Ninotschka Titchkosky
Architect, boundary pusher
Ninotschka Titchkosky, Co-CEO of BVN Architecture. Photo: John Feder/Newspix
Interview by Janne Ryan | photography by brett boardman, mitchell page, lannon harley
Ninotschka Titchkosky is on a mission to change the way we build. As Co-CEO of BVN Architecture – the first woman in this job – she is rethinking the system within which architecture operates. Her goal? To lessen the pressure on the planet’s fragile ecology – with architecture that pushes the boundaries of what a building can be.
what do you do and why?
I’m an architect, the Co-CEO of BVN, an architecture practice with about 300 people, and studios in Sydney, Brisbane, New York and London. I’m also a mum (of a seven-year-old boy), a daughter, and a friend… when I can fit it in. I became an architect because I was always curious, and good at solving quite complex problems. That’s what led me to study architecture at The University of Sydney.
What nurtured your curiosity?
My parents were very open-minded. My dad was a pilot with Qantas and my mum, an entrepreneur. We travelled a lot. It probably stemmed from that.
Kambri building by BVN at the Australian National University. Photo: Lannon Harley
You’re Co-CEO of BVN, the first woman in this job – what are you learning?
Yes, I’ve been in the job since early 2019. My Co-CEO is Neil Logan. I’m learning a couple of things. Firstly, I was never taught that there were any limits on what I could do; I have a very strong mother. I was also very fortunate to have a few males who sponsored me and were big supporters. It’s one of the fundamental things you need to progress, for anyone really, in your career journey. Things play out around the table. You need someone advocating for you – male or female – at that table.
The challenges and joys of a Co-CEO?
I find it hard to not think about the whole system. Projects are just one part of what we do. We need to have the right strategy and the right fertile ground to keep the practice future-focused. The challenges have been balancing that with project work. It’s really important to stay in touch with your craft, that you don’t just become administrative.
AI simulation at the BVN Sydney studio. Photo: Brett Boardman
How are you doing this – what are the big issues?
Architects – and people in construction, property and city-making – really need to rethink the system we operate within. We have to get to the point where the planet, society and infrastructure are in balance. Once you shoot for that goal, everything else becomes a subset of that. Current building methods expend too much of the planet’s ecology in the process. We’re designing in new ways, and constructing buildings differently, with new methods and products. For example, we’re are doing more projects with mass timber construction and pre-fabrication. We are exploring large-scale robotically printed 3D fabrications through our research.
Tech giant Atlassian’s plans for its Sydney headquarters in the Central Tech Precinct. Image: BVN
The new Atlassian building – is this an example of re-thinking architecture?
What’s amazing about this project is there’s a very clear vision of what Atlassian wants to achieve, and credit to them. They’ve maintained the courage of that conviction, even though at times there are difficult challenges.
*BVN is working with SHoP Architects (New York) on a hybrid timber tower in Sydney for tech giant Atlassian.
“These targets are actually incredibly difficult to achieve. It’s a very tiny percentage of buildings globally that can be delivered in this way.”
The Habitat atop the Atlassian building planned for Sydney’s new Central Tech Precinct. Image: BVN
What is Atlassian’s vision?
Firstly, to anchor a new tech precinct for Australia in Sydney. Secondly to re-set what a commercial office can be. At the moment the goal is to reduce the embodied carbon in the building by 50%, and have the building using 100% renewable energy. These targets are actually incredibly difficult to achieve. It’s a very tiny percentage of buildings globally that can be delivered in this way.
We (BVN/SHoP) want to create a place where people feel like they belong, where they can connect to nature. A large part of the structure will be timber. There’s lots of proven psychological and emotional data supporting the wellbeing of people working in timber buildings, not to mention the embodied carbon benefits.
It’s also about creating community. Atlassian is global, and growing at a fast pace. This Sydney building will be Atlassian’s home for many years. It’s also about creating communities within a very big environment.
The Habitat atop the Atlassian building planned for Sydney’s new Central Tech Precinct. Image: BVN
How do the BVN, SHoP and Atlassian teams collaborate?
The team is made up of people in Germany, the UK, New York, San Francisco, Sydney, and in Brisbane. We’re truly all over the planet. It’s the power of the Zoom meeting. We have some good real-time workflows and practices in place for live-sharing information.
How do you understand your role as a mentor and leader?
Most of the mentoring I do is primarily to the people I’m working with directly, or, if someone has specifically approached me. It’s about giving them constant feedback and trying to not be afraid of saying, for example, this bit was really good, but also pointing out things that aren’t so good.
BVN’s vision for Melbourne’s Carlton Connect Central Tower. Image: BVN
Your game-changer moment?
The big one for me was about five years ago when I started thinking how the fourth industrial revolution might change the world and the way we do things. At that time we also initiated robotics research projects with the University of Technology Sydney and The University of Sydney, something I am really passionate about. We need to continually advance ourselves if we want to stay relevant.
An open forum within Frasers Property Sydney head office by BVN. Photo: Brett Boardman
“most of the time, you’re relying on the client’s courage.”
BVN’s 2020 Covid socially distanced workplace. Photo: Mitchell Page
Biggest business challenge right now?
Coronavirus has been unbelievably challenging: the stress of trying to keep the business in good shape, communicating regularly with our people and staying true to the decisions we are making. The hard part about being an architect is that for most of the time you’re relying on the client’s courage. Sometimes the client will stand by their original aspirations, but so often it will end up just becoming a decision around cost, or something else. That challenges me on a relatively regular basis.
Personal challenge?
For me personally the challenge is around balance, being good to people, being a decent person, just trying to keep all the balls in the air and not drop one.
Ninotschka Titchkosky workshopping at the BVN Sydney studio. Photo: Brett Boardman
“I’ve had to learn to be more empathetic.”
The hardest lesson you’ve learnt?
That not everyone’s like me. In the past I’ve driven people too hard. I’ve had to learn to be more empathetic.
Where to from here?
We’ve developed a new strategy for the business. I’m really keen to enact that and embed that into BVN. The company has been around for a long time, over 90 years. We are really just custodians of the practice. I hope I contribute to positioning BVN well for the future. Then it’s time to pass the baton on to someone else.
The vision for the Atlassian building by BVN and SHoP Architects (New York) is to activate a new Central Tech Precinct. Image: BVN
