Practice Spotlight: Kennedy Nolan
As one of Australia’s most prominent architectural practices, Kennedy Nolan has curated a distinctive and highly responsive design philosophy since its establishment by co-founders Rachel Nolan and Patrick Kennedy in 1999. Renowned for their bold yet deeply considered approach across both residential and commercial projects, Kennedy Nolan are notable for crafting context-led spaces, synthesising innovative, sustainable design practices with project frameworks. In our discussions with Kennedy Nolan, Patrick reflects upon the development of Kennedy Nolan’s design ethos, and his outlook for the future of architectural practices.
What ethos drives Kennedy Nolan? And how is this reflected in your approach to different projects?
Increasingly, we are focused on the ethos of helping. In every project we try to make a positive impact. Most obviously this is for our clients, but it’s also for our colleagues and our collaborators. This approach extends to wider issues too - caring for our country, addressing climate change, improving cities, and managing the housing crisis.
Where do you draw inspiration from, and how does this manifest in your design?
In our practice we encourage diverse interests: travel, experience, art, sport, food, and fashion - we celebrate being in the world. We are pretty sure that good architecture is made from everything around us, not just other architecture.
“In every project we try to make a positive impact. Most obviously this is for our clients, but it’s also for our colleagues and our collaborators. This approach extends to wider issues too - caring for our country, addressing climate change, improving cities, and managing the housing crisis.”
Do you approach residential and commercial projects differently? If so, in what ways?
There are boring but important technical, regulatory and financial differences, but fundamentally our approach is always human-centred. This means that we are always coming back to how people experience space, and how to make this positive and appropriately energising, relaxing, theatrical, or quiet.
Is there a particular project from your portfolio that stands out to you personally in terms of innovation or impact? Why is this?
It’s always the most recent project. We like to solve problems or address specific issues with each new project. This keeps the architecture fresh and specific to a client, a place, or a functional requirement, and helps us to learn and grow as a practice with every project.
How do you see the role of architecture evolving in the next decade?
Our profession is essentially old-fashioned. It is a traditional profession with all of the requisite ethical responsibilities, it is time-consuming and it is relationship-based. Amongst professions, it is also a curious mixture of expertise and creative inspiration. However, it is a profession under threat from regulation, bureaucratisation, standardisation, and encroachment of non-professions like project management. We will have to adapt to regain the prestige and authority which we have taken for granted.
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