PIERA BELLANCA

Architect: Trethowan Architecture

Growing up in Parma, a small town in Northern Italy, I was surrounded by beautiful buildings (and amazing food). I went to a ‘School of Art’ high school and loved painting and drawing, but it was being surrounded by amazing buildings that inspired architecture as a career choice. I still love drawing as a personal hobby – and, many of my design ideas start as sketches.

Moving to Melbourne has opened up incredible possibilities. I’ve worked on amazing commercial, residential and heritage projects including the restoration of the iconic Forum Theatre here in Melbourne. I love heritage projects that combine the history of a building and the challenge of creating something new and modern. Maybe it’s my background as well, old buildings seem to intrigue me ‘if only the walls could talk’.

Architects design the spaces we live and work in. Communities benefit from a combination of function and aesthetics. Better design helps us enjoy our built environment.

Maths and geometry is a big part of architecture. Maths has been used in design for centuries, perfect ratios create harmony in a space and add to the natural aesthetics of a building. Most of the maths we use has practical applications such as scaling drawings or calculating if a window complies with size regulations. We also use Pythagoras’ theorem to work out roofs and angles for almost all of our projects.

Living and working in Melbourne has been a boost for my career, and I love the lifestyle. Outside of work you’ll find me listening to live music, enjoying the great outdoors, and of course, indulging in exhibitions of art and design. My advice – study what you think will open the right doors for you, but don’t forget the importance of travelling, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.