Award-winning Australian architectural practice Hayball has appointed Vinh Nguyen as senior associate at its Brisbane office.

An expert in multi-residential housing design, Nguyen brings years of localised housing and residential sector knowledge to his new role at Hayball. His technical expertise in unlocking a site’s potential and foresight into Queensland’s housing market and evolution towards community-focused design will play a key role in scaling up the practice’s multi-residential project pipeline across the state.

Raised in Brisbane, Nguyen’s exposure to Queensland’s residential housing market comes from many years of professional practice in the development and private sector. As senior associate at Hayball, he will be involved in delivering precinct and mixed-use design models that nurture community cohesion, inclusivity, and wellbeing, ranging from high-end residences, to townhouses, multi-tower sites and mixed-use masterplan developments.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my localised experience with new clients through this role in Brisbane, reinforcing Hayball’s commitment to design excellence and social value through my technical knowledge and experience,” Nguyen says.

“I think the concept of designing for social value needs to be explored more deeply across Queensland’s current housing market. It’s something I want to develop as an added layer through my work with Hayball by engaging in open dialogues with planners, developers, and stakeholders to deliver projects that positively impact end-users from diverse demographics,” he adds.

Nguyen’s localised housing knowledge will help Hayball focus on medium and high-density multi-residential housing models that are gradually being embraced in Queensland, along with high-density mega-towers and mixed-use precincts that offer more housing options for a broader demographic of residents.

Designed by Hayball, West Village is a medium-rise residential development in Brisbane’s West End

As the Queensland government facilitates density in the housing sector across the state, activation of the ground plane will be central to Nguyen’s design vision for multi-residential projects.

“Projects that genuinely achieve positive change for the local community are those that respond to what people need, such as safer and more engaging streetscapes, and more public amenities on the ground plane. Considered design also has the power and potential to transform high-density living by focusing on third space and the spaces in-between to foster both incidental and intentional social interactions. Design that promotes a ‘get to know your neighbour’ mentality can support the creation of vibrant, networked communities,” Nguyen says.

“The high-density living model is evolving not only in Queensland but in Australia more broadly. We must focus on the long-term social value of these spaces, especially as lifestyle themes – such as mixed-tenure and intergenerational living capabilities in high-density – continue to be increasingly sought after, and in demand.”

Of Nguyen’s appointment, Hayball’s co-managing principal Sarah Buckeridge adds, “We see exciting opportunities for the continued evolution of Queensland’s housing and residential markets and the potential to explore innovative design and delivery models. With Vinh’s rich knowledge and expertise in Queensland, we look forward to bringing community-led design solutions to realise the next evolution in housing in the state, extending on the learnings and our continued work to deliver social value for people and communities across Australia.”

Image: Supplied