CHROFI

CHROFI was founded in 2000 as Choi Ropiha following the win in the international competition for the re-design of the TKTS booth in Times Square, New York. The practice studio in Manly is now home to a team of 35 professionals headed by directors John Choi, Tai Ropiha and Steven Fighera.

Completed in 2008, the TKTS project has been widely recognised with awards including the 2006 New York Art Commission Award. 2009 Dn& AD Award Environment category, 2009 World Architectural Festival Award, 2009 People’s Design Award Nomination, Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, 2009 Chicago Athenaeum Architecture Award, 2009 AIA Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture, and 2010 American Institute of Architects, National Honors Award for Architecture, and has been cited as New York's building of the Decade.

Other projects of note are Lune De Sang, Harbord Diggers Redevelopment with Architectus & JMD, Stamford on Macquarie, $100M residential tower in Sydney, The Goods Line with Aspect Studios, Narrabeen House, Ballast Point, Manly 2015 Masterplan, Binhai New City International Competition (1st Prize) and 2002 Parramatta Road Master Plan Competition (1st Prize).

The partners have lectured at various forums including Sydney Opera House, University of Sydney, Sydney Town Hall and Queensland State Library. Publications include A+T Strategy: Public (Spain), C3 Energy Efficiency - a New Aesthetic (Korea), and numerous blogs, journals and newspapers. Group exhibitions include Abundant: Venice Biennale (Italy), Boston Society of Architects Gallery (USA) and Architecture 09: Boutwell Draper Gallery (Australia).

Appointments include Adjunct Professorship at the University of Sydney, Sydney Olympic Park Authority Design Review Panel and the board of 4A Centre of Contemporary Asian Art.

Our design approach is exemplified by the practice's founding project, TKTS Times Square in New York. It is widely acclaimed for the way in which the design provided public and private benefits, while simultaneously strengthening the essential character of Times Square. It has been this ability to find solutions that work at multiple levels that now characterizes the way in which the practice of CHROFI approaches all of their projects.

We work across all scales of projects from houses to cities. Our approach is highly bespoke and expands from the specific requirements of each project and the clients' desires. We are committed to the fertile ground that exists between people, architecture, and the world. Design is not just focused on the physical project in itself but framed as an operative agency that drives urban, social, cultural, environmental, economic and political outcomes.

Whilst this ‘big picture’ approach gives clarity to the practice's strategic thinking, the practice also endeavours to match this logic with a parallel pursuit for an evocative architecture of unexpected delight.

2020

• NSW AIA Awards, Robert Woodward Award for Small Project Architecture, Winner – Marsden Park Amenities
• NSW AIA Awards, Robert Woodward Award for Small Project Architecture, Commendation - Summer Place Pavilion
• HOUSES Awards, New House Under 200 m2, Commendation – Courtyard House
• HOUSES Awards, Sustainability, Commendation – Courtyard House
• AIDA, Residential Design, Shortlist – Church Point House

2019

• AIA Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design – Maitland Riverlink
• AIA Public Architecture Award – Maitland Riverlink
• Australian Urban Design Awards - Built, City & Regional Scale - Maitland Riverlink
• NSW Architecture Medallion – Maitland Riverlink
• Sulman Medal for Public Architecture – Maitland Riverlink
• NSW Architecture Award, Blacket Prize – Maitland Riverlink
• NSW Architecture Award, Urban Design – Maitland Riverlink
• The Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award – Maitland Riverlink
• INDE.Award, The Building – Maitland Riverlink
• WAN Awards, Future Project: Civic, Silver - Sutherland Entertainment Centre
• The Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award, 
Multifamily Housing – Lune de Sang Pavilion
• NSW Architecture Award, Commendation – Bay St Glebe MEZZO
• Think Brick, Horbury Hunt Residential, High Commendation – Balmoral House 

• INDE.Award, The Living Space, Finalist – Lune de Sang 

• Australia by Design, Ultimate Architectural Statement - Lune de Sang Pavilion
• Newcastle AIA Awards - Winner, Public Architecture Maitland Riverlink
• Newcastle AIA Awards - Winner, Urban Design Maitland Riverlink
• Newcastle AIA Awards - Winner, Newcastle Jury Prize Maitland Riverlink

2018

• Australian Urban Design Awards - Winner, Built Projects, Local and Neighbourhood Scale - South Sydney Hospital Site Green Infrastructure Centre
• Blueprint Awards - Winner, Best Public Project with Public Funding Maitland Riverlink
• Think Brick Awards - High Commendation in the Horbury Hunt Commercial Maitland Riverlink
• Think Brick Awards - High Commendation for the New Entrant award Maitland Riverlink
• World Architecture Festival – Villa category Shortlist, Lune de Sang Pavilion (to be announced Nov)
• World Architecture Festival – Civic and Community category Shortlist, Maitland Riverlink (to be announced Nov)
• World Architecture Festival – Future Project category Shortlist, Ian Potter Conservatory (to be announced Nov)
• Northern Regions Excellence in Building Awards - Winner, multiple categories Lune de Sang Pavilion
• HOUSES Award – Commendation, Lune de Sang Pavilion
• The Urban Developer Award, Mixed-Use category – Winner, Harbord Diggers Club
• Architizer A+ Awards – Finalist, Maitland Riverlink
• Architizer A+ Awards – Finalist, Lune de Sang Pavilion

2017

• National Architecture Awards, National Award for Urban Design The Goods Line
• National Architecture Awards, Nicholas Murcutt Award for Small Project Architecture Lizard Log Amenities and Events Pavilion
• NSW Architecture Awards, Public Architecture Lizard Log Amenities and Events Pavilion
• NSW Architecture Awards, Steel Architecture Lizard Log Amenities and Events Pavilion
• NSW Architecture Awards, Urban Design The Goods Line
• Architizer A+ Awards, Unbuilt Sports & Recreation Gunyama Park & Aquatic Centre
• Architizer A+ Awards, Unbuilt Institutional Ian Potter National Conservatory

2016

• NSW Awards for Planning Excellence – From Plan to Place The Goods Line
• NSW Awards for Planning Excellence – Great Place The Goods Line
• AILA National Awards – Civic Landscape The Goods Line
• Australian Urban Design Awards; Delivered Outcome – Small Scale The Goods Line
• Australia Award for Urban Design, Policies, programs and concepts – large scale Turramurra Master Plan
• AILA NSW Awards – Civic Landscape Award of Excellence The Goods Line
• 202020 Vision Green Design Award The Goods Line
• AZ Awards – Award of Merit for Best Landscape Architecture The Goods Line
• 22nd Annual Heritage Awards; Highly Commended – Conservation Landscape The Goods Line

2015

• 6th ‘Yuan Ye’ Award Professional Competition – First Prize Winner: Exquisite Landscape The Goods Line
• The Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award Lune de Sang Stone House
  Lune de Sang Shed 1
  Lune de Sang Shed 2
• Blueprint Award, Category Shortlist Lune de Sang Shed 1
• Architecture Podium International Architecture Awards, 3rd Award Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2 
• World Architecture News Concrete in Architecture, Shortlist Lune de Sang Shed 1
• AZ Awards for Design Excellence, Finalist Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2
• Barangaroo The Beacon Competition, Winner The Beacon
• NSW Creative Laureate, Finalist
• ArchDaily Building of the Year, Finalist Lune de Sang Shed 1
  
  
• 2014
  
• City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition, Runner Up The Crest Hotel Redevelopment
• World Architecture Festival, Category Winner Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2
• AR Awards for Emerging Architecture, Runner Up Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2
• Green Square Gunyama Park & Aquatic Centre Competition, Finalist Green Square Gunyama Park & Aquatic Centre
• Australia Award for Urban Design The Goods Line
• Marsden Park Amenities Competition, Winner Marsden Park Amenities
• AIA Commercial Architecture Award Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2
• AIA Hugh and Eva Buhrich Award for Residential Architecture Lune de Sang Stone House
• Architizer A+ Award, Category Winner Lune de Sang Shed 1 & 2
• Harbord Diggers Design Competition, Winner Harbord Diggers
• City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition, Winner Bay Street Glebe
  
  

2013

• AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award Maitland High Street
• AILA NSW Landscape Architecture Award Lizard Log Park (Overall Park)
• Parramatta Park Amenities Competition, Winner Parramatta Park Amenities

2012

• Iakov Chernikhov Prize Nomination
• The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award Narrabeen House
• AILA Premier's People’s Choice Award Lizard Log (Overall Park)

2011

• City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition, Winner Stamford on Macquarie
• Alumni Award for International Achievement, Faculty of Architecture, University of Sydney
• Australian Institute of Architects, NSW, Commendation Millstream Lookout
• Australian Institute of Architects, NSW, Geberit Award Lizard Log
• The Chicago Athenaeum, International Architecture Award Ballast Point (Overall Park)

2010

• TDA Design Award, Residential, Highly Commended Narrabeen House
• Weathertex Design Awards, Residential Winner Surfview House
• International Waterfront Centre Award, Winner Ballast Point (Overall Park)
• National Trust Heritage Awards, Commendation Ballast Point (Overall Park)
• GOOD DESIGN Award TKTS
• American Institute of Architects, National Honors Award TKTS
  

2009

• AR Awards for Emerging Architecture, Commendation Millstream Lookout
• AR Awards for Emerging Architecture, Commendation Transgrid Ventilation Shaft
• AR Awards for Emerging Architecture, Commendation TKTS
• World Architecture Festival Award, Category Winner TKTS
• The Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Awards TKTS
• Spark! Design & Architecture Award, Winner TKTS
• Australian Institute of Architects, Jørn Utzon Award TKTS
• American Institute of Architects, NY, Best in New York State TKTS
• American Institute of Architects, NY, Design Award TKTS
• Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, People’s Design Award Nomination TKTS
• Interior Design Magazine, Best of Year Award, Public Space TKTS
• Pittwater Sustainability Award, Residential Category Mona Vale House
• BPN National Sustainability Award, Residential, Finalist Mona Vale House
• IESNA Illumination Award: Lumen Citation TKTS
• D & AD Yellow Pencil Award, Environment Design Category TKTS
• Australian Institute of Architects, NSW, Commendation Ballast Point
• AHA National Award, Best Hair Salon Design Cranium
• I.D. Magazine’s Annual Design Review Award TKTS
• William H. Whyte Award, American Planning Association NY TKTS
• Municipal Art Society of New York, MASterworks Award TKTS
• Travel + Leisure Design Award, Best Public Space TKTS
• American Institute of Architects, NYC, Design Award Merit TKTS

2008

• Australian Institute of Landscape Architect, NSW, Planning Eum Yang
• Manly Triangle Design Competition, 1st Prize Manly Triangle
• TDA Design Award, Environment Category, Finalist Mona Vale House
• Think Brick About Face Award, Highly Commended Brick Lane
• Australian Institute of Architects, NSW, Architecture Award Transgrid Ventilation Shaft

2007

• HIA Apartment of the Year, Finalist ISAR
• HIA Most Innovative Use of Steel, Finalist ISAR
• MBA Award for Best Home Unit up to $250,000 ISAR

2006

• New York Art Commission Award TKTS
• Hefei New District Design Competition, Equal 1st Prize Hefei Binhu Master Plan
• City North Substation Competition, 2nd Prize City North Substation 

2005

• Binhai New City Design Competition,1st Prize Tianjin Binhai City Plan

2004

• Eco Housing Competition, Affordability Commendation 
• Eco Housing PIA NSW, Urban Planning Commendation Woolongong Cultural Incubator

2001

• Parramatta Road International Urban Design Competition, 1st Prize Parramatta Road Strategic Plan

2000

• TKTS2K International Design Competition, 1st Prize TKTS

1998

• Andrew Boy Charlton Pool Competition, Finalist