Australian architecture practice Genton is opening a London studio, bringing 16 years of experience delivering major public, civic and infrastructure projects to a new region. A long-held ambition for the team, the new studio builds on the momentum and growing portfolio of the practice.

The new studio will be led by architect Zak Barry, who previously spent nine years at Genton as a key member of the practice and was Genton’s project leader on the Powerhouse Parramatta design competition. His understanding of the practice’s culture and design philosophy, coupled with his knowledge of the local industry in the UK and Europe, makes him the perfect fit for the role.

“Europe has a deep culture of design quality in its civic buildings, and the region is undergoing a significant period of urban renewal as cities decarbonise,” says Barry. “Genton has a proven record of delivering high-quality public projects. We see a real opportunity to build new partnerships here and make a lasting contribution to cities across the region.”

“The idea is to build a team in London that understands how we work, but also knows the local market, with strong links back to our Sydney and Melbourne studios,” says Steven Toia, principal at Genton. “Our international expansion is built on the strength of the practice over the past 16 years, and we want to bring those insights with us. Australian architecture has matured, and we’re bringing our design capability, strategic thinking and Australian ingenuity to international markets.”

The move comes just ahead of the opening of Powerhouse Parramatta, one of the world’s most significant (and highly anticipated) new museum projects, proudly funded by the NSW Government. Awarded through an open international design competition in 2019 to the architectural team of Moreau Kusunoki (lead designer), Genton (local architect) and Arup (engineering), the project is the largest investment in a cultural infrastructure project in NSW since the Sydney Opera House.

The London studio will be an extension of the Australian practice, pursuing project opportunities across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. In terms of sectors, the studio will seek out the work Genton is known for: major public and civic projects, cultural, educations and government work, as well as complex transport and rail infrastructure.

Rather than a separate office, the practice intends for the new venture to enrich its collective knowledge and provide opportunities to collaborate across time zones and regions.

“We’ll keep the same approach we have in Australia: being really invested in the projects we take on, and working closely with clients and collaborators to turn bold ideas into impactful architecture,” says Toia. “We’ve always been defined by a spirit of creative exploration and a drive to push the boundaries of design, and we’ve successfully delivered major public, civic and infrastructure projects across Australia, earning international recognition along the way.”

While many international architecture practices open studios in Australia, the reverse is less common. The new studio provides the opportunity for Genton to bring its Australian design sensitivity to international markets.

“It’s about bringing our design capability, strategic thinking and Australian ingenuity, along with our experience in complex project delivery, into new contexts,” says Toia. “We know how to listen carefully to be open to learning about what each place needs. We have refined and tested our design principles over the past 16 years of practice and Australian architecture is at a point where we’re really understanding our place in the world, and re-understanding our connection to Country. That way of thinking about place, people and context is something we’ll take with us. We’ll be looking to collaborate with local architects, clients and industry partners, and I am excited at the prospect of design exchange and I look forward to stretching our wings globally.”

Top image: Reservoir Station, designed by Genton. Photo: Peter Clarke.