Architecture + Interiors
We’ve gathered an eclectic band of partners and proteges that make Become. an inspiring, happy, encouraging space to create and build.
”Investing in our people is one of our core values. We want our people to become the best they can be
Ben ReidFounder + Director
Our founders
Andrew Talbot and Ben Reid – two sides of one coin; sunrise to sunset; the yin to the yang – like a perfectly balanced chemical reaction their individual skills work perfectly together to ignite something special.
To me, buildings are simply shelters or sculptures unless they fully respond to place, purpose and real human need – then they become Architecture.
I have over 25 years experience as an Architect in the UK and Australia. From boutique practices to multinational firms as well as client side in property development. This means I understand what makes a project successful from an end-user, design and financial perspective.
At Become. I use my passion and strengths at the front end of our projects. Firstly, I listen to fully understand every client’s mission and objectives, then put myself in the shoes of the people who will use the building to guide my design thinking.
The first time I met an architect was in my late teens when my parents were building a new house in the country. I expected the architect to show a large portfolio of impressive designs, instead, he asked If they took delight in being woken by the sun in the mornings. He went on to ask how they wanted to live and so designed a home that suited them. I thought this was an inspiring example of the power of architecture to enrich people’s lives and it led to me becoming an architect.
andrew@become.com.au
0400 442 541
Some people strive for being award-winning architects, but it’s positively affecting people’s lives that gives me the most enjoyment in architecture
I’m a Technical Director and have 20 years industry experience in Australia and Dubai, focused on Coordination & Construction of projects in both architecture & interiors.
I’m conscious that every dollar counts with Community and Social projects. It’s about spending money on the right things and being realistic about where that money should be spent. I prefer to provide better amenity for the people who will use that place, rather than details that perhaps only my industry colleagues will ever notice.
It took me a long time to find an actual passion in architecture, I liked it, I appreciated it, I enjoyed it, however the passion didn’t hit me until the moment we were standing out the front of our newly completed Boarding House for Mission Australia Housing where the facilities manager said there were 4 women moving in on Monday who were survivors of domestic and family violence and this was their opportunity to be safe. This made me realise that I wanted to positively contribute to people’s lives, in particular those that are doing it tough, not through creating architecture, but through helping facilitate the creation of places.
I put the experience of people as the primary consideration in any design.
I’m a Project Architect with 8 years of experience across a wide range of Architectural projects and have strong design, coordination and documentation skills.
I communicate through Visuals, Models, Drawings and Virtual Reality to show how a place can be transformed and how it will work for the end user. Some claim I am a wizard.
I’ve just always known that I wanted to become an Architect because I wanted for my life to have a positive impact on the world and to leave It better than I found it.
Being a single parent, I’ve put myself into different roles and I look at these roles and apply it to how to design for better living. Not a design that just looks beautiful, but is practical daily.
I have over 30 years experience across residential, commercial shopping centres and major infrastructure projects.
As a Senior Architectural technician I’ve learnt one important thing: put yourself In the end user’s shoes and ask what would make their experience better living in this environment? I’m passionate about researching the latest tech that is important to our touch, smell, audio and visual elements that make a difference mentally how we live our lives.
My dad had a Practice designing nursing homes and private hospitals, on site I’d see how limiting it was for these patients to have something to call home. Thankfully, the environment has dramatically changed over the years. They’re places for people to enjoy and be taken care of in home-like environments. Joining Become. has given me an opportunity to improve on helping people in need and wanting a place of welcome and safety.
I don’t believe in unconditional truth, so I’m always up for a new idea. I love hearing people’s personal stories, their needs, what they’re interested in, their values and culture. I believe through design you can make someone feel loved, saved and seen.
I hold a Bachelor of Design (Architecture),Masters of Architecture and Diploma of Architectural Technology.
My approach to design is to first understand how many layers exist in the building environment and how human beings relate and interact within these layers. Become’s approach allows me to understand how design can impact and improve people’s life and way of living, and how through design you feel loved, hugged and safe.
Growing up in a place where a lot of people live happily with very little made me realize from a very young age that if we can build a society or buildings around basic needs, we could minimize a lot of the inequalities around the world.
I believe through design you can make someone feel loved, saved and seen. Good design for me is making people’s life easier and simpler.
It’s about understanding the design of buildings as an act of ‘placemaking’ that not only creates physical spaces but has an opportunity to fundamentally impact on the way people live their day to day lives.
I’ve been a Registered Architect in NSW since 2013, leading a wide range of Architectural projects, and bring strong technical knowledge and management skills to Become.
I bring understanding and empathy to my client relationships and translate that into purposeful, efficient and practical design solutions. I aim to bring elements of delight into building design by incorporating the cycles of nature as much as possible. I’m passionate and knowledgeable about passive solar design and strive to make environmentally conscious and climate-resilient places and spaces.
At university I had the opportunity to Interact with socially disadvantaged residents of public housing In the local area which helped me to understand what truly matters to people who need safe, accessible and livable housing. I’m fortunate to have a backyard with veggie beds and chooks. The little moments of calm and contentment that I get when standing in the sun cuddling a chook or pulling out some lettuce makes me want to design into my buildings those same, simple moments of pleasure for my clients.
While designing spaces, I think about them as my own living spaces and then put effort and design ideas into making it as experiential as possible. I believe that efficiently designed spaces bring a positive energy to people’s lives.
After gaining my Bachelor of Architecture in 2012 in Pakistan I moved to Australia in 2017. Since then I’ve had a strong focus on the residential sector gaining extensive experience on commercial and high-end residential projects.
I believe architecture is integral in representing an era. It’s more than just about the built environment, it’s the world that we are breathing in. This resonates with me and gives another perspective to look at my profession.
I love Become’s belief that as architects we can make profound positive impact on people’s lives. This really dawned on me when my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease. I then redesigned our house to provide accessible spaces so that she can do her daily activities without any support from others. This emotional and challenging phase of my life made me realize about the impact of architecture design and how it can be used to make other people’s life easier.
We often get so distracted with the fluff and we forget the root of the purpose or who a building is for.
After working on Private Super Yachts through Europe, and running a private villa in the Seychelles, I moved home to start a family and start a new career. I completed a Bachelor in Event Management majoring in Business and went on to work in event management and sales. I’m excited to join a new industry and bring my expertise in system management, administration, project management and operations management to Become.
I want to be the backbone of the company. By setting up systems and ensuring all staff are supported and able to perform to the best of their ability. I aim to ignite the magic in the team and allow them to ignite the magic in the designs they create for how people live.
Growing up in a customer service and the sales industry I saw so much wealth disparity and it was really hard to fathom as I grew up. Traveling the world I saw this on such a larger scale, I could never understand how this was allowed to happen. I was drawn to Become because of their core belief in creating places that put people first. All people. Places that make everyone equal.
The space we create is in essence an observation and interpretation of how we live or should live our lives, and how we can improve or elevate people’s livelihood.
I’m a recently registered Architect with project experience across numerous projects including community, education, residential and multi-use sectors.
I bring a can-do and can-deliver attitude to Become. and use my friendly, easy going, sympathetic personality when approaching every project.
I believe our mantra of creating places for people is the fundamental purpose of an architecture/building. People are the heart and soul of every project. Buildings should provide a sense of belonging for people.
After reading Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and hearing Barack Obama’s ‘Yes We Can’ speech I’ve wanted to make a difference to other people, whether through my skills as an architect, or in the community through supporting charities or as a United Nations Volunteer.
I get great joy from helping develop environments for less fortunate people to live in, without making them feel like they are living in a place for those less fortunate.
I gained my architecture qualifications in my home country of Chile and worked there for 7 years before moving to Australia in 2014. I want to use my international experience across all forms of residential and my recent experience in leading major projects for a large residential apartment developer, to the NFP sector.
Coming from a country like Chile that still has extreme poverty, I feel inspired working for Become with its belief in creating ‘Places for People’ as it gives me the opportunity to create homes for those less fortunate to feel certain freedoms and privileges.
Design is my family’s DNA. I grew up around my grandparents who were tailors, dressmakers and painters. My father was an engineer in the mines and plans were always on the kitchen table. I discovered I could paint almost by accident at school and I’ve just always wanted to design and do that to help other people.
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Become. Architecture + Interiors
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