Adele McNab — Designing with authenticity

Adele, thanks for joining us today. To kick off, can you tell us more about your background and how you got into architecture?

I grew up with parents who renovated all our family homes. Weekends were spent in my dad’s workshop. Seeing how the alterations would transform the spaces and impact our daily life in a positive way gave me a lot of joy and gravitated me toward architecture from a young age, even before I knew what it really was.

What is fundamental to your practice – your philosophy and your process?

For each project we focus on understanding the uniqueness of the environment and inhabitants, designing with authenticity to connect people with their surroundings and provide spaces to inspire life. A lot of time is put into the early stages of the project to learn about the client, brief and site to inform the conceptual design.

How do you characterise your design aesthetic?

Through a deep understanding of the client, the site’s location and environment, each project brings its own individual aesthetic. It’s important that each design is unique. Reusing and repurposing materials is one of the first things we review at the beginning of the project. Using materials in their raw form and leaving materials exposed, such as structural elements, where possible enable a sense of transparency and simplicity.

The homes you design have such a beautiful selection of natural materials. How do you approach the selection of materials, fixtures and finishes?

The material selections are often an extension of the architectural form and finishes to maintain a simple and cohesive material palette from outside to inside.

Pictured: Bondi Apartment II with Hat Lights in Pistachio.

What are some of your methods to staying motivated, focused and expressive?

Exercise, breathwork and travel when we can to reset and see things from a fresh perspective.

Can you fill us in on some recent projects you have worked on?

We’ve been working on a diverse range of projects in the studio, the majority are residential but there is also a private yoga studio on a beautiful sandstone site that’s just started construction. Commercial warehouse fit outs and one of our most exciting projects, a progressive mental health space with therapy rooms and an event space in Surry Hills.

Another project we've recently completed is Treetops Grey Lynn Bungalow in New Zealand. This project involved peeling back the years of additions to simplify the layout and connect living spaces to framed treetop lined views. Here, two Orange Mud Australia Hat Lights sit over the dining table, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

What advice would you give to emerging architects who want to follow your path?

Try to get as much practical experience and time on site as you can with builders and craftspeople, that’s where you can learn the most and hone technical details.

Pictured: Treetops featuring Hat Lights in Orange.