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So tell us about yourselves and your practise.
We both studied at Melbourne University and after practising architecture for local offices, we moved to London to live and work for a few years. On arrival back in Melbourne we set up our office. We're currently working on a number of institutional projects and on a range of residential projects.
What do you like the best about being architects?
Architects are fortunate in being given an opportunity to dream about how the future might be, and then being in a position to lead the process of transforming that vision into built reality. Whether the project involves analysing complex programmes, responding to difficult sites or simply generating spatial and formal solutions, it is the transition from vision to reality that's quite fulfilling.
So what was your brief for St. Stephen and St. Mary's Church?
It was a complex brief because the project had to respond to a number of existing buildings on the site and essentially knit them together as well as achieve a flexible configuration suitable for varying numbers of people involved in a range of activities. In addition the levels had to be resolved to provide disabled access throughout. The buildings on site varied tremendously in age and style from the gothic revival of the original 1865 church to the modernism of the current late 1960s church. In addition St. Stephen's combined with another church, St. Mary's, during the construction documentation process so the client requested that we include a sculpture in the forecourt incorporating an element from each church as a sign of their unification.
So why did you decide to use bifold doors in this project?
Bifolding doors provided the scheme with a spatial flexibility which would have been difficult to achieve with other door systems. It meant that we could move an entire 14 metre long facade out of the way to link inside and outside, enabling a mass of parishioners to move easily from inside to outside or visa versa. It works beautifully for the meeting rooms which face onto these doors and provides for all sorts of larger communal activities to take place such as the church fete.
What do you think about the functionality of the E2 hardware that you used on the bifold door?
One of the main problems with bifolding doors, is that they can be comparatively fragile if not well manufactured and installed. In this particular project anybody can be opening the doors, whether it is a teenager in the youth group or an elderly person, it is important that the doors open simply and easily. We specified the stainless steel version of the E2 with ball bearings which enable it to glide easily, but still be sufficiently robust for institutional usage.
So what sort of versatility do you think something like E2 provides?
I think it has significant versatility in generating a flexibility of space and providing for a flexibility of programme. A lot of our work is in the inner urban area where there is very little space and being able to open a wall means that we essentially gain extra space. Also with our climate, it's often wonderful to be able to open up and engage with the outside.
Would you specify bifold doors again?
We've got bifolding doors shown and specified on a number of current schemes.
What sort of projects have you been specifying them for - residential?
All types of projects. Bifolding doors work on residential projects, for instance, where we are trying to link gardens to internal spaces, or on commercial or institutional projects where the objective might be to promote a flexibility between the spaces. Bifolding doors are obviously comparatively more expensive than a standard swing door but the nett gain of additional space and flexibility effectively saves money.
The dropbolts - did you specify?
Yes, we've used the lockable drop bolts at St. Stephen and St. Mary's. They're flush, and easy to use. A lot of flush bolts where you have to pull out a lever and then lift them up or down, are very difficult for younger or elderly people to use, whereas this is just a straight push up or down.
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