Abbie Galvin

Abbie Galvin 0408 182 556
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Abbie Galvin, Project Principal for the Wilkhan Asia Pacific Factory and Showroom said, ,This is the second time BVN have had the pleasure of working with Wilkhahn in the redevelopment of their factory and showroom.
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Ms Galvin noted that, ,The structure of ramp, platform, stair and mezzanine, clad in birch plywood, are treated as a dramatic insertion into the existing warehouse space with the organic quality of the birch contrasting with the industrial steel structure.

Other project team members Leonardo Arias, Milena Beames, Matthew Blair, Craig Burns, Ann Burton, Brendan Cadden, Georgina Camp, Walter Carniato, Emma Cecchin, Peter Clarke, Geoff Cooke, Caroline Diesner, Bill Dowzer, Catherine Edwards, Sharon Francis, Abbie Galvin, Christian Greve, Michael Harvey, Neil Hill, Bernard Hogan, Billy Horgan, Daniel Horsley, Michelle Hosking, Kim Humphreys, Greg Knight, Nikki Launder, Leny Lembo, Carolyn Meddick, Devina Metzlar, Damien Mulvihill, Nesha Naidoo, Michael Persch, Thannop Poomcharoenwattana, Brooke Radtke, Domino Risch, Nicholas Searle, Eleanor Sparrow, John Van Gemert, Barbara Vourakis, Rob Weiss, Surinder Yadav.

London's will Alsop answers Abbie Galvin after headlining the Museum of Sydney's Nexus festival.
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Abbie Galvin is an architect with Bligh Voller Nield and an architectural consultant to the Museum of Sydney.

Abbie Galvin

Bligh Voller Nield - Abbie Galvin
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Abbie Galvin
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Abbie Galvin
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Abbie Galvin is a Principal of Bligh Voller Nield and a registered architect with extensive project experience on award winning public, educational, urban and workplace and workplace projects.Graduating from the University of WA with honors and the Design Medal, Abbie went on to win the RAIA Travel Grant for Design Excellence.Abbie has considerable experience in the design, documentation and administration of a diverse range of projects including public and educational buildings, commercial work environments, urban spaces, and in the preparation of detailed commercial property analysis.She has developed comprehensive skills in coordinating large project teams, client liaison, user consultation, and managing projects throughout both the design and construction phase of their delivery.

Abbie was design and project director for the new Deutsche Bank Headquarters, Sydney winner of RAIA State and National Awards, and on the award winning Clemenger BBDO and Sir Robert Webster Building at the UNSW.She is currently Design Director for the HMAS Creswell Redevelopment, the Stockland New Headquarters and the Royal North Shore Hospital PPP.

Bligh Voller Nield principals Bill Dowzer and Abbie Galvin, who led the project, admit that Deutsche Bank has none of the relaxed bonhomie or sustainable community spirit of MLC Campus, NAB's scheme in Melbourne Docklands or even Westpac Place.

Abbie Galvin, Project Principal for the Wilkhahn Asia Pacific Factory and Showroom said: "This is the second time BVN have had the pleasure of working with Wilkhahn in the redevelopment of their factory and showroom.

The image that BVN's project architect, Abbie Galvin, used to explain the concept to the client is the tree house in The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, an author popular with Abbie's children but not until now regarded of as an architectural theorist.

Abbie Galvin

This has changed, according to Abbie Galvin, principal at architecture practice, Bligh Voller Nield (BVN).She says buildings are no longer being designed from the outside-in, but from the inside-out.

"As an industry, it means that we're really in an incredibly exciting time.It's a fabulous opportunity for architecture not to become isolated but to completely engage with and be a vehicle in business change and organisational change," says Galvin.

One of the major reasons for this change is that tenants are becoming much more involved in the design of internal work spaces."Tenants are demanding a lot more say in what they want and developers are starting to listen to them, and they're getting a market advantage by listening to them.Even though we're in an environment at the moment where office space is incredibly difficult to get, tenants are still, especially with new buildings, commanding a lot of respect in being listened to in terms of their needs," says Galvin.

So how does an architecture firm meet the demands of its clients?Galvin says it's about engaging with employees at all levels to provide the best possible solutions for that organisation."We usually run strategic and aspirational workshops with a business , [firstly] with the executives to say what is it [they want].You set the guidelines . . . and then we start going into more detailed functional briefings with groups within the business."

Flexibility in design

The most pressing demand from tenants in the design of their work place is flexibility, says Galvin.Traditionally, most office buildings have been designed with their structural core in the middle with working spaces divided into four precincts.

"Organisations want the flexibility to be able to put the core to the side, and you allow then this huge floor where they're actually able to do whatever they want.

"The visibility across floors is fundamental," says Galvin.

In today's marketplace organisations are constantly growing and restructuring, so Galvin says it is essential to build a footprint that can easily be modified to suit changing businesses.
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While there was significant physical change within that, no changes or modifications had to be made to the building itself," says Galvin.The design was so innovative Deutsche Bank Place was the winner of the 2007 Property Council of Australia Rider Levett Bucknall Award.

Technology also plays a part in the need for greater flexibility.It is constantly changing and evolving, so it is essential to have a flexible design in order to keep up with these changes says Galvin."When I started work we didn't draw on computers, we had drawing boards.We didn't have email.Everyone is so computer and technology focused now.

"Office space is becoming a different tool for a company, rather than just a spot to house 100, 400 or 2000 employees," says Galvin.

More collaborative ways of working

Tenants are also looking for open-plan or more collaborative working environments."As architects, we don't come in and say open-plan is the way to go.It's more about listening to what an organisation's needs are and how they work and how they can work more effectively," says Galvin."You need they physical space that's going to facilitate your goals."

These informal environments create spaces for ,cross-collaboration' according to Galvin.
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Indoor environmental quality is now a major priority for tenants, says Galvin.This has coincided with the growth of sustainable standards within the building industry, including Green Star and the AGBR.
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Galvin believes there will not only be an even bigger focus on protecting the environment, but it will also become mainstream within the property industry.
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In light of the Property Council of Australia's Office Market Report's latest findings of the tightest vacancy rates ever recorded, Galvin believes more attention will be given to existing building stock.

Galvin says improving the environmental qualities of existing buildings will dramatically reduce the impact on the environment.
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This is where the big steps can be made in terms of our impact on the environment," says Galvin.