Based in Melbourne and Mansfield, the studio specialises in new residential homes, heritage renovations, interior design and small-scale boutique developments with a focus on simple yet strong materials. The award-winning firm’s vision has evolved over the past decade. Owner and Director Luke Fry shares with us insights on his early beginnings, trajectory of his practice and current focus.
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Luke Fry Architecture and Interior Design was founded in 2014 with a view to creating design-led properties that are refined, sophisticated, purposeful and relevant.
07 August 2024
What inspired you to establish your own architecture and interior design firm and how has your vision for the studio evolved since then?
I’m very ambitious and it was always part of my plan but, to be honest, it started quite unassumingly when I was just 28 years old. A friend asked me to design a penthouse for him and I took the leap. From there more projects followed. We’ve now been in business for 10 years, have a wonderful team and are going through an exciting phase of maturity in the business.
As an architect, interior designer and builder, how do you feel your skill set has influenced your approach to design and the success of your practice?
I don’t know of anyone with this trifecta of skills. They may exist of course, but it’s quite unique and something I’ve worked hard to achieve. It gives us a holistic approach to not only the design process but the construction phase when administering contracts. While my builders license is no longer active and I have no intention of building myself in the future, the knowledge base remains and provides an added level of security for our clients. It allows us to work more smoothly with the tradespeople involved on site.
Your studio specialises in residential projects, heritage renovations and small-scale boutique developments. What draws you to these types of projects?
In the past, these types of projects have been our primary focus; however, we have been broadening our repertoire in recent years. Beyond residential projects our current projects span hotel, hospitality and workplace sectors. Of course, we will always do beautiful homes and boutique residential developments, but the duality that ties all these projects together and attracts us to them is lifestyle and user experience. To enhance someone's experience and consciousness within a space we have designed is a truly amazing and rewarding thing.
How do you develop and refine your design language, and what do you hope to achieve through these design choices?
Skills are crafted and honed over time, but the process remains the same. The outcomes just get better. Design is never linear, it's ever evolving, and the refinement of a project takes place with input from many stakeholders. These include the clients of course, in conjunction with a long list of consultants. I hope to achieve a design language that moves through the decades of my career and leaves a legacy that's not only I can be proud of, but our clients and consultants too.
As a judge on Australia's Best House, what qualities do you look for in outstanding residential design and how has this experience influenced your own practice?
Good design is timeless. It doesn’t follow current trends, instead referencing the past and projecting the future, at the same time as being unique to the designers’ own language. Good design also goes well beyond the aesthetic. It's as much about functionality, durability and sustainability as it is about the sexy stuff.
As your studio continues to grow, how do you envision the future of Luke Fry Architecture and Interior Design?
We are diversifying our range of projects and have been for some time now. People will soon start to see these projects come to life. We will also do high end bespoke homes, but we’re also doing boutique developments, hotels, hospitality and workplace projects, all while maintaining the lifestyle driven quality outcomes we’re known for just with a different context.
LEARN MORE https://www.lukefry.com.au/
