Andever

We create distinctive spaces that enrich your daily life and positively impacts our world. Architecture that's Forever? It's what we do at andever.

We create timeless spaces that enrich your daily life and positively impact our world. Using practical solutions and smart design thinking, we create better spaces suited to your needs. We listen, guide and collaborate along every step of your project. Be it a private home, residential development, commercial project or interior fit-out, we have the experience to bring your dream project to life.

As big-picture thinkers, we go beyond designing buildings to being advocates for good, in policy, place and practice. Established in 2014, andever is a registered architectural practice with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) and a member of respected industry bodies including : ArchiTeam, Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) and Association of Consulting Architects (ACA).

01/06/2026

Those who have been following our posts would have seen our Architecture Intelligence series, a subtle play on an acronym that has become increasingly ubiquitous in many fields.

But what of the very real Artificial Intelligence in Architecture?
(Yes, the oxymoron is intentional.)

Surely a profession steeped in creativity and the interpretation of human life would be immune to AI? After all we aren’t going to rely on AI to ensure human safety, are we? Or let AI deal with the complicated nuances of building compliance or long term character of entire suburbs and cities?

Andever Director, Smith debunks the myths and fallacies behind such views in his article titled “𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐀𝐈 + 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞” available here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/line-sight-michael-smith-rt6gc/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_detail_base%3Bc0vaTrEkTj2U6ETkcDmaww%3D%3D

Read on to find out:
• How AI will redefine architectural processes, systems and standards, whether we like it or not
• Considerations and concerns that need to be addressed given AI
• Impact of AI on architectural output and architecture as a profession
• The need for regulations in the use of AI for architecture
• Embraced appropriately, how AI may enable architecture to reach new heights

At the end of the day, as architects, we get to decide which stage of the Technological Adoption Life Cycle we want to be in. Regardless of whether we actively make that choice or passively wait for the impact of inaction, as Michael put it: “𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒.”

11/05/2026

This beautiful art deco home in Brighton East, with its terracotta roof, white rendered rough stucco and highlight brick accents is reminiscent of the era in which it was built and matches the neighbourhood character. What sets it apart from other residences is not what it was, but what it will be.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟: To build an extension which together with the original home will house 7 consulting rooms for allied health practitioners.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡: Rather than the propensity to mask (or even erase) it’s domestic origins to embrace the commercial use, we considered the change in use as a natural evolution of the house’s original story. This approach has proved popular with practitioners and patients alike in our previous allied health projects.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧:
• Design from Inside-Out: Be it the bedazzling orange-terracotta hues and blue accents of the original wallpaper or the hand-tiled tessellated tile pattern in the front veranda, our design draws these interior elements out to the rear extension
• Extend (not Eclipse): We intentionally planned for a flat-roofed extension that will not dominate the tall pitched roof form of the front building
• Reference (not Recolour): Our design uses multiple hues of bricks that reference the existing art-deco material palette
• Grow (not Overthrow): Retaining and enhancing the front landscape is not only ecologically friendly but also a good contribution to the streetscape and overall patient experience

Looking forward to construction!

Contact us today for your next commercial project: https://www.andever.com.au/contact-us/

04/05/2026

Next up in our Architecture Intelligence series, we take you on a deep dive Case Study of Cascade House.

This award-winning residential project has received extensive coverage in print and television for its efficient design, heritage sensitivity, lifestyle elements, and family-oriented function. A home that not only reflects the cultural identity of its occupants, but is also designed to meet the growing needs of a young family with minimal increase in footprint. In fact, our floor plan is so efficient that our client’s guests often cannot correlate the generous dining and living spaces with the modest home size.

If you are a young family struggling with space constraints or a migrant family looking to make your home truly yours, this case study is written just for you.

Check out our case study here: https://www.andever.com.au/young-family-home/

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01/05/2026

Building on the theme of ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 + 𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 highlighted in our recent coverage by Domain, we are pleased to share that our Director, Sonia Sarangi will be speaking at a panel discussion on “𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲” as part of Melbourne Design Week 2026.

For many migrant families, home is a site of memory, adaptation, and negotiation between inherited cultural practices and the realities of a new place. Architecture in these contexts is often layered and deeply personal, shaped as much by lived experience as by formal design intent. The panel discussion will move between these perspectives, asking:
• what it means to call a place home,
• how that meaning shifts over time, and
• how architecture can hold and transform the stories of the people within it.

Moderated by Razbash, this discussion brings together architects, designers, and researchers ─ Sarangi, Youssofzay, Lozanovska, and Patel ─ to explore how migration shapes the way we inhabit, remember, and design domestic space.

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 23 May 2026 (Sat)
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 2:00 to 3:30 pm
𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Queen Victoria Women's Centre
𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬: $5
Register early to secure your spot!

More information: https://designweek.melbourne/event/translating-place-architecture-memory-and-migrant-domesticity/

Eventbrite tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/translating-place-architecture-memory-and-migrant-domesticity-tickets-1984239171777

27/04/2026

At , we have always maintained that your heritage isn’t just your history; it is part of your home.

Thrilled to see our Director Sarangi featured in this in-depth piece by Pauline Morrissey in discussing the intersection of heritage, culture, and contemporary residential architecture.

Interviewing architects of diverse cultural backgrounds, “𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏,” showcases the various ways in which their heritage informs their approach to contemporary Australian home design. From the courtyards of Italy and the use of breeze blocks in the Philippines, to South Asian 𝑗𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠 and details, a consistent theme is that homes provide true comfort when they mirror our culture and the values we hold dear.

When you let heritage guide your choices, you go deeper than a look or style – you make choices with intention.

Because it’s not just a house; it’s a story.
𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 story.

Online article available here: https://www.domain.com.au/news/how-heritage-is-shaping-home-design-1505720/

20/04/2026

Continuing our 𝐴-𝐵-𝐶 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡: 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 - a basic guide to ensuring that your mental image translates into what finally gets built - today, we bring you the last on the list:

𝐂 - 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧

aka engaging your architect to be involved during project construction.

Any good builder will tell you just how valuable the architect’s design input is to resolve situations. An architect’s role in contract administration entails:

1. 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒 (think Cricket!) – one well versed in the rules of the game and able to make expert calls in every step of the complex construction process to fairly assess and resolve situations alongside client and builder

2. 𝐸𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑑ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 resulting from any unforeseen situations thrown up by the site (e.g. under the soil), external factors affecting supply of materials (e.g. current changes in global shipping), or even changes in client’s decisions

3. 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟’𝑠 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 – with multiple ways of achieving the same build, the architect makes expert decisions on the preferred approach for your specific project saving you downstream distress from ill-informed choices

4. 𝐸𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 through build stage verifications that unlock milestone payments, assessment of project delays & of the fairness of the builder’s quote revisions (if any), and expert advice on any cost-balancing measures necessitated by any surprises that add to your costs

5. 𝐴𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑔𝑢𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 from the gazillion micro-decisions on every tiny facet of construction which no documentation or drawing can fully cover

An architect is sometimes thought of as a “cost I can manage without” and “the builder can take it from here.” But that leaves you vulnerable to risk, decision fatigue and project compromises. Involving your architect in contract admin is the final key to realising your desired outcome.

Indeed, getting from Idea to Reality can be as easy as A-B-C .

Feel free to contact us for more: https://www.andever.com.au/contact-us/

13/04/2026

Last week, we introduced our 𝐴-𝐵-𝐶 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡: 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 - a basic guide to ensuring that your mental image for your home / townhouse / commercial development translates into what finally gets built.

B on our list refers to:
𝐁 - 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬

You followed through on 𝐀 - 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭, but, let’s face it – it is hard to truly get a sense of space from technical drawings and images. Here’s where your architect will go beyond design to a 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑙𝑎𝑡-𝑙𝑎𝑦 or 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑑, bridging concept to reality. See this example that we created for our clients inspired by the Plenty Gorge Parklands near their site.

A material presentation board:
- Brings the design to life in a real, tangible way where you can see, touch and feel the various materials to be used in your project
- Provides a true representation of the selected material’s colour, texture and light reflection for an informed assessment of whether colours harmonize, textures clash, and if the overall mood of all the components taken together matches what you had in mind
- Serves as a great communication tool not just for you but also for the builders, enabling precise pricing and accountability in delivery (aka what you see is what you get)
- Enables a balance between materials that are more practical and easy to maintain versus materials that may need more care but would greatly enhance the space
- Helps prioritize between where you can save money (e.g. standard finishes) versus spend more (e.g. getting a luxury item or a luxury level finish)

Things start to get real once you have got it all laid out as a materials flat-lay.
And that’s where the excitement begins. :)

Stay tuned for part C of the 𝐴-𝐵-𝐶 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡: 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.
And if you have any questions, you know where to find us.

07/04/2026

Someone recently asked us: “How do I ensure that my mental image for my [home / townhouse / commercial development] translates into what finally gets built?”

Andever’s response is a three-point 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 and it is as simple as 𝐴-𝐵-𝐶.

First on the list is:

𝐀 - 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭

An architect:
- Designs with your needs and lifestyle in mind while highlighting possibilities that you might miss
- Provides quality design & detailed plans
- Overcomes structural challenges to meet functional goals
- Ensures the design meets statutory guidelines and obtains necessary planning & building approvals
- Gives you a reality check where needed

While going directly to a builder may seem like a viable option, it can lead to lack of independent quality control and checks. Limited drawings may miss details that you would not know to look for. And without independent checks and balances in place, project costs could spiral once construction begins.
 Keeping design & build separate ensures higher accountability and quality.

To wrap up, engaging a qualified architect is your first step towards ensuring your idea translates into design and the design translates into build.
Looking for an architect?

Contact us here: https://www.andever.com.au/contact-us/

Stay tuned for the rest of the 𝐴-𝐵-𝐶 𝐶ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡: 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝐼𝑑𝑒𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦

30/03/2026

Achievement Unlocked!

We are happy to announce that we have obtained the planning permit for our Edwardian heritage home renovation and extension project at Kew.

Our approved plan re-orients the living space and moves the kitchen to the heart of the home to ensure seamless connection to the north-facing backyard. We modified the poorly thought out previous extension to move away from the cellular, disconnected plan, creating a more cohesive living zone. With minimal additional footprint, the new plan has 4 bedrooms and a private study conducive to work from home with a lovely aspect.

We are grateful for a smooth and swift approval.
Upwards and onwards! :)

23/03/2026

Realising your residential or commercial development goes beyond laying foundations and constructing walls, floors and roofs. It extends to the softer elements and furnishings that adapt the space to meet your needs. For each piece of furniture we ask ourselves:

🎯 Is it fit for purpose?
🌿 Is it built sustainably?
⏳ Will it last?

Indeed, selecting a single piece of furniture has wide-reaching consequences from meeting intended needs to impact on the environment and even our pockets. So, how simple is it to replace one piece with another?

Our Director, Smith addressed these questions through the “𝐴𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝐺𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒,” authored for the Furniture Association – AFA in collaboration with its industry experts.

Read his take on all things furniture, the risks associated with furniture substitutions and what it means for your next development/furnishing project: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michael-smith-82358287_i-recently-attended-the-australian-furniture-activity-7439543797434425344-s5Bu

PS: And yes, architects often get involved in furniture selection too. Feel free to ask.

Photographer: Kam Idris (via Unsplash)

Address

Studio 2, Level 3, 170 Elgin Street, Carlton
Melbourne, VIC
3053

Telephone

+61401954433

Website

http://www.andever.com.au/

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