LUX Xmas 2018

89 Oct18570 Harnessing Beauty from Simplicity WALA is a Melbourne-based architectural studio founded by director, Weian Lim. Following their recent success as the Melbourne’s Best Emerging Architectural Studio – 2018, we were excited to catch up with Weian to discover more about how the firm creates such innovative designs. Established in 2014, WALA provides architectural, interior and design services across a diverse range of projects. The foundation of their design practice is formed by bespoke private residences. For their homes, WALA aims to develop intuitive, sustainable, liveable spaces for their clients. There is no discrimination in project type and scale – WALA tackle projects across a spectrum of scale and budgets with a consistent degree of passion, consideration, and rigour. Weian begins by going into further detail about how WALA aims to always provide the best possible service to their clients. “Pride is taken in working intimately with our clients and their brief to ensure that their home reflects their lifestyle and individuality. Our studio operates based on continuous collaboration amongst expert consultants across all design stages and across different disciplines where suited to achieve the best design outcome. This collaborative spirit extends to our clients to make them feel part of the process, and whose personal input could be transformative.” Going into further detail about the talented team at WALA, Weian highlights how he ensures that everyone within the firm are well-equipped to deliver the award-winning services to the company’s clients. “Here at WALA, our architecture strives to be context-driven and responsive to its environment. We do not subscribe to a ‘one size fits all’ approach. We are passionate about how building form and tactility of materials can elevate a building design to be more than just the sum of its parts. “The studio comprises passionate designers and individuals who all share this keen focus on intuitive and sustainable design. Often the simplest solution is the most elegant, and our collective design ethos is to harness beauty from simplicity.” When discussing the technology that the team employs to ensure that their clients receive the best possible experience, Weian is keen to explain that the power of 3D imagery has proven to be most effective. “One of the most common struggles some of our clients have is the ease at which they are able to read and digest architectural plans. We do our best to help them visualise our designs through the use of 3D imagery, physical models and 3D computer modelling. The latter tool has proved to be most useful; we are able to guide our clients through ‘walk-throughs’ in a 3D environment which enables them to thoroughly understand the building on both micro and macro scales. The advent of affordable 3D printing also allows us to do fast-prototyping of building forms or details when the project calls for it.” Looking ahead to what the future holds, Weian signs off by envisioning the developments which occur within the industry, as well as revealing the exciting plans which lie in the pipeline for WALA, especially following their recent success in LUXlife’s Leading Designers 2018 Awards where they were righteously awarded the accolade Melbourne’s Best Emerging Architectural Studio – 2018. “Moving forward, we have a handful of projects nearing completion by the beginning of next year, and some more exciting designs for private residences in the pipeline. “As property pricing continues to inflate and land in desirable neighbourhoods gets increasingly scarce, there is a movement away from owning larger homes for more modestly-sized dwellings closer to city centres or places of work. Demand for tiny living and co-housing are gaining community traction in response against urban sprawl. “Our clientele demographic has always mostly comprised design-savvy families who see value in intuitive, high-quality architecture. Luxury in living is never defined by the size of a home but by the quality of life in the spaces designed around individual needs.” Contact Name: Weian Lim Address: 102/26 Rokeby Street, Collingwood, Victoria 3066, Australia Telephone: +61421687880 Website: www.wa-la.net Style