David Burton

Director

Overlaying a sense of rigor and clarity through his work, David believes that it is in the concealed simplicity of a space that true potential can be unveiled. Inspired by regionalism, individuals and their unique stories, his architectural approach is founded on one of value and restraint, acknowledging the richness that layering connections to context can bring.

Through a wealth of knowledge and experience within the architecture community ensures an eye of precision when analysing opportunity within planning and formal responses. His congenial approach connects to an undercurrent of wanting to ensure a legacy remains through his work. As well as heightening personal livelihoods and an ease of functionality, he also believes that architecture can and should have a greater impact.

As a lateral thinker and through an attuned business acumen, his ability to recognise where to focus efforts for the most bountiful and improved returns grounds the studio and his own creativity – through restraint, great things come.

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Adelaide (First Class Honours)

2023 AIA SA Residential Category Jury Member

2018 RAIA Chapter Councillor 

2017 DIA SA\NT Chair of Residential Awards – Judge 

2017 RAIA SA Commercial Category Jury Member

2017 RAIA SA Planning Committee

2016 RAIA appointed for APSTA Organising Committee 

2014 RAIA appointed for City of Great Buildings Committee 

Appointed as Director of WBL in 2000

David Handsaker

Senior Associate - Architect

Drawn to detail and resolving the complexities of design, David brings a honed focus on refinement and process. Inspired by clean lines and a simplified convergence of Mid-Century forms, he believes that through close examination a successful project is born.

As a keen collaborator openly inviting dialogue, he sees the exploration of ideas and the pushing of boundaries as being key to reaching potential. Driven by pragmatism and structure, he seeks efficiencies in both method and design, ensuring the end result embodies a true timelessness.

Bachelor of Architecture, University of South Australia

Caroline Cameron

Senior Associate - Interior Designer

With a strong connection to the intimacy of smaller scale work, Caroline believes that through the process of subtraction, and the paring back of layers, that is where the best resolved design opportunities reside. After some time exploring the world beyond WBL, she returned to what felt most true to her, and what she felt most genuinely connection to.

A large part of her process involves listening as a means to both uncover the needs of a client as well as of the potential of the space. Using natural materials and an honest approach, she believes that refinement in detail and time enduring references result in the best honouring of a space. Her fine art photographic work supports her concentration on detail within the studio, allowing an expanded view of the world through an alternate lens to ultimately influence her practice.

Bachelor of Interior Architecture (Hons), University of South Australia

Rachel Catt

Associate - Architect

Uncovering what connects people to places underpins Rachel’s practice, focussing on the unmet potential as her muse. Having lived and worked in London, across projects locally in the UK and as far as Beirut, it was the seeking of an understated and refined elegance that she wanted to be immersed within that drew her to WBL.

Finding and uncovering a sense of calm, while instilling an element of awe is key, combining both an exploration of comfort and soul through materiality and form, while celebrating scale, history, and context. She wants her work to have a discreetness that remains relevant regardless of time, and that through travel and seeing different ways of living and challenging the familiar, a more enriched life emerges.

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Adelaide

Bachelor of Design Studies, University of Adelaide

Alana Hanton

Senior Interior Designer, Curate Lead

Playing an integral role within the studio, Alana heads up the final Curate stage of the design process for each of our projects. Weaving in both new and treasured finds as a capture of the owners and their newly anticipated coming chapters, she works closely and intuitively to bring out the essence of a space as a representation of those that occupy it.

As a tactile designer, she thrives on being surrounded by layered spaces and a revolving roster of materials and stimuli, drawing inspiration from artwork, music, other creatives, and their unique processes. Wanting to instil a sense of joy through this final completing stage, Alana’s wealth of design knowledge and varied experience allows her to tell our client’s stories.

Bachelor of Interior Architecture, University of South Australia

Yuko Nakayama

Studio Manager

Inspired by people, places and the stories that they hold, Yuko’s global citizen status, having lived and travelled across borders, brings richness to the studio in a multi-faceted and considered way. Her own curiosity into the world of design is born from a belief that the process of storytelling underpins placemaking and how we shape and engage with architecture.

Through establishing a clear vision, she believes artful and reflective moments exist to be uncovered, with her depth of experience within creative fields bringing a sense of clarity to her approach.

Maddie Nicolson

Design Manager

Approaching design with an in-depth understanding of construction and site management, Maddie brings her international and rural experience to bolster the efficiencies of the studio.

After working in both the Northern Territory, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, she overlays a supportive framework for the team, managing the design process and coordinating with external consultants. Inspired by travel and the experimental opportunities of design, she believes design plays an integral role in shaping legacy and facilitating connection.

Bachelor of Architectural Studies, University of South Australia

Max Kamlah

Graduate of Architecture

Driven by the creation of legacy and the enduring potential that architecture has, Max is inspired by a contextually responsive approach. Hailing from Germany, having also lived and worked in Switzerland and Canada, his global perspective and a grounding immersed in European longevity forms the foundations of his appreciation of the marriage of where old and new meet.

Looking beyond the individual site, and ensuring the response engages with the existing urban fabric and its contribution to place in a wider context is important to his work. Being able to both disconnect and immerse himself within the bustle of a city is where he finds balance, and inspiration.

Master of Architecture, ETH Zürich

Bachelor of Arts, Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences

Sarah Petherick

Graduate of Architecture and Interior Designer

At the intersection between architecture and interior design, Sarah sees her focus as binding an imbedded warmth together with a sense of longevity. Through her calm approach, she is consistently learning and absorbing from her environments, and from the people she is surrounded by.

She takes lessons from the familiarity and inspiration that exists closer to home and the simple rituals of everyday experiences. Wanting to enhance experience through heightened detailing and a considered refinement, she is a passionate designer who believes balance is the key to the best resolves.

Master of Architecture, University of South Australia

Kate Parletta

Senior Interior Designer

Inspired by process and how each of the contributing elements together, Kate thrives on working through the methodology behind function. Believing that it is through the distilling of ideas and a simplified approach that the best resolves emerge, her strong portfolio of published residential work is a testament to itself.

Through understanding the stories of those living and working within a space, and how they want the spaces to support them, she believes the solution usually presents itself. As someone dedicated to detailing and resolving the challenges within design, she believes the most beautiful outcomes emerge through experimentation. Her legacy of improving the feeling of a space and how life can dramatically improve through design, inspires her.

Bachelor of Interior Architecture, University of South Australia

Courtney Rodgers

Interior Designer

Having trained in classical methods of Drawing, majoring in Sculpture, her Visual Arts background forms the basis for her approach to materiality and form. After time spent living in Milan, an imbedded appreciation and connection to design was formed, seeing Courtney return to Australia.

As an intuitive artist and designer her approach is grounded in a respect for exploration, and the following of the creative process into spaces that have a grander and long-lasting affect. Inspired by a layered approach as being key to shaping experience, she is constantly searching for ways to integrate meaning into her work.

Bachelor (Hons) of Visual Arts, Adelaide Central School of Art

Bachelor Interior Architecture, University of South Australia

Shara Busing

Interior Designer

Inspired by the human connection and interaction with space, Shara brings a methodical approach to exploring creative outcomes and navigating the potential resolutions. Through a simplifying lens, her extensive travel and newfound passion for ceramics ensure she brings an explorative approach, looking beyond the traditional and linear path.

After many years in a parallel industry, design became an obvious next step, seeing her bring a worldly perspective. Through mixing the functional with the refined, she believes the best design comes from immersion amongst other creatives.

Advanced Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, Interior Design, TAFE SA