Breathe

What we do

Architecture
Breathe has a proven reputation for robust, elegant, and highly efficient architectural solutions for residential, commercial, and government clients. Our work responds deeply to communities, cultures, and their localities, and our projects are built with future generations in mind.

Creative
Not every problem needs an architectural solution. Our creative team solves problems holistically, with bespoke, needs-specific outputs: strategic documents that assess feasibility or are used to attract funding, temporary installations, or even a piece of furniture or lighting range.

Sustainability
Breathe works on sustainability strategy at precinct- and city-scale. We identify the barriers that stop governments and planners from finding sustainable solutions, then work to dismantle them. Often this involves brokering relationships — between power generators, energy retailers, embedded network operators and residents, for example. We also advocate for sustainability in government departments and within the architecture, property and construction industries.

Our Process

01. Define
You have an idea, or perhaps a problem to solve. Together, we write a project brief and define its scope. Then, we propose an approach to a solution that solves the problem within your budget.

02. Design
The design phase is exactly what it says: a series of iterative, developing design activities that are progressively more detailed. The result? A design that responds specifically to the project scope.

03. Deliver
Through delivery, we work closely with construction and technical experts on an ongoing basis. This way, there are no surprises as we meet each project delivery milestone on time and on budget.

Purpose

We use design as a weapon for good, and a tool to build a better future.

We design built environments from a holistic, sustainable perspective: each project reconciles ecological and social impacts within the current economic climate.

Breathe are change agents, advocating for the people in the cities where we live and work. We create spaces that are meaningful and accessible to everyone.

Our Values

Ethical
We approach our work with integrity, humility, equitability and transparency. We work to our established values and moral compass.

Tenacious
We push through complexity to understand the issues behind the problem. We work to understand the needs of our stakeholders, how they live and work, how they aspire to operate, and how we can make their lives better through design.

Innovative
We never cease to question the status quo, create new systems, and overturn convention when convention isn’t good enough. We study what’s been done before and strive to do better. We inspire each other to broaden our positive impact.

Strategic
We always see the forest first, then the trees. We work smarter, not harder, build more with less, and always stop to ask the question, ‘Should we build anything at all?’

Accountable
We holistically evaluate environmental, cultural and financial sustainability in every task we undertake. We consider liveability, material life-cycle, carbon footprint and building performance to establish industry-leading projects.

Perfectly Imperfect
We embrace honesty in ourselves and in our practice. Our designs expose structure and services, and use natural, raw, robust materials. We accept their heritage and sense of purpose and we celebrate their imperfections and individuality.

A Practice with Principles

Carbon neutral
All Breathe buildings are designed to be holistically sustainable. We focus on 100% electrification, as well as removing natural gas, reducing carbon through construction, and eliminating carbon in the operation of the finished building. Breathe has been carbon neutral since 2018 (you can see the results of our annual carbon audits here) and as a founding signatory to Architects Declare, we helped lead the campaign to have Australian architects commit to carbon neutrality by 2030. Our office is powered by 100% renewable energy and operates in a building with a photovoltaic array and energy storage. We also purchase carbon credits to offset our business’ carbon footprint and those of our projects. Breathe targets zero waste, and offers composting and recycling facilities. All catering is vegan and cruelty-free.

Facing up to our history
Breathe are also committed to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia. We recognise the role we play in turning our intentions into clear actions through our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We are in the early stages of our journey and have established a working committee to help create a workplace culture that understands, values and respects the true history of this country and the cultures and contributions of First Nations peoples, to develop respectful relationships and create meaningful opportunities with First Nations peoples.

Awards

WINNER National Architecture Awards
WINNER VIC Architecture Awards
WINNER NSW Architecture Awards
WINNER Premier’s Design Awards
WINNER Premier’s Sustainability Awards
WINNER Good Design Awards

2021

• INDE Awards Multi Residential (Honourable Mention) - Breese St
• DRIVENxDESIGN Melbourne Design Awards Architecture,Residential, Constructed (Gold) - Edgars Creek House
• DRIVENxDESIGN Melbourne Design Awards Interior Design, Hospitality, On the Go (Silver) - ONA Coffee Melbourne
• DRIVENxDESIGN Melbourne Design Awards Architecture, Proposed (Gold) - The Melbourne Recovery Centre
• The Urban Developer Awards Development of the Year, Medium Density Residential (Shortlisted) - Breese St
• The Urban Developer Awards Excellence in Sustainability (Shortlisted) - Breese St
• NSW Architecture Awards Residential Architecture — Multiple Housing - Arkadia
• NSW Architecture Awards Residential Architecture — Houses, New (Commendation) - Cobargo Santa Project
• NSW Architecture Awards Sustainable Architecture - Cobargo Santa Project
• VIC Architecture Awards Sustainability (Commended) - ONA Coffee Melbourne
• Houses Awards Apartment or Unit (Shortlisted) - Breese St 
• Houses Awards Sustainability (Shortlisted) - Breese St
• VIC Architecture Awards Sustainability (Shortlisted) - Breese St
• Frame Awards Best Use of Material (Highly Commended) - Arkadia
• Frame Awards Best Co-Living Complex (Highly Commended) - Arkadia
• Banksia Sustainability Awards Medium Business Sustainability Award - Arkadia
• IDEA Awards Residential New (Highly Commended) - Edgars Creek House

2020

• Houses Awards Sustainability (Commendation) - Edgars Creek House 
• Think Brick Awards Bruce Mackenzie Landscape Award - Arkadia
• City of Port Phillip Design Awards Residential dwelling — Alteration or New Build - Brick and Gable House
• Australian Interior Design Awards Residential Design (Shortlisted) - Edgars Creek House
• INDE Awards ‘The Living Space’ Award (Shortlisted) - Edgars Creek House
• INDE Awards ‘The Living Space’ Award (Shortlisted) - Bardolph Gardens
• Sustainability Awards Multiple Dwellings - Arkadia
• Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling — New - Edgars Creek House
• Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling — Alteration - Warehouse Greenhouse
• Houses Awards Sustainability (Commendation) - Bardolph Gardens
• Houses Awards Apartment or Unit (Commendation) - Bardolph Gardens
• Houses Awards New House Over 200sqm (Shortlisted) - Edgars Creek House
• Houses Awards Sustainability (Shortlisted) - Warehouse Greenhouse
• Good Design Awards Sustainability Award - Arkadia
• Good Design Awards Precinct Award - Arkadia
• Good Design Awards Best In Class — Architectural Design, Residential & Commercial - Arkadia
• NSW Architecture Awards Sustainable Architecture - Arkadia
• NSW Architecture Awards Peoples Choice Award - Arkadia
• VIC Architecture Awards Residential Architecture — Houses, New (Shortlisted) - Edgars Creek House

2019

• Conde Nast Traveller International Top Hotels - Paramount House Hotel
• Houses Awards Sustainability (Commendation) - Brick and Gable House
• IDEA Awards Sustainability (Shortlisted) - Brick and Gable House
• IDEA Awards Residential Single (Shortlisted) - Brick and Gable House
• NSW Architecture Awards Commercial Architecture - Paramount House Hotel
• NSW Architecture Awards Heritage — Creative Adaptation and Conservation - Paramount House Hotel
• National Architecture Awards Heritage — Creative Adaptation and Conservation
• VIC Architecture Awards Residential Architecture — Houses, Alterations and Additions (Shortlisted) - Brick and Gable House
• National Architecture Awards Commercial Architecture - Paramount House Hotel

2018

• Conde Nast Traveller International Top Hotels - Paramount House Hotel
• Gourmet Traveller Hotel of the Year - Paramount House Hotel
• Eat Drink Design Awards Best Hotel (Shortlisted) - Paramount House Hotel
• Australian Interior Design Awards Residential Design (Commendation) - Nightingale
• INDE Awards ‘The Multi Residential Building’ Award - Nightingale 1
• Houses Awards Sustainability Award - Nightingale 1
• IDEA Awards Sustainability - Nightingale 1
• Good Design Awards Best In Class — Architectural Design, Residential & Commercial - Nightingale 1
• Premier’s Design Awards Best In Category — Architectural Design - Nightingale 1
• National Architecture Awards Residential Architecture — Multiple Housing -Nightingale 1
• VIC Architecture Awards Melbourne Prize - Nightingale 1
• VIC Architecture Awards The Best Overend Award for Residential Architecture — Multi-Residential - Nightingale 1
• VIC Architecture Awards The Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture - Nightingale 1
• National Architecture Awards David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture - Nightingale 1

2017

• INDE Awards ‘The Work Space’ Award - Slack Melbourne
• Sustainable Building Awards Achievement of Merit — People’s Choice Awards -Nightingale 1
• Premier’s Sustainability Awards Built Environment - Nightingale 1
• VIC Architecture Awards Interior Architecture - Slack Melbourne

2016

• Australian Interior Design Awards Award for Interior Design Impact - The Commons
• Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards Leadership in Sustainability Prize
• NSW Architecture Awards Residential — Alterations & Additions Double Life House
  2015 Houses Awards Sustainability Award - QV8

2015

• Eat Drink Design Awards High Commendation - Transformer Fitzroy

2014

• Houses Awards Apartment or Unit (Shortlisted) - Tinderbox House
• Intergrain Timber Vision Award Commercial Exterior - The Commons
• Dulux Colour Award Single Residential Interior - Bricolage House
• Australian Timber Design Awards Timber Cladding - The Commons
• BPN Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling — New (Commendation) - Stonewood
• IDEA Awards Sustainability - The Commons
• IDEA Awards Residential — Multi - The Commons
• IDEA Awards Residential — Single (Shortlisted) - Prospect House 
• BPN Sustainability Awards Best of the Best - The Commons
• BPN Sustainability Awards Multi Density Residential - The Commons
• Houses Awards Sustainability Award - The Commons
• Houses Awards Sustainability (Commendation) - Stonewood
• Houses Awards New House Over 200sqm - Stonewood
• Houses Awards Apartment or Unit (Shortlisted) - The Commons
• Premier’s Design Awards Premiers Design Award Winner - The Commons
• Premier’s Design Awards Best In Category — Architectural Design - The Commons
• National Architecture Awards Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture — Multiple Housing - The Commons
• VIC Architecture Awards Allan & Beth Coldicutt Award Sustainable Architecture - The Commons
• VIC Architecture Awards Best Overend Award Residential Architecture: Multiple Housing - The Commons
• VIC Architecture Awards Melbourne Prize (Shortlisted) - The Commons
• VIC Architecture Awards Sustainable Architecture - Stonewood
• National Architecture Awards David Oppenheim Award for Sustainable Architecture - The Commons

2013

• Intergrain Timber Vision Award Commercial Interior - Captain Melville
• International Restaurant & Bar Design Australia & Pacific Restaurant - Captain Melville
• Eat Drink Design Awards Best Bar Finalist - Captain Melville
• BPN Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling — New (Commendation) - Into The Woods
• BPN Sustainability Awards Single Dwelling — Alterations and Extensions - Bricolage House
• IDEA Awards Hospitality - Captain Melville
• Houses Awards New House over 200sqm (Shortlisted) - Into The Woods
• Houses Awards New House over 200sqm (Shortlisted) - Model House
• VIC Architecture Awards Interior Architecture (Commendation) - Captain Melville
• VIC Architecture Awards Residential New (Shortlisted) - Into The Woods