APAC Issue 1 2018

10 APAC / Issue 1 2018 , Greenbox works across three main project categories: data centres, commercial office fitouts and residential projects. Typically, the consultancy’s clients range from leading global financial companies and real estate trusts, to small and medium scale residential developers. Its services cover the full range and duration of a project, from feasibility and due diligence reviews, through design, documentation and site attendance/contract supervision. The company also works as a strategic advisor and peer review architect. Andrew outlines the process that Greenbox undertakes when meeting its clients, and emphasises how important communication is to the company. “Working towards the future, we understand that not only do our projects run over a long period of time, sometimes several years; but that they are also frequently for repeat clients. For these reason, pairing of the right team is an early decision for us. Luckily, we have a great team of people to choose from. Also, we have a rigorous quality assurance in place which guides the process and procedures. “A key part of the design process is the internal design revision and “hold” points on a project, where not only the wider team but other Greenboxers review and critique the design to make sure it is meeting our standards, and that 1712AP10 Inspiring the Inspired Greenbox Architecture is an innovative Sydney based architecture and interior design practice. We invited AndrewOwens, the managing director of Greenbox, to tell us more about the creative consultancy and what the future holds for the team. of the client. Most importantly, we value communication and do not only rely on digital communication. Also, we meet our clients and the project team face to face. Aside from Greenbox’s communication expertise and desire to do what is best for the client, there are many other factors which differentiate Greenbox from its competitors. Andrew again talks about communication and the personal relationships that Greenbox develops with its clients. “As a whole, we have made a conscious decision to deliver good design, rather than grow too big too fast and lose touch with our clients. The directors really are involved in all the projects, and we have a great group of senior associates, associates and project leaders, all of whom reinforce the culture of being part of the process. “Ultimately, we are a business and need to be profitable. However, we are also architects and designers, and we want to design - it is our passion. We developed a process to manage the deliverable and quality, and to give all of us the time to engage with the project in a meaningful way.” Having touched on the personal nature of working with Greenbox, Andrew further discusses the challenges the company has overcome in order to become the success it is today, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. “Architect and designer were traditionally seen as the lead consultant in a team. Over the past 20 years, this relationship has since eroded and the construction industry has seen project managers stake their claim. This has led us, as a profession, to guarantee that we have our voice heard and are not side-lined. A common criticism of architects is that they are only being creative and do not understand the business side of construction. This misconception, in contrary to what we have to offer, is something we have overcome by insisting on doing what we know is right, actively getting involved in the discussions and tirelessly seeking feedbacks from our clients. Successful designs drive successful businesses.” Providing us with a brief overview of the industry within the APAC region, Andrew details the outside influences affecting the region, as well as the benefits for being based in Australia. Currently, there is a growing demand for architects and interior designers within the region, and it is increasingly important to be unique and stand out amongst the industry. “Architecture and interior design in both Australia and Asia Pacific are experiencing strong growth and demand. These days, projects are delivered in a number of ways: the traditional projects delivery, where architects and designers are teamed with specific engineers based on the project requirements. The projects lead