Established in 2016, Studio Edwards is an ambitious ideas–led practice. Combining architecture, interiors and conceptual design with a dedication to pushing these disciplines in innovative and considered directions.
Completed projects include a Micro-hotel, House 28—a steel structure & dwelling for a tricky coastal site, a laneway house designed solely from shadow diagrams, an apartment re-configuration from recycled materials and Sky Pavilion—a prefabricated roof-top garden structure supported entirely by existing party walls.
The studio has earned numerous accolades including Designer of the Year 2019, Best Retail, Best Workspace 2021, and numerous sustainability Awards. In 2018 the studio created ‘alt.material‘ as a means to collaborate & explore future materialities.
In 2022, the studio’s 22m2 Finesse shoe store won ‘Best Retail’ in the Australian Interior Design Awards for its sustainable credentials & a recently completed zero-waste 1000m2 workspace in Collingwood demonstrates the studios ability to realise traverse sustainability & innovation. Currently the studio is developing plans to transform their Fitzroy studio into an apartment complex. Creating volumetric inspired city living for a wide demographic—with the ambition to push small space design to its limits
The Studio provides full design services from initial concepts through to finished buildings and spaces.
Studio Edwards is a registered supplier on the Victorian Construction Supplier Register (Architectural Services) & registered practice of the Australian Institute of Architects & Royal Institute of British Architects.
Ben Edwards
Founder
BA (Hons), B.Arch
RIBA | AIA | ARB | ARBV 20575
Trained in the UK & working at London Architects CGL for a number of years before e re-locating to Melbourne in 2007.
Following the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, Edwards led bushfire recovery, creating the regrowth pod—an open-source prefab shelter now vital after the 2019/2020 fires. He held a 2005 board position at the not-for-profit Social Studio, transforming Smith Street into a recognised retail and training area for underprivileged Australians.
He co-directed Edwards Moore Architects from 2009-2016. Securing the National Interior Design Excellence Award in 2011 for projects like the Arnsdorf store—a hosiery-crafted concept space & Lightbox House with perforated metal flooring. The 2012 Institute of Architects Award followed, recognising the dual-purpose Artist Carpark Studio.
In 2016, Ben founded Studio Edwards, devoted to innovative, design focused projects that traverse both scale & typology.
Nancy Beka
Director
B.Arch
After studying architecture at University of South Australia, Nancy relocated to Melbourne working as both design assistant & project management roles within Studio Edwards.
Nancy’s innovative and emotive perspective to design thinking, along with her strong focus on fostering long term relationships with clients, contractors and designers, resulted in her advancement to co-director in 2020. Nancy is also a co-curator of the alt. material design collective curating prototypes & experimental works by leading & emerging designers.
She has also tutored at LCI Melbourne & lectured at Melbourne University offering mentorship to young designers within the industry. More recently Nancy has also completed a Diploma of Project Management.