Searle x Waldron facts for kids
Searle X Waldron is an architecture company from Melbourne, Australia. It was started in 2007 by Nick Searle and Suzannah Waldron. This company designs all sorts of buildings, from small homes to big city plans. They have won many awards for their cool designs, like the one for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe. Their work has been shown in Australia, Asia, and Europe.
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Meet the Founders
Nick Searle and Suzannah Waldron are the two people who started Searle X Waldron. They first met when they were studying architecture in Sydney before moving to Melbourne to finish their degrees.
Nick Searle's Journey
Nick Searle finished his studies in 2001. He worked for different architecture companies around the world, including places like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. He helped design buildings and manage projects. Besides running Searle X Waldron, Nick also teaches architecture and urban design at RMIT University. He helps new students learn how to design buildings and cities.
Suzannah Waldron's Journey
Suzannah Waldron also worked for many architecture companies internationally after graduating from RMIT University. She helped design different kinds of buildings, from public spaces to shops. Some of her projects included work for Prada and Cornell University. Suzannah's designs were also shown in an exhibition called "Do Not Crop" in 2008. Like Nick, she also teaches architecture and urban design at RMIT University.
Cool Projects They've Designed
Searle X Waldron has worked on many interesting projects. Here are some of their most well-known designs.
MoCAPE: A Museum Design
MoCAPE stands for the Museum of Contemporary Art & Planning Exhibition. This was a big international competition to design a huge art museum in Shenzhen, China. The museum was planned to be 80,000 square meters, which is very large! Searle X Waldron's design proposed two main spaces connected by cultural areas. Out of 170 entries from all over the world, their design made it to the final four. They were even invited to work with a company called Arup for the next stage. Their design was later shown in an exhibition in Melbourne.
Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe
The City of Ballarat asked Searle X Waldron to design an addition to the Art Gallery of Ballarat. This project was finished in 2011. The goal was to add new spaces to the old, historic building. These new spaces could be used for lectures, Workshops, Art installations, and community events. The design also allowed for private parties to happen without disturbing the main gallery areas.
The design cleverly combined ideas from three different structures: a public hall for many uses, a Verandah as a connecting space, and a Bandstand for events. By mixing these ideas, Searle X Waldron created a flexible building. It has become a central spot for public gatherings in Ballarat. This project won several awards in 2011 and 2012. These included awards for Public Architecture and for using steel in a great way from the Australian Institute of Architects.
Other Design Projects
Searle X Waldron has worked on many other projects, including:
- Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe – 2011 – Ballarat, Australia
- Majorca House – Centre Place, Melbourne
- Footscray Town Hall – Footscray, Victoria (currently underway)
- Little House on a Laneway – Seddon, Melbourne (currently underway)
Exhibition Designs
- Las Vegas Studio – Exhibition Design – RMIT Design Hub
Awards and Recognitions
Searle X Waldron has received many awards for their excellent designs. Most of these awards are for their work on the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- 2012 Colorbond Award For Steel Architecture – from the Australian Institute of Architects for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- 2012 Architecture Award, Public Architecture Alterations and Additions – from the Australian Institute of Architects for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- Winner – Commercial Interior – from the 2012 Intergain Timber Vision Awards for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- Highly Commended – Public Space – from the 2012 IDEA – Interior Design Excellence Awards for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- Shortlist – Emerging Designer of the Year – from the 2012 IDEA – Interior Design Excellence Awards.
- Commendation – Public Design – from the 2012 Australian Interior Design Awards for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- Commendation – Color in Commercial Design – from the 2012 Australian Interior Design Awards for the Art Gallery of Ballarat Annexe.
- First Prize – from the UN-Habitat Open International Competition 2008 for Mobility Centre & City Spatial Design.
- Joint First Prize – Invited 2nd Stage Finals – from the Open International & Invited Competition 2007 for MoCAPE.
- Honorable Mention – from the Open International Competition 2007 for GBD Art District.
- Shortlisted Finalist – from the Open International Competition 2009 for Green Water City Urban Park.
