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Monday 9am - 5:30pm Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm Thursday 9am - 5:30pm Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Philip Leeson Architects

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Australia
Canberra, ACT
Philip Leeson Architects

Architecture : Interior Design : Heritage : Urban Design

19/12/2025

Happy holidays from the Philip Leeson Architects and Heritage team. We will be closed from this afternoon until the 5th of January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

A jolly 1930s duplex in the Reid Housing Precinct, all dressed up for Christmas.

02/10/2025

From Tocumwal, to Canberra, to transformation. A bold yet thoughtful renovation that breathes new life into a timeless Tocumwal home in Canberra's Inner North.

Builder: B&R Builders
Photographer: .wrigley
Landscape:

24/06/2024

2024 ACT Architecture Award Winner.
Kampung Batu Bigga (Rocky Knoll Shelter).
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) and COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture.

Located in a rural setting south of Canberra, Kampung Batu Bigga is a meticulously crafted rammed earth sanctuary, a joint vision between architect and outdoors enthusiast owner. Grounded in a profound love for the bush, this residence seamlessly integrates with its scenic surroundings, reminiscent of a bushwalking hut. The intentional modesty of the home’s footprint encompasses compact private spaces, with a shared living space under the distinctive roof form.

The design pays homage to Australia’s bush construction history with rammed earth and Zincalume cladding, and it carefully wraps the contours, with a wing like roof extending to shelter outdoor spaces. Sandstone ‘wind’ walls protect against prevailing winds; and sustainability is embodied throughout with onsite harvesting of rainwater, energy and waste processing. From the outdoor kitchen to serene internal spaces, Kampung Batu Bigga harmonises architecture and occupants with nature, exemplifying a thoughtful blend of design, sustainability, and connection to the Australian bush.

Builder: Braithwaite Building
Photographer: Anthony Basheer
Construction stage advice to client by Sarah Truscott Architect.

21/02/2024

“We would recommend PLA to anyone looking to build a quality house.“

“Philip Leeson Architects (PLA) designed and oversaw the construction of our knockdown rebuild. We thought it would be helpful to share our experience.

From our first meeting, PLA impressed us with their deep commitment both to good design and achieving value for money, on the back of a diverse and highly experienced team. After engaging them to build our house, we had lots of fun collaborating on several iterations of the design until we settled on something that met our needs, while also remaining within budget. Then, in a period of high inflation and routine cost blowouts across the industry, PLA and the builder completed our 5 bedroom house in 9 months, with no surprises.

Throughout construction, minor changes were made to the design in response to developments and emerging issues, and with satisfying attention to detail. PLA also resolved some unexpected financial and contract management issues in a stress-free manner. Comparing our experience with friends, we doubt it would have been more cost effective or efficient to have gone with a custom builder, despite up-front promises of lower prices.

Since moving in, we have come to fully appreciate what PLA was able to achieve for us. Beyond the form and function, we’re regularly inspired by unique details of the house. The view from a window, the interplay between indoor and outdoor, a piece of craftsmanship – it all points to a cohesive, artistic vision, in dialogue with the environment and our needs as a family. We would recommend PLA to anyone looking to build a quality house.

James & Dharshi”

Builder: B&R Builder
Photographer: .wrigley

11/02/2024

This small project provides a detached studio to the rear of a modest 1950s house in an established suburb. The brief called for a separate structure which took the opportunity to make an architectural statement of which the house does not.

The design provides studio, office and guest accommodation in a large room with a kitchenette, storage and bathroom concealed behind bespoke joinery. The building form is a simple box clad in clear finished Spotted Gum with bi-fold doors opening to a small deck and paved terrace. The services are contained in a “box within a box” which is also clad in Spotted Gum veneer. Other built-in joinery reduces the amount of freestanding furniture required and two small windows are carefully placed to catch morning sun and a glimpse of the garden.

06/02/2024

The marks of students past adorn the walls of the new Collaborative Design Space by Philip Leeson Architects at the University of Canberra.

What was a ramshackle series of dark computer labs is now a bright, lively and versatile complement of spaces suitable for group work, lab work, lectures, exhibitions and collaboration. The brief called for distinct but visually connected areas, acoustic treatment, a student showcase space, a secure office, plenty of pin-up space, audiovisual, and a complex integration with the building's HVAC system also known as the ‘Dalek’.

The Collaborate Design Space is on Level C of Building 7, a brutalist building designed by Roger Johnson and built in the 1970s.

Builder
Photographer .wrigley

05/02/2024

Narrabundah House maximises a tight site with a skewed central courtyard separating living and bedroom wings. The raw material palette and landscaping by Harris Hobbs beautifully complement each other, creating a feeling of openness with strong interior-exterior connection. Fine architectural details realised with expert craftsmanship from Sutton and Horsley is evident in all areas of the home, from the honed blockwork walls to the beautiful timber joinery and window detailing.

The home has optimal northerly orientation for all key living rooms and bedrooms and is a tranquil space for the busy young family.

Built by Sutton & Horsley
Photos by .wrigley
Landscape by

30/01/2024

Although modest in scale an addition of two carefully sited red plywood boxes makes a striking contribution whilst highlighting the distinctive form of the original house with its pyramidal roof and central top light. This concept intrigued the owners who had imagined that any addition would match the existing house. Small, enclosed rooms have been opened to the outdoors on all sides without major alterations. The Radburn principle, a town planning principle that separates cars and pedestrians, sets up a seamless transition between simply landscaped gardens and the adjacent playing field whereby this highly visible project has elicited many favourable responses.

Photos by .wrigley
Built by Homeline

21/01/2024

“We would like a house like Heidi II to exhibit our art collection” summarised the owners requirements. Heidi II, the iconic McGlashan and Everist designed modernist house of the 1960s encourages visitors to explore the building whilst simultaneously discovering the artwork. The journey culminates at a winding stair that takes the viewer into a naturally lit, double height gallery.

Accompanying the brief, were images of houses quite unlike Heidi’s white and welcoming exterior – cubic, dark and sombre, entry points tucked away, and only a few hints of the interior within. There were images too of stairs – spiral, twisting, sculptural, dramatic.

This house achieves the owners requirements of a “live in gallery” in an inventive and highly sculptural way. The planning is clear and logical and allows the artwork to be exhibited in natural light and away from direct sun. The stair, dramatic yet entirely functional seamlessly links each level. Overall, the combination of materials and forms generate a lively exterior and rich interior that will be easy to live for many years.

Photos by Ben Wrigley
Built by Sutton & Horsley

18/12/2023

Philip Leeson Architects will be closed from Thursday 21st of December and open again from Thursday 4th of January.

Happy holidays to all.

The ‘Black Pod House’ is an architectural response to contemporary lifestyle requirements and a love of landscape, coalescing with an original 1940s Canberra red brick home.

The design embraces new architectural forms and materials. The contrast between old and new amplifies the character of the existing house and respects the 1940s detailing. Two pods of newly built form are grafted to the existing, sensitively connecting, while asserting their own unique character. Rich western red cedar windows and plywood soffits reference the warmth of the existing building.

Subtle linear lines, enhanced by the use of horizontal cladding, lead the eye from one form to the other while playful levels provide depth and articulation while restraining the scale of the new from dominating the original house.

12/10/2023

“Our house is heritage listed. It is a beautiful place with lovely rooms but is cold and dark.

We approached Philip Leeson Architects because of their reputation working on heritage buildings to design a modern conservatory, bedroom, bathroom and workshop. We also wanted a new kitchen with good access to the garden.

It was important to us that the new building look modern but sympathetic to the old building.

The new wing is removed slightly from the original house but connected by a glass link.

We now have a house that is thoroughly enjoyable and comfortable all year round.”

Photos by
Built by Alliance Building Group

24/07/2023

Designed around a shared appreciation of traditional Japanese architecture by client and architect, the Harvey Taylor House interprets those traditions into an Australian context.

External masonry walls and cobblestone paving extend into the house, blurring lines between interior and exterior. The paved entry leads to a meticulously detailed, timber lined circulation spine wrapping around a private courtyard. Opening off the spine is a private bedroom suite and a sequence of living spaces defined by high ceilings, clerestory windows and a change in flooring.

Lighting is concealed in the slatted timber ceiling. Golden wallpaper and textured tiles line the ground floor wet areas, while the main bathroom houses a traditional deep-soaker wooden bath. The ground floor concludes with a Japanese tearoom, pairing traditional principles with an Australian aesthetic. The first floor area provides additional sleeping and office space with balconies into the courtyard.

This project was made possible through a deep commitment to quality and experimentation from the client, architect and builder. The result is a light-filled functional family home that celebrates craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Philip Leeson Architects received the 2015 ACT Residential Architecture Award for new houses for Harvey Taylor House.

Builder: Preferred Builders
Photographer: .wrigley

Address

Unit 4, 9 McKay Street
Canberra, ACT
2612

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+61262953311

Website

http://www.philipleeson.com.au/

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