New Directions – Candour and Prefab by Archier

With an ethos grounded in a genuine desire to contribute to the greater good by making high-quality architecture more accessible, ultimately creating a richer architectural landscape, Archier is an architecture studio on a mission. Embedded within this ethos is the notion that “design is delivery”, revealing a focus on the efficient and tangible connection between concepts and physical construction. It is this outcome-centric mindset and bold moral compass that informs a vital innovative spirit seen in Archier’s past projects and new direction.

A decade ago, architects Chris Gilbert, Chris Haddad and Josh FitzGerald founded Archier – landscape architect Jon Kaitler joined later – born from a shared frustration with their observation that architecture can so often become disconnected from a physical or realistic outcome. This perspective reveals itself in Archier’s recent new direction as a business and the launch of a prefabrication construction company, Candour. Chris Gilbert says, “there are so many steps involved in the procurement process, which costs a studio too much to do so at scale. We realised the issue and decided to take matters into our own hands.”

Having previously engaged with a variety of panelised and prefabricated systems, Archier found that, whilst they resulted in impressive buildings, the procurement process was complex.

Having previously engaged with a variety of panelised and prefabricated systems, Archier found that, whilst they resulted in impressive buildings, the procurement process was complex. Chris Haddad describes, “although they were erected rapidly on site, these systems had a negligible impact on the overall project timelines due to the additional time needed upfront during the design and documentation stages, as well as the extra training required for builders and tradespeople.” In addition, miscommunication was another issue that arose working with overseas manufacturers. The Candour system was established to address these challenges and allow more people to enjoy the benefits of offsite fabrication.

Candour connects architects and designers to advanced fabrication, making the benefits of prefabrication more accessible. Any architect can freely engage with this service so that their clients can benefit from the advantages of prefabricated construction. Archier’s computer-aided design (CAD) software plugins incorporate prefabricated building components into architectural plans. The plugins provide instant pricing and buildability advice through a direct connection to the fabrication facility, allowing rapid manufacturing and transport to site. In this way, Candour provides a more holistic approach to prefabrication. “Our aim is to make quality architecture easier to procure for more people,” says Chris Haddad.

As such, Archier is currently preparing to also launch Prefab by Archier, a streamlined service that uses the Candour construction system to deliver architectural homes to clients more quickly and at a reduced architectural fee.

As such, Archier is currently preparing to also launch Prefab by Archier, a streamlined service that uses the Candour construction system to deliver architectural homes to clients more quickly and at a reduced architectural fee. Chris Haddad continues, “our vision for Prefab by Archier involves constructing 100 homes annually. We aim to democratise great design by leveraging a highly efficient design, documentation and construction process and provide more value to our clients.

These endeavours reveal an integral aspect of Archier’s practice – an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, seen through the way the architects take a hands-on approach and learn by making. For example, Chris Haddad and Chris Gilbert physically built Sawmill House, one of the studio’s earliest projects, alongside Chris Gilbert’s brother, Ben. Located on the site of an old sawmill, Sawmill House is the result of a shared creative vision and a slowly developed design. “This gave us momentum to push forward and continue to deliver ideas and really nurtured that experimental soul. We took the learnings and injected those into our future projects,” says Chris Gilbert.

Such innovative thinking also strongly informs Archier’s holistic approach to sustainability. Chris Haddad explains, “when designing, we think about all aspects and ask ourselves, ‘how do we create a high-performance building that is also emotional, engages with the landscape and is a beautiful place to inhabit?” Chris Gilbert concludes, “sustainability is inherent in good design, not a marker of who we are.”

For example, a recent Archier project, Off-Grid House, uses a minimal number of materials but maintains a dramatic and engaging effect. The house represents a celebration of sustainable living and a connection to landscape and family. Chris Haddad explains, “this house was an exercise in restraint. It has a strong performance aspect, so while it looks simple and fun, there are a lot of deep environmental rational moves that push that outcome.”

“We like working within a simplified and robust palette of materials that celebrates the structure as the ornamentation.”

Designing buildings that strongly relate to nature is profoundly embedded in Archier’s practice. Having grown up in Tasmania and rural Victoria respectively, Chris Haddad and Chris Gilbert believe an appreciation of the landscape is innate in good design. They procure buildings in an unpretentious way, focusing on simple designs that appreciate natural beauty whilst remaining rich in experience. Chris Haddad explains, “we like working within a simplified and robust palette of materials that celebrates the structure as the ornamentation.” They also use light and shadow to navigate around a house and always find ways to invite the landscape into the design. “How the building sits and its relationship to the site is a fundamental principle to us.”

For Archier, each and every project and idea is seen as a step along a journey, part of a research agenda to deliver value to clients and further ideas in the broader architectural landscape. In this way, Archier’s simple and uncomplicated approach merges with an intricate moral compass– a pioneering mission to enrich lives by offering more people the opportunity to inhabit meaningful spaces and, ultimately, contributing to an even more beautiful and sustainable Australia.

Designing buildings that strongly relate to nature is profoundly embedded in Archier’s practice.