JAMES PILCHER

What first attracted you to a career in architecture and construction? 

From a young age, I was mesmerised by construction sites and loved watching a building unfold from the diggers and earth movers, to the layers being built on top. I was also a very good drawer and would return home to sketch my version of what I’d seen that day. That love of experiencing, imagining and drawing is still alive and well in me today with every new project I take on. 

Where does your creative and design inspiration come from?

I love to immerse myself in physical spaces. It’s more than how a space looks. It’s about how it feels and the underlying emotion it brings to you. I try to capture that in my designs. I rarely find inspiration by looking at pictures of other people’s work. For me, it’s about getting a great feeling when entering a space, and trying to work out what elements are creating that environment, so I can apply those to future designs.

You live in a busy house with your wife, three young children, and robust golden Labrador. How has the experience of this shaped the way you view and execute design for a family home now, and as that family’s needs change?

Making sure there is no wasted space - rarely do families use formal living or separate dining areas these days - and ensuring each room has a defined purpose that everyone can use. It’s about uncovering the sense of connection throughout a home, so while parents can be in one room, kids can be playing in another – yet everyone still has that sense of closeness. Spaces - and the use of those spaces - need to be able to evolve as a family grows and matures. This is so important to design and is central to ensuring a design is sustainable.  

What’s your favourite building in Sydney that exemplifies outstanding design? 

It has to be the iconic Sydney Opera House! I know it’s a cliché, but it really is an absolute wonder of modern architecture and truly one of a kind. Over fifty years on, the building is just as impressive as it was when officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. One of my favourite books is Building a Masterpiece: The Sydney Opera House which explores the many untold chapters in the long history of the Opera House's gestation, development and completion – the individuals, the companies, the politicians and, of course, the innovative design, construction methodology and technology behind the project.  

How do you think sustainability and environmental impact will change house designs and construction practices in the next five years?

Construction practices are unlikely to change. However we will see a shift (we already are) in clients wanting to make more considered choices in their home’s design features and materials, to reduce their impact on the environment and protect the craftsmen making these products. A move towards choosing sustainable and natural materials, as opposed to manmade composite products, will increase and, as Architects, we continue to educate clients on design practices that consider light and airflow, and creating zones within a house for more energy-efficient heating and cooling. We are seeing less demand for technology-enabled home automation - clients are wanting to return to the simplicity of turning on a light at the switch - and an increasing demand for “healthy home” inclusions such as infra-red saunas and whole-of-home water filtration solutions.

What’s the biggest challenge currently facing the residential construction industry?  

Consumer confidence and trust! Although prices and material availability have somewhat stabilised since 2022, liquidity within the building industry will continue to trouble companies that have taken on too many fixed-price contracts during the past few years. It’s important for consumers to seek out financially healthy and trustworthy builders who provide realistic and detailed quotes, and have a track record of delivering projects on time and within budget.  

Career highlight to date?

Winning our first Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Award in 2022, winning it again in 2023, and making the finalist selection in 2024 is a huge honour. We pride ourselves on the deeply personal level of service and high quality craftsmanship we deliver on each and every project. Handing over the keys to a happy client at completion is such a rewarding and satisfying achievement - that feeling never gets old.  

Memorable projects you’ve personally worked on?

We were two weeks out from completing construction on our Elegant Parisian Townhouse project when, in the midst of a Covid-19 outbreak, the NSW Government announced a construction shutdown. It was “tools down immediately” on sites across Sydney, causing major disruptions and flow on effects to the supply chain for both materials and tradespeople trying to move from job to job. The shutdown effectively set our project back by six weeks, which had a flow on effect to other projects in our pipeline. Thankfully, our clients were very understanding and were thrilled with the outcome, however I’m glad this experience is behind me now (I do not like my projects to run behind!).

This or That?

·    Traditional or modern? Traditional with a modern edge

·    Open plan or defined spaces? Defined spaces with purpose

·    Renovation or new construction? Both. Each present their own satisfying design and construction challenges.

·    Hand-drawn sketches or digital modelling?  Definitely hand-drawn sketches. There’s nothing more personal and exciting than sketching out for a client onsite as we’re discussing their vision.

·    Sweet or savoury? Savoury – give me spaghetti bolognese any day of the week!