Kennedy Nolan
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Rachel Nolan, Patrick Kennedy |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Architectural design services |
Kennedy Nolan is an architectural practice located in Melbourne, established in 1999 by Rachel Nolan and Patrick Kennedy, who initially connected during their studies at the University of Melbourne. While the firm predominantly undertakes residential commissions, its portfolio also spans educational, retail, and hospitality projects. Despite growth in project scale, their work consistently retains a sense of domestic warmth.
Design
The firm places strong emphasis on meticulous architectural detailing, as illustrated by the prominent timber cruciform column at Laver House that cleverly conceals a hallway behind it. This inventive treatment of detail draws inspiration from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s philosophy that "God is in the details," a principle that deeply influences their approach. Beyond intricate elements, Kennedy Nolan thoroughly investigates core architectural components such as staircases and partition walls. Architectural historian Philip Goad highlights their unique exploration of wall construction, acknowledging Mies’s influence while noting their distinct evolution of the concept.
Influences
Kennedy Nolan’s design ethos is shaped by Brutalist architecture and the Arts and Crafts movement, merging an appreciation for the cultural sensitivity inherent in arts and crafts with the progressive spirit and technical advancements of modernism. Their work reflects admiration for modernist landmarks including The Barbican Estate by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, Clyde Cameron College designed by Kevin Borland and Bernard Brown, as well as Marcel Breuer’s Hooper House II and House Pack.
Leahy Swingler House, James Street
The firm's debut project involved restoring a neglected Edwardian residence situated in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs. The renovation highlights abstract architectural expressions, particularly through an oversized chamfered chimney that enhances the building’s street presence. This project marked the beginning of Rachel Nolan and Patrick Kennedy’s collaboration and received recognition from the Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects with an award for alterations and additions in 2001.
George Street
In 2004, Kennedy Nolan redeveloped a former industrial site in Fitzroy into a trio of three-story townhouses, each occupying around 85 square meters. By incorporating a 1970s brick warehouse structure, the design achieved zero setback relative to neighboring properties. The resulting composition presents an abstract blend between residential and industrial typologies, representing their initial engagement with public realm form-making.
Awards
- 2001 AIA Victorian Architecture Award: Residential Alterations & Additions
- 2004 AIA Victorian Architecture Award: Multi-residential
- 2007 AIA Victorian Architecture Award: Residential Alterations & Additions
- 2013 AIA Victorian Architecture Award: Residential New
- 2014 AIA Victorian Architecture Awards (two): Residential Alterations & Additions
- 2014 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA): Overall Winner
- 2019 AIA Victorian Architecture Award: Residential New, Sandy Point House
- 2019 AIA Victorian Architecture Commendation: Residential New, Fitzroy Lane
- 2021 AIA Fredrick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture, Multiple Housing for The Lothian
- 2023 AIA Melbourne Prize for Nightingale Village