November 23, 2011
architect nick tobias
Over the years I've interviewed award-winning Sydney architect Nick Tobias several times for various magazines. He has always been informative, helpful and accommodating, even opening the doors to his own home for photo shoots. In a recent interview with House & Garden his comments on renovating stuck: "Keep things simple. Trends will come and go but good design lasts forever. Remember to keep your home's architecture simple, liveable and timeless." It's a philosophy he has used in his work as an architect, as well as his own home (which I styled and wrote about here for Harper's BAZAAR). Amazingly, he set up his own practice at the age of 22 after studying architecture at the University of NSW. Since then he has had more than 100 commissions, and has expanded his team to include 17 architects and designers. Nick has also been a judge on Channel 9's Top Design, and is the husband of author Miranda Darling, who I interviewed here.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? It really started with designing things for fashion trade shows and catwalks. Since then it's become about buildings, interiors, homes, offices, restaurants, shops, boats, and designing pretty much anything... supported by an amazing team.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Before getting into a professional relationship (client, builder, consultant, etc) test the "vision" match - the success of a project hinges on this.
What’s your proudest career achievement? Only yesterday, being on site at a house which we have been working on for more than three years and finishes in two weeks. It's looking wonderful.
What’s been your best decision? To ask Miranda, my wife to marry me.
Who inspires you? The universe.
What are you passionate about? Creation and diversity - family, architecture and design, art, music, fashion, friends and it all.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Freddie Mercury
What dream do you still want to fulfill? I'm living the dream.
What are you reading? The shallows - about what the internet does to our brain!
images courtesy of nick tobias