Heliotope
Contact
81 Johnston Street
Yalla-bir-ang | Collingwood
Wurundjeri Country
Victoria, Australia 3066
hello@heliotope.com
We welcome collaboration or architectural, interiors & design services inquiries : )
We understand economic pressures and design to maximise value. We can help make your building more resilient and relevant; minimise its environmental impact and contribute positively to the systems it is a part of.
81 Johnston Street
Yalla-bir-ang | Collingwood
Wurundjeri Country
Victoria, Australia 3066
c/o 1043 Lighthouse Road
Lunawani | South Bruny Island
Lunawani | South Bruny Island
Lutruwita | Tasmania
Australia 7150
Australia 7150
hello@heliotope.com
+61 431 954 977
We welcome collaboration or architectural, interiors & design services inquiries : )
We understand economic pressures and design to maximise value. We can help make your building more resilient and relevant; minimise its environmental impact and contribute positively to the systems it is a part of.
About
Heliotope is a regenerative architecture practice. We are working to shift from a linear consumption-based model of practice to one that restores and replenishes the environment for all.
We believe that architecture should do less harm. We acknowledge the role that architecture has had historically in the consumption of resources and ecological destruction, as well as upholding systems of power.
We take a long-term perspective of our designs—considering where our materials come from, stone that has formed over millennia, and where they are going- linoleum that takes 10,000 years to break down in landfill. We design for adaptation—for future climates and future technologies; as well as the re-use of materials within buildings. We want to empower our clients and communities to participate in the design process and make informed decisions about their built environment. We want to design in a way that lets natural systems and other beings lead fulfilling lives.
Heliotope works across architecture, design and research—delivering and adapting buildings such as houses, meeting places, galleries and public spaces, as well as conducting research into local ecologies, resource and refuse systems.
We approach our work with an ethic of speculative care as a tool for imagining more considerate, equitable, and just futures.
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Helios—Ἥλιος (Hḗlios), from ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”)+ Topos—τόπος (tópos, “place”)
'Heliotope' is constructed from 'helos' (the sun) and 'topos' (site); referencing the specificities of place; how the sun interacts with this particular part of the planet to support the life-forms and natural systems unique to south eastern Australia.
It talks of living more consciously within the specificities of immediate site - local ecosystems, climates, cultures, social factors, industries, economies, systems and resources—each of whom share common biospheres, ecologies, language groups and climate characteristics. Heliotope practice strives to find a vernacular to express this place, and our position within the Anthropocene.
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Us
Jane Caught
Jane was born on Wurundjeri Country, on the Birrarung | Yarra River—the river of mists—and moved as an infant to grow up in a remote part of Lutruwita, Tasmania; which instilled a deep love of and commitment to the natural environment. Having commenced her architectural studies at University of Melbourne and completing her degree at RMIT as part of the Spatial Information Architecture Laboratory (SIAL), Jane co-founded the collaborative architecture practice Sibling in 2012. After over a decade spent establishing the practice, Jane founded Heliotope in 2021, determined to find a more responsible way of practising architecture in this place.
Her research and multi-disciplinary collaborations contribute to the development of low carbon, climate-adaptive projects; with a focus on emerging technologies, construction industry waste streams and local production economies and ecosystems. She is an educator and maintains strong ties with academia, leading design studios at University of Melbourne, Monash University and RMIT, with affiliations to UTAS.
Jane herself brings a range of further accreditations and affiliations to the practice, as well as over 20 years working in the profession. Jane is Living Future accredited and a Professional Living Member, as well as a sitting member of the Australian Institute of Architects National Residential Sustainability Advisory Group. She is also an active member of the Melbourne Regenerative Design Forum.
Orlaith Ryan
Orlaith is an Irish feminist architect, designer and birth doula, interested in secular spaces that celebrate
and care for people. Orlaith has studied and worked in a number of countries, spending nine years in London both
studying and working for respected interior architecture and fit-out firm Jackdaw Studio and high-end architecture practice Alexander Martin Architects. Orlaith then spent four years in Melbourne working with award winning sustainability focused architect Michael Markham of tUG Workshop.
In 2019 she returned to Ireland and set up her own studio, orlaithryanarchitecture, focusing on small
budget environmentally sensitive work. She has now returned to Melbourne as a key part of the Heliotope team, and Housing Lead.
Orlaith’s interest in architecture and design is in its potential as a tool to do good. She is drawn to what
architecture can do and how it can make you feel. She believes the essence of good design lies within its power to sustainably provide positive social difference, economically and emotionally.
Orlaith has varied experience from private high-end clients, developers and media companies in London, to
state funded work in Melbourne for the Department of Health and Human Services and in rural Victoria for Victoria Police. In Ireland her clients have been a mixture of young first time home builders, mature couples looking to downsize and a number of businesses looking to extend their premises.
Will Bennie
Since 2018 Will has worked in a range of practice and academic settings. He has extensive experience in educational and multi-residential projects, amongst a range of public building typology experience. He is a highly accomplished architectural visualiser.
Will has undertaken academic work in a research capacity alongside multiple architects in areas ranging from parametric design, to historical research and documentation. Two of these projects were contributions to international architecture biennales.
Will completed his Master of Architecture at RMIT University. His thesis project explores Architecture’s relationship with divergent scales of time and its ability to account for the social and economic machinations of the City. He maintains an active role in academia as an educator.
Prior to Heliotope Will gained experience in an number of local practices, including the sustainability consultancy Finding Infinity. Within Heliotope he continues to explore spatialities that expand beyond typical architectural practice into social and environmental inquiry.
Alison van den Berg
Alison manages the administration and policy component of Heliotope, ensuring compliance, registrations and quality assurance is met across the practice. She leads the Lutruwita | Tasmanian studio and brings an incredible depth of experience and capability to the role.
Her previous experience includes as a senior public servant, a librarian, and in an administration role for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service. She has historical and current board roles with Threatened Plants Tasmania, the Tasmanian Spinners & Weavers Guild, and the Inala Foundation for Protecting Native Wildlife. In her spare time she is completing a fine art degree at UTAS and emerging as a visual artist.
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Heliotope Capability
- Holds $10M Professional Indemnity Insurance.
- Holds $20M Public Liability Insurance.
- Has OH&S systems in place.
- Has Quality Assurance systems in place.
- Has Sustainability Assurance Systems in place.
- Pays the Rent – 1% of profit – visit www.paytherent.net.au if you would like to too.
Heliotope has working relationships with state government organisations, various local councils and a range of private clients. We are registered as an Architectural firm with the Architect’s Registration Board of Victoria and the Board of Archtect’s Tasmania, as well as an A+ Member of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Heliotope holds deep capability and experience of delivering experience in delivering community, commercial, cultural and educational buildings; as well as delightful residential projects. We design for diversity and inclusion – all bodies; as well as agency within our shared spaces.