Page 45 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

INDUSTRY • BUILDING

to continue the Vandyke name, and optimism in the tropics.”
my search to extend the services bálay Matt would love to see local councils
offered, we soon realised that a merger move away from the current
would be the answer the two companies residential estate model towards
were searching for,” Matt says. more laneway developments, a
Their focus as a combined force trend our team here at Tropic has
remains the same as it was as long advocated. “The narrower
individual entities, a personal tailored and smaller courtyard allotments
responses to each project with a improve the streetscape by
collaborative approach between promoting multi-level design with
designer and client. garages out of sight in the laneways
“Whether our clients are driven by a behind,” he says. “Smaller allotments
specific vision or are not quite sure result in less clearing of our
what might be possible we’ll find a beautiful landscape, not to mention
design solution that works for them,” are cheaper to purchase allowing
Matt says. “Our focus is the delivery more investment in the architecture
of innovative design solution while of the building.”
embracing client expectations and
balancing deadlines, budgets and MORE: balayvandyke.com.au
functional requirements. Having
undertaken projects in coastal,
urban, rural and tropical regions,
every new project presents a unique TEAM PROFILE
set of challenges that we relish the
opportunity to resolve, regardless Matt Piromalli clients throughout the construction
of the project scale or complexity,” Matt is the team’s stage. His background extends
explains Matt. principal designer and from government where he worked
bálay Vandyke provides a sliding scale represents Far North for over 16 years with the Royal
of services that allows clients the QLD on the state management Australian Engineers in a project
flexibility to get the support they need committee of the Building management and design office,
at all stages of their project. Designer’s Association. through to working the past 12 years
“As design is ethereal and evolves Before moving to Cairns and at Chris Vandyke Designs. With a
through exploration, we segment the establishing bàlay Building Design in multitude of skillsets he brings to
process to allow it to run at the speed it 2004, Matt lived in the Whitsundays the office, Sean is also a licensed
needs,” Sean says. where he worked casually as a building designer and permaculture
The team at bálay Vandyke has the contract designer, leaving plenty of design consultant.
experience and expertise to design time for his other passion sailing.
and manage commercial and multi- Matt takes an artful approach to Cris Beswick
residential developments. each project and brings a unique Cris is our Architectural
Their services include everything balance of artistic ability and Technician with
from the realisation of their client’s advanced 3D computer technology international honours
projects through a conceptual design to each design. Matt’s designs are degrees from the UK in Architecture
process through to engineered influenced by the interplay of indoor and Urban Design. Cris worked at
construction plans. and outdoor spaces and are created Chris Vandyke Designs for 9 years
The team’s services also extend by combining his freehand sketch where he crafted his structural
to interior and landscape design skills with a broad construction documentation skills by preparing
and include project and contract knowledge of our tropical region. construction drawings for some of
management support during Matt’s wide-ranging experience North Queensland’s most unique
tendering & construction, providing across many council areas, with buildings.
their clients with a one-stop-shop sites of varying constraints and Cris brings a high level of experience
from concept to construction opportunities, has prepared him to in 3D modelling, BIM technology
completion. deal with any design challenge. & architectural visualisations. His
The pair are confident about the future experience extends to the use of many
of Cairns, provided the city and local Sean Reason software programs, providing our
authorities can adapt and advocate new Sean is the team’s clients with a superior presentation
styles of urban living. project manager with experience.
“With the current high rise and considerable experience
commercial developments underway in establishing client requirements Ella Piromalli
in Cairns it seems that the overall to form the basis of a given project, Ella provides
image of this town is quickly assembling consultant teams, administrative
changing,” Sean says. “We would like detailing project specifications, support for our team
to see, and somewhat expect in the competitively tendering & contract and is a qualified book-keeper &
near future ‘a ground swell of growth’ management on behalf of our Commissioner for Declarations.
spawned from refreshed interest and

45 • tropicnow.com.au