Grove Architects is a small design-led practice based in Sydney, specialising in high quality residential and mixed use developments. The award-winning practice is led by directors John Grove and Sky Grove, who bring together many years of independent experience, both in Australia and the UK.

Environmentally sensitive design and a sustainability approach to design and construction is fundamental to their work, whether it is through passive design techniques or the incorporation of cutting edge services.

John Grove spoke to WILLIAMS MEDIA about his love of design.

“We believe that for a piece of architecture to be truly successful, it must be respectful of the physical environment and social context within which it exists."

Image: Bundeena Beach House.  Source: Grove Architects

What do you enjoy most about your profession?   

I always knew I was going to be an architect, even when I was a little boy. Using drawing to solve problems (because that is what it is really all about) is just fun. Adding all the layers of engineering, materials, resource usage, etc alongside social and environmental context and obligations, and just plain good citizenship, makes architecture a fabulous career. Every project is emotionally huge. 

Image: Woollahra House 12  Source: Grove Architects

When I was at the end of my third year as a student, I became a bit restless, as often happens at that point in a long course, and I transferred to art school. It was not long before I realised I needed to get back into architecture as quickly as possible. It seemed that for me at that time the challenges and rewards to be found in architecture were the pallet on which I wanted to work. As luck had it I walked into 4th year and met my new tutor, a very cool young A.A. School grad and ex-teacher named Bill Busfield. Bill changed the way I thought about architecture.  I owe him my career.

Image: 96 Holdsworth Street Woollahra. Source: The Agency

You and your daughter have established a practice "specialising in high quality residential and mixed use developments.” How would you describe your architectural aesthetic?

I recall a conversation decades ago, with a very close friend, a painter, and I was saying "Oh Ben, no matter how hard I try to make my next project entirely different from the last somehow it always comes out looking so obviously mine." And Ben said, “Look John, it’s the handwriting mate. Nothing much you can do about it.”  

Image: Grove Architects "It's in the handwriting"   Source: Grove Architects

When Sky graduated (BTW she too took a year out to go to art school in the middle of her course), she immediately left Australia and spent 10 years working in the UK with some fabulous practices; the famous ones and the lesser known, but special ones. When she returned to Sydney and we started to build the new second generation ‘Grove Architects’ it was quite extraordinary to watch. Although we had not worked together since she was a student, somehow we just played like we had been working together forever. 

Image: Alexandria House.  Source: Grove Architects

So, I think Ben was correct, it was all in the handwriting and in the gene pool. It is never about ‘style’, it was always about good problem solving, materials, context, and good citizenship. 

Although it is slightly outside the scope of your question, it is important to consider the practice as going beyond Sky and me. In fact, there are 3 of us. Yep, a great big practice of ... three. Jeff joined us a bit over a year ago and he gets it too…

Image: Grove Architects Team, John, Jeff and Sky.  Source: Grove Architects

Grove Architects has been recognised many times for its designs, from Woollahra Conservation Award, Master Builders Association to Australian Institute of Architects NSW.

Which award has meant the most to you? Why?

The conservation awards are very important because that is our patch, and that can be tough and sometimes prejudiced territory, but it really has to be the Architects Institute awards that mean the most, because that is a nod from your professional contemporaries, and they know how difficult it is to get a good building up.

Image: 95 Moncur Street Woollahra. Source: The Agency 

Sustainability has always played an important part in your designs, evident in your own recently sold Woollahra home which was completed 12 years ago.

What aspect of design or materials do you believe best supports sustainability?

I think it is fair to say that no one in our practice could be described as a ‘sustainability expert’, but we do try to explore the options on every project. A favourite quote from Stephen Fry goes ... “thoroughly thought through” and everyone is so sick of hearing me say it. 

In answer to your question, we don’t have a “kit of parts”. We try to think through the available options and choose the best. Timber is obvious when you are chasing carbon sequestration, while concrete is not a good environmentally sustainable material, but sometimes its longevity and robustness may make it the winner. We are beginning to get a bit more rural work and that offers a whole range of options not really feasible in the urban context, so “watch this space…"

Image: Kangaroo Valley Retreat   Source: Grove Architects

What advice would you give to new property investors wishing to build or renovate?

I don’t think I’m in the business of advice to property investors.  Notwithstanding, I can say from decades of experience that good design pays off. A good architect is the best money you will spend. How often do I hear, “we decided to save money by not using an architect”. Yep, we decided to save money on our round the world sailing project by not buying any maps!

Image: Gallery House.   Source: Grove Architects

How do you feel the events of 2020 may influence architecture and design? 

This question is on the online architectural media every day. I have nothing new to offer but I support the obvious….  work from home when possible. Include a really good workspace, not a silly tiny desk in a hallway; a workspace with the best view in the house.

What is the most interesting brief you’ve been given by a client? Did you take on the project?

There might be a few, but the one that comes to mind was to design a house for another architect. I really admired the decisions taken here. He was a very busy ‘business man’ architect and said, “I’ve tried it but don’t have the time, or your skillset so …”

Image: Woollahra House 12   Source: Grove Architects 

It was totally painless; he sold it a few years later for a king’s ransom and we are good friends to this day.  

What advice would you give to a newly graduated Architect or someone thinking about Architecture as a career?

Well the two are very different animals so… to a newly graduated Architect … well done. It’s a long tough course, but if you didn’t enjoy every minute of it and come out with a passion then you still have time to do medicine, or god forbid, even law. 

Image: Woollahra Terraces.  Source: Willem Reithmeier

To someone thinking about Architecture as a career… Go for it. It will teach you to understand design and art and architecture, and to think and make good decisions. If you don’t end up wanting to work as an architect, the training will provide you with a multitude of skill sets, based on independent thinking which may lead to lots of alternative careers. One of the most obvious is film making. Both careers are based on very similar skill sets (concept, planning, execution) and many filmmakers are architecture students/graduates. Others like theatre and set design offer. 

We all make a few big expensive decisions from time to time. Buying a house is a very big one but a more regular one is buying a car and I often use this as an example of good decision-making skill sets. Don’t make a dumb decision. An architectural education will teach you those skills…. or lead to a wonderful career.

Image: Kangaroo Valley House  Source: Grove Architects

Where do you live now, and where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?

We are now homeless in Sydney, searching for an apartment in the Elizabeth Bay area, but we still have a beautiful property in Kangaroo Valley which has been our home for some years now. 

When we were younger, we had a shortlist of liveable places - Barcelona, Madrid, Kyoto, Hanoi, and maybe New York, but never thought we could afford that.

Related reading:

Private sanctuary steps from vibrant Woollahra village 

Cutting edge Woollahra residence on the market