Husband-and-wife architects Rafael Contreras and Monica Earl founded Contreras Earl Architecture (CEA) with the ambition to design original, inventive buildings that contribute to the evolution of architecture and the future of our communities and cities. “We believe architecture should evolve parallel with technology. When it comes to design, the Australian market has traditionally been more conservative than the likes of Europe but it feels like times are changing,” Rafael says.

Rafael and Monica are certainly contributing to that change. Their architecture is innovative and boundary-pushing, evolving hand-in-hand with technology – and so too are the projects they work on.

The pair met in London; Rafael was a lead architect and designer at Zaha Hadid Architects and Monica was working in the office of Foster + Partners. After returning to Australia together in 2017, they established their own practice in Sydney, before relocating to the Gold Coast to work with leading Australian property developer Sunland Group on the 272 Hedges Avenue tower in Mermaid Beach.

Rafael and Monica look to mother nature as their muse, and their work is distinctive for its sculpted, organic forms. The contoured base of 272 Hedges Avenue was inspired by wind and water patterns on rock and sand, while the fluid structure of the Lanes Residences they designed in Mermaid Waters mimics nearby land contours and vegetal growth. These organic forms are designed to engage people, coexist with the built and natural environment, and optimise environmental performance.

The team at CEA explore and develop their creative ideas using highly advanced software, robotics, materials and construction processes – propelling the Australian architecture, manufacturing and construction industries into the future.

An Australian first

When it comes to revolutionising industries, urban air mobility is set to truly shake things up. Australian start-up Skyportz approached CEA in 2021 to design the country’s first air taxi vertiport, located at Caribbean Park in Melbourne.

This project is part of Skyportz’s vision to create a nationwide network of vertiports to enable urban air mobility of zero-emission, battery-powered flying vehicles. Also known as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircrafts), they will offer a more efficient way to transport passengers or freight between locations.

“It was clear that Skyportz’s vision for a vertiport was perfectly aligned with our vision. They knew about our experience and our ambition, and like us, is challenging conventional and traditional thinking. This made it a perfect match,” says Rafael.

The vertiport will provide a designated area that supports the take-off and landing operations of eVTOLs. Equipped with maintenance and charging facilities and a passenger terminal, it will be akin to a micro-scale airport. Monica and Rafael have designed the vertiport with input from Skyportz, Arup and To70 Aviation.

The terminal is based on an efficient modular, prefabricated design. Inspired by patterns found in nature, its sleek sculptural form will be made of recyclable aluminium. The lightweight components will be packed into shipping containers and assembled onsite, allowing the configuration to be adapted and customised for a wide range of locations and sizes, and scaled for mass production.

A world first

The Living Coral Biobank is another important and exciting project that CEA have developed in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Legacy and leading scientists and educators. Located in Port Douglas, the world’s first dedicated coral conservation facility will provide an environment for preserving 800 species of hard coral from around the world, along with their algal and bacterial symbionts.

Rafael and Monica designed the building’s sculptural form inspired by ‘mushroom’ coral and its protective radial fins. Undulating concrete fins will wrap around the façade to protect the building against adverse tropical conditions at ground level, and to open the interior to natural light and ventilation at the upper levels.

“We are committed to inventive and ground-breaking design, and we can’t wait to continue to make a positive impact on urban and natural environments both here and abroad,” Monica says.

By Rebecca Gross