IB Woman
Issue No. 36 - August/September 2007
Molding spaces: designing the future
by Penelope Herbert
Eleanor Roosevelt said that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, but for Hayley and Teneal the future work lies in the creation of spaces of their clients’ dreams.
As an architect and interior designer respectively, Hayley and Teneal work together at one of Adelaide’s oldest and most respected architectural firms, Jackman Parken Evans. While JPE is developing a reputation for innovative design work, balancing the need for conventional design with a desire for creative freedom can be challenging.
“It’s a common misconception that architects draw and engineers design,” says Hayley. “I am a designer who thinks about the use of space in a creative and functional way. Architects usually have to work within certain constraints.
“Even if given an empty site there are still council restrictions, budgetary considerations and the client brief as in the fit-out of existing space where these restrictions also apply. It’s very rare to have creative freedom with no constraints, except when entering a design competition.”
Teneal agrees that design careers often come with misconceptions. “When I tell someone I am an interior designer they immediately think of cushions and curtains,” she laughs. “But design has serious principles that allow us to mold spaces for the best result. After all, space is what everyone lives and works in everyday.”
Jackman Parken Evans employs around 25 staff and the opportunities for creative conflict abound. but the business directors encourage open discussion and accept that design is a constantly changing process, which is important for building a strong and committed team.
“The culture here is very welcoming,” says Hayley, who has been with JPE for just 18 months. “We are all interested in innovative design solutions so we discuss issues and that gives the studio environment dynamism. There is a good mix of contribution from both yo...
