Partners in architecture and life, MEETU SHARMA SAXENA and VISHAL SAXENA bring a combined experience of more than 50 years as architects to their business, Hyperspace, a firm dedicated to breaking the barriers in how space can be conceptualised.
“WE believe that a project or space’s maximum potential can only be truly realised when we can seek and develop harmonious connections across various disciplines,” says Meetu Sharma Saxena, who founded Hyperspace in 2017.
Too often, Meetu says the planning, design and construction aspects of a build are disconnected, with the process heavily influenced by the builder and costs.
With a background in planning, architecture, construction management and a specialty in heritage internationally, Meetu says she could see that there was a clear space, especially in small and medium architecture projects in Canberra that could benefit from a planned and process-oriented approach.
“The industry is not set up with someone to ensure what is designed is actually built,” she says.
She says that by engaging Hyperspace for architectural services you get a team providing holistic design solutions who take responsibility for the outcome.
“In a small firm, we feel that our employees are more connected to the design and have more ownership of the end product,” says Meetu’s husband, Vishal Saxena, who joined the business in 2020, following a successful career at large architectural firms in India, the UAE and Australia.
Having met at university in India in the ‘90s, Meetu and Vishal say that by combining their skills and expertise gained overseas and locally, they offer something special to their clients.
Meetu says she was enjoying her role as a senior project manager at ANU, but she always felt passionate about opening up her own business.
“I’ve had experience working in so many countries and cities, I wanted to know if it was possible to set up a better example of architectural design in Canberra which itself is an inspired city in its conception,” she says.
“Not many local architectural practices are run by women. It’s a field that isn’t easy for women, as it is a male-dominated profession.
“As a person who has entered later into this process of running my own firm, I am very proud of our evolution.”
Meetu says that a lot of work that they do is in residential design, but both her and Vishal are experienced in working on large projects. They have worked on the refurbishment of public schools, multi-use residential, large retail spaces and heritage projects.
Meetu has worked as a hands-on heritage consultant during the refurbishment of Old Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial and National Film and Sound Archive in partnership with SQC Group.
Meetu and Vishal say that one of the primary parameters of their approach for a project is always sustainability.
“We look at the existing structure and building and ask, what can we reuse? What can we modify to suit the client’s requirements rather than completely knock the original building down?” says Meetu.
“We recently worked on a home in Garran. It was a solid-brick building and it didn’t make sense either from a sustainability or financial perspective to knock it down. We were able to redefine it according to contemporary context and the client’s needs,” says Vishal.
“We follow a rigorous process where we define the client’s vision and work with them to develop a design solution that responds to the site context, the budget and their vision.”
Another example of their ability to maximise the potential of their client’s asset is their work on a warehouse in Mitchell.
“We helped add value to the site by not just redeveloping a warehouse for the client, but by providing an office, warehouse and showroom but also accommodating a community centre. Our client wanted to give back to their community, so we created a multi-use development with a community centre that allows activities to happen in Mitchell over the weekend, activating the neighbourhood,” says Vishal.
Hyperspace is also proud of the community work they do with the local community helping with design and construction of a church in Rivett as well as an expansion of the Hindu Temple in Florey. Both designs allow for expansion in the future as the community grows.
Meetu says that most of the new housing is constructed for the immigrant population of Canberra both interstate and international, and as migrants themselves, she says she and Vishal are well placed to plug that gap and in the process, educate the new residents of this amazing city.
“It’s also about passing on our skills and knowledge to help the next generation of architects coming through. We found an opportunity and a place in this city and we have had five graduates come through our practice, giving them their start in their careers.”
“Our architectural vision has an altruistic aspect – we want to give back and make a difference,” says Vishal.
“Our motto is do your role to the best of your ability, be honest and transparent. At the end of the day it’s most important that the built environment benefits from what we are doing,” says Meetu.
“Our inspiration comes from the beauty of cities and the quality of the built environment. What’s going to be the heritage of the future? In years to come we want our children to come to Canberra and still recognise the streetscapes and what makes Canberra special.”
Hyperspace, visit hyper-space.com.au or call 0406 972585 or 0404 334430.
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