Architect and Director.

Dipl. Architecture | London

BA (Hons) Architecture | Liverpool

Michael has over 30 years experience in the industry. He has worked for TPBennett and KSS in London, Hassell Architects and Lausanne Property in Sydney and was head of property for Andrew Forrest in Western Australia.

Michael has also involved in residential and commercial projects across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia, as well as island nations in the South Pacific. He has worked with prominent brands and organizations.

In addition to his experience as an Architect, Michael is a co-founder of Balanced Earth Pty Ltd, a Byron Bay building firm specialising in Hempcrete and low impact construction. His decades of experience in the building industry lend a unique offering to projects including up to date knowledge on costing and creative use of materials.

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Michael is an engaged member of the community. He established a regional football coaching program OTB for children ranging from novice to elite and lends his years of industry experience to charitable causes such as the S.H.I.F.T Project, who provide unique individual support and education for at risk women.

Head of Design.

Master of architecture | Bordeaux, France

BA Architecture | Bordeaux , France

Leo trained in France and has over nine years of architectural design experience in Australia, including for Melbourne firms McGlashan Everest Architects and Edwards Moore Architects, before joining Balanced Earth in 2016.

Fusing European contemporary style with creative design solutions, Leo has delivered many residential projects at Balanced Earth and has been the lead designer on high-profile commercial projects such as The Sunseeker Motel and The Innovation Centre at the Cape Byron Rudolph Steiner School.

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Leo volunteers with Marine Rescue NSW and manages the Kids Plot at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market, a free community space for children & parents, providing mentorship through the joy of creative play.

Leo regularly joins the site teams on Hempcrete installation days and he and his partner built a Hempcrete dwelling on family land.

Building Designer.

Bachelor of Industrial Design

Certificate of Building Design

Jamie is a building designer by trade but brings to the team a comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience of construction, from site set out through to carpentry, steel fabrication, concreting and formwork.

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Jamie grew up in Manly but is a long time local of the Byron Shire, where he surfs daily and designed and built his architectural home from shipping containers.

NSW Registered Architect

Master Architecture R.M.I.T

Bachelor Architectural Design R.M.I.T

Passive House (passivehaus) Certified Designer

Over the last 15 years, Mercedes has gained experience working for some of Australia’s most highly regarded architecture firms, (Denton Corker Marshall, Hayball, Troppo Architect) before shifting focus and refining her interest while contributing to smaller firms (Templeton Architects, Zaher Architects) where a new level of more intimate experience in the residential sector was obtained.

Mercedes acquired her Master's and Bachelor of Architecture from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and spent time abroad studying in Italy and Austria, as well as exhibiting her work at international architecture exhibitions including the 2012 Venice Biennale of Architecture. She has taught at Monash University and sat on the Victorian Chapter Council at the Australian Institute of Architects, 2013-2015 as the EmAGN/ SONAA graduate representative. More locally, Mercedes has volunteered with organizations such as Creative Mullumbimby and Women's Village Collective, and is an elected member of the Place Planning Collective at Byron Shire Council. In 2016 Mercedes sought a sea change, opting for a more balanced lifestyle in the Byron Shire where she was able to better explore her interest in the outdoors, ceramics, film, and piano alongside her architectural work.

Mercedes is particularly passionate about high-performance, low-energy, healthy homes, completing her Passive House Designer Certification in 2021, and is eager to see passive house intelligence blend with the earthy beauty and performance of Hempcrete.

Interior Designer

Bachelor of Design ( Int. Design ) HONS

Graduating in 2014 with an honours degree in Interior Design from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Carlotta held a graduate position at Fender Katsilidis Melbourne office for 3 years before moving to high end boutique design studio KPDO, where she was appointed as an associate.

Carlotta joined Balanced Earth Architects shortly after moving to the Byron area in 2020.

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Lotti is a practicing ceramicist and works as a freelance art director for photography, specialising in architectural and still life shoots.

Landscape Architect.

BA Landscape Architecture

Paul began his professional career at renowned landscape architecture firm EDAW. There he developed his design and industry skills on some of the most significant landscape and urban design projects in Australia.

Paul is interested in blurring the line between the built form and landscape so that the garden, large or small can be integrated with the home and experienced as an outdoor ‘room’ by combining traditional design methods with digital 3D modelling to help conceptualise and enhance the design.

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Paul is a founding member of Dustyeski, the ‘fake genuine Russian choir' who are a collective pillar of the local community, and more recently a globally viral sensation.