The Architect's Chair #2 competition Sustainability Award winner - Katherine Burns

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Sustainability Award winner of our "The Architect's Chair #2" competition – Katherine Burns from Australia!

Katherine Burns

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

Fresh from graduating from my Master of Architecture in 2023, I have commenced my architectural career as a Graduate at a cultural and civic based practice in Melbourne. Throughout my studies and work, my unyielding curiosity for interdisciplinary exploration and making has flourished. Comprehending where architecture begins, what it encompasses and the details from which it emerges is an investigation that moulds my ongoing design practice.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

My design ethos draws heavily on my education in interiors and my experience working in a fabrication lab at the University of Melbourne. Assorted projects in sculpture, wearable architecture, interior architecture and now furniture design have allowed me to design and construct at varying human scales - scales that I think are so important for Architecture to remain sympathetic to. At the other end of the scale, I am currently assisting on a Masterplan project and enjoying the opportunity to shift perspectives, while still engaging a detail-minded sensitivity.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

For me, rigour in comprehension, listening, testing, making and detailing produces the most rewarding Architecture. When architects utilize an interdisciplinary approach, they benefit from diversity in knowledge and practice, and their architecture transcends the brief.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

I participate in architecture competitions to challenge myself and broaden my exposure to architectural discourse and design briefs outside of my work context.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Participating in competitions is a good way to remind yourself of your architectural objectives and develop your individual design ethos.