Tsai Design

Too many buildings fail us with unrealised potential. Dimly-lit terraces. Busy shops with underutilised first floor residences. Family homes that do little to support a life with kids. Tsai Design challenges these buildings to step up: to work harder; to make better use of the spaces they occupy, and to contribute more meaningfully to their neighbourhoods. Since Tsai Design’s first architectural commission in 2013, director Jack Chen has made it his mission to pursue innovative solutions that drive architectural progress. Type Street Apartment, Chen’s minimalist take on small footprint living, is his latest exploration into architecture’s invigorating potential. The renovation won three categories at the 2018 ArchiTeam Awards and received a shortlisting in the 2018 Houses Awards. Outside of Tsai Design Chen led and administered a diverse and award-winning range of urban and regional architectural projects for respected practices across Australia. Roles included design lead for the $120m 12 Apostles Hot Springs Resort, and project architect for Reid St House, shortlisted in the 2017 Houses Awards. “Achieving beauty is the easy part, but great architecture advances our cities and the state of design while bringing our clients joy.” – Jack Chen