o’connor and houle is an international architecture, interiors, and landscape design practice.
profile
O’Connor and Houle is an architecture, interiors, and landscape design practice located in inner city Melbourne. We undertake a range of projects all around the world, from small to large, including houses, gardens, museums, wineries, education facilities and commercial buildings.
Since being established in 1996 by Annick Houle and Stephen O’Connor, our design-focussed practice has won numerous awards and other accolades. Today, O’Connor and Houle is regarded as one of Australia’s leading design practices and is featured consistently in major architectural publications and postings in Australia and abroad.
Each project is led by one of the principals and is assisted by a support team of talented architects and designers, providing a high level of expertise and experience, bringing professionalism and focus to meet our client’s requirements with confidence.
Our work celebrates life and the richness of our culture, history and environment.
With our architecture, we navigate historical, social, environmental, economic and political layers, seeking to extract a simple, clear idea, which encapsulates the essence and individuality of a project.
Once a design direction is established, we meticulously unfold it to guide all aspects of the project, from the gestational phases of the client brief to the finest construction detail.
This results in rich, multi-layered and sustainable environments that communicate simply, clearly and joyfully.
At any scale, our projects seek to stimulate the senses and engage with all facets of human endeavour. We aim to tailor-make spaces that are experienced as well as seen, and environments that ultimately promote a sense of wellbeing and a sense of belonging.
We believe that powerful architecture can brand an organisation, define the identity of a city, or simply, make home a special place to be.
— culture
— collaborative
— craftsmanship
— sensory
— refinement
— culture
— poetic
— bespoke
— light
— flexibility
— warmth
— elegance
— green
— inventive
— history
— timelessness
Stephen O’Connor | Principal
BArch (dist) RMIT
MDS HARVARD
Associate AIA
Registered Architect ARBV
Stephen is a founding principal of O’Connor and Houle Architecture. He holds over 30 years experience in the industry, having worked on institutional, commercial and residential projects in Melbourne, Sydney, London and New York. His interests and experience range from small finely crafted buildings to the implementation of urban scale projects. Stephen is a registered architect and an associate of the Australian Institute of Architects and has lectured frequently at universities and industry-related forums in Australia and abroad.
Annick Houle
BA (hons) McGILL
BFA, BArch (hons) RISD
MDS HARVARD
Grad Dip Landscape Design UNI of MELBOURNE
Registered Architect ARBV, NSWARB
Annick holds over 25 years experience in the industry having worked on a number of cultural projects in Australia and abroad. Her interests range from bespoke residences to larger institutional and cultural arts projects. More recently Annick has developed a particular interest in landscape design and has completed graduate studies at Melbourne University, Burnley Campus. Annick is a registered architect in Victoria and New South Wales and lectures frequently at universities and industry-related forums in Australia and abroad.
Shortlisted
National Houses Awards 2019
New House category
House at Prickly Rocks
Finalist
National Houses Awards 2018
Alterations and Additions category
South Yarra House
High Commendation
National Houses Awards 2012
New Houses category
Pirates Bay House
Finalist
Bayside Built Environment Awards 2012
Martin St House
Finalist
Australian Pavilion
Venice Biennale
2008 Distasio Competition
Winner
RAIA 2008 Victorian Architecture Awards
Institutional Alterations + Additions Category
Heide MoMa
Finalist
RAIA 2008 Victorian Architecture Awards
Small Projects Category
Sidney Myer Education Centre
Winner
RAIA 2007 Victorian Architecture Awards
Residential New Category
Courtyard House
Finalist
2007 Victorian IDA Awards
Institutional Category
Heide MoMa
Winner
RAIA 2004 Victorian Architecture Awards
Residential New Category
Grandview Grove House
National Finalist
2007 Interior Design Awards
Residential Interior Design
Courtyard House
Winner
City of Stonnington 2001 Urban Design Awards
Judges Award
50 Argo St
Winner
City of Stonnington 2001 Urban Design Awards
Residential New Category
50 Argo St
Finalist
2000 Competition entry
Sound walls on the Monash Freeway for Vic Roads
Finalist
2002 Competition entry
Docklands Wind Barriers
Winner
1999 Competition entry for Master Plan for amalgamation of Heide Museum of Modern Art with adjoining Banksia Park
Finalist
1998 Competition entry for Andrew Boyd Charlton Competition, Sydney
'Coastal House'
CCA Australia, Issue 32 November 2019
pp.02-11
'Living in the Landscape’ by Anna Johnson and Richard Black
Thames and Hudson Press, 2016
pp. 54-63
'Local wood clads every surface of this idyllic Australian getaway’ by Dominic Bradbury/Richard Powers
Dwell Magazine (USA) Feb 2015
Pirates Bay House feature
The Sunday Telegraph (UK) 2014
‘Heide: New work at Heide by O’Connor + Houle extends the Reed's vision of landscape, art and place’ by Shelley Penn
Architecture Australia Vol. 96 No. 2 Mar/Apr 2007
contact
city
27 mills street, albert park
victoria 3206 australia
telephone + 61 3 9686 7022
mail@oconnorandhoule.com
coast
3749 point nepean road, portsea
victoria 3944 australia
mobile 0438 740 837
mail@oconnorandhoule.com
photography by meinphoto | earl carter
website by the mighty wonton