AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 69
insider H G
Her award-winning architecture practice is
renowned for designing beautiful, functional,
sustainable homes. We followed this sydney-based
dynamo as she blazed a trail around town.
STORY Elizabeth Wilson | PHOTOGRAPHY Maree Homer
HANNAH TRIBE
Women in design
A
cclaimed architect Hannah
Tribe confesses her early
assessments of her profession
were unflattering. “My dad is an
architect and as a child I often spent
summer holidays working for him,”
she says. “There were lots of bearded
men in cardigans frowning with
concentration.” But on a trip to
Europe in her late teens, she became
mesmerised by “the poetry of
a civilisation expressing itself through
the arts, language and buildings.
I wanted to be part of that big picture”.
Hannah studied architecture at the
University of Sydney, graduating with
first-class honours, yet still wasn’t
convinced she wanted to parlay her
love of buildings into an architectural
career. Her practice grew almost by
accident, she says, as commissions
flowed her way and the process grew
on her. “Exploring ideas, site visits,
seeing the cumulative visions of our
clients, our team and our consultants
come to fruition... I was hooked.”
Established in 2003, Tribe Studio
perennially wins accolades for its
intelligent approaches to multi-
residential and experimental projects.
At its best, says Hannah, architecture
has the power to elevate the human
experience. “We can literally improve
our happiness with good design.” >