Interview with Adrian Light

ONE20 Group architects have offices in London and Melbourne.

Design is the solving of a problem in an efficiecent and innovative manner.

I like to work in the area of adaptive re-use. Iyt is a challenge to bring new life to an old building. The bones of the old give us great inspiration.

Some of the lines of art nouveau really excite me. The seemingly nerending lie is very evocative.

I was lucky to be involved in the Masterplanning of the Sydney Olympics. This was a great early involment working for Lawrence Nield.

I like to work with metal and timber, but also brick, but only old brick. New brick is too uniform. Old brick has the edges taken off and is more individual and expressive.

I feel the most creative at 1am

Design firstly has to be functional. It is then that expression of the function which is design.

When design is going well then it feels very free.

There is a great sense of completion

A design must be functional first of all.

It annoys me greatly if elements do not aligh. If they do not then there must be a reason for this. Design always involves making a decision. If the decision is not to make a decision and place something at random, then its placemnet must work otherwise it hurts me.

Architects have a great responsibility to society. Initially we satisfy one of the three great needs; water , food and shelter. I would like to see architects advocate more for refugees /assylum seekers. The conditions Australia houses these people in are shameful.

Certainly computers have made a tremendous difference in the way we design, but also social issues such as climate change.

Our works are always on exhibit. Creating architecture means your design is on public display.

Inspiration comes from the site and its context.

I was educated as a Modernist, so I respect the ideas of Form and function.

Melbourne is a city that respects design. I feel I have the permission of the city to express myself.

I always work collaboratively with any client.

Trust your architect and give them full reign. But also inform them of what your needs are.

We have a unique way of working with our clients. We are a solutions provider, so much more than just being a supplier of architecture and design services. We like to work alongside our clients and other design professionals. This collaborative business culture is geared to smarter ways of operating, enabling us to achieve high standards of delivery and performance within budget and time constraint

1. Nelson Swage chair
2. Fritz Hansen Spin chair
3 Poltona Frau Kennedee couch
4.Citroen Pluriel
5. flat steel spatula - unknown welder

I have 2 children, 11 and 17. So at the moment I am home schooling them while trying to juggle my Architecture work

Work efficently. You do not need to be working until midnight in the office. Have a life outside of your firm

Freedom to create is the best part of being a designer. Having design skills undervalued is the worst.

There must be a reason for every design decision.

As a sustainable architect, I am interested in the whole lifcycle of the built environment. This includes the construction, waste, utility and demolition of any building.

A house will usually take 2 years. One year to design and get approvals and another year to build.

Working on the Sydney Olympics in 2000

Rubu Cha , Cha, Tesco, Nations Healthcare, The AFL , Netball australia,

I like to adapt old buildings to new uses. This is a very sustainable way of building.

My firm ONE20 architects will continue to strive for excellence in sustainability. It was s an honour to be shortlisted for a lifetime achievement award, and at just 51 year, I consider myself only halfway through my life as an architect.

I am intrigued by architecture’s link to the environment, I have always been concerned with waste and the most efficient use of resources. Lately I am becoming more interested in more natural environments and the way they are inhabited. I may well look at researching a PHD in this area.

We are converting an old hat factory into a house with a 3 storey green wall of vegetation and a moat

ONE20 Group Australasia
54/A Eastment St
Northcote
Vic. 3070
Australia

+61 (0) 423 355 137

adrian.light@one20group.com