Worldwide interest in Brisbane designers

In recent decades, Australian creatives have enjoyed increasing success overseas. Think actors, directors, artists and novelists … to name but a few. Now it’s time to add architects to the credit roll of creatives being invited to share their insights with a global audience.  

Singapore, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are among the far-flung destinations in which bureau^proberts’ projects are located. According to Creative and Managing Director Liam Proberts, advancing technology is ensuring distance is no barrier to working abroad. “Thanks to video conferencing and high-speed internet connections, we can be extremely agile and responsive to our overseas’ clients,” Liam says. For Brisbane-based projects, it’s business as usual when he’s conducting site visits overseas. “We can be marking up drawings or providing advice just as quickly and comprehensively as if we were at home.”

What has prompted this escalation in international work?

Liam believes it’s a combination of factors. “As Australians, we’re known for our collegial approach and that willingness to collaborate is very well received in global markets,” Liam explains. “In recent years, we’ve thankfully seen a departure from ‘jingoism’,” he continues. “Instead, we’ve become better at connecting with audiences via universal themes that touch on the human condition — rather than leveraging patriotism as a way of shaping our artistic expression.”

For bureau^proberts, the artistic expression of any built form should be heavily influenced by the culture and climate of its location. “Although in Brisbane we’re known as subtropical designers, that’s not a label that follows us everywhere,” Liam says. “When we work overseas, we naturally take great care to respond to the local climate but we also identify and acknowledge the social patterns, qualities and feelings that shape that particular location and community.”

According to Liam, the most successful developments — locally and globally — are those that not only meet commercial objectives but also deliver public spaces that continue to impact the communities that interact with them.

What should architects consider when embarking on their first overseas project?

“You can’t bring an ego to the table,” Liam says. “Be clear about your part in the collaboration and be clear about the project taking centre stage — not necessarily your own intentions for the design.”

Liam adds that having local connections is imperative when navigating a country’s building/construction authorities and procedures, as they are likely to be very different from how you work within Australia.

Finally, be mindful of any social nuances that could impact your design and way of working. “It’s necessary to embed yourself in the society in order to understand local knowledge about social patterns pertaining to the best ways in which to collaborate.”

For more information about Australian creatives working abroad, join Liam and a panel of experts on 21 March at the Museum of Brisbane.