Make has bolstered its Sydney design team with a number of new appointments, in the wake of recent competition wins in Chatswood and acclaim received for its Brookfield Place project.

Six new faces have joined the practice which will mitigate strain on the design team and enhance its capabilities. The appointments include Designers Ryan Gormley, Isabella Castelli, Arantxa Afable and Jing Hui, together with Architectural Assistant Olivia Van Wersch and Studio Manager Claire Claridge.

“In these new ‘Makers’ we’ve found six individuals who share our collective commitment to creating the best places, spaces and buildings in Australia,” says Make’s Asia Pacific Director, Simon Lincoln.

Arantxa Afable brings close to a decade of design experience to Make. Studying in the Philippines and in Sydney, Afable has made significant contributions to large multi-residential, transport and hospitality projects, in addition to providing critical insights for the creation of digital asset management tools.

Ryan Gormley and Isabella Castelli both hold extensive mixed-use, commercial and residential experience. Gormley’s project portfolio spans London, Bangkok, Dubai, India and Malta.

Castelli’s work has received academic and media recognition, with her final university project awarded a Best Design accolade from the Welsh School of Architecture. Castelli has additionally been awarded and published by Blueprint magazine, with her expertise lying in Nearly Energy Zero Buildings (nZEB) and passive house design.

New Studio Manager Claire Claridge is a qualified Interior Designer and has held the role of Studio Manager previously in the UK. Claridge was responsible for coordinating the Sydney Open in 2012 and 2014, which saw her scout a number of architectural buildings in Sydney across more than 60 sites. The Sydney Open events drew an audience of more than 10,000 people and 400 volunteers, underlining her organisational abilities.

“I felt drawn to Make, not just for the artistry of its architecture, but also because of the practice’s determination to build a legacy that positively contributes to our climate and our community,” Claridge says.

Olivia Van Wersch and Jing Hui round out the new appointments at Make. Jing has acquired a Master of Architecture from UNSW Sydney and has experience across multiple sectors, including mixed-use, residential and commercial projects. To date, his work and studies have seen him enjoy stints in the UK, Hong Kong and India. Now permanently based in Sydney, Hui looks forward to joining Make’s “courageous” and “ambitious” project teams.

Olivia Van Wersch is a new Sydney resident, recently completing her architectural studies at the University of Bath. Van Wersch is fluent in some six languages and credits her broad, global mindset as fuelling her creativity and commitment to ongoing learning.

Jarrod Reedie

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