Nickolas Gurtler
Vulcan House

Melbourne-based Nickolas Gurtler Office is a multi-disciplinary design firm crafting interiors across the residential, multi-residential and commercial sectors. At Nickolas Gurtler, design explores the dynamic interplay between minimalism and maximalism, resulting in both refined and transcendent spaces.

Each project meticulously balances the rituals of everyday use with a bold challenge to conventional norms. The firm's approach celebrates the alchemy of materials, executed with an exquisite restraint that embodies luxury. Fuelled by a global perspective, the studio's influences stem from unlikely sources, a reverence for design history and advocacy for emerging Australian art and design.

What was the project? What was the brief?

Our latest residential project Vulcan House in the leafy suburb of Woodlands in Western Australia was the result of almost 6 years of planning and construction. We were engaged as part of a team with building designer Dorian Morelli and landscape Architect Tristan Pierce to create a “forever home” that would stand the test of time whilst evolving and growing with the young family. Our role was to design the interior architecture as well as the decoration toward the completion of the build.

The clients were looking for a home that would feel timeless with a sense of permanence, and of course completely bespoke to their specific needs and wants. It was important to them that all elements of the design from the architecture to the interiors to the landscaping be in harmony.

What were the challenges? How did you overcome these?

One of the biggest challenges was designing this project during COVID which presented issues in terms of material shortages, price fluctuations, and of course border closures meaning we were unable to visit the site as often as we’d have liked.

We have become experts in designing from a distance, with work in 4 states across the country as well as work in the USA. We’ve become adept at working digitally as much as possible and have become more reliant on a variety of digital technologies to enhance our workflow including working more immerssevely in 3D as well as video conferencing and cloud based systems.

As far as material shortages and price fluctuations, we had to adapt as you do on any project. It forced us to be more creative with less, ensuring spaces remained balanced whilst amending our initial vision. We actually don’t mind doing this as it often gives us the opportunity to revisit the project with the benefit of hindsight in a way and rework things where they are required.

Did you receive any feedback on Programa from your team and clients?

One of our repeat clients (Cole Hair Studio) in Sydney had the benefit of working with us both pre and post implementing programa and she remarked it felt “like a glow up” with our scheduling practices. She really enjoyed being able to see all her information be updated in real-time and to engage with us in a more direct way. As a studio we think it allows clients a bit more of a view inside how the project works and how much work goes into a specific project. We always have feedback on Programa about how we’d like to customise it for our specific workflow but are really happy with the continuous addition of new features.

Reflect on the role of Programa in the project's success and its influence on your design process.

With hundreds of items across many different suppliers it was very useful to keep track of every moving part using Programa, just something we wouldn’t have had the ability to manage with the manpower of our team without something like Programa. We’ve become much more streamlined in our workflow and are spending more time designing and less time in project admin.