About

Breakspear Architects is an ideas-driven office that offers creativity and rigour. We work on a diverse mix of project types that includes houses, apartment complexes, masterplans, public buildings, and commercial interiors. Our focus is to make architecture of quality that can have a transformative effect. We think that slowly, but surely, architecture can shape the way people live and feel.

We work by asking; “what does this project need to become?” In answering, we contemplate a broad outlook on life, society and the environment with our clients whilst designing specifically with architectural conventions of proportion, enclosure, materiality, and structure. We look for architecture with clarity and simplicity; architecture that can be a vessel for enrichment by people, light, landscape, and the city. We seek complexity not from architecture itself, but from the reciprocal relationships that emerge when a space is attuned to its surrounds in a rich ecology of life.

Breakspear Architects are pre-qualified for the Government Architect’s Strategy and Design Excellence Scheme. In 2017 the practice was engaged as lead-consultant for two high-profile public buildings; the 3-Sisters Visitor Information Centre (in association with CHROFI) and the Bronte Lifeguard Tower. In 2015 OneA received first place in a City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition. OneA won the 2019 Multi Residential Australian Institute of Architects Award. In 2014, ‘Poly’ was selected for Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation’s Fugitive Structures competition and was subsequently shortlisted of the 2014 IDEA Awards.

Awards

2019 Houses Awards, Emerging Architecture Practice, Commendation.
2019 Houses Awards, New Houses under 200m2 for Courted House, Commendation 2019 Australian Interior Design Awards for Courted House, Shortlist.
2019 INDE. Awards for Courted House, The Living Space Category, Shortlist.
2019 NSW Architecture Awards for Courted House, Shortlist – New House.
2019 NSW Architecture Awards for OneA Apartments, Winner – Multi Residential 2019 Master Builders Association Award for Courted House, Winner $1.6M Category.
2015 City of Sydney Design Excellence Competition for One-A Apartments, 1st Place 2015 Invited Competition, The Rocks Apartments, 2nd Place.
2014 IDEA Awards for Poly, Shortlist.

People

Breakspear Architects is directed by Toby Breakspear. Toby graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours and received the Graduate Award for Architecture History and Theory from the AIA NSW Chapter and the Ethel M Chettle Prize in Architecture. Toby worked with CHROFI from 2006-2012 where he was the project architect for the national and international award-winning pair of buildings; the Lune De Sang Sheds. He has lectured and taught at the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and University of Technology Sydney. Toby is equally passionate about architecture and surfing.

Toby is intimately involved with each of the Breakspear Architects projects. Informing our work is a talented team with diverse backgrounds and expertise in architecture, interiors, landscape, and urban design. We embrace the collaborative nature of design both within our team and with our clients.

Breakspear Architects caters to a broad range of clients including private individuals, local governments, institutions, and commercial enterprises. As well as working with many wonderful people on their houses, the Breakspear Architects’ clientele have included Blue Mountains City Council, Waverley Council, Penrith City Council, Northern Beaches Council, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, University of Sydney, Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Belvoir Theatre, Mountain Culture Beer Co, Hill PDA, Lendlease, Greenland, Golden Age, Stockland, and Winton Property Group.