Everything you need to know about Block architect Julian Brenchley

He’s clearly a very important entity when it comes to all things architecture on The Block, but who exactly is Julian Brenchley, and what does he do on site?

Unlike other years, in 2023 the Blockheads have received their plans, schedule and budget all up front.

And Julian Brenchley was the man behind the plan.

The Charming Street houses are a stunning mix of contemporary and classic designs, with the Blockheads learning the end design right at the beginning too.

Julian is always on hand to offer some friendly tips and advice, as well as assist when it comes to tweaking the proposed ideas.

That was the case on Charming Street, when fellow architect Steph decided to make some major alterations to her house plans.

Thrilled to work alongside the highly regarded architect, Steph was only too happy to embrace his feedback.

That’s not always the case. In 2021, twins Josh and Luke were particularly avoidant when it came to Julian’s advice and wanted to swap the layout of their house, turning the double garage into a master bedroom, and re-routing the driveway into a new single garage space.

Meanwhile, Ronnie and Georgia were keen to get all of Julian’s advice, changing their plans to ensure that they were meeting his expectations.

Given his expertise, the Blockheads would be wise to listen to his savvy tips.

Who is Julian Brenchley?

Julian Brenchley is an award-winning Australian founder and Principal Architect of Brenchley Architects.

Not only has this brilliant creative mind been recognised internationally for his work, but Brenchley has designed every Block residential project starting with the debut season in Bondi in 2003.

So if there’s anyone who knows about what a Block house should look like, it’s him.

What is Julian Brenchley’s experience?

Julian was born in Canberra and studied philosophy at Sydney University, as well as architecture at the University of Technology (UTS). He has been both lecturer and tutor at UTS in Design Theory, and undertook postgraduate research projects in design philosophy.

Julian is a Registered Architect in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, and his work on The Block has seen him create the floor plans for each of the houses being renovated for 19 years.

What has Julian Brenchley done on past Block seasons?

In 2021, the teams had no plans to refer to as they designed and built their houses. Host Scott Cam allowed Julian on–site to consult with the teams about what he think might be best for them.

While he was not able to draw up any plans for them, he was allowed to offer his best advice… whether the Blockheads chose to take it or not.

The latest from The Block

Check out exclusive content weekly, including floor plans, expert renovation advice and property insights.

Explore the In The Know Hub

This article was originally published by Nine.com.au. Reproduced with permission.