Mark Rajat, Director of Architecture at ARM, has been involved in a number of projects with the practice over the course of 16 years. The practice is known nationally for crafting the designs of Hammer Hall, Melbourne Recital Center and Barrack Building during its 33-year history.
With the practice expanding its horizons and opening a studio in Sydney in March 2019, Raggatt has been tasked with overseeing the studio’s own design direction.
Here, in an interview by ARM Architecture, the architect discusses ARM’s expansion in New South Wales, and how an intuitive co-design approach can reimagine the landscape, opening an ARM studio in Sydney in the midst of the pandemic.
Let’s go back to the beginning. What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture? Do the same things inspire you, or have your motivations evolved over the years?
My parents are architects, and I never had a chance. I’ve spent a lot of time building sites that have grown up, they are exciting places. Then and now.
I was a theater nerd in high school. I loved how a room, for just a few hours, could be transformed into a whole other world. She has gone into designing and building sets, going on stage, writing, and directing shows. Looking back now, it was the combination of space and stories that really drew me to the architecture.
A group of us at university and graphic designers, Urchin Associates, created Subaud Magazine, a Zen magazine distributed nationally to major institutions and libraries. We were fortunate that Books at Manic Distribution were brave enough to take us in—they’ve supported the local design scene for decades, quiet heroes in my book.
Each of the Subodd’s editions were made from scratch – one was sewn in a saddle making machine, another was written in hand-blended ink as it was printed, and another was packaged in its own wooden box! She grew into a monster of her own and found followers. It was exciting to see the post grow in this way, considering that it all started on a camera at Kwik Kopy.
It all comes together in everyday practice now – visualizing designs and seeing them come to life. Still watching how they are received by society is very intoxicating.
I’ve been with ARM Architecture for 16 years now. How did you see the development of the practice and in what ways?
The practice has grown! It has evolved across sectors, markets, design methodologies, and team expertise. ARM is often best known for its public buildings, although over the years we’ve developed our expertise in education, workspace and commercial design. We have designed highways, stadiums, and desalination plants, while deepening our expertise in civil architecture.
We have also expanded our work in urban design and master planning, two areas of practice in which I thoroughly enjoy working. All of this has enabled ARM to grow into a national practice, allowing us to participate in diverse projects of greater complexity in capitals and regional areas.
As times change, so do the design and delivery methods for producing modern spaces. ARM was founded with a deep interest in using technology in design and professional practice. This foundation has kept ARM smart and innovative, especially when we’re dealing with complex or high-tech projects.
All in all, we are still the same single group of designers and architects! We each have our own obsessions and passions, which we bring together as a team, working toward a common vision. The diversity of our team is key to bringing ideas to the fore. We are anxious and resist complacency through curiosity. Each completed project suggests new directions for the next coming.
ARM has contributed to Australian architecture over many years. How has ARM sought to change perceptions and challenge conventions and ideas through architecture?
Design is a relational system. Creative outcomes are the product of the many conversations and ideas that people have about themselves and their organizations. I like to think that we create an environment where trust generates an opportunity for conversation in a fun and rewarding way. Delivering a truly representative outcome that speaks to the customer is the product of good listening and insightful translation into design – in that order! We talk about stakeholder participation and common design as industry jargon but what we mean is good conversation and good listening.
The importance of the urban landscape is deep in human culture, fundamental to how we live and interact in the world. At our best, humans cooperate with the places we live in. We appreciate that urban landscapes include both built and living organisms. These collections are unique in their place and should be honored through the design process – they will inevitably teach a site-specific narrative.
ARM strives to be a custodian of existing social and cultural narratives. We don’t always get it right, but we think it’s an important part of the designer’s role in shaping the built environment, especially for First Nations communities in Australia. ARM has been advocating through our design work for many years. For me, the most memorable is the National Museum of Australia (NMA), where the Braille plaques wrote the word “sorry” at a time when the Howard government refused to apologize for the enduring wrongs made against the Stolen Generation.
Today, our engagement evolves. Protest is not enough. There is an ongoing role for architects as advocates, but more specifically to create direct commissions for First Nations peoples. The design can be used to give a voice to the marginalized and underprivileged in society. If architecture is to be general, it cannot always be for the powerful. This is ARM’s main pursuit, and we often co-use our technical skill to help present the work of other creators.
ARM’s expansion in NSW came at an unfortunate time, with the office opening before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2019. What were the main challenges for ARM and learning from interstate expansion at a time when economies were affected, and movement was restricted?
We have all experienced the epidemic. Our work is based on fostering positive personal relationships with clients, stakeholders, and the broader community that has faced challenges during the pandemic. On a brighter note, it’s also given us time to better understand Sydney, get to know our neighbourhoods, look closely and make notes on what kind of environment we want to live in and what kind of communities we want to be part of. It gave us an opportunity to reflect on the role of architecture in communicating the narratives of the organizations we work with.
We don’t see much narrative-driven architecture in Sydney. I believe there is a great opportunity for ARM to contribute to and celebrate Sydney’s stories through the built environment.
What inspires you to further establish your ARM business in NSW?
The focus on ‘local’ is becoming important again. Sydney has once again become a city of villages, with each suburb having unique characteristics and personalities. Sydney is also distinguished by its beautiful and geographical diversity. A city known for its stunning beachfronts, the presence of nature is felt throughout the city in different ways. It was an adventure learning the history of the landscape and how the built environment interacts with the natural world. It’s a fun time to be in New South Wales, which is experiencing rapid growth in the western lanes. Communicating the unique qualities of different communities is a challenge we look forward to working with.
Like all states, NSW has a deep history of First Nations peoples, and a colonial history rooted in the fabric of the city and its surroundings. Researching these narratives and finding ways to reconcile history is important, and will be our focus here. For designers, understanding people and how they use their space is key to delivering true design results.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Sydney’s practice has successfully secured some groundbreaking business in NSW. What are the current and upcoming projects for ARM?
We have been fortunate to have been assigned to some major projects in NSW across various sectors, including education, workplace and public projects.
ARM is pleased to be working on the renovation of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, scheduled for completion in 2022. We are currently in the process of construction with Blacktown City Council to construct a new Sports and Health Sciences building at Blacktown International Sports Park. In addition, we are working on a new recreation area for Qatar Insurance Company and have recently completed the new headquarters of the Association of Catholic Schools in Sydney. There’s more in the pipeline but you’ll have to catch up on our news later in the year!
With life resuming in NSW, what do you hope ARM will achieve in 2022 and beyond?
Ultimately, we want to contribute to the City of Sydney in ways that are beneficial to the community. This does not mean making big and flashy statements, but in providing solutions and ideas that will contribute to a deepening of the city experience.
Honoring history, while reviving important stories and messages to key communities, is always a priority. It’s a huge responsibility and a huge privilege to contribute to a city, and it’s something we never take for granted.
ARM loves a challenge, but more importantly, we value the opportunity to sit at the forefront of key social issues through our design approach. Idea-infused design that contributes to Mind City, and keeps people talking about the places they live and work in, helps drive our practice and team culture in new directions. We strive to invoke the character of a place and translate it into original design results.
At our core, ARM is passionate about good design and architecture with impact. We have been blessed to work on some extraordinary projects, but we feel our contribution to the Australian community is just beginning.
Picture: attached