Ask Ben Mitchell what he does, and he won’t just tell you that he’s an architect. He’ll show you how and why it’s a calling; a state of being that permeates every part of his identity.

Join us as we catch up with the Sydney Director of award-winning firm Those Architects, to explore not so much the project that brought us together (the new BresicWhitney Lower North Shore office, in Mosman) but the life and times of this quiet, curious achiever.

 

Tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. I spent large amounts of time in my youth exploring the natural environment and still maintain a very strong connection to it. In my adolescence and young adulthood, I gravitated to urban environments and spent time in both Sydney and Melbourne engrossing myself in all that city life had to offer.

Today my wife and I live in Mosman and enjoy aspects of both. I have strong connections to my family and enjoy spending idle time with them on our family boat. I’m also a keen runner, a skier, and I am the Sydney Director of Those Architects.  

 

Is there one moment that you knew architecture was the career for you?
I think my career started well before I studied Architecture at Sydney University. I don’t believe that architecture is something that you ‘do’ 9-5 Monday to Friday. It is more akin to something that you simply ‘are’. I have been interested in design since I was very young, and architecture just seemed to be the natural progression. I don’t ever recall thinking of having a career in anything else, it just all seemed to happen naturally. I do distinctly recall my first day at university and feeling like I was exactly where I needed to be, and in the most part that feeling has never left me. 

What is your ethos, and that of Those?
I guess you could say that we design buildings that simply connect people to place. We are constantly striving to distil the essence of each project, responding with beautiful, functional, robust, and enduring buildings. “Architecture is for life” is the phrase we constantly refer to in the practice and in some ways, it best describes our ethos. 

 

What’s one aspect of architecture that inspires you, and one that challenges you?
Watching a project emerge that has been conceived and nurtured in your imagination is always an inspirational moment. As the saying goes though, and this is the challenging bit, it’s 1% imagination and 99% perspiration.  

Your portfolio includes both residential and commercial projects, including distinctive headquarters for fashion brands and film production companies. Now, you’re partnering with us to bring to life our Lower North Shore office. We’re curious – how have you seen commercial design change in recent years?
It’s interesting, I haven’t really reflected on how things have changed in commercial design per sae in recent times. Not because I don’t see value in that process but because with each new project and client, we are focused on addressing their specific requirements. Our clients are diverse and operate in a lot of different sectors, and therefore the briefs can be vastly different from project to project. I guess if I had to single out one thing it would be that commercial clients are realising the importance of good design to attract talent, and encourage people to physically come into the workplace more so than ever. 

 

 

That’s one of our major drivers of investing in our physical office spaces – to create spaces that resonate with and inspire our people. Are there parallels and/or shared values between commercial and residential architecture?
Ultimately, the human condition responds to architecture in the same way regardless of whether it is a workplace or a residence. True, there will be nuances in each but ultimately that just comes down to pragmatics. I’m talking about the soaring quality of architecture and how it lifts the spirit, its true value. In this way we draw no distinction between the two typologies. 

Tell us about your favourite projects.­­­­­­
Oh, I’m not really one to play favourites. Maybe a better way to answer that would be to say that the most rewarding projects are always the ones that start and finish with a trusting client. It is usually that simple, if you have a trusting client then usually all the other pieces fall into place. 

What role will technology play in the future or architecture?
Technology will undoubtedly play an increasingly important role in any field; architecture is not immune to that. It is important for architects to agitate for the value of human thought to conceive delightful buildings for fellow humans. There is a difference between a building, and a piece of architecture. My view is that technology can play a role in facilitating the process, but it cannot replace the process itself. A strong curatorial human mind will always be required in architecture.

What does an ideal day look like for you?
[…] Having time and space to scribble, to get thought to paper. I’m constantly formulating ideas but don’t always have the time to fully explore them, so when I do get that time, I relish it. A coffee while I work this way and I’m a happy man. 

 

As a Mosman resident, what do you enjoy about the local community?
The parklands, the bushland and access to the Sydney Harbour foreshore are what drew me here initially. They are the things that still hold me here today. You really can unplug from a hectic schedule and enjoy stunning natural landscapes; in Summer I feel particularly lucky to live here. I can usually still find a white sandy beach all to myself after a day in the Surry Hills office – it is the ultimate way to end the day. Apart from its natural beauty, Mosman also has a lively village feel and a strong community heartbeat. It offers a great lifestyle. 

Tell us a couple of your favourite spots to eat, drink and play in the local area.
We love eating at Avenue Road on a Saturday morning whilst we do the weekend quiz, it is a bit of a routine of ours. We also love having coffee at the Balmoral Boathouse while we watch the boats bob around. You can’t go past the Buena Vista for a late afternoon drink on a warm Summer’s day. It is particularly satisfying after a bush walk loop that we like to do from home which takes in Georges Heights and the spectacular views of the harbour.