“The best architecture is not just beautiful – it is deliberate, well-crafted, and responsible.”
— Emma Lee
Emma's quietly brilliant. Her warm, softly spoken demeanour masks a sharp, analytical, and creative mind. An astute listener and lateral thinker, Emma likes to explore, test, and investigate options to make sure she resolves the design in the best possible way so she can give her clients exactly what they want.
With over 25 years of experience, Emma channels her energy, skills, and expertise into creating beautiful, functional architecture. Her priority is to make the design process enjoyable for everyone involved. Emma’s patience, resilience, and quick wit makes her a powerful advocate for clients throughout the entire process.
Emma combines her architectural expertise with a deep knowledge of construction. This ensures that her designs are not only beautiful but also feasible and cost-effective.
Prior to founding Emma Lee Architecture, Emma gained valuable experience from highly respected firms, TKD Architects & with Alex Popov in her formative years.
Before becoming an architect…
Emma studied film and video at COFA and it really shows in the way she thinks about architectural design. Her art background helps her see architecture in a unique way, blending creativity with real-world rules and practicalities.
Growing up…
Emma lived in houses designed by her architect father. This early exposure greatly influenced her, nurturing a deep appreciation for thoughtful design. Today, Emma’s practice is informed by a strong personal relationship to design — she enjoys the challenges of architecture, especially the puzzle of arranging functional spaces to meet specific requirements. And she's passionate about creating spaces that captivate—whether it's showcasing a stunning view, capturing the dance of daylight, or crafting a room that simply makes one say, 'wow'.
When not working….
You’ll likely find Emma baking something delicious (her husband and son are big fans of her Anzac Biscuits) or enjoying a laid-back lunch with loved ones. Shealso loves skiing, even if her knees protest a bit nowadays. The vast skies and views from mountain tops never cease to amaze her.
Fun fact: Emma once taught skiing in places like Whistler, Canada, and the USA. That's also where she met her husband — in Colorado, of all places, while they were both ski instructors!
Qualifications
Registered Architect NSW ARB 2008; Bachelor of Architecture (Hons.) UNSW 2001 ; Bachelor of Arts (in Architecture) UTS 1999; Bachelor of Fine Arts (Media) COFA, UNSW 1995
Achievements
Responsible for the delivery of several award winning projects including: Goonoo Goonoo Station Redevelopment 2018 NSW AIA Commendation for Adaptive Re-use; 2018 National Trust
Awards Winner for Adaptive Reuse. Woolstore & Glasshouse Restaurant at Goonoo Goonoo Station - 2017 NSW AIA Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture
Blackett Prize for Regional Architecture; World Architecture News Winner
Commercial Building 2017; World Architecture Festival Shortlist New and Old Category;
2017 AIDA Shortlist Hospitality; 2017 Eat Drink Design Awards Shortlist Best Restaurant.
Mosman I House 2015 Mosman Design Awards Winner Heritage Conservation; 2013 Houses
Awards Shortlist Alts & Adds over 200m2; 2013 AIDA Shortlist Residential Design
“Emma has the intellectual horsepower to work on tricky & complex projects — , she’s really clever. I’ve worked with architects in the past, but I always felt like I was coming up with the suggestions and they just document them. But working with Emma was completely different. I’d tell her: I want to do this… I want to keep this… I want to make use of this — and she’d just keep going back to the drawing board until I was happy. ”
