Architect drawing praise
FOLLOWING his passion has proved a valuable business compass for award-winning Geelong architect Peter Woolard.
Now, after 30 years in architecture, the Studio 101 director finds himself returning to that trusted guide to navigate the next phase in his business.
Mr Woolard said he recalled taking note of some advice from Australia’s most internationally recognised architect, Glenn Murcutt, almost 20 years ago.
“He said ‘Start off your practice the way you want to finish it’,” Mr Woolard said at his Drumcondra studio.
“At that stage, I had just started Studio 101 and was working on residential projects, including my own first home.
“Now, after 20 years of working on a diverse range of large and medium scale projects, I am starting to return to my passion for residential architecture.”
Despite his widespread experience, the direction takes him closer to having more direct and meaningful relationships with clients.
And one of those clients nominated him for the Architects Registration Board of Victoria’s Architectural Services Award, which recognises exceptional professional service. Mr Woolard has taken out the award.
No stranger to design awards, Mr Woolard said to be noted for excellence in service was particularly pleasing after being in architecture for 30 years.
“It did mean a lot,” he said. “I think what it does is provide a springboard for the next 20 years.”
The project for which he was awarded involved the challenging build of a beach house hovering over the Great Ocean Road at Lorne.
Mr Woolard said communication with his clients, a raft of consultants and Morgan Home Builders was the key to producing outstanding service and a beautiful result.
“We all want the project to run as smoothly as possible, but we also need it to be done correctly,” Mr Woolard said.
“When challenges come up, as they inevitably do with a one-off individual architectdesigned home, you have to deal with them and work with the team to achieve the best outcome.”
The intensive award process follows all interactions with the architect from the initial consultations, site selection, through to the design and construction.
Mr Woolard said having widespread experience was relevant no matter what the size of the project.
“I’m now in a position where I can apply the design philosophy, the techniques, skills and experience I have built and applied to large scale projects, and some very highend projects, to those smallerscale projects,” he said.