Bourne Blue Architecture was established full time in Newcastle in July 1996. It’s directors are Rachael Bourne and Shane Blue, both graduates of Sydney University in 1991 and 1990 respectively. They moved to Canberra to design and then build the Fadden Hills house. They obtained a builders licence and sought to compliment their theoretical education with practical experience. Using a diverse team of furniture makers, boatbuilders and young architects, the project was completed within eighteen months. Both directors worked in practices in Sydney, Canberra and London before deciding to settle in Newcastle. In 15 years, 141 projects have been built, ranging from various domestic projects up to a $5 million multi purpose performance hall and sports centre for the Hunter Valley Grammar School. Bourne Blue employs two architects, Claire Lavis started with Bourne Blue in 2006 after 3 years experience with other practices and passed accreditation exams in 2009 to become a Registered Architect. Sarah Manners started with Bourne Blue in 2005 after graduating from Newcastle University. Sarah passed accreditation exams in 2008 and is also a Registered Architect. The practice is design based, and small, so that all projects have substantial director involvement, and a project architect who takes the project from beginning to end. The Practice has completed work from Canberra to Port Macquarie, including Sydney, Newcastle, Pokolbin, Wollombi and Pacific Palms. Our work has been published locally, nationally and internationally. The office is 100% solar powered with a rooftop 2kW photovoltaic array. Excess power is generated daily and is sold back to the grid. 6000L of water storage tanks collect rainwater for toilet flushing and garden use. The office car is a diesel VW Polo which emits only 135grams of CO2 per km and uses an average of 5 litres of fuel per 100km, thus assisting the practice to minimise it's impact upon the environment.
