The traits of an architectural site can either play into the hands of an architect, or work to their detriment. For Australian firm THOSE Architects, the site is where the creative spark is lit, and carves out a path for the design to follow. ‘Our work is unequivocally influenced by its locality,’ says co-founders Ben Mitchell and Simon Addinall, who met while studying architecture at the University of Sydney.
Six years after graduating and working in smaller firms, the pair reconnected to lay the foundations for their own practice. In 2013 they opened up shop in Sydney taking on mainly residential and commercial projects. Three years later they expanded to the coastal town of Byron Bay to the north.
Byron Bay plays host to a case in point of the firm’s passion for site-sensitive design. In 2018, THOSE was selected to renovate House Burch, a beachside bungalow in Suffolk Park dating back to the 1980s. Whilst a perfect seaside retreat during the Australian summer, the home had nothing to give during the winter, when its covetable outdoor spaces were rendered unusable.
