Fowler and Ward

Meet Jessie Fowler and Tara Ward, the friends and architects who have turned their shared dreams into a creative practice in North Melbourne.

“We met by chance on the first day of Melbourne Uni, and then ended up working for the same architecture firm after graduation. So we’ve been friends for about twenty years!” laughs Tara.
"We've always loved the idea of having our own practice," Jessie shares. "It's a bit of a cliché, but people who end up making a career in architecture often do it because they're obsessed with architecture. So even when we were just friends we’d talk about work at the pub."

Fowler and Ward Architects was established in 2019 and found its physical home in North Melbourne in 2020.

"Even though neither of us live here now, it was a really nice way to stay connected with the community because we love it," Tara says. "And it gives us an excuse to head to the Townie for beers!"

Their architectural work is showcased in a diverse portfolio of mainly residential projects. Whether it's renovations or new builds, each project bears the Fowler and Ward touch with an emphasis on colour and texture.

"We really love projects that look and feel like a client's home at the end of the process," Tara adds. "We enjoy responding to the brief and the individual constraints of each project, creating special moments and details that reflect each client."

Now a team of five, Fowler and Ward look forward to the next phase - venturing into larger projects and multi-residential collaborations.

“Even though we’re all architects, everyone in our team brings something different to the office. Tara is very detail focused and I’m more of a big picture thinker,” says Jessie.
“Yes, we complement each other and having a second opinion makes the process a lot more fun - we’re glad we’re doing this together.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio