In this STORIESINDESIGN conversation, architect Phillip Mathieson discusses his formative personal experiences and his residentially focused work out of Sydney.

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The founder and design director of Mathieson Architects joins me at The Commons in Sydney for this latest episode of STORIESINDESIGN. Phillip Mathieson opens up on his career in architecture as well as his wider influences and design approach. The discussion ranges from formative personal experiences to the practical realities of running an architectural practice, while outlining the principles that guide Mathieson’s residential-focused work.

Mathieson begins by reflecting on his background. Growing up in Melbourne, he spent two formative years as a teenager living in Jakarta, an experience that broadened his outlook beyond suburban Australia. 

The density and energy of the Indonesian capital left a strong impression: “You could never go anywhere without being amongst a throng of people,” he recalls, describing the contrast with quiet suburban streets. The exposure to different cultures and lifestyles shaped how he understood the wider world and the possibilities within it.

The conversation then traces Mathieson’s path into architecture. Although he had an architect uncle, the profession initially seemed distant. After briefly studying science at university, he realised his interests lay elsewhere. 

“I’d be sitting at my desk sketching plans out when I should be studying biology,” he says, describing the moment he decided to change direction. Entering the profession during the early-1990s recession meant early work opportunities were limited, but he gained commercial experience including involvement in the development of Crown Casino in Melbourne.

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A major theme of the discussion is Mathieson’s long-standing focus on residential architecture. Around 60–70 per cent of the practice’s projects are private houses, often for repeat clients or referrals. He describes the appeal of this scale of work as the close relationship with the people who will ultimately inhabit the space. “You know who the end user is going to be… it’s a much more emotional connection,” he explains.

Mathieson also outlines his holistic approach to design, in which architecture and interiors are conceived together. His studio generally avoids taking on architecture without also designing the interiors, believing the strongest results come from a single design vision carried through the entire project. The emphasis, however, is less on style and more on spatial planning. 

“A lot of our work is really about nailing the plan and getting the relationships between spaces right,” he says, noting that materials can often be secondary to the spatial arrangement.

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Mathieson Architects
mathiesonarchitects.com