We understand both the pragmatics of delivering projects and the aspirations of the people involved in Council activities. We place flexibility as a key aspect of our approach: allowing for stakeholder input through the life of a project, from design to the occupation of a completed facility. Our directors are active researchers in design, with ongoing real world projects and roles at RMIT University. We use design to find answers to difficult and important questions.
Our work aims to go beyond the traditional project delivery and into a relationship with the user of spaces and their community, wrapping the various parts of our expertise together.
Projects undertaken by our practice include new buildings, additions and alterations, major capital redevelopments, urban planning and public art – each aimed at the communities they serve.
We have a seven year track record of productive collaborations with community organisations and local governments.
Our projects successfully integrate broad mixtures of community activities and services, with the flexibility to allow for future needs. We know that ‘future-proofing’ facilities against changing needs is a key aspect of leveraging capital investment.
+ We have developed innovative, cost effective, ecologically sustainable design solutions.
+ We embed passive features that enhance sustainability and complement these with cost-effective active technologies.
+ We focus on environmental sourcing, durability and maintenance when specifying products.
An example of this approach is the Knox Leisureworks Warm Water Facility, a finalist in the 2011 Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards. The solar installation received the Clean Energy Council of Australia Award for best Stand Alone Power Generation over 10kW.
The pursuit of social sustainability is at the heart of our designs. Simply put, a facility that is designed with input from its users and valued by its users, will be used more, last longer and be more readily adapted for future needs.
As a result, antarctica has developed expertise in ‘co-design’. Working with Council staff, we interpret and translate the enthusiasm of the community into its buildings. We believe that this makes organisations stronger and communities more resilient.
antarctica puts design emphasis on the way in which its projects present themselves to users. We design buildings that enhance their location and surroundings, thinking carefully about how our designs relate and contribute to their context.