been shortlisted for consideration in the Houses Awards 2020 in the Apartment or Unit category!

Australian bespoke residential architecture is widely recognised as amongst the world’s finest – and the Houses Awards are the pinnacle of residential design within Australia.

We are over the moon to be shortlisted amongst our idols, mentors and peers and wish every entrant the best of luck.

 

International Invitation:
OBEL Prize
4.3.20

Andrew Donaldson was flattered to be invited as one of a handful of international practitioners to identify seminal global projects for consideration for the 2020 OBEL Award international prize for architecture.

The aim of the OBEL Award is to honour outstanding architectural contributions to human development all over the world. These contributions should offer seminal solutions to urgent problems.

The theme for 2020 is Creative Climate-Positive Mending, and the prize will be awarded in Copenhagen late 2020.

 

New Project:
Grays Point House
11.2.20

We are very excited to kick off our latest project at Grays Point today!

This harbourside new house will capitalise on ADAD expertise in the creative transformation of the complex natural environment and delivery of a bespoke, uniquely individual residential forever home for this warm and tight-knit family.

Watch this space for project updates…

 

ADAD Front Cover:
The Best of Grand Designs Australia
19.11.19

The highlight of our year was an unexpected surprise from the producers of Grand Designs Australia: our North Curl Curl House which aired in July this year on Australian Television features on the front cover of The Best of Grand Designs Australia Volume 2 book!

This is a great honour. The projects featured across the last few seasons include architects that we look up to creatively, and we are very grateful to our client / builder / collaborator Stephen Mallinger from Mallinger Constructions, the crew at Grand Designs Australia and of course our ADAD dream team.

The Best of Grand Designs Australia Volume 2 is available now in all good bookstores.

PS: We have some very exciting announcements off the back of this success coming in 2020 – stay tuned!

 

ADAD Website:
Potts Point Online
15.11.19

We have uploaded Tom Fergusons’s excellent photography of our recently completed Potts Point Apartment to our website.

Our 8 meter jewel-box, multi-function, multi-direction, multi-room American Oak interior composition enables and conceals a myriad of domestic performances within Emil Sodersten’s elegant modernist Franconia Apartments in Sydney’s Kings Cross.

Check out the shoot here: Potts Point Apartment

 

ADAD Website:
North Curl Curl Online
8.11.19

We uploaded Barton Taylor’s incredible photography of our recently completed North Curl Curl House to our website today!

Our North Curl Curl House works with not against the many levels, sandstone cliff, cave and wall features of its spectacular site, drawing these elements deep within the architecture rather than opposing them.

ADAD North Curl Curl screened on Grand Designs Australia on Australian TV in July, and you can check out our shoot here: North Curl Curl House

 

ADAD Website:
Yarranabbe Gardens Online
3.11.19

We have uploaded Barton Taylor’s excellent photography of our recently completed Yarranabbe Gardens Apartments to our website.

Yarranabbe Gardens is a contemporary transformation of the public space, streetscape and resident entry experience at Hugo Stossel’s modernist icon on Sydney Harbour at Darling Point.

Check out the shoot here: Yarranabbe Gardens

 

Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
29.10.19

Andrew Donaldson attended the Australian Institute of Architects 12th year Dulux Study Tour Alumni Reunion in Canberra over the weekend.

A highlight of each year, the tour is awarded to the top 5 emerging architects in Australia each year, now an epic 60 strong incredibly talented Australian alumni.

Andrew was the inaugural winner of this award in 2008.

 

New Project:
Whitsundays House
17.10.19

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in the Whitsundays today!

Wider exposure of our demonstrated ADAD expertise of the creative synthesis of contemporary architecture within difficulty natural landscapes through our Grand Designs Australia North Curl Curl House Episode earlier this year has led to our first interstate house.

Andrew Donaldson is a registered architect in New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Watch this space for project updates!

 

Symposium:
ADAD at PERI
10.10.19

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present his creative practice research at the UoN Practice Ecology Research Intensive in NewSpace Newcastle today.

PERI spans the cutting edge of architecture, landscape, urban and digital creative practice research, culminating in thesis presentations across in our own Watt Space Gallery, originally conceived as the eventual gateway to Newcastle’s revitalised CBD – now a reality.

 

Photoshoot:
Potts Point Apartment
20.8.19

Perfect Sydney winter light this morning shooting our Potts Point Apartment interior with photographer Tom Ferguson, joiner extraordinaire Seb from Husk & Co., stylist Robert Wirth and our wonderful clients Jerome and Rosalie.

We can’t wait to se the results – stay tuned!

 

ADAD Premiere:
Grand Designs Australia
31.7.19

After 3 years of filming, our North Curl Curl House finally premiers on Grand Designs Australia tonight!

The incredible journey for us here at ADAD, our clients, builder, and massive, far-reaching team has been captured brilliantly by the GDA crew.

ADAD North Curl Curl screens 8:30pm tonight on Grand Designs Australia, the Lifestyle Channel, Foxtel, on Australian TV.

 

Complete:
Potts Point Apartment
30.7.19

We handed the keys back to our elated clients at our Potts Point Apartment project today!

Our 8 meter multi-function, multi-direction, multi-room American Oak interior composition enables and conceals a myriad of domestic performances within Emil Soderstens incredible modernist Franconia Apartments in Kings Cross.

Expertly crafted by long-time ADAD collaborator Husk & Co, the spatial intervention is thoroughly contemporary yet respectful of the modernist base building – an ADAD design specialty. We will have the project shot and up on our website soon – stay tuned!

 

Good Company:
2019 Houses Awards
26.7.19

We were super proud to have our North Curl Curl House shortlisted amongst Australia’s very best residential architecture at the 2019 Houses Awards in Melbourne tonight.

It was an honour to be selected amongst many of ADADs national mentors at this pinnacle of Australian residential design, congratulations to all the winners.

 

Grand Tour:
Sketching Le Corbusier
5.7.19

Andrew Donaldson recharged with long-time architectural comrade Drew Heath and University of Newcastle students this month, touring and sketching Le Corbusier’s original modernist masterworks throughout France.

Highlights included the Villa La Roche, Villa Savoye, Foundation Le Corbusier, Notre Dame du Haut, Convent La Tourette, Saint-Pierre Firminy and Le Cabanon. The work will be exhibited soon.

 

Breaking Ground:
Middle Dural Earthworks
17.6.19

Footings, contour reshaping, pool and earthworks have been unveiled at our Middle Dural project today.

A sprawling, sensitive rural sequence of buildings for a growing family, it was lovely to see levels struck and floor surfaces integrating into the ancient landscape.

Stay tuned!

 

National Shortlist:
2019 Houses Award
12.4.19

We were absolutely thrilled today to be informed that our North Curl Curl House has been shortlisted for consideration in the Houses Awards 2019 in the New House over 200sqm category!

Australian bespoke residential architecture is widely recognised as amongst the world’s finest – and the Houses Awards are the pinnacle of residential design within Australia.

We are over the moon to be shortlisted amongst our idols, mentors and peers and wish every entrant the best of luck.

 

ADAD Presentation:
Australian Institute of Architects
12.4.19

Andrew Donaldson presented our Yarranabbe Gardens project at the New South Wales Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter today amidst some incredible competition today for the AIA Architecture Awards – Small Project Architecture 2019.

Good luck to all the entrants and stay tuned for updates as the awards season progresses.

 

Practice Ecology:
Inaugural PERI Symposium
9.4.19

Andrew Donaldson has been invited to be first speaker at the inaugural UoN Practice Ecology Research Intensive, in NewSpace in Newcastle later this month.

PERI spans the cutting edge of architecture, landscape, urban and digital creative practice research, and to present in Newcastle’s completed landmark city campus building opposite our own Watt Space Gallery (originally envisioned as this eventual gateway to Newcastle’s revitalised CBD) – is a thrill.

 

ADAD Presentation:
Australian Institute of Architects
8.4.19

Andrew Donaldson presented our North Curl Curl House at the New South Wales Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter amidst some stellar competition today for the AIA Architecture Awards – New Houses 2019.

Good luck to all the entrants and stay tuned for updates as the awards season progresses.

 

International Invitation:
Inaugural OBEL Prize
19.3.19

Andrew Donaldson was flattered to be invited as one of a handful of international practitioners to identify seminal global projects for consideration for the inaugural OBEL Award international prize for architecture.

The aim of the OBEL Award is to honour outstanding architectural contributions to human development all over the world. These contributions should offer seminal solutions to urgent problems.

The inaugural theme for 2019 is Welfare through Architecture, and the prize will be awarded in Copenhagen late 2019.

 

ADAD Exhibition:
Australian Institute of Architects
4.3.19

Two ADAD projects will be featured in the 2019 New South Wales Architecture Awards Exhibition at the Australian Institute of Architecture at Tusculum in Potts Point.

The exhibition features the most accomplished architecture of 2019 within New South Wales, and we are excited to have both our North Curl Curl House and Yarranabbe Gardens projects exhibited alongside some stellar Australian Architecture.

The exhibition will run from April to October 2019.

 

Photoshoot:
Yarranabbe Gardens
1.3.19

We continue our collaboration with photographer Barton Taylor this week with the very exciting photo shoot of our Yarranabbe Gardens project in Darling Point today.

Our reimagined entry experience for the residents of the 77 Sydney harbour-front apartments in Hugo Stossel’s 1958 Modernist masterpiece paradoxically increased the functional public space by 200% while reducing the existing 1990’s entry footprint by 65% through its ADAD transformation.

We unlocked existing structure, and articulated the new experience in the highest quality, resilient, finely detailed materials in the smallest possible quantities. It was a pleasure to watch Barton capture the changing light from day though dusk and its effects on our plate-steel, white off-form concrete, recycled tallowwood joinery and hanging gardens.

We will add the completed gallery to our website soon!

 

Photoshoot:
North Curl Curl House
27.2.19

Photographer Barton Taylor came to site to complete his photo shoot for our North Curl Curl House today.

It was a pleasure to have our wonderful client family feature in the shoot, in their completed home that they love, with the incredible details, materials, cantilevers and geological elements as a backdrop to their daily lives.

The preliminary shots look incredible, and we cannot wait to share the final images with you all on our ADAD website in the coming weeks.

Grand Designs Australia have completed editing our episode of the multi-year odyssey, from inhospitable landscape to dream-home, with screening set to air on Foxtel July 2019.

We will keep you posted!

 

New Project:
Regional Urban Renewal
10.1.19

Happy New Year!

We were very excited to kick off 2019 by visiting the site of our newest project with some very young, passionate and motivated clients today.

We cant disclose too much at this point, but this regional city urban cultural intervention, beyond the usual complex existing building fabric that we are known for delicately transforming, has a social programmme at its heart that is also very close to our own.

Stay tuned.

 

Desert Song:
Home Beautiful Australia
1.12.18

Our Bondi House is featured in the latest Summer Issue of Home Beautiful Australia.

We are humbled to have our first completed ADAD house have such a prominent 10 page spread in the premiere issue for inspirational summer homes. The focus on our wonderful clients, our children’s friendship and shared Palm Springs Modernism obsession that initially led to the project is a lovely story to have documented.

Home Beautiful Australia Summer Issue is available in Australia throughout December 2018 and January 2019.

Happy Summer!

 

PhD Confirmation:
Drawing Thought
22.11.18

Andrew Donaldson received his official confirmation for his PhD in Architecture today.

Andrew was invited to undertake a creative practice based PhD with fellow detail driven practitioners and friends Drew Heath and Derren Lowe by recent mentor professor Sue Anne Ware and long time mentor professor Michael Chapman at the University of Newcastle, where Andrew continues to teach Design, Visual Communication and Professional Practice.

 

Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
12.11.18

Andrew Donaldson was presented with the Dulux Study Tour 2008-2018 monograph cataloguing the first 10 years of the Australian Institute of Architects Dulux Study Tour at the 11th anniversary dinner at MONA in Hobart this evening.

The tour is awarded to the top 5 emerging architects Australia wide each year, of which Andrew was the 1st out of the now 55 strong incredibly talented Australian alumni.

 

Mid Century Project:
Watt Space Gallery
20.10.18

Tim Ross and Kit Warhurst performed their multi-disciplinary Mid Century Project Newcastle within our Watt Space Gallery this evening.

Our adaptive reuse of the heritage listed Northumberland House into the current Watt Space Gallery uncovered lost, forgotten and hidden structures and spaces, pushing art into the street to engage with the wider community.

We were awarded the prestigious Australian Institute of Architects Blacket Prize for this transformation and gateway to future Newcastle city.

 

ADAD TV:
Grand Designs Reveal
4.10.18

After an incredible 3 years of filming, ADAD’s magnum opus: our North Curl Curl House had its Grand Designs Australia big reveal party and filming tonight!

It was an emotionally charged evening for our clients, builders, contractors and collaborators, a testament to creative achievement and sustained hard work by an incredible team.

Grand Designs Australia host Peter Maddison and the entire team were a pleasure to deal with throughout the process. Thank you to Foxtel for the invitation.

The Headland House episode is set to air on Foxtel 2019, followed by ABC TV. Watch this space!

 

This Is Not Art:
Watt Space Gallery
30.9.18

TiNA (This Is Not Art) festival hosted its opening rave within our Watt Space Gallery this evening. TiNA is one of Australia’s leading emerging arts festivals, supporting risk taking, experimentation and boundary pushing of artistic practice.

TiNA celebrate Newcastle as a leading creative city, and we are flattered that our Watt Space Gallery is living up to its vision as a hub for extending artistic possibilities into the wider community.

 

New Project:
Freshwater House
28.9.18

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Freshwater today!

This beachside new house will capitalise on ADAD expertise in the creative transformation of the complex urban environment and delivery of a bespoke, uniquely individual residential forever home for this ambitious young family.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

Iconic:
MCA Australia
26.9.18

We are very excited to receive our MCA Australia pins from Porridge Design today. Porridge Design is obsessed with graphically illustrating Sydney Architectural icons, including the Sirius and the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Andrew Donaldson was design architect for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia while at Architect Marshall form 2006 to 2012 immediately prior to establishing ADAD.

It is flattering to have another designer obsess over the façade composition as much as he did!

 

New Project:
Middle Dural House
25.9.18

We are very excited to kick off our latest project in Middle Dural today!

This rural new house will capitalise on ADAD expertise in the creative augmentation of the complex natural environment and delivery of a bespoke, uniquely individual forever home for this young family.

Watch this space for project updates.

 

National 1st Place:
Bespoke Joinery Award
22.9.18

The joinery at our North Curl Curl House received the FIAA National Award for best built-in furniture in Australia this evening!

Congratulations to joiner Husk & Co for crafting and installing our vision immaculately, to Belgian collaborator furniture designer Filip Janssens, and builder Mallinger Constructions.

Grand Designs Australia has been documenting the construction process set to air on Australian Television early 2019.

 

PhD Confirmation:
Home Ground Advantage
15.9.18

Andrew Donaldson had his PhD in Architecture confirmed today.

The presentation of Andrews unique design approach was within our Watt Space Gallery project in Newcastle, with panellists including architect Tim Greer, professor Sue Anne Ware and professor Michael Chapman.

 

Moving In:
North Curl Curl House Completion
13.9.18

After 3 exhilarating years, our client family finally moved into their spectacular new home today.

This project is very special to us here at ADAD.

The North Curl Curl House is our magnum opus, and seeing the smiling faces of elated clients, proud contractor and excellent architectural execution makes for very happy owners and very happy architects.

The journey has been filmed in its entirety by Grand Designs Australia and is set to air in 2019.

 

ADAD Exhibition:
Peripheries
8.9.18

Two ADAD projects are currently featured in the Peripheries exhibition within our Watt Space Gallery in Newcastle.

The exhibition showcases the diversity of architectural creative practice research currently undertaken at the University of Newcastle and it is a privilege to have our North Curl Curl House and Unnamed House exhibited amongst Andrews mentors, peers and students all within ADAD’s 1st completed Gallery.

The exhibition runs until September 23.

 

ADAD TV:
Grand Designs Australia
23.8.18

The crew from Grand Designs Australia again filmed our ADAD studio today as part of the rapidly concluding North Curl Curl House project and upcoming episode of the series.

Progress on this incredible project has been filmed since 2015, with the Big Reveal scheduled in October this year, for airing on Foxtel and ABC TV in 2019.

Stay tuned!

 

Opportunity:
Architectural Practice
7.8.18

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present ADAD’s unique Architectural Practice methodology to Architecture Masters students at the University of Newcastle today.

Andrew continues his bookend his involvement teaching design and visual communication to 1st year undergraduates and design and architectural practice to 5th year masters students.

 

Hall of Fame:
ADAD Logo
27.7.18

We were humbled to see our excellent ADAD logo designed by friends M35 to feature on their new website alongside their stellar clientele.

The ADAD trademark sits with international giants Nike and Google and Australian institutions McGrath Estate Agents, Bondi Icebergs, and AFTRS.

 

Construction:
Potts Point Apartment
4.7.18

Demolition began today on site at our Potts Point Apartment Project!

Our transformation of Emil Sodersten’s Franconia Apartments in Kings Cross highlights our ADAD niche expertise in designing for complex interiors while working sensitively in a thoroughly contemporary way to integrate and transform historic buildings respectfully.

Construction is slated for completion late 2018. We will add this project to website soon – watch this space!

 

Photoshoot:
North Curl Curl House
22.6.18

Talented photographer Barton Taylor came to site for a preliminary photoshoot at our North Curl Curl House today.

The Architecture, Joinery and Interiors are complete, with only the finishing touches to the Landscaping, Furniture and Artwork delivery to come.

Grand Designs Australia will complete their filming of our 5-year journey in the coming months to air on Australian TV in 2019.

Stay tuned!

 

Builder Appointed:
Potts Point Apartment
21.6.18

We are excited to announce a super-talented joiner has been appointed for our Potts Point Apartment Project.

ADAD are undertaking a contemporary apartment transformation at Emil Sodersten’s early modern icon, Franconia, fronting Fitzroy Gardens at Kings Cross.

Demolition will begin in the coming weeks – watch this space.

 

Completion:
Yarranabbe Gardens
31.5.18

After 8 exhilarating months on site, the residents of the 77 Apartments at Yarranabbe Gardens had their New Entry Experience handed over today.

This project is very special to us here at ADAD.

The successful delivery of our contemporary transformation of the streetscape, entry, foyer, public spaces and interiors of Hugo Stossel’s iconic 1951 Yarranabbe Gardens apartment building on Sydney Harbour in Darling Point highlights our ADAD expertise in designing for complex sites, spectacular landscapes, and working sensitively in a thoroughly contemporary way to integrate and transform historic buildings respectfully.

We will be shooting the project shortly to reveal on our website – stay tuned!

 

DA Approval:
Pyrmont House
1.5.18

We were very happy to learn that our Pyrmont House project received Development Approval from the City of Sydney today!

This exciting project is a super-sharp alteration of the harbourside heritage fabric in a constrained city site for our wonderful clients, who have fought the casino and multiple developers to honour and champion Pyrmont’s industrial Sydney Harbour origins for decades.

Watch this space – we will be adding our Pyrmont House to our website soon with construction set to kick off late 2018.

 

Augmentation:
Digital Drawing
30.4.18

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present his unique Visual Communication in Design Practices in a 2 part lecture series to Architecture, Industrial Design and Education students at the University of Newcastle beginning today.

Andrew was schooled at the intersection point of Analogue and Digital design technology and the integration and augmentation of both modes of practice is core to the ADAD design process.

 

ADAD Website:
Yarranabbe Gardens
26.2.18

We are very excited to finally have our Yarranabbe Gardens Project live on our website!

For insight into our clients challenges, our ADAD conceptual philosophy to delivering unique spatial solutions and imagery of the architecture, please check out the project here: Yarranabbe Gardens.

Yarranabbe Gardens is currently under construction with completion projected for mid 2018.

 

Bondi Photoshoot:
Home Beautiful Magazine
14.2.18

Our lovely clients were interviewed by Home Beautiful in our recently completed Bondi House today.

The interview and project photoshoot will be feature in the upcoming issue of Home Beautiful Magazine.

Stay tuned!

 

DA Submission:
Castlecrag House
28.12.17

We are very happy to lodge our Castlecrag House Development Application with the Willoughby Council today.

This incredible project sits on challenging terrain within the northern Castlecrag escarpment, overlooking the ravine, local waterfall and Sugarloaf Creek towards Sydney’s Middle Harbour.

Watch this space – we will be adding our Castlecrag House to our website in the New Year, to be constructed in 2018.

 

DA Submission:
Pyrmont House
28.12.17

We are very happy to lodge our Pyrmont House Development Application with the City of Sydney at Town Hall today.

This exciting project is a super-sharp alteration of the harbourside heritage fabric in a constrained city site for our wonderful clients, who have fought the casino and multiple developers to honour and champion Pyrmont’s industrial Sydney Harbour origins for decades.

Watch this space – we will be adding our Pyrmont House to our website in the New Year, to be constructed in 2018.

 

10-Year Reunion:
Dulux Study Tour Alumni
24.11.17

Andrew recounted the ADAD origin story with Tim Ross this evening at the Australian Institute of Architects Dulux Study Tour 10-year anniversary dinner at Federation Square in Melbourne.

The tour is awarded to the top 5 emerging architects Australia wide each year, of which Andrew was the 1st out of the now 50 strong all-star alumni.

 

World Top 1000:
MCA Australia
10.11.17

We are very excited to learn that the MCA Australia features in Phaidon’s Destination Architecture: ‘Featuring 1,000 of today’s most compelling buildings by the world’s finest architects’.

Andrew Donaldson cut his teeth as design architect for the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia while at Architect Marshall form 2006 to 2012.

ADAD was established following successfully delivery of the Museum.

 

ADA Awards Night:
Awarded 1st Place
9.11.17

Andrew Donaldson received 1st prize on behalf of ADAD at the ADA 2017 awards dinner in Melbourne tonight.

We were awarded the National 1st place in the Realflame Architectural Design Awards for the fireplace design at our North Curl Curl House.

We would like to thank the judging panel and Realflame for showing such incredible support to our emerging practice through this prize and congratulate the strong national shortlist of fellow established architects and interior designers.

 

Construction:
Darling Point Apartments
23.10.17

Demolition began today on site at our Darling Point Apartments Project.

Our transformation of Yarranabbe Gardens on Sydney Harbour in Darling Point highlights our ADAD expertise in designing for complex sites, spectacular landscapes, and working sensitively in a thoroughly contemporary way to integrate and transform historic buildings respectfully.

We will add this project to website soon – watch this space.

 

Builder Appointed:
Darling Point Apartments
27.9.17

ADAD are excited to announce that contracts are signed and a builder appointed for our Darling Point Apartments Project.

ADAD are undertaking a contemporary transformation of the public space, streetscape and resident entry experience at Hugo Stossel’s modernist icon, Yarranabbe Gardens on Sydney Harbour at Darling Point.

 

5 Today:
ADAD Anniversary
21.9.17

ADAD is 5 today!

Founded with a vision and a laptop in a Sydney city attic, we could not be prouder of our achievements over the last 5 years.

This is in no small part due to our superstar ADAD design team past and present: Brendan, Marty, Scotty, Dave, Martine, Emma and Elke.

Congratulations guys, and here’s to the next 5 years!

 

On Tour:
ADAD in LA + NYC
16.9.17

Andrew Donaldson recharged travelling with his family this month, touring and sketching architectural masterworks throughout Los Angeles and New York that have been inspirations to ADAD’s practice.

Highlights included revisiting Andrews favourite house – John Lautner’s magnum opus, the Sheats-Goldstein Residence in Beverly Hills, and his continued Art Gallery research: Diller Scofidio Renfro’s Broad Contemporary, Steven Holl’s Storefront for Art and Architecture, SANAA’s New New Museum and Renzo Piano’s Whitney Museum of American Art.

 

National 1st Place:
Architectural Design Award
8.9.17

ADAD have been awarded National 1st Place in the Reaflame Architectural Design Awards 2017 for the fireplace design at our North Curl Curl House!

The cantilevered, minimalist fireplace design is both the conceptual distillation of the big-picture architectural creative vision of the house, and the metaphorical heart of the family house, innovative for its unique customisation and our close collaborative design process between client, architect contractor and manufacturer.

 

New ADAD Studio:
Surry Hills Rooftop
28.8.17

After 4 excellent years at Wis(c)h in Darlinghurst, we have embarked on our next stage of ADAD studio growth and relocated to our exciting new space.

We have many fond memories of Wisch. ADAD in collaboration with Lochbuild won the City of Sydney EOI in 2013 and started a fledgling creative space with a small group of creative friends (check out this project history here).

But it is time to move on and grow.

Welcome to ADAD Kippax Street Rooftop in Surry Hills!

 

Prime Time:
Bondi House TV
6.8.17

Our Bondi House featured as a Palm Springs backdrop to a Mad Men era dental commercial on Australian Primetime TV today.

Our clients ‘Hollywood on Holiday’ brief was to fuse the elegance of Palm Springs Modernism with the outdoor family lifestyle of their Bondi Locale.

Judging by this commercial the advertising world confirms that we delivered our clients vision!

 

Tender Time:
Darling Point Apartments
11.7.17

We are very excited to put our Darling Point Project out to tender today.

The contemporary transformation and upgrade of the streetscape, entry, foyer, public spaces and interiors of Hugo Stossel’s iconic 1951 Yarranabbe Gardens apartment building on Sydney Harbour in Darling Point highlights our ADAD expertise in designing for complex sites, spectacular landscapes, and working sensitively in a thoroughly contemporary way to integrate and transform historic buildings respectfully.

Construction will begin soon, and we will add this project to the website in the interim – watch this space.

 

Vale Penny:
Celebrating Penny Finnigan
3.7.17

Today we remember the life of one of our dearest clients, Watt Space Gallery Director Penny Finnigan.

Penny was an ideal client, driven, perfectionist, and was as intent on supporting us as a young and upcoming architecture practice as she was with her student artist entrepreneurs that Watt Space Gallery exists solely to launch into the world of the professional artist.

It was very touching to hear friends and family quote that one of her proudest life achievements was that our Watt Space Gallery has been such a success, winning the Australian Institute of Architects Blacket Prize, Public Architecture Award and 2 Small Project Architecture Awards in 2016.

We will miss you Penny.

 

Zero Points:
RMIT Presentation
3.6.17

Andrew Donaldson was invited to present his creative practice PhD today at RMIT in Melbourne.

The RMIT Practice Research Symposium spans the cutting edge of Australian Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape, Spatial Information, Fashion and Textile thinkers and creative practitioners pushing boundaries in a public forum.

 

ADAD Team:
Brendan Double Win
30.5.17

ADAD superstar Brendan received both the University of Newcastle Graduate of the Year and was runner up for the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Design Medal for his exceptional Masters Project ReBirth at Catherine Hill Bay.

Congratulations Brendan!

 

ADAD TV:
Grand Designs Australia
17.5.17

Andrew Donaldson was interview today on the construction site of our North Curl Curl House for one of the final times as the episode that Grand Designs Australia has been filming since 2015 heads towards completion.

Our project looks incredible in these final stages and the episode is set to air in early 2018.

 

ADAD Presentation:
Australian Institute of Architects
18.3.17

Andrew Donaldson presented our Bondi House at the New South Wales Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter amidst some incredible competition today for the AIA Architecture Awards – Houses 2017.

Good luck to all the entrants and stay tuned for updates on the awards.

 

ADAD Publication:
Architecture Australia AA 106
15.3.17

ADAD is featured in the current issue of Architecture Australia (AA106) with a review of our ‘Research Through Design’ exhibition by Rachel Hurst.

The review features our Bondi House, North Curl Curl House and Watt Space Gallery, which Rachel quotes demonstrate a “remarkable degree of architectural sophistication and depth.”

 

Experimental Drawing:
Cross-Disciplinary Workshop
21.3.17

Andrew Donaldson ran his 2nd successful Experimental Drawing workshop with contemporary artist Brett McMahon in the bush outside Newcastle today.

Andrew is a product of Newcastle Universities historical close ties to drawing, phenomenology and landscape and is very excited to take the reigns for current architecture undergrads and expand this drawing base into new uncharted territory with Brett.

 

Keynote:
Orientation Day
23.2.17

Andrew Donaldson was invited to provide the keynote presentation to 500-orientation day 1st year student across architecture, design, engineering, construction, computer science and entrepreneurship today at the University of Newcastle.

The future of creativity looks bright!

 

Jury Duty:
AIA Newcastle Awards
11.2.17

Andrew Donaldson has spent the last 2 days visiting the finalists in the Australian Institute or Architects Newcastle Chapter Awards across all architectural categories.

Andrew was invited to this role off the back of ADAD’s run-away success a at the 2016 Architecture Awards with our Watt Space Gallery winning the Blacket Prize, Public Architecture Award and 2 Small Project Architecture Awards.

 

S96 Approval:
North Curl Curl House
23.1.17

We were very happy to learn that our North Curl Curl House project received S96 (Modification to a Development Application) Approval today.

This incredible house on its challenging and spectacular site is currently being filmed by Grand Designs Australia set to air on Australian TV early 2018 and this approval opens the gates for the final stages of construction.

 

Bondi Online:
Musca Residence Photography
2.1.17

Happy New Year!

We have kicked of 2017 with uploading Brett Boardman’s incredible photography of our recently completed Bondi House to our website.

Brett surprised us here with an amazing silver gelatine print starring our client that recreates Julius Shulman’s famous photograph of Richard Neutra’s Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.

This homage features on our homepage.

 

DA Approval:
Darling Point Apartments
19.12.16

We were very happy to learn that our Yarranabbe Gardens Darling Point project received Development Approval today.

This is a very exciting project for us as it is a scale between our single 1-off homes and smaller public gallery projects that includes both the design challenges of working with a complex existing mid-century building and a spectacular landscape on Sydney Harbour.

Watch this space – we will be adding this project to our website in the New Year.

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Brendan
19.12.16

We welcome graduate architect Brendan as the latest member of the ADAD dream team today.

Brendan is obsessed with fractured landscapes, industrial artefacts, public space and the sublime, personified through his standout 2016 UoN Masters project: ReBirth at Catherine Hill Bay.

 

Bondi Modern:
Habitus Issue #34
15.12.16

Our Bondi House is featured in the latest issue of Habitus #34.

We are humbled to have our first completed ADAD house have such a prominent 13 page spread in this prestigious design magazine and thankful for Nicky Lobo for her story, Brett Boardman for the excellent photography and Vampt Vintage Design for the furniture and styling.

Most of all we are very thankful to our visionary clients, who are the stars of the story and the reason this project exists.

 

Ambitions:
Architecture Bulletin
15.12.16

Andrew Donaldson is featured in the current Spring / Summer issue of Architecture Bulletin.

This special edition titled ‘Architects of Ambition’ features an inspiring collection of diverse, emerging and ambitious Australian architecture practices working across a wide range of architectural scales and challenges.

 

Winner:
Regional Leadership Award
21.10.16

Andrew Donaldson won the Regional Leadership Award at the University of Newcastle Alumni Awards 2016 tonight!

The award recognises leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives significant within a regional context beyond Newcastle, with the jury citation focusing on the runaway success of our Watt Space Gallery and Andrews dedication to mentoring architecture students beyond University.

 

Guest Speaker:
The Architecture Foundation
20.10.16

Andrew Donaldson was invited as guest speaker for The Architecture Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in Newcastle tonight.

Andrew was the inaugural Eric Parker Travelling scholar in 2001 and was delighted to introduce the returning 2015 scholar (and latest ADAD team member), Emma.

The awards night was held in our multi-award winning ADAD designed Watt Space Gallery.

 

Antecedence:
Australian Institute of Architects
17.10.16

Andrew Donaldson was invited to speak at the Australian Institute of Architects on formal teacher / student lineage this evening.

It was a great pleasure to publicly evangelise the intellectual, creative and personal influence of the reclusive Professor Michael Chapman at the University of Newcastle and his pivotal role at many of life’s junctures for Andrew in front of a wider Sydney architectural audience.

 

ADAD Exhibition:
Research Through Design
9.10.16

Three ADAD projects are currently featured in the Research through Design Exhibition at the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery which officially opened today.

The exhibition showcases architectural projects at the creative threshold between research and practice, including our Bondi House, North Curl Curl House and Watt Space Gallery.

The exhibition runs until November 6.

 

ADAD TV:
Grand Deigns Australia
6.10.16

Andrew Donaldson was interviewed today in the Studio as part of the filming of our North Curl Curl House for Grand Designs Australia.

Progress has been filmed by the crew over the last 7 months and will be airing in 2017.

 

ADAD Team:
Welcome Emma
12.9.16

We welcome student architect Emma as the latest member of the ADAD dream team today.

Emma is obsessed with drawing, travel and food, personified through her recent Parker Fellowship travelling scholarship research. She is the most recent 2015 recipient of this scholarship of which principal Andrew Donaldson was the first back in 2001.

 

Finalist:
Regional Leadership Award
5.9.16

Andrew Donaldson has been selected as 1 of 3 finalists for the Regional Leadership Award at the upcoming University of Newcastle Alumni Awards 2016.

The award recognises leadership and entrepreneurship initiatives significant within a regional context beyond Newcastle and will be announced at the Gala Dinner on the 21st October 2016.

 

ADAD Radio:
2SER Think Digital Futures Interview
28.8.16

2SER Radio Sydney interviewed Andrew Donaldson on how computers are changing architectural design last week.

Tune in to 107.3FM Sydney at 10:30am today to learn about our unique design process here at ADAD, or download the podast here.

 

ADAD Interview:
Habitus Magazine
28.7.16

Andrew Donaldson was interviewed alongside our happy clients by Habitus editor Nicky Lobo in our recently completed Bondi House today.

We are very happy to announce that the project will be featured in Habitus #34: January – March 2017!

 

ADAD Invitation:
Research through Design
8.7.16

Andrew Donaldson has been invited to exhibit the ADAD projects: Bondi House, North Curl Curl House and Watt Space Gallery for the upcoming Research through Design Exhibition at the Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery.

The exhibition showcases architectural projects at the creative threshold between research and practice, opening October 9th 2016.

 

ADAD Website
Watt Space Online
6.7.16

Still buzzing from our Blacket Prize and Small Project Architecture wins at the Australian Institute of Architects New South Wales Architecture Awards for our Watt Space Gallery on Friday, we have now uploaded Brett Boardman’s beautiful photography of the gallery to our website.

Check out the project in more detail here: Watt Space Gallery

 

AIA NSW Architecture Awards:
Watt Space Gallery Double Win
1.7.16

Our Watt Space Gallery won both the prestigious Blacket Prize and Small Project Architecture Award at the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Awards tonight!

The Blacket Prize is the premiere award for regional New South Wales recognising design excellence in a single project outside of Sydney. Previous winners include 2 of Andrew’s mentors, Peter Stutchbury and James Stockwell.

Watt Space Gallery now progresses to the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards in November – stay tuned!

Check out the project in more detail here: Watt Space Gallery

 

ADAD Presentation:
Architecture on Show
30.6.16

Andrew Donaldson presented our design process and the backstory behind our multiple award-winning Watt Space Gallery this evening.

The Australian Institute of Architects Architecture on Show evening showcased the finest regional NSW Architecture and we were very proud to have the event hosted within Watt Space Gallery itself.

An audience of skaters, footballers, artists, architects, academics and the general public made for a quintessentially Newcastle experience – we would not have it any other way!

Check out the project in more detail here: Watt Space Gallery

 

Academic Appointment:
University of Newcastle
29.6.16

Andrew Donaldson was fractionally appointed at the University of Newcastle today.

Andrew has tutored into the design studios at Newcastle every year since his own graduation in 2005, and to be among the fractional Professors Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury, Lindsay Clare, Kerry Clare and Lawrence Nield – all Andrews’s own mentors – is a great honour.

 

AIA Newcastle Awards:
Watt Space Gallery Double Win
17.3.16

Our Watt Space Gallery won both the prestigious Public Architecture Award and Small Project Architecture Award at the Australian Institute of Architects Newcastle Chapter Awards tonight!

This was a very special win for us.

Watt Space Gallery is our 1st completed ADAD project in the city where Andrew both studied architecture and has continued to teach into the Masters Studio ever since graduation.

Check out the project in more detail here: Watt Space Gallery

 

ADAD Feature:
Australian Design Review
2.3.16

ADAD was featured at Australian Design Review as an Emerging Architecture Practice to watch!

The article captures our personalities, back story, design ethos and architectural aspirations. It showcases our twin specialties – spectacular residential designs on challenging natural landscapes and contemporary gallery transformations.

Check out the full article here: ADAD Australian Design Review Feature

 

ADAD Online:
Website Goes Live
25.1.16

After 6 months of work our ADAD website is now live!

As a cross-disciplinary architectural practice, we have loved every moment of collaboration with our super talented extended Darlinghurst team: Graphic Designer Jamie Mitchell / M35 and Web Designer Sonke Roth / Liquid Protocol.

We will be fleshing out the Design Process content for each project over time and look forward to adding our very latest projects.

Get in touch with any feedback of any kind, it is a work in progress and ultimately for you – collaborators, clients, students and community.

 

Grand Opening:
Northumberland House
9.12.15

Heritage listed Northumberland House officially reopens this evening.

Our Watt Space Gallery transformation of the ground floor is the centrepiece of this adaptive reuse project, complimenting the NeW Space Business and Law School by Lyons under construction within the broader major Newcastle CBD redevelopment undertaken by the University of Newcastle.

 

Moving In:
Bondi House Completion
1.12.15

After 9 exciting months, our client family moved back in to their transformed home today.

This project is very special to us here at ADAD. The Bondi House is our 1st completed major house project, and seeing the smiling faces of elated clients, proud contractor and excellent architectural execution makes for happy architects.

 

ADA Awards Night:
Awarded 1st Place
17.11.15

Andrew Donaldson received 1st prize on behalf of ADAD at the ADA 2015 awards dinner in Melbourne.

We were awarded National 1st Place in the Realflame Architectural Design Awards for the fireplace design at our Bondi House.

We would like to thank the judging panel and Realflame for showing such incredible support to our emerging practice through this prize and congratulate the strong shortlist of fellow established and emerging architects and interior designers.

 

Gallery Opening:
Watt Space Gallery
5.11.15

Our latest Contemporary Art Gallery transformation, Watt Space Gallery Newcastle officially opens tonight.

This project is very special to us as our 1st public ADAD building and Andrew’s 1st post-MCA Australia art gallery.

We uncover lost structure, forgotten courtyards and hidden lane ways to amplify the site reaction potentials and imaginations go the emerging artists Watt Space serves.

 

National 1st Place:
Architectural Design Awards
10.9.15

ADAD have been awarded National 1st Place in the National Realflame Architectural Design Awards 2015 for the fireplace design at our Bondi House.

The 3-way cantilevered fireplace is the functional and metaphorical heart of the project, innovative for its customisation and our close collaborative design process between client, architect, contractor and manufacturer.

 

ADAD Feature:
Architectural Review AR141
19.8.15

ADAD is featured in the current Architectural Review Asia Pacific (AR141) as an Emerging Practice to watch.

The article captures our personalities, design ethos and architectural aspirations. To be featured with one of our architectural idols, Sean Godsell is a bonus.

The article features our twin specialties – spectacular residential designs on challenging natural landscapes and contemporary gallery transformations within heritage buildings.

 

ADAD TV:
Grand Designs Australia
20.7.15

Andrew Donaldson was interviewed today on the construction site of our North Curl Curl House about his design process and rationale for the project.

Grand Designs Australia had approached us here at ADAD with the offer to film the current construction of the project as a television episode set to air 2017.