Trotta Architecture

One could argue Trotta Architecture was born many years before it was realised, from the creative mind of a young boy sketching his family home and reimagining its floor plan. Today, Chris Trotta spearheads his creative practice, a thriving boutique architecture and design firm.

Based in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, Trotta Architecture specialises in luxury residential design, led by Trotta alongside architectural technician Joanna Misenkova. During university and in his early career, Trotta let his enthusiasm for architecture lead the way, teaching students and emerging architects about the importance of sketches and diagrams. Afterwards, he moved from Adelaide to Sydney, where he worked under the guidance of Bruce Stafford at Stafford Architecture before opening LiteraTrotta in 2020, and now Trotta Architecture.

“Our ambition as a practice is to ensure the client’s vision comes to life and to understand and enhance their personal aesthetic, rather than push our dream onto them.”

“At the heart of what we do is a belief that design should elevate and enhance your life,” says Trotta. “Our work is characterised by an acute sense of light, rigorous attention to detail and understated simplicity. [We create] homes enriched by the warmth of tactile raw materials, with soft flowing forms and a harmonious relationship with their natural landscape.” Being a boutique practice, Trotta Architecture prides itself on providing a highly personalised service. “Our ambition as a practice is to ensure the client’s vision comes to life and to understand and enhance their personal aesthetic, rather than push our dream onto them.”

In terms of inspiration, Trotta always turns to travel. “I have a deep-rooted love for Italy, with countless family members living from Sicily to Venice. I have travelled extensively through the country and find inspiration in everything I see, from understanding the joy of living slowly and simply and seeing the home as a place of love, connection and community,” reflects Trotta. “I also draw inspiration from being in nature and understanding the restorative power of the natural environment in everyday life.”

“I love unpacking the potentials of a site, I have a deep love for creative drawing in my practice, and I love being on site.”

Most projects completed by Trotta Architecture are immediately recognisable due to the heavy use of natural materials. “We have deep connections to suppliers and trades who specialise in natural stones and timbers, all with the intent of creating real and tactile spaces that feel robust, enduring and natural,” notes Trotta. Connection to outdoor spaces is also prioritised throughout most of the practice’s projects. “We love the concept of the landscape design becoming a tangible material within the home, with connections to nature reinforced throughout all spaces.”

Heirloom and Bungalow Blonde are stand-out projects for Trotta, created in collaboration with Litera Design. Heirloom is a detailed reconstruction of an existing heritage-listed Federation home coupled with a modern but sensitive extension to the rear. “The two architectures play off each other in form and material, creating a considered juxtaposition of old and new from the outside, with the interior design pulling together the living experience for our clients,” explains the architect. Bungalow Blonde, another recently completed project, is also a highlight – a bright, airy and warm extension to an existing single-storey bungalow home. “Previously a dark and dysfunctional living space, our bold move was to drop the existing living area one metre, which created a level connection to the rear garden while giving us generous 3.3-metre-high lofty ceilings,” says Trotta.

Perhaps what makes the firm different is the tangible way you can feel its founder’s love for all realms of the practice. “I love unpacking the potentials of a site, I have a deep love for creative drawing in my practice, and I love being on site,” says Trotta. Combining these loves with his passion for a personally crafting visions for each client, Trotta creates homes that not only embody the design intent but are built to last generations.

Architecture by Trotta Architecture in collaboration with Litera Design.