Haiku 2

About

Haiku is about living with an intense awareness, about having an openness to the existence around us – a kind of openness that involves seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, + touching.

HAIKU_2 was established in July 1999.

Utilising the talents + experience of Brendan Kennedy, architect, our approach to projects is captured in the above quote. We wish to produce a built form that people respond to + that will enrich their existence.

While referring to the minimalism of modern architecture, we prefer to see our work as stripping away the unnecessary to capture the essence of building in both its form + materials.

Our aim is to produce architecture that will enable people to live with an ‘intense awareness’.

The aim of the practice is to establish a body of work in both the residential + commercial field. We have seen a steady growth since our inception, with a prime objective to develop a practice in which the principal maintains an active role in all aspects of the projects – from the initial client contact, throughout the design process + participating in the project delivery.

And now, starting our 20th year in practice we can now offer services in landscape design. Having completed a Diploma in Landscape Design at TAFE NSW, we are able to create the all in one indoor/outdoor experience. Whether it be a green wall or green roof in smaller restricted spaces, or designing the surrounding garden to compliment and interact with the house, we are able to provide the design, plant specifications and documentation to complete the project.

We look forward to continuing our contribution to the built and natural environment.

Brendan Kennedy

B Arch

Testimonials

In 2006-07, Cameron McLean and I commissioned Brendan Kennedy of Haiku_2 to design substantial renovations to a turn-of-the-century three-storey Victorian terrace at Darlinghurst, NSW. The site is in a conservation zone with strict development controls. The site was difficult as it was steeply sloping and there was poor access. When purchased, it was being used as a boarding house.

Brendan produced a beautiful design, substantially restoring the original terrace front, with Victorian elements inside at the front and modern elements at the back. There are many aspects for which we are grateful for Brendan’s design sense and talent but some of them (in no particular order) are the kitchen, downstairs powder room, internal lightwell and balcony cut into the building at the back and on one side, internal wooden staircase (built into the airspace of a right of way from the street to the lower ground level, leaving the right of way unimpeded), bedroom clothes cupboards which take up no wall space, attic storage, light and airy bathrooms with greenery views but still with plenty of storage, and bookcases doubling as a staircase wall. Brendan is a master of clean lines and detailing.

We engaged Brendan also to supervise the demolition, excavation and construction phases. His supervision work was excellent.

Finally, we got Brendan to advise and assist with choices of finishes and also some furniture. We found Brendan’s knowledge of available appliances and finishes to be extensive and his taste and colour sense to be impeccable.

In 2014-15, we engaged Brendan to design and supervise further renovations which have just commenced. These involve the installation of a passenger lift and lift lobby on each level, expansion of the powder room into a bathroom and turning the right of way into a new house entrance.

We have recommended Brendan to others and are happy to provide this testimonial for any others who might be interested. Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you wish to obtain verbal confirmation.

David Buchanan

Brendan was our architect over a period of 9 months. He redesigned our upstairs kitchen/dining area, deck/outdoor room and downstairs flat (which contains a kitchen, living room & bathroom/laundry). Having lived with these renovations for about 12 months now, we can truly say we are delighted with the result. Brendan was very sensitive to our proposal and did his utmost to incorporate our thoughts and needs into his design which is both creative and practical. He has a notable ability to communicate design clearly to client, builder, engineer and tradesmen alike. This ability proved invaluable for the whole 9 months, as we encountered the many different professionals and trades people who brought this project together. We are very grateful for the work and dedication that Brendan devoted to us over this time and would have no hesitation in recommending him to any prospective clie

Liz and David Armstrong

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.