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In a special roundtable episode marking SJB’s 50th anniversary, five senior figures from across SJB reflect on the evolution of one of Australia’s most enduring multidisciplinary design studios. The five guests — Michael Bialek, Adam Haddow, Andrew Parr, Emily Wombwell and Beau Fulwood — span the practice history across both space and time, from original co-founder Bialek to Sydney-based Haddow and Wombwell.

They joined me at The Commons in Melbourne on 1^st April, the exact anniversary of the practice’s half-century. Just the night before, scores of design industry luminaries had gathered for a prestigious party at the NGV to celebrate the milestone. Bialek, Haddow and Parr were among the speakers who addressed the audience there, which included visitors from across Australia.

The podcast conversation begins with personal anecdotes that reveal the strong culture of mentorship and camaraderie within the firm before moving into a chronological look at its history, from its founding in Melbourne in 1976 to its expansion into interiors, planning and Sydney-based practice.

The guests trace key milestones in the studio’s growth, including early commercial breakthroughs, the establishment of in-house planning divisions, and the increasing integration of architecture, interiors and urban design. Several speakers describe how joining an architecture-led multidisciplinary environment reshaped their own careers, highlighting the firm’s longstanding openness to crossing disciplinary boundaries.

Related: SJB launch party for INDESIGN #91

A recurring theme is the culture that has sustained the practice across generations: flat hierarchies, accessible leadership and an emphasis on long-term relationships between directors, staff and clients. The discussion also explores how those values translate into current work, with recent decades defined by increasingly complex mixed-use and precinct-scale projects that combine commercial, residential, civic and public functions.

The guests each nominate milestone projects that shaped their careers, from hospitality landmarks and BMW headquarters to adaptive reuse and major urban redevelopments. Looking ahead, the conversation turns to the future of design practice in an era shaped by AI, technological change and shifting professional boundaries.

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SJB
sjb.com.au

Event Photography
Michael Pham, Hugh Stewart