Architect Spotlight: Nielsen Jenkins

A multi-award winning practice located in Brisbane, Nielsen Jenkins has established itself as one of Australia’s leading architectural design firms. Founded by Lachlan Nielsen and Morgan Jenkins, Nielsen Jenkins explores a myriad of modes of design, from residential and commercial architecture to the construction and design of furniture.
A testament to their deeply nuanced design process, Nielsen Jenkins are acclaimed for their prioritisation of contextual consideration, synthesising the needs of the inhabitants and location with the construction of the space. In our discussions with Nielsen Jenkins, Lachlan and Morgan share their sources of inspiration behind their design ideations, and forecasts for the future of Australian architecture.


What ethos drives Nielsen Jenkins? And how is this reflected in your approach to different projects?
We are interested in simple ideas that are transferable across scale and budget - light; shadow; landscape; place; and the people who inhabit these places that we are making or keying into. We are interested in buildings that use ordinary materials to achieve extraordinary outcomes.
Where do you draw inspiration from, and how does this manifest in your designs?
We find that we draw inspiration from those closest to us, including our peers and colleagues, and the places in which we work. Our priority is always to ensure that our designs are responsive to their context, which involves considering how people interact with and connect to their space.
“We are interested in buildings that use ordinary materials to achieve extraordinary outcomes.”
Are there any trends in residential architecture that you are forecasting for 2025?
We are really wary of trends, however are excited to see a really positive movement towards less overtly opulent projects as parts of the market get a bit challenging, which is especially evident in young practices across the country.
Have any architects have inspired you throughout your career?
We've been influenced by a huge number of architects at home and abroad - Donovan Hill in Brisbane; Kevin Low in Malaysia; Heinrich Wolff in South Africa; and H Arquitectes in Spain, to name a few. The obvious common thread being that they're interested in quite lo-fi buildings that prioritise budget on connecting people meaningfully to a specific place.


Is there a project that you have completed that you are most proud of?
Rather than a single project, we’re most proud of the consistent quality of the work across all scales and budgets, ensuring that each project ultimately achieves their desired outcomes.

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