We are a unique and specialised design practice guided by a passionate hands-on approach. Led by directors Danielle Peck and Sam Hunter, we bring to the table an extensive professional portfolio of innovative architectural projects and academic background.
We work collaboratively with other storytellers to produce transformative projects that foster and strengthen social values.
M.Arch, B.Arch Design, ARBV Registered Architect, RAIA
Danielle established Architecture Associates in 2016, she is founding-Director, practicing architect and educator. She is interested in ideas embedded in the socio-political issues of contemporary cities and cultural phenomena. Her broad approach and ability to grasp complex city-scale systems is at the core of her passion for design, and she pursues projects that consciously participate in and promote social cohesion.
Danielle understands the importance of communication and has valuable experience in community, client, and stakeholder engagement which she believes central to achieving exceptional design outcomes for all. She has worked across a wide range of types and delivered projects within the cultural, educational, community and residential sectors. Danielle leads projects from concept phase all the way through to the completion of construction, translating design ideas from broad contextual concerns to detailed moments.
Prior to establishing Architecture Associates, Danielle gained experience at some of Australia’s most respected and awarded practices in leadership roles. She received her education in Australia and the United States and has taught within the Master of Architecture programmes at both RMIT University and the University of Melbourne. Danielle currently holds a position as Industry Fellow at Monash University, School of Art, Design and Architecture.
M.Arch, B.Arch Design, ARBV Registered Architect, RAIA
Sam joined Architecture Associates as co-Director in 2022 after wrapping up a pivotal role as Principal at celebrated Australian practice Lyons, where he worked for over a decade. Sam is a practicing architect and has a deep interest in the cultural value embedded in architecture. He explores a range of contemporary ideas in our projects, through the lens of cultural engagement, the visual arts and research about the city.
He has extensive experience in projects for both the public and education sectors and has a particularly strong background in delivering projects within institutional settings. He has experience leading design teams on projects that range from small cultural entities to large-scale campus redevelopments.
Sam’s unique ability to translate a client’s aspirational brief into new and exciting forms of architecture with an innate functional understanding is paramount to his success as a design leader. His design process is informed by hand-drawing, physical model-making, computational experiments, and a thorough conceptual drive that he shares with clients, collaborators, and students. Sam currently holds a position as Creative Practitioner in the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne.
M.Arch, B.Arch Design, ARBV Registered Architect
Hannah is a thoughtful and industrious project leader who draws from her extensive experience across education and community projects. After receiving her education in Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States, she has developed a well-rounded practice that is both rigorous and reflective. Beyond her architectural work, Hannah is an active researcher, exploring the elemental forces of fire and water in building methodologies, a focus that earned her a commendation for the AIA Robert Caulfield Graduate Research Scholarship. She has had artistic and architectural work awarded, exhibited, and archived during her time at TU Delft in the Netherlands and Parsons in New York, USA. Hannah brings a fresh, interdisciplinary perspective to architecture, and is an integral part of Architecture Associates’ focus on cultural landscapes, bringing a nuanced understanding of place and community to each project.
Most recently, Hannah has been responsible for leading Architecture Associates’ Sunbury Community Arts & Cultural Precinct project, which is currently under-construction.