By Neil Cownie Architect
The design of 123 House seeks to provide my clients and the local community with a new building that sits comfortably in the suburb as though this building has been born from its surroundings. My clients owned and ran an Ampol service station on this site for thirty years before decommissioning the service station and subdividing the site to sell two single residential sites and maintain the one on the corner for themselves. Memory of the former petrol station is embodied in the building fabric through various means such as the concrete impressions which reference the old Ampol logo and use of coloured glass which references the colours of petrol and engine oil, and the balustrade inspired by the spokes of the wheel and the letterbox that sits upon a vehicle suspension spring to the delight of the owners. The articulated building mass and roofscape allow highlight windows to bath the interior spaces with winter sunlight.
With more than 35 years of experience as an architect, Neil Cownie has reached an enviable point in his career. In 2009, he established his own firm so he could focus on projects that bring him – and his clients – delight and joy.
Neil weaves together various influences – researching sustainable solutions, referencing the environment and site conditions; drawing inspiration from historical precedents and the latest innovations; a deep understanding of how people and spaces function; and his love of textural materials and hand crafted elements – to create residential, commercial and hospitality spaces that can be experienced through all five senses.
From large-scale master-planning down to the intricate details that elevate each project beyond the everyday, Neil brings wisdom and experience to his practice. He maintains close connections with his clients throughout the life of each project, to ensure the final outcome exceeds their expectations while remaining within budget.
In the earlier part of his career, Neil worked as a director at a major Perth firm, where he was responsible for a range of project types including houses, interiors, multi-unit residences, commercial buildings, hospitality and mixed use developments, many of them award-winning.
Now, he combines his passion for design in all its forms – architecture, landscape, furniture, lighting and objects – with his clients’ aspirations to realise their dreams in built form, always aiming to create timeless buildings that will endure.