Family Ties

With his father as both client and mentor, architect Raffaello Rosselli has created a unique workspace, designed to challenge our perception of recycled materials.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS THE ARCHITECT AND LUIGI’S ROLE AS THE CLIENT. 

It was daunting at first, where Luigi was both my father and client, but also a successful architect and mentor. But we worked well together, ourshared interest in recycling and material re-use gave the project a strong direction. My enthusiasm for experimentation was well balanced with his many years of experience, which meant that we could push each other to create something really special.

WHAT HAS INFORMED AND INSPIRED YOUR ARCHITECTURAL PHILOSOPHY AND AESTHETIC?

I have a strong interest in material re-use. Construction waste makes up almost half of Australia’s landfill. Material re-use is the best solution – it reduces landfill and has little-to-no embodied energy compared to other materials. By using a material in a unique way we wanted this project to challenge people’s perceptions of used materials, and for it to be a role model for future projects. On top of the environmental benefits, a re-used material has a past and character and helps imbue the building with a feeling of history, grounding it in its place.

IS THERE A COMMON ELEMENT OR APPROACH THAT RUNS THROUGH ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK?