At DIMASE ARCHITECTS we deliver tailored architectural services to meet our clients’ needs, based on their brief, budget, aspirations, location and project type. Antony DiMase started the practice in 2002 with a vision to serve clients’ interests and to continuously improve the practice’s design processes and standards of project delivery. It is now a thoughtful, award-winning and well-organised practice. DIMASE ARCHITECTS has an authentically collegiate workplace culture, as well as a professional and transparent relationship with clients, consultants and suppliers. At the heart of our work is the desire to create high quality, sustainable design solutions. Architecture lives in the spaces we create – it resides in the feeling of places we create for you.
ENVIRONMENT
Our whole approach is to promote the environmental benefit of reducing the carbon footprint of each project. Where possible we will advocate Passive House as the best environmental standard to apply. However, where this standard cannot be applied we will employ Passive Solar Design principles. DIMASE ARCHITECTS advocates the adaptive reuse and renewal of existing buildings. The team members continually undertake professional development activities to improve their understanding of sustainability practice and the built environment. In line with our commitment to Australian Architects Declare, DIMASE ARCHITECTS will become carbon neutral We monitor our environmental footprint using Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard (BESS) tools, and each year we commit to improving our rating.
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY
DIMASE ARCHITECTS is committed to being a local architectural practice and our project work supports local builders, contractors and suppliers. Our social policy is to make a positive contribution to a more inclusive and equitable community and this commitment is supported and recognised by our B Corporation accreditation.
We actively support the following initiatives:
• Australian Architects Declare – participation in climate emergency awareness.
• Citizens for Melbourne – participation in urban policy advocacy.
• Shopfront-342 – exhibition space for artists, craftspeople and collectors.
In addition, we shop locally and support bike riding, car sharing and public transport. We support community activities and we are an active participant in local issues as the need arises.
“Architecture creates spaces that endure and connect people to place.” – Antony
Our people are our most important asset and we have developed a skilled team who work alongside a group of consultants, builders and suppliers to meet our clients’ needs. We draw on our combined expertise to make our architecture projects a reality. We belong to a community of people who support us, and we return their faith in us by doing the best work we can.
It is that simple.
Our project team consists of Antony DiMase, Niea Nadya and Mahshid Karami, who undertake project work and deliver services to our clients.
DIMASE ARCHITECTS’ director is Antony DiMase, whose role is to coordinate, communicate and manage projects from inception to completion. Antony’s strength is anticipating issues before they become a problem and he spends a lot of time and effort planning and overseeing projects and ensuring the right framework is in place.
Working alongside Antony is Niea Nadya, who has been at the practice for over ten years. Niea’s role is to model the design work of the office and contribute to the high standard of design documentation at every stage of the process. About 12 months ago Mahshid Karami has joined the practice. She has a fine eye for construction detailing, proportion and functional aesthetics, which ensures our projects work at the human scale of experience.
Project team members have Working with Children Checks and Victorian WorkSafe White Card accreditation. They also meet their continuing professional development requirements and their work is reviewed on an annual basis for performance and efficiency.
Our office support team provides marketing, accounting and other services to the practice to ensure our legal and moral obligations are being met. When we need further assistance, we choose to work only with consultants, contractors and suppliers who share similar values and expectations to ours.
The basis of our collaboration with external providers is that they must be capable of delivering outcomes for the benefit of our clients and our practice in an honest and transparent fashion.
We have an advisory board who help to oversee the direction of the practice in relation to our values and business plan.
DIMASE ARCHITECTS is continuously upgrading its premises and practices to better deliver architectural services and provide a healthy, safe and enjoyable place to work. This enhances the efficient production of architectural design and documentation work.
We aim to build relationships with key people to deliver the objectives of the design brief.
From the outset, we value listening to and comprehending our clients’ needs. We enjoy the exchange of ideas and viewpoints, and very much understand that great results rely on a mutual understanding of the project.
We’ll discuss how we can achieve your aspirations while incorporating design considerations of the site and considering any likely regulatory implications.
Every building process is subject to compliance requirements, from town planning applications to sustainability certification and building permits. The best way to negotiate all these is to have a sound knowledge of the regulations and to consult as early and as broadly as practical.
The relevant regulatory bodies appreciate the professionalism and rigour DIMASE ARCHITECTS bring to navigating the approvals process, to ensure our clients’ interests are not compromised.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
For DIMASE ARCHITECTS, architecture is the combination of beauty and utility, based on a minimalist, rational and modern aesthetic.
We create enduring buildings that connect to the outside through generous, light-filled forms and the careful use of timber, lighting and white spaces.
We believe that, wherever possible, we should creatively adapt existing spaces and buildings rather than build anew. We prefer refurbishment and renovation projects that recycle materials and buildings to reduce our impact on community and environment.
Light, fresh air and the use of durable materials typifies our work, with an uncompromising commitment to the environment
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Meeting the ISO-9001 standard is a long, involved process, which DIMASE ARCHITECTS started by defining the objectives the practice sought to achieve.
Continuing professional development, containing cost variations to an acceptable level, and attaining high client satisfaction were amongst the five main objectives Antony set for the practice.
This approach is what we aim to provide for our clients and defines what we stand for. Our overarching management process ensures that we can achieve these objectives. We measure our own performance, and this enables us to be more resilient to the increasing demands of practice.
In 2020 we also became a B-Corp accredited business. We are proud to belong to a community of enterprises that are committed to bringing about change in environmental and social issues. Working to support community and environment is very important to DIMASE ARCHITECTS.
The team members pull together to make good things happen, and the bottom line is only one part of why we are in business. We meet tangible standards that make a difference to people.
If you would like to know more about ISO-9001, B-Corp and other initiatives at DIMASE ARCHITECTS call Antony and he will happily take you through the key aspects.
“ Our practice is designed to be accessible to people within our community. We do this through our architecture projects, our social media content and our exhibitions.“ – Antony DiMase
DIMASE ARCHITECTS provide architectural services for residential, educational and commercial clients.
Our work as architects is typically for new buildings, additions, alterations and refurbishment projects, with a construction budget between $350,000 and $1.5 million plus GST. We also undertake smaller projects for the local community and clients. Our approach to services for small projects are specifically tailored to project needs and budget.
Our core services are aligned with the 2019 Australian Institute of Architects Client Architect Agreement (CAA2019) for professional architectural services. This agreement defines a well-proven client-architect relationship and fosters an approach to deliver a recognised and coherent service to clients. This provides our clients with an independent reference framework
for their project and ensures that we deliver architectural services based on industry standards and a commercially viable pricing structure
Our architectural services include:
1. Concept Design
2. Detail Design
3. Town Planning Applications
4. Contract Documentation
5. Contract Negotiations
6. Contract Administration Services
These six milestone stages take a project from design concept through to a completed project. Before committing to the design process and agreement, we engage in a pre-design service to look at high-level considerations for all projects. We consider budget, planning issues and the overall concept to ensure each commission can be realised as expected. Our services are underpinned by a signed agreement with each client and our work is governed by the code of conduct as administered by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.
FEES
Our fee for the first four stages (concept to documentation) is calculated as a percentage of the construction cost budget. The construction cost is estimated by a professional cost planner at the end of stages one and two. Our fee for stages five and six (tender and contract administration) is based on the time needed to complete the project.
Before we begin, we put in place a clear client-architect agreement to ensure that our clients agree to and understand the basis of our engagement. All services are outlined in this agreement and conditions, which set out key aspects of the working relationship.Our approach to fees does not change to suit one client over another. No client is compromised in their service provisions and there is equity and fairness for all clients.
Professional. Transparent. Clear. The way to go!
We are thrilled when the architecture media take time to appreciate our work. It is not the reason we do what we do – but it is rewarding to earn the recognition of our peers and colleagues.
Here is a sample of some of our favourite recent quotes that best sum up our approach to design.
“The campaign asks architects to act as citizens as well as consultants. It reminds us that sustainability goes beyond design, changes to lifestyle and technological advances.” – Judges Comments, Our City Our Square Campaign – 2018
“What is apparent when visiting this project is the feel of light and air. There is a beautiful qualitative sense to the spaces…” – Inside Magazine Issue 95, by Clare Kennedy – 2017
“Donna and Michael are very pleased with the finished house, which also functions as an office for both of them when they are not overseas for their work. “It’s a very easy house to live in – the spaces work well,” says Donna. “I was concerned that it would still be a very small house, but it actually feels quite spacious because of all the light and the high ceilings.” It works well thermally too; the couple says that the downstairs stays cool through the hot days of summer, aided by good cross ventilation and night purging of warm air.” – Sanctuary Magazine Issue 44, by Anna Cumming – 2017
“John and Kate sought to retain the industrial character of the warehouse, which has had several past factory-based lives while making it a comfortable and energy-efficient ‘machine for living in’. For Architect Antony DiMase, one of the real achievements of the project is that though it followed the Passive House approach, “it’s not engineer-driven, which many Passive Houses can be – it’s architecturally pleasing.” – Sanctuary Magazine Issue 34 by Verity Campbell – 2014
