Who we are
Gardiner Architects is an established practice of five architects and ancillary staff. Founded over 35 years ago by director Paul Gardiner, we seek to create thoughtful and honest architecture that is sustainable and well-made.
Our practice works skilfully in a range of fields including residential, commercial, health, and education. We have local and international knowledge and experience, and offer a range of services to suit the unique needs of our individual clients. You can read more about our services along with answers to some common questions here.
What we do
Over the years we’ve designed a lot of considered, sustainable and celebrated architecture, but inspiring design doesn’t just happen by accident! Navigating the pitfalls of the planning and building industries is a complex and confusing process. Our job, as well as designing beautiful spaces, is to be a trusted guide along the way.
But it’s not all down to us; our clients are remarkable people. They’re ready to invest in the design process and come with us on a journey. Along the way we'll help you find answers to the complicated questions that make designing any great building a challenge.
We'll help you understand why we’re recommending certain ideas, and we'll suggest different directions that you may not have imagined. We’ll design to your lifestyle and your values but ask that you come to us with an open mind, unafraid to try something new.
We believe good design enhances wellbeing, and through our architecture you’ll feel assured you’re doing everything you can to positively impact your own life, the environment, and your neighbourhood. If we’re a good fit for each other, we’ll endeavour to do everything possible to make your project a success.
Our process starts with a coffee and a chat so when you’re ready, give us a call.
The Gardiner Architects Team
Paul Gardiner
Principal Architect
Paul has over 30 years of industry experience in the residential, commercial, educational and medical sectors. His experience ranges from school masterplanning to multi-residential developments with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. During his career, Paul has been involved in multiple community-based projects that often incorporate the sustainable approach of refurbishing existing building stock. Paul promotes sustainable architecture and has become an advocate for the use of sustainable cross-laminated timber construction.
Paul is instrumental in the smooth running of the office, taking on the role of project architect or overseer in a majority of projects in the practice. He prioritises good design outcomes that are well planned and cater for people of all abilities. Paul ventures to create, as we all do, architectural solutions that are practical to build, cost effective and best value.
Vaughan Bones
Senior Project Architect
Vaughan is a staunchly proud Tasmanian. At Gardiner Architects he’s worked on a range of architectural projects including taking on the role of project architect on our multi-residential mass timber project.
Before joining Gardiner Architects, Vaughan worked at the Hobart City Council on urban infrastructure and public space design projects. Vaughan enjoys the conceptual and schematic design processes. He brings projects to life through meticulous detailing, planning documents and 3D modelling. Vaughan is the practices authority on presentation, 3D modelling and computer software. He brings projects to life and ensures design accuracy and efficiency. Vaughan also has experience working on competition entries and has authored an academic paper on the interpretative qualities of heritage spaces.
Marlee Dawson
Senior Project Architect
Marlee is from Northern NSW, she studied in Sydney and has worked at Gardiner Architects for over eight years now. Her experience as a project architect sees relationships and shared experiences with users, other architects, builders and consultants prioritised. Marlee enjoys time on site which allows her to ensure that what has been designed comes to reality to the finest detail. She is interested in an architectural outcome that revolves around the social and cultural experience of space. This focus, centred on the experience of architecture by all users was an underlying influence in her university design projects and research.
Marlee recently completed building a Gardiner Architects home in Mullumbimby, NSW working as her dads offsider on site.
Lachlan Byrne
Project Architect
Locky joined the Gardiner Architects team a couple years ago now. He has brought a wide range of knowledge of construction and building types gathered from being on the tools with his dad as well as working on multiple project types throughout Victoria. Originally from the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Locky’s career started in Echuca on the boarder of New South Wales where he worked on projects ranging from designing new homes to large scale government works and community infrastructure.
Studying wayfinding and pedestrian movement at university, he applies a logic and rationale to projects to create efficient and user-friendly environments to suit each of our client's needs. Utilising his construction knowledge, he also enjoys detailing the finer points of a project to deliver a well-considered design.
Ross Driessen
Graduate of Architecture
Ross joined Gardiner Architects in 2023 after working across residential and multi-residential projects in Sydney and Hobart. Ross is interested in how architecture can be used to integrate the diversities of communities and human situations, and researching alternative materials and systems for a post-carbon future.
Lucy
Administrative Assistant
Lucy is team morale booster and is recipient of the employee of the year for three consecutive years. In her first week in the office she collected a large drawing printed from the plotter and brought it over to us. While she hasn’t repeated this handy trick, we knew from that day on that she was an integral member of the Gardiner Architects team. When Lucy isn’t researching possums in the park, she is using her cutest facial expressions to coerce a crumb from your lunch. She is partial to a saucer of soy milk when someone does a round of tea and coffees.