Business Details
25 Years
experience
Award-Winning Architecture & Interior Design
Established in 2001, Techne is an award-winning architectural and interior design studio renowned for creating bespoke spaces that elevate the human experience. Our practice is built on three core values: Aligned Purpose, Crafted Delivery, and Bespoke Design, which guide our collaborative approach to every project. With over two decades of experience, we have delivered innovative solutions across hospitality, commercial, workplace, hotel & leisure, multi-residential, and single-residential typologies. Our team of registered architects and interior designers, led by directors Nick Travers and Justin Northrop, combines technical expertise with creative vision to produce spaces that balance aesthetic beauty with functional excellence.We maintain transparency in all client interactions, prioritise risk management throughout project lifecycles, and foster an inclusive studio culture where staff contributions shape design outcomes. Recognised through numerous industry awards, our work reflects a commitment to poetic yet practical design that resonates emotionally while meeting project briefs with precision.
Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Hospitality Projects
Residential Design
Commercial Spaces
Details
- Year established: 2001
Highlights and features
- We have 20+ years of experience in architectural and interior design
- Our collaborative studio culture involves all team members in the design process
- Award-winning portfolio across multiple project typologies
- Registered architects with expertise in VIC, NSW, and TAS
- Client-focused approach with transparent project management
Services
Architecture
Techne's architectural practice combines poetic vision with technical precision to create spaces that transcend mere functionality. Our 20-year expertise spans residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, delivering award-winning designs that respond to site-specific contexts while prioritising user experience. We maintain transparent client relationships throughout the design process, ensuring projects meet briefs while exceeding expectations through innovative spatial solutions.
Interior Design
Our interior design approach merges aesthetic beauty with practical functionality, creating environments that enhance human interaction and experience. Led by director Gabriella Gulacsi, our team specialises in commercial and hospitality interiors, focusing on materiality, lighting, and spatial flow. We balance creative expression with risk management to deliver spaces that align with client brand identities while maintaining commercial viability.
Hospitality Projects
With early experience designing Melbourne's iconic hospitality venues, we specialise in creating restaurants, bars, and hotels that combine operational efficiency with memorable guest experiences. Our knowledge of commercial kitchen requirements and service workflows, gained through director Sam Sempill's restaurant background, ensures practical yet visually striking solutions that enhance both patron experience and business functionality.
Residential Design
Our residential projects range from single-family homes to multi-residential developments, each tailored to occupants' lifestyles while respecting environmental contexts. We focus on creating spaces that evolve with inhabitants' needs, incorporating sustainable design principles and material selections that balance aesthetics with longevity. Our portfolio includes award-winning projects like Prahran House and Monomeath House.
Commercial Spaces
We design commercial environments that enhance workplace productivity and brand identity through thoughtful spatial planning and material selection. Our approach considers evolving work patterns and technological requirements while maintaining aesthetic coherence. Recent projects demonstrate our ability to create flexible, future-ready spaces that support organisational growth and employee wellbeing.
People
Nick Travers
Director - Architect (VIC, NSW, TAS)
Registered architect with 20+ years' experience, Nick specialises in client relationship management and project delivery. He ensures transparency in all client interactions while maintaining the emotional resonance of completed spaces.
Justin Northrop
Director
Co-founding director with a career spanning architecture and hospitality design. Justin brings analytical design expertise and a passion for creating spaces that balance poetic vision with functional requirements.
Gabriella Gulacsi
Director (Interior Design)
Interior design leader with 20+ years' experience in commercial and hospitality sectors. Gabriella combines creative vision with pragmatic project management to deliver spaces that align with client brand identities.
Sam Sempill
Director (Architecture)
Registered architect with diverse experience across large and small practices. Sam specialises in hospitality projects, applying restaurant management insights to create functional yet artistic commercial spaces.
Sebnem MacDonald
Senior Associate - Architect
Experienced architect with expertise in delivering complex projects across multiple sectors. She focuses on technical excellence and mentoring junior staff to maintain design integrity throughout project execution.
Questions
What architectural services does Techn offer?
We provide full-service architecture for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, including concept design, documentation, and project management through construction.
How experienced is Techn's design team?
Our directors have over 20 years' combined experience, with registered architects and interior designers specialising in diverse project types across Australia.
What makes Techn's approach unique?
We combine poetic design vision with practical functionality through collaborative processes, transparent communication, and a focus on emotional resonance in completed spaces.
Which project types does Techn specialise in?
We specialise in hospitality, residential, commercial, and workplace design, with award-winning experience in both single-residential homes and large-scale developments.
How does Techn ensure project success?
We maintain transparency throughout the design process, proactively manage risks, and involve all team members in creative decision-making to deliver projects on time and budget.
