SA Business of Design lunch recap

The ACA SA Committee was delighted to host Philip Thalis as their guest speaker at the recent annual Business of Design lunch. Philip is the principal of Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, a practice recognised for its independent standpoint and design expertise across a range of project types and scales.

Our committee members and newly appointed SA Executive Officer, Graeme Martin, offer their insights on Philip’s presentation and what resonated with them.

“I found Philip Thalis’ keynote both thought-provoking and highly relevant. One of the strongest messages was the importance of remembering the longevity of what we build – particularly in medium-density residential. These buildings will stand for generations, so the question must always be asked: “Would you, or someone in your family, want to live here?”

From an advocacy perspective, Philip urged architects to be stronger and louder in articulating an alternative to the narrow ‘cheap and affordable’ narrative. But this cannot simply be a wishlist or, as he put it, a ‘Department of Complaint’. Instead, the profession must present rational, robust and compelling arguments that highlight the broader value of good design.

I was also struck by his reflections on practice management. Beyond projects and clients, Philip emphasised the importance of maintaining a highly visible presence within the community – through public speaking, lecturing, writing, and mentoring across the sector. This not only strengthens individual practices but also reinforces the collective voice of the profession. For me, these insights were a powerful introduction to the ACA community and a reminder of the crucial role architects play in shaping places where people live, work and thrive.”— Graeme Martin, ACA SA Executive Officer

“There has been some very heated debate in our office this morning about the fact that SA doesn’t have a minimum standard for the design of apartment buildings and that other states have responded to standards that have been written by other professions. There were some very strong feelings about why our architectural bodies are not writing a standard ourselves instead of waiting to respond to one written by others.” — Kat Dujmovic, Katherine Anne Architect

“NSW design guidelines require 60% of apartments to be cross ventilated, in Victoria it’s 40% and in South Australia there are no guidelines – therefore 0%. Philip was provocative in his call for advocacy in and from the profession to raise the bar for quality of life and housing as political forces rush to deliver outcomes.”— Mario Dreosti, Brown Falconer

“Philip was very clear that in his experience it is the architect’s responsibility to push the client to do better, to get them to think about the people who will inhabit the places being created. He doesn’t think it’s ever good enough to base design on bad outcomes just because it can be sold as a product. He asks his hard-nosed clients, ‘Would you be happy for your daughter or grandmother to have this bedroom with no opening window?’ for example.” — Michael Hegarty, ARCH

“Philip’s direct approach encourages robust and meaningful discussion, always centred on the quality – rather than the sheer quantity – of outcomes. By combining logical rigour with lateral, creative thinking, he demonstrates that while systems and technology are valuable tools, it is passion, courage and empathy that ultimately shape truly memorable architectural experiences.” — Simon Frost, Greenway Architects