Our Work
Since its establishment in 2004, BENT Architecture has cultivated an extensive and diverse portfolio that spans a wide array of project types in industry sectors that include education, commercial, community, and housing. Driven by a research-based, process-driven design approach, BENT Architecture’s work fosters rich dialogues between context, programme, and people, resulting in highly responsive built environments that are deeply attuned to their surroundings. Our approach enables us to easily adapt to new project types and encourages us to bring a fresh and up-to-date perspective to our work that is place specific, modelled on current best practice, and attuned to the needs of our clients.
Houses
BENT Architecture’s journey began with residential projects, with our first house - designed and built by our Directors - earning an AIA Award for Residential Architecture and gaining international acclaim.
Since then, our practice has been dedicated to creating thoughtful, sustainable, and site-responsive homes that are attuned to their surroundings. We design new houses, renovations and extensions, both on greenfield sites and in complex infill locations, where our projects successfully navigate intricate regulatory frameworks.
Our design approach is highly collaborative, with our clients actively involved throughout the design process. This results in homes that reflect their aspirations, functional needs, and the unique context of their site. We prioritise environmental sustainability, employing passive solar design principles to create homes that are naturally warm in winter and cool in summer, reducing reliance on artificial means of heating and cooling.
At the heart of our work is the belief that a healthy home strikes a balance between protection and prospect - offering shelter from the outside world while fostering a meaningful connection to the natural environment. Our residential projects create nurturing, expansive spaces that are not only protected from the elements but also inspired by and engaged with their surrounding landscapes, promoting a harmonious dialogue between home and context.
Housing
BENT Architecture has extensive experience in delivering a wide range of medium and high-density residential housing projects, including social and affordable housing, public housing, refuge housing (youth and Indigenous housing), multi-generational housing, NDIS-funded Specialist Disability Accommodation, student housing, and market housing.
Our mission is to create thoughtful, sustainable, and community-oriented multi-residential housing that fosters a sense of belonging and improves the quality of life for residents. We are committed to designing developments that are carbon neutral in operation, integrating energy-efficient technologies and renewable resources to minimize environmental impact. By adhering to the Liveable Housing Australia Guidelines, we prioritize accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring our designs are functional and welcoming for people of all ages and abilities. We aim to deliver diverse, flexible dwelling layouts, modern amenities, and green spaces that enhance the well-being of every resident.
Our projects embrace biophilic design principles, optimizing solar orientation and prevailing breezes to enhance natural light, ventilation, and overall comfort. Landscaping and green spaces are integrated throughout our evelopments, creating environments that connect residents with nature and improve both personal and collective experiences. Whether through private courtyards, rooftop gardens, or communal areas, outdoor spaces are central to our designs, fostering social interaction and a strong sense of community. We focus on sustainability, accessibility, and nature to build harmonious, diverse communities that thrive in environmentally conscious surroundings.
Commercial Architecture
At BENT Architecture, we are dedicated to creating innovative, functional, and sustainable commercial architecture and interiors that inspire and elevate the experience of employees, customers, and visitors alike. Renowned for our work with respected local brands such as Melrose Health and Orchard Manufacturing, our designs are rooted in a deep understanding of our client’s unique brand identity, business needs, and long-term goals. We prioritise efficiency, flexibility, and accessibility, creating spaces that optimise workflow, encourage collaboration, and promote well-being.
Through thoughtful space planning and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, we deliver environments that are adaptable and future-proof. We believe that a commercial space should reflect the values of the organisation it houses, fostering a cohesive atmosphere that resonates with occupants. Our design approach emphasises sustainability, using environmentally responsible materials and energy-efficient systems to create spaces that are as kind to the planet as they are to the people who use them. By integrating biophilic design principles into our designs, such as connection to natural light, vegetation and organic materials and form, we create comfortable environments that are calm and inviting.
Our commitment to excellence extends beyond aesthetics. We design with safety, security, and comfort in mind, incorporating thoughtful acoustics, lighting, and ergonomic considerations to create spaces that enhance productivity and engagement. Above all, we strive to bring our clients’ visions to life with integrity, creativity, and a focus on long-lasting, high-quality design solutions.
Education
At BENT Architecture, we specialise in designing inclusive, welcoming, and safe educational environments that are deeply connected to their communities. With extensive experience across kindergartens, childcare centres, schools, and tertiary institutions, we work collaboratively with communities to create spaces that reflect their unique needs, values and pedagogy. As with all of our work, our education projects integrate biophilic design principles and elements, such as natural lighting and ventilation, and natural materials, textures, form and colour, to create healthy spaces that support learning and well-being. Our award-winning work, such as the Nara Community Early Learning Centre, exemplifies our commitment to creating environments that evoke adventure, discovery, and delight, while fostering a warm, family-oriented atmosphere that supports the community’s growth and aspirations.
Community
At BENT Architecture, our mission is to design socially inclusive community projects that empower and inspire. Through a collaborative process of co-design and workshopping, we create inclusive spaces that foster connection, support diverse needs, and reflect the values of the communities we serve. Our community projects integrate sustainable design principles that prioritise environmental responsibility and social equity, ensuring that every project contributes positively to both people and the planet. By focusing on inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement, we create built environments that offer places of connection, reflection, and lasting impact.
Green Roofs and Walls
At BENT Architecture, we specialise in the design of socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable green roofs and walls that transform urban landscapes. Our green roof and wall projects enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and reduce energy consumption in the built environment; all the while creating immersive, vibrant, elevated outdoor spaces that allow people to connect with nature in often unlikely places! Projects such as Phoenix Rooftop, the highest rooftop garden in Melbourne, and Growing up, a Singapore Highrise Greenery Award winner, demonstrate our commitment to the creation of green spaces that not only benefit the environment but also offer joyful, immersive garden refuges that inspire a harmonious relationship between people and their surroundings.
