Designer Profile: Nick Tobias on the Benefits of Living Smaller
Architecture is all about the individual, according to architect Nick Tobias, who values quality over size every time
Architect Nick Tobias, the founding principal of Sydney firm Tobias Partners, is known mostly for his work in residential design. Here, he shares his insights on why bigger is not always better, and why the human scale is one of the most important considerations when designing a home.
Cooper Park House
What are the three most important things to consider when designing a home?
What are the three most important things to consider when designing a home?
- Environment, and not just in a sustainability sense. What I mean is context – if you do a very rigorous site analysis, a huge part of your job is done and you should know what to do.
- Brief – a thorough brief is incredibly important for making those first steps, and making them right. However, a brief needs to be constantly reviewed with the client as the project develops.
- Human scale – this is a quality that is often overlooked. When you’re designing a house, it’s a home, and often the difference is whether it feels homely and has homely, domestic qualities, such as a human scale.
How should a client form a brief for their home?
Engage us as a firm and you’ll find out! We have a template we use to stir up discussion, which is divided into two areas: pragmatic (the things you need), and experiential (how you want to feel).
Engage us as a firm and you’ll find out! We have a template we use to stir up discussion, which is divided into two areas: pragmatic (the things you need), and experiential (how you want to feel).
What’s the first thing you do when you need to prune the budget for a project?
Budget is a process of prioritisation. If you’ve done a good brief, go back to that. But nothing cuts the budget like cutting square metres, cutting actual space. Yes, you can just choose cheaper tiles or lights, and that will help you a little bit. But there’s nothing that helps you reduce budget like reducing size. I’m certainly a fan of quality over quantity in that regard.
Budget is a process of prioritisation. If you’ve done a good brief, go back to that. But nothing cuts the budget like cutting square metres, cutting actual space. Yes, you can just choose cheaper tiles or lights, and that will help you a little bit. But there’s nothing that helps you reduce budget like reducing size. I’m certainly a fan of quality over quantity in that regard.
What’s the one thing you always include in a project?
A mud room – when we go in and out the front door, we have so much stuff. Whether it’s shoes, jackets, raincoats, bags… whatever it is, the entry can so easily look like a mess without [a mud room]. The mud room is a dump room.
A mud room – when we go in and out the front door, we have so much stuff. Whether it’s shoes, jackets, raincoats, bags… whatever it is, the entry can so easily look like a mess without [a mud room]. The mud room is a dump room.
Deepwater
Who is a an established local architect/designer you admire?
Alex Tzannes – he has had a long and stable professional career, not only designing beautiful and timeless buildings, but interiors and furniture. He’s played an active role in various bodies, at the Institute of Architects, and as Dean at UNSW. He’s very diligent and committed to the art and business of architecture. He makes beautiful drawings, and at the end of the day, he’s a sensitive, caring, sharing, but very tough guy.
Who is a an established local architect/designer you admire?
Alex Tzannes – he has had a long and stable professional career, not only designing beautiful and timeless buildings, but interiors and furniture. He’s played an active role in various bodies, at the Institute of Architects, and as Dean at UNSW. He’s very diligent and committed to the art and business of architecture. He makes beautiful drawings, and at the end of the day, he’s a sensitive, caring, sharing, but very tough guy.
Who is an emerging architect/designer to watch?
Anthony Gill – he has a lovely touch and sensitivity when it comes to space, materiality and light. He’s able to work wonders in the face of challenging sites and limited budgets. And he’s a lovely guy.
Anthony Gill – he has a lovely touch and sensitivity when it comes to space, materiality and light. He’s able to work wonders in the face of challenging sites and limited budgets. And he’s a lovely guy.
Do you prefer a big or small home, and why?
Size is relative, but for me the answer is – not more than you need. Part of knowing how much space you need is trial and error, working with a good architect, and testing of the brief. Often, building in Australia is really expensive, so when you get your first budget, it really sharpens your sense of priorities and forces you to ask harder questions about what you want and need.
Size is relative, but for me the answer is – not more than you need. Part of knowing how much space you need is trial and error, working with a good architect, and testing of the brief. Often, building in Australia is really expensive, so when you get your first budget, it really sharpens your sense of priorities and forces you to ask harder questions about what you want and need.
Which is best – high-tech or low-tech – and why?
High-tech for sure – but don’t go overboard and expect more than what today’s technology can deliver. High-tech is fun, adds convenience, and helps buildings be more adaptable to our situations, and our climate.
High-tech for sure – but don’t go overboard and expect more than what today’s technology can deliver. High-tech is fun, adds convenience, and helps buildings be more adaptable to our situations, and our climate.
What’s your favourite room in the home, and why?
In my home, it’s the music room*, because I’m surrounded by all my beautiful instruments. And it’s a place to be very freely creative (but at the same time very frustrated because I wish I was better).
*Nick’s music room contains a mandolin, ukelele, a couple of guitars, piano, piano accordion, recorder, djembe and bongos.
In my home, it’s the music room*, because I’m surrounded by all my beautiful instruments. And it’s a place to be very freely creative (but at the same time very frustrated because I wish I was better).
*Nick’s music room contains a mandolin, ukelele, a couple of guitars, piano, piano accordion, recorder, djembe and bongos.
What do you do?
I’m an architect, which is not limited to the outer borders of architecture but also includes interior and urban design, master planning, and other related consultancies. Seventy-five per cent of [the projects] we do are private dwellings. I’m also now a minor television personality as co-host of I Own Australia’s Best Home (aired on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel).