Adrian Spence is the Director of Richards & Spence Architecture. Adrian graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1996 and have practiced in his hometown for over 20 years, including BVN and Donovan Hill. Following this, Adrian and his partner, Ingrid formed their own architecture firm in 2008, Richards & Spence.

Richards & Spence is a multi-award-winning architecture studio that specializes in the creation of built infrastructure as a catalyst for civic interaction. Their practice is broad-ranging from bespoke furniture commissions; to houses and restaurants; and larger-scale retail, commercial, residential and mixed-use developments.

Over the past decade, the practice has been instrumental in the development of the James Street precinct in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. The highlight of the precinct is the largest and most ambitious building, The Calile Hotel, which was completed in 2018 and was awarded a High Commendation of the Think Brick Awards in the following year. Richards and Spence also won the Kevin Borland Masonry Award of the 2014 Think Brick Awards with their stunning project, Clayfield House.

In this episode, your host Elizabeth McIntyre will chat with Adrian Spence to dissect the history of his personal and professional experiences, and the story behind the development of James Street precinct, Brisbane’s ‘foremost retail and lifestyle precinct’. 

Listen to this episode to explore more about the following:

• What influenced Adrian to pick architecture as a profession
• His first project for Brisbane International Airport working in document control
• How Adrian began his own architecture firm, Richards & Spence Architecture in 2008
• How Adrian and his partner, Ingrid approached architecture as a team and how they handled conflicting perspectives
• Adrian’s design philosophy with brick as a building material
• How Adrian transformed the James Street Precinct from a collection of dull industrial buildings to a lively and bustling neighbourhood
• The challenges during the development of James Street Precinct
• How continuing to build upon James Street Precinct’s identity through the development of Calile Hotel has reshaped Brisbane
• How his favourite brick building, Grundtvig's Church in Copenhagen, has influenced his architectural approach
• Adrian’s experience as a Think Brick Awards juror

Mentioned in this episode:

Richards and Spence

James Street Precinct

The Calile Hotel

Grundtvig's Church

Think Brick Awards

Awards Showcase

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