Little Trace Of // Andrew Maynard Architects.

Andrew Maynard hardly needs an introduction these days. This dynamic, clever, cutting edge architect has a ridiculously exhausting list of accomplishments and one of the most impressive bios you will ever read. The man is a serious brainiac and Overachiever with a capital “O”! His Melbourne practice, Andrew Maynard Architects is an ideas-based playground, and a laboratory for ideas and design experimentation with formidable work under their belt.

Featured Project // Award winning Hill House in Melbourne.

Why Andrew Rocks // He is committed to delivering truly innovative, striking and sustainable work. Andrew’s thinking extends beyond the visual aesthetic – he delves deeper into the problem, unafraid to step off the beaten path, explore bold conceptual ideas, and in turn redefine the way we work, live and play. It’s the sort of stuff legends are made of.

Below is a little Q&A with the man himself.

+ What was your design inspiration for The Hill House – i.e was it a result of a specific brief, a particular concept etc?

The design of Hill House is a direct response to the constraints and opportunities of the site and the conditions set by the original house. We decided to sit the house on the rear boundary to ensure that we maximised solar gain and washed the facade with sunlight. This then encouraged me to use the facade for something more than just a wall. I decided to maximise the yard space. Out of that the Hill was born.

+ What do you love about this project?

Most people find that Hill house looks great in photos. This seems to be why many are drawn to it. However that is of little importance to me. What I love about Hill House is the reality of everyday life in the house. The young family of 5 that live in the house are thriving. The house is not design to be precious, or to only function when it is neat and tidy. The house is about 5 individuals having the opportunity to use a variety of spaces in a variety of different, enthusiastic ways. Of all the media produced to represent the house I think that the ABC has illustrated it the best in their series DREAM BUILD.

+ Did you learn anything during the design/ production of The Hill House? Would you have done anything differently?

Unlike many of my past work, I would change nothing in Hill House. A house can never be perfect, however Hill House seems to balance out a variety of complex competing factors. A large part of its success is the owner and the builder. It is said that the best outcomes are achieved when the client, builder and architect work well as a team rather than individuals with competing interests. Much of Hill Houses success stems from the fact that the client offered enthusiasm and trust, while the builder engaged with the ideas presented and was dedicated to seeing them realised.

+ Any other interesting/ funny/ quirky facts you could share with us?

Myself, Mark and Mike from my office and my friend Kevin Hui were trying to get the pendant light that hangs over the truss into the right position. It was a long debate… how much hang should the cord have? ….. we should line the bulb up with the steel hood? … no, line it to the ply lining  etc etc ….. Alister, the owner, stood back and watched this lengthy process. When we found a middle ground and completed the task Alister asked “how many architects does it take to change a lightbulb?” The answer is obviously (sadly) four.

+ Best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Live like a student for as long as possible. A student’s lifestyle is fun, carefree, adaptable, inexpensive, creative, debt-free and (importantly) SUSTAINABLE.

+ If you were not an architect, what would you be?

A Jedi.

+ Nothing inspires me like…

Video games, Star Wars, politics, comics, skate culture. I don’t read as many comics as I once did and I rarely go near my skateboard (I’m sure that concrete is far harder than it once was) however both remain pivotal to my interpretation of culture and urbanism. It is the things that inspired us as youths that are most likely to inspire us, and more importantly make us happy, as an adult. Why pack these things away to manufacture an adult veneer?

+ I am really good at…

I dunno …. twitter? @AndrewMaynard ;)

+ Most people don’t know that I…

… am constantly terrified that they’ll will find out that its 85% luck, 4% strategy, 1% talent and the rest is still a mistery to me.

[Photography by Peter Bennetts and Nic Granleese, courtesy of Andrew Maynard Architects.]