Tony Battersby

Director, SJB Architects

Architecture is the best example of the perfect synergy between artistic creativity and science. Balancing the cold practicalities of science and the flamboyance of art is no easy task but it is something Tony Battersby has been excelling in for many years. Essenze caught up with the talented architect to get an insight into the world of architecture and design.

He joined SJB Architects back in 2000 and today, Tony Battersby is a director in the firm and has undertaken a variety of significant projects in both China and Australia. SJB traditionally designs luxury residences and today, the firm has moved to creating a large number of apartment projects that include the likes of a new 200m tower in the CBD as well as a recent golf resort, a number of hotels and a diverse range of intriguing and unique projects like the “bathroom of the future” for Kohler in Shanghai.

According to the creative architect, one of the most challenging projects that SJB has taken on was a Country Club Resort in the Yarra Valley in Victoria. The resort was located on an elevated ridge, in bushfire territory where temperatures dropped below zero in winter. The resort covers a wide expanse that included a new golf clubhouse, hotel accommodation, day spa, pools, gym, cinema, conference room and banquet hall as well as member facilities.

“It is a wonderfully inclusive range of everything we do!” he said.

“The client and builder had a few arm-wrestles and I often needed to umpire or intervene with clever solutions,” Battersby shared. In the end, the project was a great success and Battersby believed he learned a great deal from the project and at the same time, made many lasting friendships on the job. It is projects like these that can define the professionalism and creativity of an architect.

The year 2002 was the year when he first started a series of projects in China after winning some invited design competitions. Since then, he has visited dozens of provinces along the east coast, central and southern China to design a wide variety of projects including freeway gateway structures, toll plazas, service centres, hotels, resorts and most recently, shopping centres and retail districts.

Naturally, along the way, Battersby picked up some Mandarin and he also tried to immerse himself in the local culture especially the particular district and province where his latest project is located. “I personally visited every single project site that I was commissioned to design and worked hard to understand the unique sense of place, history and aspirations for each of the project sites. My goal was to always leave a positive built environment outcome and a lasting and joyful design solution for any project that I worked on in China,” he said, adding that the experience he gained working in China had been a truly amazing one.

SJB, which is celebrating its 40th year in Melbourne next year, now is known for delivering enduring design solutions that stand the test of time and also, creating joy for the inhabitants. “My designs focus on unique solutions because at SJB, we aspire to adopt a classic modern approach to design,” he said. SJB works with many private developers due to the firm’s approach to creating beautifully designed, well-built and feasible projects. This is a craft that the firm has built on and added to during its decades of experience and practice.

SJB has worked with UAG, an Australian developer known for its elegant luxurious residential projects, on their three largest projects over the last few years. The projects included significant apartment projects, a variety of studio spaces and display suites. “UAG has provided us with great opportunities to create signature projects for them,” Battersby said.

“The client and builder had a few arm-wrestles and I often needed to umpire or intervene with clever solutions.”

Naturally, it helps that he and UAG managing director Nicole Chow, who is also his wife, are on the same wavelength when it comes to design. “That makes the design process a joy and we are equally passionate about the quality and detail of every one of our projects,” he said. He said Nicole is particularly loyal to her team of consultants so they always try to keep a tight team of experienced professionals who are well versed with UAG’s particular requirements. UAG consistently pushes for innovative solutions and relentlessly challenges the design and delivery team to bring forth superbly designed buildings. “As a result, Nicole and her team usually sell a significant portion of every new project to repeat purchasers,” he said.

Due to UAG’s insistence on aesthetically designed projects that are equally functional, Battersby said SJB is proud to continue on in this journey together with the UAG team in designing more elegantly outstanding projects.

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2000年，Tony Battersby 加入了 SJB建筑公司。今天，作为该公司的董事，并承担了中国和澳大利亚的重大项目。SJB公司也从传统设计到现今的豪华住宅，创作许多优美公寓项目，包括像中央商务区(CBD)200米高的新塔、高尔夫度假村，酒店和各式有趣独特的项目：如“未来的浴室”，这是他们为著名的卫浴品牌“科勒”在中国上海所量身打造的。

根据这位建筑设计师的说法，还有一个极具挑战性的项目–乡村俱乐部度假村，位于维多利亚的亚拉河谷，丛林山火区域高架脊部，在冬季时气温会降到零度以下。而度假村占地广阔，包括高尔夫球会所、酒店、水疗中心、游泳池、健身房、电影院，会议室和宴会厅以及其他设施。“真是一个奇妙的融汇，我们所做的一切！”他说。

“客户和建筑师常会出现“角力”的现象，我经常需要担任裁判或以更圆融的方式解决。”当然，最后这个项目圆满又成功，除了大量的项目，同时取得众多持久的友谊。而且类似项目方案，也完整定义一名建筑师的专业和创造性。

2002年，他在中国赢得设计邀请赛后，开始一系列的建设项目。那时，他访问了当地许多省份的沿东海岸，中部和南部，并且设计各种建设包括高速公路网关结构、收费广场、服务中心、酒店，度假村和近期的购物商场与零售区。

很自然的，他在工作路途中学会了一些普通话(华语)，也试着使自己沉浸在当地的文化中，尤其是在最新项目的所在区域。“我亲自参观委托设计的每一个项目现场，了解项目地点的特质、历史和启发。我的目标是留下积极的环境建设成果，为我在中国的创作带来永久和愉悦形象。 ”他补充说，在中国工作是神奇的体验。

SJB明年在墨尔本迎来40周年，提供持久和经得起时间考验的设计方案，同时创造愉悦感。“我的设计侧重于独特方案，因为在SJB，我们更推崇采用典雅的现代设计方式。”他说，SJB创建精美设计作品，为许多私人开发商设立可行项目，这是公司数十年经验和实践所铸造的工艺。

SJB曾与UAG集团(澳大利亚开发商)合作典雅豪华的住宅项目，这几年间他们携手的三大项目包括精品公寓、各种工作室空间和展示套房。“这提供我们很好的机会为他们构建代表性的作品。”

“客户和建筑师常会出现“角力”的现象，我经常需要担任裁判或以更圆融的方式解决。”

当然，这也协助促进他与妻子(UAG集团董事经理Nicole Chow)，他们在设计方面频率一致。

“设计过程充满乐趣，我们同样对每一个项目的质量和细节都充满激情。Nicole 特别忠于自己的顾问团队，与经验丰富和深谙 UAG 特殊要求的专业人士紧密配合，再加上持续推动创新方案和不懈挑战的设计，优异结果显示，Nicole 团队的新项目很大部分都出现重复的购买者 。”

由于 UAG 坚持有质感的美学设计，他表示 SJB公司将自豪地继续这段合作旅程，与 UAG 团队共同创造更优秀的建设项目。