Paul Conrad

Formative Years
​Most architects cite a love of drawing as children. A pitched roof outline accompanied by crudely drawn windows. A few stick figures in the foreground representing the family. For architect Paul Conrad, these early drawings were more likely to be conceived with homes featuring flat, rather than pitched roofs. But there’s certainly a symmetry to the way Conrad and his team of 18 create bespoke homes today. Often described as ‘classical’, the designs have a timeless quality that transcends changing fads in architecture and design.

Raised in Adelaide, Conrad studied architecture at the University of South Australia, graduating in 1997 – receiving a scholarship from Woods Bagot and working for them as they were undertaking a number of large public projects, including the Adelaide Convention Centre. But while Adelaide now has a healthy architectural scene, in the late 1990s the opportunities were limited. As with a number of young architects, Conrad headed to Melbourne, enrolling part time in a Masters program at RMIT University while gaining employment with a small architectural practice.

London Calling
​Like many young graduates, Conrad headed off to London for broader experience, landing a position with one of the largest global practices, Helmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK). Mentored by one of the directors, architect Sam Hyatt, Conrad worked on some of the practice’s more creative projects – including competitions for the Millennium Dome and small-scale boutique-style apartments. And while Hyatt was keen to sponsor him to remain at HOK, Conrad was keen to return to Australia. But the experience of working in London was immeasurable – providing a deeper understanding of heritage buildings that date back many hundreds of years, rather than just a couple of centuries back home. However, while these period homes have appeal, such as massive walls and heavy masonry bases, Conrad also appreciates the importance of living in well-ordered and functional contemporary spaces that are aligned to the way a family live today - hence the need for rigorous planning. Enmeshing the past with the present became an underlying guiding principle moving forward.

Melbourne
​On his return to Melbourne and armed with the experience of working in a large London office, Conrad worked for Hassell, remaining there for over six years – working on large projects such the Urban Workshop in Lonsdale Street, in collaboration with architect John Wardle, a number of apartments and office buildings, together with a university in Malaysia.

The allure of running his on design studio was now forefront of his mind and under his own name, and starting with only one client, Conrad began to lay out his own trajectory in the formation of Conrad Architects, recently renamed to Paul Conrad Architects.

The Last Five Years
​Although Conrad has been at the helm of his own practice since 2008, it’s only been in the last five years that his practice has built a reputation for more bespoke work – primarily houses, both new, and those requiring alterations and additions. Recognised for their restraint, sense of order, and rigorous planning, there’s a timeless, almost classical, quality to Conrad’s designs that loosely evoke the refinement found in London homes. And so, the last 15 years has seen the transition from designing townhouses, moving to mid-rise three-to-four-level apartments and, for the last five years, residential – with approximately 75 per cent of his portfolio being residential work.

Locations
​The homes that Conrad designs can be found in Toorak, Malvern, Armadale and Camberwell. But his team has also made an indelible mark in Perth as well as in Margaret River, south of Perth. His ‘shingle’ can also be seen in Sydney and more recently on Hamilton Island with the fit-out of a luxury apartment. Conrad has also found a number of clients in the United States who appreciate his refined aesthetic.

The Practice
​Unlike many architectural practices which predominantly employ architects, Conrad’s staff is approximately half architects and half interior designers. And rather than expand the office, Conrad intends to keep the numbers to between 15 and 20 people, a manageable team that allows him to be across and heavily involved in every project that comes into the office – hence the term ‘bottleneck’ is often used to illustrate his position in the company. The inclusion of so many interior designers also align to the way Conrad sees architecture, from the inside out rather than in the usual way of the outside in. For Conrad and his team, it’s about creating the right proportions in a room (something that was always evident in the London homes) and the way each window connects to an outdoor space, be it a garden or a courtyard.

Conrad’s Signature
​Although each design is different, in its response to a client’s brief and aspirations, there are unifying features that can often be seen – a preference for robust and natural materials, a simplified rather than fussy or clashing palette and creating views that are thoughtfully framed. Some homes benefit from unimpeded sight lines to a back garden once the threshold to the home is passed. Symmetry is another feature in Conrad’s designs together with creating an element of surprise, such as a curvaceous staircase in a rectilinear design. And while some architects are used to creating the architectural form and handing this over to an independent interior design practice, for Conrad it’s about creating the entire design – from the timbers felt beneath one’s feet to the carefully designed built-in furniture. There’s also a sense of verticality in these designs, with tall, slim and elongated windows that create a sense of lightness, and importantly, a refined sensibility.

At Paul Conrad Architects, the design process is fluid – with designs capturing a client’s brief that’s obtained by following a logical design process. And at the end of the day, when the key is handed over, the result is both a home to enjoy and an elegant addition to the streetscape.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:
​Address: 3-5 Jessie St, Cremorne VIC 3121 ​
​Website: paulconradarchitects.com
​Instagram: @paulconradarchitects