In July 2025, GB-A celebrated a significant milestone: 25 years of design excellence in Melbourne. Vue de monde proved to be the perfect space to join with our team, clients, and collaborators for a night of fun of reflection. Founded in 1989, the company has grown into a leading multidisciplinary practice with studios in Brisbane and Melbourne, renowned for its creative, considered, and collaborative approach to architecture, landscape, and interior design.
The Melbourne Studio’s journey has been notably shaped by Director Kavan Applegate, who also marks 30 years with GB-A in 2025. His leadership has been instrumental in steering the Melbourne Studio towards a future-focused, people-centred design philosophy. Under Kavan’s guidance, the Melbourne studio has become a hub for award-winning projects across diverse sectors, including education, health, justice, and public spaces. Notable projects such as the Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre highlight the studio’s commitment to designing environments that foster rehabilitation and community integration.
Rivergum Residential Treatment Centre
GB-A’s success is rooted in its collaborative culture, bringing together architects, interior designers, and landscape architects to deliver holistic design solutions. The Melbourne team exemplifies this integrated approach, ensuring that each project reflects the firm’s core values of Care, Create and Collaborate in our integration of sustainability, cultural respect, and community engagement in our work. GB-A is more than just a great place to work; it’s a community made up of the passionate minds of our Team, project collaborators and clients, all dedicated to creating something extraordinary and serving our community.
Ravenhall Correctional Centre
Our studio culture thrives on creative curiosity and collaborative innovation. Whether we’re brainstorming over great Melbourne coffee or deep-diving into design challenges, we push boundaries and explore new perspectives with care for the uniqueness in each other and the world around us. Throw in some a generous handfuls of fun together and we have a deeply authentic, purpose driven team who Kavan has been quoted as saying he “genuinely looks forward to seeing every day.” We love seeing you too Kavan!
Western Plains Correctional Centre
As GB-A celebrates its 25-year anniversary in Melbourne, the Studio remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design, embracing innovation, and contributing positively to the built environment and the people we work with. With a strong foundation and a forward-thinking mindset, GB-A is poised to continue its legacy of excellence for many years to come.
Here are a few words from our Melbourne Director, Kavan Applegate.
This year marks a remarkable milestone for GB-A Melbourne as we celebrate 25 extraordinary years of architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. What really began as a meandering idea has evolved into a rich story of purpose, people, and place.
Shepparton Law Courts
The ongoing success of GB-A across both our studios has been shaped by our shared company values of care, create, and collaborate. These values have fostered a culture that not only delivers exceptional projects but also nurtures meaningful relationships.
When I joined GB-A back in 1995, just six years after its inception, I never anticipated how deeply it would shape my professional life. Five years later, a personal decision to move to Melbourne became an opportunity with Tim Guymer and Ralph Bailey’s support. Their encouragement to use that moment to establish a Melbourne studio reflected the essence of who GB-A is as a company. We’ve always believed that when you find the right people, united by a shared purpose, incredible work happens. That people-first ethos remains the heart of GB-A today.
Melbourne Children’s Court - 477 Lt Lonsdale Street
Looking back over these past 25 years, I am filled with immense pride. Pride in the projects we’ve designed with such intention and impact. Pride in the growth of our people, whose talent and drive constantly push the barriers of design. Pride in the incredible partnerships we’ve built with clients, consultants, and stakeholders. And, of course, pride in the joy and passion we bring to every challenge we take on.
Our Melbourne studio wasn’t built with growth for growth’s sake. It expanded in response to opportunities to create spaces with purpose, to solve complex problems, and to deliver real, meaningful outcomes. Whether designing school environments for students with special learning needs, justice facilities with therapeutic goals, or specialist accommodation for people with disabilities, we always keep wellbeing at the heart of our design philosophy.
Yatala Labour Prison
Looking towards the future, our commitment remains steadfast. We’ll build on the momentum we’ve established in education, justice, and health, pushing the boundaries of architecture, landscape architecture and interior design to deliver fully integrated solutions. We’ll continue to grow and develop our leadership team and staff, empowering them to thrive professionally while shaping the future of design. Above all, we’ll continue to challenge the status quo, bringing greater wellbeing to the users of the spaces we design.
It has been an absolute privilege to be part of this extraordinary 25-year journey for GB-A Melbourne. Together, we look forward to designing the next chapter of spaces that inspire, connect, and heal.
Thank you to all those who have been part of our ongoing story.
Warm regards,
Kavan Applegate
Director, GB-A Melbourne
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