Chris Gilbert is a director of Archier, a Melbourne-based practice known for creating design experiences that contribute to a better quality of life. Chris first appeared on Office Talk in August of 2022, and we are delighted to welcome him back to the show.

In this episode, Chris and Dave discussed:

• The power of cultural narratives, such as current attitudes around the risks of building, and whether it’s better for architects to push back, or accept these powerful beliefs and adapt our approach.
• How Archier identified a pain-point in the design process, the endless hours spent pricing projects, then developed custom software to help speed up the process and drastically reduce the cost to the client.
• The story of starting Candour, a prefabrication and advanced manufacturing company helping architects to make off-site construction faster, cheaper, and more accessible.
• What impact a move towards automation, efficiency and accessibility could have on the brand perception of Archier, and architecture more broadly, as it challenges the traditional exclusivity of residential architecture.

If you'd like to learn more about their studio, you can visit archier.com.au or follow them on Instagram at @archier_.

Office Talk is hosted by Dave Sharp of Office D.SHARP, a strategic marketing and brand definition practice for architecture. We work collaboratively with clients across the globe. To learn more about our process and book a consultation, simply visit officedavesharp.com.

Today's episode of Office Talk was edited and engineered by Anthony Richardson of Simple Dwelling Studio.

This episode of Office Talk is supported by Mast Furniture. Mast is an established furniture design and manufacturing company based in Brisbane. In operation since 2012 and climate neutral certified since 2021, Mast has built a national and international reputation for producing original furniture of the highest quality. For Mast, the phrase ‘Good Design, made right’ embodies who they are, what they do and what they’d like to achieve. Mast values enduring design, taking their time to develop well designed products both in house and in collaboration with established and upcoming designers. With all of their furniture being produced from their Brisbane workshop and made to order, the majority of their range is able to be customised in material, size and finishes to suit specific projects and spaces in both residential and commercial environments. To learn more about Mast, visit mastfurniture.com.au or check out their instagram @mastfurniture.