In Practice

Nickolas Gurtler Office, based in Melbourne, is a multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in residential, multi-residential, and commercial interiors. The firm explores the dynamic interplay between minimalism and maximalism, creating spaces that are both refined and transcendent.

Each project at Nickolas Gurtler Office meticulously balances the rituals of everyday use with a bold challenge to conventional norms. The approach celebrates the alchemy of materials, executed with exquisite restraint to embody luxury. Influenced by a global perspective, the studio draws inspiration from unlikely sources, a deep reverence for design history, and a strong advocacy for emerging Australian art and design.

Founded in 2015, Nickolas Gurtler Office has been featured in esteemed publications such as Architectural Digest, Vogue Living, The Local Project, Elle Decoration, House and Garden, and Belle. Led by principal designer Nickolas Gurtler, the boutique collective of three designers embraces a client-centric philosophy, ensuring each project is a bespoke reflection of the client’s vision.

The firm’s notable accolades include winning the IDEA award for institutional design in 2023 and receiving over 15 design nominations across Australian and international awards programs in the past three years. Project timelines range from short-term commercial or interior decoration projects of 6-8 months to highly bespoke residential homes that can take between 2-5 years.

Discuss your project selection criteria and a unique method or technique characteristic of your studio.

Projects at the studio are meticulously chosen based on client briefs, design aspirations, and a mutual commitment to embark on a transformative design journey. This collaborative approach not only fulfills immediate goals but also expands horizons to embrace creativity and innovation in every aspect of the process.

With a refined methodology honed over nearly a decade, the studio employs established procedures that consistently yield exceptional results. Renowned for drawing inspiration from unexpected sources, such as the iconic Thierry Mugler perfume bottle influencing the Ocean Cosmetics project, or interpreting the cinematic masterpiece Dune in the Tahnee Raine project, their work exemplifies a bold fusion of imagination and design.

Each project conceived by the studio exudes authenticity and timelessness, eschewing fleeting trends in favor of a comprehensive understanding of contemporary aesthetics. Guided by the belief that great design endures, they skillfully integrate historical influences into modern contexts, creating spaces that resonate with enduring appeal.

The studio's systematic approach to design evolves with each endeavor, exploring the nuanced application of color, the harmonization of materials, and the orchestration of spatial flow. This iterative process ensures that every project reflects a dynamic balance of innovation and enduring elegance, reinforcing their commitment to excellence in design.

How were you practising before Programa? What were the struggles?

We used spreadsheets before, and they were a very labour-intensive administrative nightmare. Often, things would get copied over that were incorrect, numbers didn’t always add up, and we were inputting the same information over and over. This method required a full-time staff member to take ownership of this side of the business to track quotes, product deliveries, etc.

Describe the impact of Programa on project management, workflow, and client relationships. What are some examples?

We primarily use Programa for Schedules and continue to expand our Product Library with each project. Storing all project data together in a cloud-based format allows us to access the information at any time from anywhere, be it in the office or on-site. We can easily pull up specification sheets to show contractors or confirm dimensions in a client meeting.

We have recently started using the Client Dashboard on projects, including our upcoming Redfern workplace project. The client has approved and added commentary to items, allowing everyone involved in the project to keep track of expected delivery dates and product information required for the build.

This has significantly reduced the internal administration required and somewhat reduced RFIs (although we anticipate this reducing further as regular contractors become more familiar with the methodology).

We’ve found it particularly useful for tracking project financials and products in various stages of construction or importation. Managing this is, at the best of times, a labour-intensive task, so having a centralised system like Programa has dramatically improved our workflow.

Programa has been particularly helpful in ensuring pricing and markups are clear and correct, and our clients have been able to track changes in quotes and the production status of specific FF&E through the Client Dashboard, including on our most recent residential project that we just completed in WA.