Five Mile Radius

Gilbert Guaring (GG): Can you tell us about Five Mile Radius and why do you do what you do?

Clare Kennedy (CK): Five Mile Radius is a material focused architecture studio looking at the sustainable use of local materials in construction. We are interested in creating meaningful connections between a place, a community, and a building through considered material selection. We were founded in 2016 and have looked in-depth at building with local earth, timber, fibres and more recently waste materials. The studio has a multi-pronged approach, operating as architects, material manufactures, and educators all centred on a theme of going local.

GG: Can you enlighten us with your vision or mission?

CK: The mission is to raise awareness on the importance of using local materials in construction. All the work we do operates to widen a dialogue about material choices for our design community. Projects are seen as case studies in appropriate ways to build and vehicles to raise awareness. Our motto – Build with what you’ve got.

GG: How do you work as a team? Tell us more about your creative process.

Tom O’Shea (TO): When we are in our sweet spot, our creative process is fast, sometimes frustrating but highly collaborative. We progress ideas through testing and let the physical outcomes speak for themselves. In a way, any tensions can create a more finely resolved outcome. We use making to move forward past barriers and discover new opportunities.

As a studio, we are split into different areas of expertise and bounce ideas around to gather each of our different perspectives. Usually, there is a synthesis that makes everybody happy. Throughout the process, we all work to check the idea against our studio’s ethos. A design solution might work brilliantly, but does it say anything, or achieve anything, that speaks to our broader goal? While this can create difficulties, we see this ethos driven design as the new industry standard.

GG: How has your practice changed over time?

CK: Over the years, we are learning to persevere with ideas until they are refined. Initially, we experimented widely with many materials all at once, and much of our work was theoretical or speculative. We have since learnt the value of proper R&D by focusing on one material, waste concrete at this time, and we are now very keen to apply that same level of rigour to many materials previously studied.

The format of the studio is also always evolving. Initially, we were inspired by international practices such as ASSEMBLE in the UK, where fourteen young architects founded a non-hierarchical studio after graduating from university. We have worked over the years to continually challenge the traditional hierarchy of an architecture studio, forming organisations, allowing students into the practice, taking on international volunteer projects and trying to find ways to operate freely and collaboratively.

GG: What type of projects do you all enjoy doing?

TO: I like the rush of teamwork, particularly when we are ticking all our design boxes, quality, ethos, and beauty. My favourite projects are designed Builds projects which we physically install on work on a site. We all take on different roles and, in this environment, you can be leading one minute, and following the next. It is about knowing momentum when you see it or knowing a good idea when you see it and getting in behind to make it happen. I like the physical exertion that comes with making things, and there is also a mental exertion, where ideas and solutions need to come quickly.

GG: What is your favourite architectural project?

HUNTER ECCLESTON (HE): Richard Leplastirer Lovett Bay House.

Rick’s house epitomises how architecture should be. It’s in balance with its surroundings and the bare minimum needed to protect you from the elements. A place that lets life flourish instead of containing it.. It is a physical example of Rick’s golden ethos … Live like you’re camping.

GG: Describe a real-life situation that has inspired you?

HE: Working with our concrete supplier as a concrete pumper last year, I was witnessing firsthand the excessive amount of concrete being wasted daily. I was seeing a river of virgin concrete being poured onto the ground, or into a skip bin multiple times a day. It is moments like these that fire you up and with that fire comes inspiration. I was inspired to make a difference by continuing developing our product’ waste terrazzo’ and physically being able to save so much of this waste material.

GG: How do you seek for new opportunities?

CK: Often, the best new opportunities arise organically. Some of our favourite work has been born of relationships with material suppliers where we have been curious to learn what they do. Through these conversations, we learn about efficiencies and issues in production, and this ultimately sparks mutually beneficial projects.

We have had success partnering with universities and curating subjects to help explore issues. Equally, arts grants are great to explore. We do have a pretty big backlog of ideas we would like to realise. It is just about finding the right partner or project to pair them with.