Candid Company: Architect Michael Montgomery's Not-So-Mad Ways
Behind the scenes with Michael Montgomery, founder of contemporary, Melbourne-based MMAD Architecture
Despite Michael Montgomery’s cheeky business name, the founder of MMAD Architecture strikes you as being far from insanity. In fact, his sound reasoning behind the importance of professional relationships and his understanding of the power of social media speak to his sanity. Houzz caught up with the Melbourne-based architect to discover what he’s learnt in the three years since founding his business, where he draws the line between free advice and free work, and what his plans are for the future.
Images of Fitzroy North House, Victoria, by MMAD Architecture
What distinguishes your work?
I’m drawn to learn more about people – how they live, what they do – and their personalities. It’s important for me to understand a client and get to know them throughout a project so that I can achieve the best outcomes for them.
As a result, I don’t have a distinct style or aesthetic that I impose on all projects. There may be influencing ideas, but it’s important that clients get what suits them and the brief, rather than a preconceived thought or design agenda.
As a sole practitioner it also means every project, large or small, will have my input and won’t just be an initial contact or name that passes it to someone else to deliver.
What distinguishes your work?
I’m drawn to learn more about people – how they live, what they do – and their personalities. It’s important for me to understand a client and get to know them throughout a project so that I can achieve the best outcomes for them.
As a result, I don’t have a distinct style or aesthetic that I impose on all projects. There may be influencing ideas, but it’s important that clients get what suits them and the brief, rather than a preconceived thought or design agenda.
As a sole practitioner it also means every project, large or small, will have my input and won’t just be an initial contact or name that passes it to someone else to deliver.
How did you enter this field of work?
I always wanted to be an architect and remember drawing plans and designs for our house when I was about six or seven.
I moved to Melbourne from Sydney a couple of weeks after finishing high school to study architecture at Deakin University. I had visited Melbourne only once and felt the architecture and design scene was so much more adventurous and well supported. Twenty-plus years later, I definitely identify as a Melbournian.
I always wanted to be an architect and remember drawing plans and designs for our house when I was about six or seven.
I moved to Melbourne from Sydney a couple of weeks after finishing high school to study architecture at Deakin University. I had visited Melbourne only once and felt the architecture and design scene was so much more adventurous and well supported. Twenty-plus years later, I definitely identify as a Melbournian.
When did you start MMAD Architecture?
MMAD Architecture has officially been around since March 2016. Previously, I was an associate at a medium-size architectural practice for almost 14 years. When you start to manage large teams and large projects, you find yourself doing less design and more managing people and timelines, which can be draining. MMAD Architecture was created to reconnect with the creative side of architecture and the clients.
Today, I am still the primary architect at MMAD Architecture but I have always had a collaborative attitude towards design and draw on contacts to assist when required.
MMAD Architecture has officially been around since March 2016. Previously, I was an associate at a medium-size architectural practice for almost 14 years. When you start to manage large teams and large projects, you find yourself doing less design and more managing people and timelines, which can be draining. MMAD Architecture was created to reconnect with the creative side of architecture and the clients.
Today, I am still the primary architect at MMAD Architecture but I have always had a collaborative attitude towards design and draw on contacts to assist when required.
How has your business changed?
I was fortunate enough to have a great client for the Fitzroy North House with a keen interest in producing quality architecture as my initial breakout project, which provided me with the financial security and encouragement to know I could make a go of my own business.
It was a major leap of faith and a massive change to my financial position. Thankfully, I had a few good connections who provided me with various scales of work to maintain a relatively consistent turnover. Today, I still have the same connections and more – I find it important to keep in touch with all of them as you never know what might come your way.
I was fortunate enough to have a great client for the Fitzroy North House with a keen interest in producing quality architecture as my initial breakout project, which provided me with the financial security and encouragement to know I could make a go of my own business.
It was a major leap of faith and a massive change to my financial position. Thankfully, I had a few good connections who provided me with various scales of work to maintain a relatively consistent turnover. Today, I still have the same connections and more – I find it important to keep in touch with all of them as you never know what might come your way.
Can you identify a turning point for your company?
The completion of the first project in Fitzroy North was a bit of a turning point as I started to appreciate the importance of social media. I had entered the project into the Houses Awards and was grateful to receive a nomination and short-listing for an award.
The general promotion of the project and recognition both within the industry and from the wider public was great. It really hit home the importance of finding a good photographer to capture both your work and the reach of social media. Word-of-mouth referrals were great flowing on from this and the momentum really picked up.
The completion of the first project in Fitzroy North was a bit of a turning point as I started to appreciate the importance of social media. I had entered the project into the Houses Awards and was grateful to receive a nomination and short-listing for an award.
The general promotion of the project and recognition both within the industry and from the wider public was great. It really hit home the importance of finding a good photographer to capture both your work and the reach of social media. Word-of-mouth referrals were great flowing on from this and the momentum really picked up.
What has proven the greatest professional challenge?
I think it’s important for anyone looking to start their own business to have some real exposure to the day-to-day running of a practice – not just the project side – as you really don’t appreciate how much you need to know or simply be aware of. Having been an associate of a larger firm, and seen that practice transition from smaller to larger scale, I was fortunate enough to have had exposure to the management side of running a business.
I think it’s important for anyone looking to start their own business to have some real exposure to the day-to-day running of a practice – not just the project side – as you really don’t appreciate how much you need to know or simply be aware of. Having been an associate of a larger firm, and seen that practice transition from smaller to larger scale, I was fortunate enough to have had exposure to the management side of running a business.
What have you learnt about your industry that you wish you knew when you started?
Reputation is everything and the industry is very small. It doesn’t matter who you meet, it’s important to get to know and respect their input, be it the senior staff member, CEO or the new junior because one day they may be in a position to help (or hinder) you.
Reputation is everything and the industry is very small. It doesn’t matter who you meet, it’s important to get to know and respect their input, be it the senior staff member, CEO or the new junior because one day they may be in a position to help (or hinder) you.
When choosing sub-contractors or clients, what do you look for?
Fortunately, I have worked with great people as clients, consultants and contractors. This may be partly why I prefer to meet people face-to-face as it helps gain an insight into their personality and gives me an opportunity to have a general chat rather than always being focused on the business at hand.
Likewise, when it comes to consultants it’s a similar scenario: being able to build a relationship and get to know them outside work helps strengthen ties and builds trust, which I believe will always lead to strong working relationships. I’m also keen to have a team that appreciates new ways of working using technology or that suggests methods of building so I can also learn from them.
Fortunately, I have worked with great people as clients, consultants and contractors. This may be partly why I prefer to meet people face-to-face as it helps gain an insight into their personality and gives me an opportunity to have a general chat rather than always being focused on the business at hand.
Likewise, when it comes to consultants it’s a similar scenario: being able to build a relationship and get to know them outside work helps strengthen ties and builds trust, which I believe will always lead to strong working relationships. I’m also keen to have a team that appreciates new ways of working using technology or that suggests methods of building so I can also learn from them.
What are the deal breakers that make you reluctant to work with clients?
I find the more that people are willing to give up their time to meet and discuss potential projects, the more likely they will want to form a working relationship and are serious about the project.
As much as I will always provide time to meet people, it’s important for me to assess quickly if something is a legitimate opportunity, or just fishing for information, or simply a ‘check price’ against someone else’s fee. If people are reluctant to spend money upfront they’re potentially going to be difficult to work with or expect a lot for free moving forward.
I find the more that people are willing to give up their time to meet and discuss potential projects, the more likely they will want to form a working relationship and are serious about the project.
As much as I will always provide time to meet people, it’s important for me to assess quickly if something is a legitimate opportunity, or just fishing for information, or simply a ‘check price’ against someone else’s fee. If people are reluctant to spend money upfront they’re potentially going to be difficult to work with or expect a lot for free moving forward.
Somewhere along the line architects and designers started providing free design work as a way of proving they have the skills or are willing to commit to a project. This has got to a point where some people will almost expect it.
There’s a line between free advice and free work that some potential clients or contacts will take advantage of if you let them, so I’m always conscious of what the early expectations are.
There’s a line between free advice and free work that some potential clients or contacts will take advantage of if you let them, so I’m always conscious of what the early expectations are.
What’s the best advice you can offer about managing a team?
Always be open-minded and listen to suggestions. Then remember to praise the people who make good suggestions, giving credit where it’s due.
Always be open-minded and listen to suggestions. Then remember to praise the people who make good suggestions, giving credit where it’s due.
How do you plan to grow or maintain your level of success?
If you had asked me five years ago what my plan was, running my own business wasn’t even on my radar. I think the key driver will always remain: to put the clients’ needs first and make sure they are front and centre. It’s a plan that has worked well so far, so whatever else I decide to change, this will always remain.
My attitude to anything new is to try and understand or appreciate what is required – don’t just pass it to someone else to look after, otherwise you’ll never learn and never know if they’re doing a good or bad job. Having the right business support around you to lean on and learn from is critical.
If you had asked me five years ago what my plan was, running my own business wasn’t even on my radar. I think the key driver will always remain: to put the clients’ needs first and make sure they are front and centre. It’s a plan that has worked well so far, so whatever else I decide to change, this will always remain.
My attitude to anything new is to try and understand or appreciate what is required – don’t just pass it to someone else to look after, otherwise you’ll never learn and never know if they’re doing a good or bad job. Having the right business support around you to lean on and learn from is critical.
Any recommendations for software or apps that help you run your business well?
I’m a bit of a tech fan and am always looking at ways technology can improve or make something easier. I was an early adaptor to Graphisoft’s Archicad (3D-modelling BIM program) and use it from start to finish on all my projects. Every client and builder is issued with 3D walk-though models at various stages of projects using Archicad’s BIMx app. It’s become a great design-communication tool.
I believe staying in touch with technology and newer versions of software is important … you can easily lose skills in the blink of an eye.
I’m a bit of a tech fan and am always looking at ways technology can improve or make something easier. I was an early adaptor to Graphisoft’s Archicad (3D-modelling BIM program) and use it from start to finish on all my projects. Every client and builder is issued with 3D walk-though models at various stages of projects using Archicad’s BIMx app. It’s become a great design-communication tool.
I believe staying in touch with technology and newer versions of software is important … you can easily lose skills in the blink of an eye.
Other programs I think are a must for any practice are reliable cloud storage, file sharing and online accounting. I cannot live without Dropbox (for file sharing and sending) and Quickbooks Online (for accounting).
Lately, I’m also finding WhatsApp is great for communication with clients and builders and speeds up the general queries rather than sending formal emails.
Lately, I’m also finding WhatsApp is great for communication with clients and builders and speeds up the general queries rather than sending formal emails.
Tell us
Which points in this interview resonate with your own professional experience? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last month’s Candid Company with photographer Suzi Appel? Get the scoop on running her photography business and common mistakes amateur photographers make here
Which points in this interview resonate with your own professional experience? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last month’s Candid Company with photographer Suzi Appel? Get the scoop on running her photography business and common mistakes amateur photographers make here
What do you do?
I’m the founder of MMAD Architecture based in Melbourne. We work on all sizes and types of residential projects. The main focus is to provide quality outcomes for our clients based on their brief and budget.