TRUC MAI
City of Melbourne - City Design
SAY IT LOUD - Naarm Melbourne Exhibitor
MELBOURNE/AUSTRALIA Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
Garry Ormston, Principal Architect, City Design, inspires and challenges me every day. His professionalism, focus and endless energy for all aspects of the practise of architecture sets the tone for the architects within City Design.
TRUC MAI
Bio:
Truc Mai is a Vietnamese born Australian educated building designer working at the City of Melbourne in the role of Senior Architect in City Design. She has extensive educational buildings experience delivering schools for the Victorian State Government. Currently she works with all branches of City of Melbourne delivering diverse projects from libraries and depots to childcare centres. She is passionate about robust, sustainable and beautiful architecture and built environments.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
Architecture appeals to me because it is the perfect balance between technical discipline and creativity. The line in “Pretty Woman” by Richard Gere is a perfect summary – “I want to build things.”
What do you do?
I am a Senior Architect in City Design at City of Melbourne. We are a multidisciplinary practice of approximately 50 practitioners. We have expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, design review and industrial design.
What excites you in the work you do? Who or what inspires you professionally?
I choose to work at City of Melbourne because I get to work on projects for the community. I have always been interested in providing beautiful robust civic architecture for all, not only the few who can afford it.
Who or what inspires you professionally? What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
Garry Ormston, Principal Architect, City Design, inspires and challenges me every day. His professionalism, focus and endless energy for all aspects of the practise of architecture sets the tone for the architects within City Design.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
The City of Melbourne’s Lady Huntingfield Children’s Centre, it was the most challenging to deliver in all aspects of the practise of architecture, the most ambitious environmentally sustainable design project I’ve worked on.
Featured Project Name:
Fitzroy Gardens Conservatory refurbishment
Featured Project Location:
Municipality of Melbourne
Featured Project Completion Date:
JUNE 2021
Role in Featured Project:
Project Architect
Featured Project Description:
In 2019 the Conservatory roof glass and framing were found to be in a deteriorating and no longer fit for purpose. The decision was made to upgrade and refurbish the building, including the whole of roof. After consulting structural engineers, building services engineers, Heritage Victoria and horticulturalists, the CoM Design Studio completed refurbishment documents and works on site commenced in late 2020 and completed in June 2021.
