Beyond the brief: How Hive Architecture uncovers the homes clients really want

Confidence through collaboration

Like many practices, Hive Architecture has grown by deepening its commitment to genuine collaboration.

Early in his career, Goode was mindful of avoiding the stereotype of the architect who arrives with a fixed vision. Instead, he focused on listening closely and creating space for clients’ ideas to shape the direction of each project. Over time, he realised that true collaboration isn’t about stepping back, it’s about contributing openly while staying responsive to others.

“I learned that people value seeing our ideas too, as long as we remain ready to evolve them together,” he says.

One of the practice's defining projects was Nojoor, a home designed for clients relocating from Melbourne who embraced Hive's ideas from the outset. Rather than pursuing dramatic views or overt architectural gestures, the home celebrated the site's established landscape, natural materials and carefully resolved detailing.

“Their trust from the outset really motivated us to deliver our best work,” Goode says. “They supported the vision and stayed committed to the quality of the detailing.” 

The completed project went on to receive multiple Master Builders awards and significantly raised the practice's profile. More recently, Pomona House has attracted similar attention, with praise from builders, and visitors alike.

For Goode, however, recognition is simply a by-product of creating homes that genuinely improve everyday life.

"I think people have stressful lives these days," he says. "They're really trying to find out how to feel better."

Finding the brief behind the brief

That philosophy shapes Hive Architecture's design process from the very first meeting.

Rather than relying on inspiration images alone, Goode encourages conversation around why clients respond to certain spaces, often sharing previous projects and explaining the thinking behind them.

“When we share the thinking behind a project, clients often begin expressing their own ideas with the same clarity,” he says. “They’ll say things like, ‘I love how this feels,’ or ‘That approach resonates with what I’m trying to achieve.’”

To support that conversation, Goode will sometimes include a wide range of images — even ones he suspects may not align with the client’s taste,  simply to help them articulate what matters most.

“It becomes a really energising dialogue,” he says. “People respond instinctively, and those reactions help us understand what they’re truly seeking.”

Those exchanges often reveal that what seems like a request for a particular room or layout is actually rooted in something deeper — a desire for flow, privacy, warmth, connection, or a feeling they want the space to evoke.

"The key is finding out why," Goode explains. "Then we can come up with multiple design ideas that achieve that outcome, rather than just working on a surface level."

With that understanding established, Hive Architecture develops comprehensive 

concepts early in the design process, giving clients a clear picture of the proposal before refining the finer details. The approach allows decisions around planning, budget and materiality to happen sooner, helping projects progress with greater confidence.

Looking ahead

As the practice enters its second decade, Goode is increasingly interested in how architecture can support wellbeing in more holistic ways.

Connection to nature has long informed Hive Architecture's work, but future projects will also explore how lighting, heating, materials and emerging research around healthy homes can contribute to the way people feel every day.

"I think there's a really interesting stage of design development coming up," he says. "People are placing more value on these things, and that's going to allow us to explore new ideas."

For Hive Architecture, however, the ambition remains unchanged.

Rather than chasing a fixed stylistic formula, the practice focuses on creating architecture that feels both recognisably ours and deeply rooted in its context, creating homes that respond to their site, reflect the people who live in them, and enrich everyday life. 

If you're planning a new home or renovation, explore Hive Architecture on ArchiPro alongside a curated collection of products, professionals and inspiring projects to help bring your vision to life. 

For homeowners thinking about their own project, ArchiPro offers a wealth of inspiration on designing for wellbeing, from ideas for bringing nature into the home to considered approaches to lighting, healthy materials and more responsive living environments.