Carter Williamson Architects marked its 21st year in practice this month with an industry gathering at Hinchcliff House, using the occasion to reflect on the studio’s origins, its people and a body of work shaped by a long-standing commitment to the public realm.

Founded in 2004 by architect Shaun Carter, the firm has grown from a home-based operation into a studio of more than 20 staff working across residential, commercial and public projects.

Over two decades on, Carter notes the practice remains guided by a belief that architecture should contribute to civic life, not simply satisfy a client brief.

“For me, architecture has always been about the public good,” Carter says, adding, “Whether we are designing a house, an apartment building or a public project, the question is how that work adds something beyond its site, how it improves the street, the neighbourhood and, ultimately, the city.”

The studio began gaining wider recognition in the early 2010s, earning its first Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) commendation and securing a state award in 2013. Its portfolio now ranges from single-family homes to large-scale apartment buildings, commercial developments and public architecture, united by an emphasis on amenity, generosity and a strong sense of place.

Co-principal Ben Peake, who joined the firm in 2013 and later became a partner, says he was drawn to a studio culture that treats architecture as part of a broader civic conversation.

“What attracted me was the belief that architecture should engage with ideas bigger than any single project,” Peake says. “That way of thinking has shaped not just the work we do, but the causes we support and how we understand our responsibility to the city.”

In recent years, the practice has taken on increasingly large and urban-scale projects.

In 2024, Carter Williamson won a design competition for The Angophora, a mixed-use development in Chatswood comprising 260 apartments across two towers, praised for its public domain strategy as well as residential amenity.

“The projects that excite us most are those where good urban outcomes and strong architecture reinforce each other,” Carter says. “Respect for the public domain isn’t at odds with private value. In our experience, it underpins it.”

The firm credits its longevity in part to an emphasis on studio culture and staff retention. Several team members have been with the practice for more than a decade, a continuity Peake described as central to its success.

“Long-serving staff speak to trust and shared values,” he says. “They show that people are choosing to grow with the practice over time, and that’s something we’re proud of.”

Looking ahead, both Carter and Peake agree the firm’s ambitions are focused on depth rather than scale.

“The future isn’t about getting bigger for the sake of it,” Peake says. “It’s about getting better, more focused, more ambitious in the right ways, and continuing to work with clients and collaborators who share that outlook.”

Marking 21 years, the principals say, is both a milestone and a moment for reflection.

As Sydney continues to evolve, they see their role as one of many contributors shaping a thoughtful and diverse built environment, a task they say they intend to pursue with the same energy and optimism that defined the firm’s first two decades.

Image: Shaun Carter (left) and Ben Peake (right) / Supplied.

Architecture & Design Team

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