Pursuing clarity, with Mathieson Architects.

“In everything we do, there’s a commitment to restraint,” Phillip says. “We’re not interested in decoration for its own sake. We’re drawn to the essential - light, volume, proportion, material - and how those elements come together to create atmosphere.”

This philosophy is visible in every detail of the practice’s portfolio, spanning private homes, multi-residential developments, hospitality projects and more. Each format is anchored in a modernist lineage but rooted in the particularities of site and experience - particularly in Sydney, where harbour views, clarity of light and indoor-outdoor living shape much of the city’s spatial thinking.

“The light here is sharp and clean,” Phillip says. “It plays such an important role in how we design - the way it shifts over the day, how it interacts with surface and shadow. Even artificial lighting, when used sparingly, becomes part of the architecture - supporting rhythm and mood.”

At the core of Mathieson’s process is a belief in the long view. The studio’s spaces are meticulously planned, often distilling complex programs into seemingly effortless floorplans. Materials are used in their honest form. Embellishment is supplementary, if present at all. The result is work that speaks not through excess, but through simplicity.

“When spaces are well considered and materials are used honestly, there’s a quiet confidence that emerges,” Phillip says. “That’s what we aspire to. Spaces that feel resolved. That age well.”

This idea of resolution carries through to the studio’s Surry Hills workspace, a pared-back warehouse conversion where calm and clarity underpin daily practice. Office mascot Yuki - a smiling Samoyed - is an ever-present energy. A long communal table anchors the open-plan layout, reflecting the studio’s collaborative nature. “We believe proximity matters,” Phillip says. “So much of design happens in shared conversation. That openness encourages a deeper investment in the work.”

At one end of the studio sits a library table populated with models, materials, and well-worn reference texts. A sculpture by Belgian artist Mathieu Nab offers a moment of stillness. A Lindy Lee painting presides over the meeting room - also used for fortnightly lunches cooked by Phillip’s partner, Thierry - further reinforcing the studio’s belief in cultural context and shared rituals.

“It’s a working space, but it’s also a living tool,” Phillip says. “The level of detail in the kitchen joinery, for instance, mirrors what we aim for in our projects. It helps communicate ideas with clarity - and that kind of clarity feeds into everything we do.”

In a residential context, the studio’s approach is finding resonance in a shifting Sydney market. “People are asking more from their homes - not in terms of size or spectacle, but in terms of feeling,” he says. “There’s a growing desire for spaces that support wellbeing, calm, and daily rituals. We’re seeing more interest in natural materials, soft transitions to outdoor spaces, and architectural elements that enhance the pace and texture of everyday life.”

Far from indulgent, features like cold plunges, saunas or meditation rooms reflect what Phillip sees as a broader shift: “They’re about supporting a more intentional, restorative lifestyle. Architecture has a role to play in that.”

The same applies to the city itself. Sydney’s evolving urban fabric - from George Street’s pedestrianisation to the Central Station and Circular Quay upgrades - is, in Phillip’s view, an opportunity. “None of it changes the city overnight, but it reflects a shift in values. A city more open to architecture that’s thoughtful, not just loud.”

Looking ahead, Phillip is excited not by novelty, but refinement. “What drives us is the opportunity to keep resolving things - to make them clearer, more lasting. That process can be slow. It’s rarely loud. But it’s deeply satisfying.”