Scout
Space and Inspiration.13 February 2012
Director and one of the founders of Artillery Interior Architecture in South Melbourne; Sonja Duric as spent 9 years in total working at Artillery both in Melbourne and London. A self confessed Francohphile, she cites the wonderful Inga Sempe as her favourite designer, as she loves most things French and Inga's designs are "not only beautiful but also humorous".
Studying at both QUT and UNSW, Duric started working in a small architectural practice called Smith Ma + Associates located in a little warehouse in Annandale, Sydney and worked on inspirational projects for indigenous housing and a nunnery, prior to gaining her 'magical' role at Artillery, London. A relentless occupation, she believes that every architect should be creative, have perseverance and a nimble attitude, "so not to get disheartened by numerous constraints" she highlights. Emphasizing the importance of creativity to produce useful things and spaces, Duric truly believes that good design improves people's quality of life and makes them happy, citing her favourite Melbourne buildings as the BMW Edge Ampitheatre ("on a world stage, this structure holds its own and makes me proud to live in Melbourne. I love the volume, materials, light and site of this theatre"; Australian Centre for Contemporary Art ("I love this building because it looks like a giant sculpture"); and the National Gallery of Victoria ("everytime we visit, I marvel at the glass fins with the elegant stainless steel sleeves at the top making the water wall possible").
