Co:Aika is a multidisciplinary collective with a growing portfolio of work in the spaces of architecture, design and interior fit-out. With their inaugural Fortis projects fast nearing completion at 67 Palmerston in South Melbourne, we sat down with Directors Soph Harris and Rach Wan, to learn more about their deeply collaborative creative approach.
Q—Can you tell us a little about Co:Aika please?
A—In the last decade—both as individuals and as a collective—we have had the opportunity to grow and explore our skills alongside an incredibly supportive creative network. We formally established Co:Aika in 2021 as two female creatives with ambitions to lead design projects with likeminded peers. To date, we have had the opportunity work on hospitality, residential and retail projects, and look forward to growing even further in many unexpected creative spaces.
Q—How would you describe your underlying philosophy?
A—The core premise of Co:Aika is ‘shared time’—that is, how we give, share and spend our common time. Our ethos is anchored within a design process of collaboration, pleasure and enjoyment. As a true design collective, we are people focused. We believe there is a lightness when working alongside individuals who care about their craft.
Q—What trends are you noticing at the moment?
A—Now more than ever, people are investing more energy into the environments they occupy. There has been a shift in sentiment to really celebrate how design can elevate the everyday. Function and efficiency are of course required, but it seems there is a greater awareness of how warmth and humanity are also of importance.
Q—What’s the most important stage of a project?
A—For us, the top-and-tail of every project is the most critical. Initially it so important to align on vision, intention and strategy. By the time the project reaches its final stage of construction, many hats are required. Being able to balance creative vision alongside construction reality is the dance that brings the project to life.
Q—We’re currently collaborating on our first project, why do our businesses work so well together?
A—Co:Aika and Fortis each value and resonate with the sentiment of ‘Built Heritage’. To us, it is a concept of creating spaces which can be enjoyed for years to come. We are so fortunate to able to create spaces and curate spaces with an intention of longevity.
Q—What does success look like at the end of a project?
A—More than anything, we hope the process of designing with us is joyful and there is a sense that, together, we have done something right. It takes so much hard work to deliver a project—being able to reflect on this process positively is ‘success’.
