Working with
an architect
Welsh and Major Architects has created a robust and detailed
addition to a home in inner-city Sydney, responding thoughtfully
to the sloped site and the way the family wants to live. Here, the
clients share their experiences of working with an architect.Photography by Michael Nicholson01
Could you tell us a little about your family and your
background?
We are a family of four. We emigrated to Australia from South
Africa twenty-five years ago and have since had two children –
Indigo, who is eleven years old, and Guinness, who is eight. Our
family has two working parents, energetic kids and an active
social life. Our days are busy and we wanted a home that could
cope with that activity in a relaxed way.
02
Why did you decide to engage an architect?
We felt we had waited so long to own a home and we really
wanted it to be something we loved. The existing house was a
weatherboard cottage with a number of rooms that had been
added over time, with no real thought about the way inhabitants
of the house would actually live in it. It was also a tricky site
in terms of the way our neighbours had built on either side.
OUR HOUSES
We felt we needed experienced people who could assist with
getting the most out of it. We also believe that good design affects
the way you live and that you should always put yourself in the
way of beauty.03
How did you discover Welsh and Major Architects?We searched on Google for award-winning architects who are
local and specialize in small sites. This led us to discover the
work of Welsh and Major Architects.04
How did you prepare for your first meeting with
the architects? Had you done some research into
what you were looking for?Over a period of time, we kept a scrapbook of images that we
liked and jotted down our thoughts on what we might want.
The scrapbook helped to form our brief to the architect.