PAULA BIRCH  // ARCHITECTPortfolioCV on request  

Adaptive Re-use
Bath Haus 
Commercial
Documentation
Education
Fitout 
Houses
Interiors
Jewellery
Living Small
Models
Sustainability 
Townhouses
Urbanism
Zoo Commercial Kitchen With over 20 years of experience in architectural practice across more than 10 studios, I’ve worked on projects ranging from small-scale interventions to large-scale developments, with an emphasis on residential design and documentation. 

This breadth of experience has given me a strong command of the design process at every stage and the ability to manage complex projects while building productive relationships with clients, consultants, and stakeholders.

Beyond architecture, running my own businesses, living abroad, and travelling to over 25 countries have shaped my adaptability, independence, and cultural awareness - qualities that deeply inform my professional practice.

I bring a strong work ethic, clear communication, and a naturally engaged, people-first approach to team culture. I’m drawn to organisations that invest in growth and flexibility as a key component of business success. 


01


ADAPTIVE RE-USE
The Where-House, Maryville NSW (2017)

The Where-House was inspired by the New York style 'loft' apartment. The clients loved camping and the delight of going to sleep and waking with a view of the stars and the sky. 

The existing shell hugged each boundary, lending the design to the notion of 'sky gazing' from every room and internal walls that 'illuminated' rather than traditional ceiling-mounted lighting solutions.

Role
Project Architect 

Practice
Paula Birch Architect


02


BATH HAUS
Milton, NSW (2022)

2025 Australian Institute of Architects Commendation

The ‘Bath Haus’ is a modest yet playful test case that would eventually set the tone for a larger development. - a family home.

Designed to explore what could be achieved in the site’s picturesque rural setting, the Bath Haus included separate bath, shower, and toilet spaces. It was an experimental concept, a proof of possibility in its serene environment.

With subtle references to caravan park amenities, swimming pool ladders, and the natural phenomenon of escaping steam, the three-part structure became a dialogue between indoor and outdoor spaces, the open and the closed, the grounded and suspended, the clear and the diffused.

Role
Design + Documentation 

Practice
Burrow Architecture, Newcastle




04


DOCUMENTATION
St Joseph’s Primary School Hall + Library, Kempsey (2010)

The Building the Education Revolution (BER) program was designed to provide modern and redeveloped infrastructure to all eligible Australian schools, including the construction of a new multi-purpose hall and library at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Kempsey. 

The construction method included in situ concrete columns, structural steel, Ritek insulated panel roofing, in situ formed concrete box gutters, Weathertex sheeting, and face brick external cladding, as well as plywood and plasterboard interior linings.  

Role
Project Architect 

Practice
McNeil Ellis Architects, Port Macquarie

06


FITOUT
Lake Macquarie City Council, NSW (2017)

The upgrades to Lake Macquarie City Council’s offices at Speers Point is an $11 million development which includes a complete refurbishment of offices, meeting rooms, staff areas and associated facilities over three stories of an existing building.  

Internal spaces are tailored to suit a new dynamic work culture whilst maintaining flexibility for future growth, with department navigation and wayfinding being an integral part of the office planning. 

Role
Design Architect 

Practice
EJE Architecture, Newcastle

07


HOUSES
Various (2022 - 2025)

In architecture, iteration refers to a design process where a project is repeatedly refined through cycles of design, evaluation, and modification. 

This approach allows architects to explore multiple design options, identify potential problems early on, and ultimately arrive at a more robust and refined final design. 

It's a departure from a linear, one-time design approach, embracing flexibility and continuous improvement. 

Role
Design Architect 

Practice
Burrow Architecture/Paula Birch Architect

08


INTERIORS
WU-CHA Diner, Newcastle NSW (2018)

Blade Runner is a 1982 science fiction film. it is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’. 

The film is set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019, in which synthetic humans known as replicants are bio-engineered by the powerful Tyrell Corporation to work on space colonies. 

WU-CHA opened its doors in 2019 as a dystopian Korean-inspired chicken fast-service restaurant in Newcastle, riffing off the genius aesthetic of the cult classic.

Role
Project Architect 

Practice
 Paula Birch Architect

10


LIVING SMALL
Tiny Tower Prototype, Portable (In Progress)

Tiny Tower (TT) is an escape from, and a challenge to, urban convenience. It abandons the desire for permanence in architecture and examines minimum living requirements and our relationship with place.

This project is an attempt to create an architecture predicated on questioning client requests, and realised through formal invention and structural ingenuity rather than large-scale solutions.

Role
Co-Design Architect + Builder with Drew Heath

Practice
Burrow Architecture

11


MODELS
Various

Architectural models are physical representations of designs, used to explore and communicate design ideas, and are created at various stages of the design process. 

They can be broadly categorised into conceptual models, study models, and presentation models. These models serve different purposes, from initial design exploration to showcasing a final design to clients. 

  1. Concept Model - Women’s Prison Pyrmont
  2. Detail house Model - 1st year
  3. Context Model - Women’s Prison Pyrmont
  4. Lae School of Arts - Papua New Guinea
  5. Detail House Model - 1st year
  6. Site Model - Women’s Prison Pyrmont
  7. Lae School of Arts - Papua New Guinea
  8. Concept Model - Women’s Prison Pyrmont

12

SUSTAINABILITY
City of Hope - Eco Housing, Coffs Harbour NSW (2009)

The City of Hope is a community with zero greenhouse emissions, able to harvest its own rainwater, made from sustainable materials. 

Boasting cutting-edge sustainable design and technology, this concept project is the first Australian small-scale residential development following the standards of the Living Building Challenge.

Role
Graduate Concept Architect 

Practice
Schimminger Architects, Coffs Harbour