An Eye for Detail

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Christopher Shields

I have had an interest in design and art for as long as I can remember.

I had a practical interest and I wanted to see how that progressed. I enjoyed maths and physics in high school so I tried to find something that would entertain both of those areas of interest. For me, it still allows me to use both of those disciplines. I obtained my Bachelor of Architecture in 1984 from RMIT and I’m a current member of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. As a registered architect, I have 30 years of experience in commercial and residential design, while also focusing on construction projects. I’ve had the honour of being awarded the K. A. Henderson War Memorial Scholarship and the La Trobe Design for Living Award.

I established my practice CMS Architects in 1993. Our practice consists of a small team of designers with a combined 50 years of architectural experience, who are focused on achieve outstanding results. We use sound sustainable design principles in all our projects, and pride ourselves on producing unique outcomes for our discerning clients. Our expertise is in residential and small commercial projects, and we have established relationships with other contract staff for peak demand. The practice provides excellent presentation skills, with the latest computer-aided design & documentation technology.

As an individual I have developed a higher focus on detail and improved my observation skills, which were heightened to begin with.

My wife is amazed at how observant I can be and the details I can see in everyday situations. I think about when I was asked by the police to give a description of an accused criminal. I would be able to give a finely detailed description of their appearance. I would notice the colour of their jacket, the shoes they were wearing, their hair colour, skin type and other normal identifiers.

My biggest lesson occurred in John Andrew’s office when they were creating the union building for RMIT. He said that architecture was a performing art. It was a multifaceted comment that has stuck with me ever since. During my career I have treated every project as a type of performance art. When you think about it architecture is about providing a performance for our clients and the buildings we produce are art projects.

I have been involved in a couple of heritage projects. The hardest part for me was making the client have a level of respect for the heritage nature of the project, and helping them accept the importance of the existing structures. It is imperative to have a carefully thought out design, as the style of a city evolves over time therefore must stand the test of time. As a city, Melbourne’s architectural styles have changed dramatically over the course of my career. When I was studying postmodernism was the rage. Now it is an idea of anything goes. There is no clear design consensus, which gives architects a level of freedom not before seen.

I don’t feel I ever fit into one type of architecture discipline.

This means I have been able to avoid being pigeonholed as my own style has changed over time. During my career I have been guided mostly by my clients’ needs, so my practice adapts to changes as the marketplace evolves. The future of Australian architecture is somewhat threatened by overseas pressures. It is a global environment, which has its advantages and setbacks. It makes it harder to compete from a design of business perspective. No matter what the design challenge may be it is always important to assemble a good team of decision makers. The consultation process from within and outside the organisation is the key to success. It is important to give focus to these negotiations and entertain this collaborative spirit.

Problems can arise when dealing with some corporate entities as there is often a sense that the architect has all the answers and they are waiting for them to be presented – that’s just not how it works in most cases. It is always a collaborative effort that comes about because you are working to achieve an outcome that will both satisfy the brief of the client group and achieving it on budget, while also satisfying the regulatory needs within the industry. Any project is a huge undertaking, and I marvel at how some of my colleagues deliver some of their projects.

My favourite project so far in my career is the Crisis Accommodation Centre that I designed for the Salvation Army in St Kilda.

I’ve done quite a lot of projects along these lines. The crisis centre was a culmination of years of consultation and collaboration. In 2002 they asked me to design for a site that was cultivated over years, and it was finally completed in 2010. I think the most rewarding thing was having sole responsibility for the Crisis Centre. The total build cost was around the $4 million mark, and I was very happy with the end result.

I’ve also been involved in larger projects working with other businesses, that occurred after I left the Ministry of Housing. Another favourite project of mine happens to be another crisis accommodation building (I think there is a pattern emerging). It all comes down to the fact these projects are the most rewarding and also challenging as an architect. I’ve been involved as a director of Community Housing Ltd, and in that role I’ve been overseeing a lot of nation building. As Chair of the Project Committee I love getting involved in creating social housing and affordable housing spaces. My dream job would be another crisis accommodation, so we will see what happens in the near future.