In Conversation with Inglis Architects

When you founded Inglis Architects in 2011, what vision did you have for the practice, and how has it evolved over time? 

When I started Inglis Architects, my vision was simple: to create homes that felt deeply personal, carefully crafted, and timeless. I wanted every project to be more than just architecture — to be a backdrop for people’s lives that would endure and age gracefully. Over time, that vision has evolved as the practice has grown. While bespoke single residences remain at our core, we now also work across multi-residential and commercial projects, always with the same focus on detail, materiality, and tailored experiences. The scale has shifted, but the essence, craftsmanship and individuality hasn’t changed.

You often talk about designing for “simplicity and feeling.” What does that look like in your day-to-day process? 

For us, simplicity isn’t about being minimal for its own sake — it’s about clarity. Every line, every junction, every material must have purpose. Feeling is harder to pin down, but it’s the part that makes a space come alive. It might be the way morning light moves across a honed stone bench, or how a timber wall feels to the touch. In our process, we constantly ask: does this decision enhance the clarity of the design, and does it add to the emotional quality of the space? If the answer is no, we refine further. 

How do you decide which materials will bring a project to life? 

Material selection is probably the most instinctive part of our work. We begin with the story of the project, the client, the site, the history — and then find materials that can express that. Sometimes it’s about durability and restraint; other times it’s about richness and detail. For example, we might import handmade bricks from Spain if they feel right for the narrative of the façade or specify a local stone that grounds the house in its landscape. Ultimately, materials are the bridge between design intent and lived experience — they give architecture its authenticity. 

Your projects range from bespoke homes to multi-residential and commercial spaces. How do you shift your approach between scales? 

The scale changes, but the philosophy doesn’t. With a private home, we’re tailoring every inch to a family’s way of life. With multi-residential or commercial projects, the audience is broader, so we focus on designing frameworks that still feel individual. For instance, in multi-residential, we push for the same level of detail and crafted finishes you’d expect in a bespoke house, so that each dwelling feels special. In commercial projects, it’s about creating environments that elevate daily experience rather than just serving function. It’s always about human experience, just scaled differently. 

What excites you most about where Inglis Architects is heading next? 

We aspire to keep refining our craft — pushing boundaries while staying true to our core values of simplicity, sustainability, and context. What excites me most is the chance to deepen collaborations with clients, artisans, and landscapes, creating projects that resonate on both a personal and collective level. Looking ahead, we’re working on projects not just in Melbourne but across Australia, and internationally in places like Sydney, Noosa, and Central Otago in New Zealand. By staying committed to thoughtful and timeless design, our goal is to create spaces with enduring impact. 

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