Architecture Awards 2020

89 2020 Architecture Awards BUILD Jun20558 Best Boutique Architecture Firm 2020 – Queensland & BUILD Excellence Award in Passive House Design – Australia With over three decades of residential design experience, Dion Seminara considers himself not just as a design professional, but an educator too. Offering the very best in service and advice for bespoke home design projects, Dion Seminara Architecture is based in Brisbane, Australia, servicing all of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Northern New South Wales and Northern Territory. ion Seminara Architecture is a boutique architecture firm based in Brisbane, Australia, offering architecture, interior and landscape design services that facilitate quality, lifestyle orientated solutions. Named after founder and chief architect Dion Seminara, the central ethos of this firm has been the same since its inception; to educate, then offer a step by step process to deliver client focused outcomes in each project, whether it be a renovation, new home, extension, interior or landscape design project. Employing a collaborative approach that puts the desires of the client at the heart of every project, Dion Seminara Architecture focuses on designing homes that work around current and future lifestyles. Having completed over 700 design services throughout his career, Dion is well equipped to offer creative yet functional design solutions with honest and ethical advice throughout the process. As a licensed contractor as well as architect, Dion is committed to educating his clients and the broader public about passive and integrated design, as well as the many other services that go into crafting a dream home. Dion states that the best results are achieved when a client opens their mind to new opportunities that would maximise their sites and homes. With expertise in everything from good flow, to acoustics to climate response, Dion and his team know how to create the best of a space to fulfil the client’s wishes. With a clear but extensive design process that precedes the building phase, the client remains in total control of their project while Dion and his team are able to ensure each element is designed to the highest standard. Each element of the design service, from design advice to build- ready plans, is cultivated with the same consideration for sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes. The company has consistently maintained climate responsive bases to their design work, something which has become even more emphasised in recent years with the increased offering of sustainable and passive design as a concentrated element of each project. Sustainability and passive design principles have played an extensive role in the company’s Sustainable New Home project in Sherwood. The client’s brief set some very specific goals, principally that the house should generate more energy than it consumes, while also being a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home to live in. This meant building the house from the D ground up with sustainable design choices, including aspects such as airflow, solar panelling and window glazing. The home also had to be suitable for a resident of retirement age, so the rooms were perfectly laid out to enable better mobility. All this was achieved within the client’s budget and Dion Seminara Architecture received an outstanding 8.7 energy star rating from National Homes. It is the balance of designing a house to suit a client’s lifestyle, conscientiously operating sustainably and keeping the client in the loop throughout the entire process that has earned Dion Seminara Architecture such kudos within the industry. As a primarily residential architectural practice, with over 30 years of experience Dion has traded consistent through the GFC and now COVID. For Dion Seminara Architecture, it is all about being noticed within the Brisbane community. Their specialised skillset of passive design and design for lifestyle sets them apart from the competitors, frequently attracting renovation and new home clients. Every week a new opportunity is opened up for Dion Seminara Architecture, thanks to its consistent marketing efforts on social media and web channels. The company also offers a range of free resources as part of its efforts to educate clients and the wider community, which include design advice consultations to help clients see what is possible before they commit to a package. There is no doubt that this resourceful architecture firm will see big things ahead as they continue to pave the way for modern and accessible architecture services. Company: Dion Seminara Architecture Contact: Dion Seminara Web Address: www.dsarchitecture.com.au