Services & Disciplines
Institutional Projects
Our main sphere of operation has been in the design of institutional projects as well as various community and educational centres. Facilities at the University of Melbourne and RMIT University demonstrate a best practice in architectural approach that fulfils the universities’ social charters as well as providing them with powerful leverage when marketing for overseas student enrolment – especially from South East Asia, the Sub-Continent and most recently from the Middle East.
The university facilities accommodate the basic requirements of congregational and individual prayer for staff and students as well as ablution and other social requirements. DESYPHER undertakes a thorough research process that that maps current and projected usage against existing and future provision of facilities. The solution provided at RMIT Main Campus is an excellent example of how this analysis was used to incorporate the use of existing multi faith space to minimize dedicated space requirements whilst matching peak and non-peak demands.
The practice was also engaged as the Cultural Consultant for the New Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville. The design reviews undertaken contributed to the architectural design of the hospital being rendered as ‘Muslim Friendly’ – a concept endorsed by the Islamic Council of Victoria.
Community Projects
Our involvement in the design and architecture of community centres almost always begins with master planning that is then broken up into manageable stages over a 10-15 year period.
The intimate relationship formed with each society is indicative of the commitment and continuity that often DESYPHER working with one committee after the other each passing the baton seamlessly.
We engage positively with our community clients to widen their design briefs to ensure that the centres are not limited to a single function but operate as true community centres with complementary functions such as; sport, childcare, social activities, cafes, meeting rooms, classrooms etc.