Robert’s entrepreneurial flair provides clients with the opportunity to work with an architect who is able to identify unique commercial opportunities and produce designs that help them achieve profitable results.
Contact
T +613 8658 4000
M +614 1238 1306
W Robert Caulfield Architect
Director
Robert Caulfield is an internationally renowned and award winning architect having designed significant buildings throughout Australia; the middle east, Asia and the United States. He is the founder of and for 31 years the managing director of Archicentre Limited, Australia’s largest building advisory group. He appears frequently on T.V. and radio and in the media discussing all aspects of buying, building and renovating buildings. He is a past national president of the Australian Institute of Architects, president of Kidsafe Victoria and an experienced company director.
Since graduating with honours in Design and Professional Practice from RMIT University, Robert’s career has been highlighted by many awards and achievements which reflect his dedication and commitment to the profession.
In 1977 he was awarded a research grant by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) for the study of possible methods of building procurement up to the year 2000.
A citation by the RAIA in 1978 gave Robert recognition for the proposed development of a range of architectural advisory services to help the general public. This was to become Archicentre. In 1978, Robert along with Ivo Krivanek also formed Caulfield & Krivanek Pty Ltd, architects, planners and interior designers.
In 1984 Robert was awarded another professional citation for the conception and implementation of a number of building and design services.
1986 saw Robert awarded the prestigious RAIA Sisalation research scholarship for international research into the prevention of building failures and maintenance problems. This experience has subsequently been applied to many of Caulfield & Krivanek’s projects and to the development of Archicentre’s technical expertise.
In 1987, Robert was awarded the Victorian President’s Architecture Medal for outstanding services to architecture.
In 1990, he was elected National President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, the youngest president up until that time.
From 2000 onwards Robert has been involved with the design, documentations and construction of major residential and commercial projects in Australia, Dubai, China, Vietnam, Iran, Azerbaijan and Belarus. However, he still has extensive involvement with all aspects of domestic residential construction.
Robert is an experienced company director and apart from corporate directorships has been involved at a senior level with many community organizations and is the founding and past president of Kidsafe Victoria, and is the current vice-president, and a former director of the Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation. He is also a director of Homesafe Pty. Ltd., a child home safety organization and a former director of Yachting Victoria.
In 2002 Robert was awarded a Centenary Medal by the federal government for services to architecture.
In his spare time Robert enjoys competitive sailing, golf, tennis and scuba diving.
Professional achievements
| 1974 | Graduated RMIT (Honours) |
| 1977 | Winner RAIA K.A. Henderson Research Scholarship |
| 1979 | Founder and director Architects Inspection Service (formerly Archicentre) Founder Caulfield & Krivanek Pty Ltd, Architects (now CK Designworks) |
| 1981 | Founder and director RAIA Victorian Archicentre Pty Ltd |
| 1983 | Fellow – Society of Senior Executives |
| 1986 | Winner ACI Sisalation Research Scholarship for international study of building pathology |
| 1987 | Awarded RAIA Presidents medal for outstanding services to architecture |
| 1988 | President – Nunawading Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) |
| 1990 -1991 | National President – Royal Australian Institute of Architects |
| 1990 -1996 | Judge – Australian Gown of the Year |
| 1991 – 2009 | Managing Director & CEO Archicentre (Aust) Pty Ltd |
| 1992 | National Architecture Awards Jury Chairman |
| 1994 -1997 | Chairman – Royal Australian Institute of Architects Membership Committee |
| 1994 -1996 | Director and Treasurer – Victorian Child Accident Prevention Foundation (Kidsafe) |
| 1997 | Director and Deputy Chairman – Victorian Child Accident Prevention Foundation (Kidsafe) |
| 1997 | Chairman of Judges – Australian Gown of the Year |
| 1997 – 2000 | Commodore – Albert Sailing Club |
| 1998 – 2002 | Director and Chairman Kidsafe Victoria |
| 1999 | Director – Yachting Victoria |
| 2002 | Federal Government Centenary Medal for service to Architecture. |
| 2002 | Director and Founding President – Kidsafe Vic Inc. |
| 2002 | Member – Australian Institute of Company Directors |
| 2003 | Director – Homesafe Kids Pty Ltd |
| 2003 | Member – Property Council of Australia |
| 2004 | Director – Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation |
| 2005 | Director and Vice President – Kidsafe Vic Inc |
| 2006 – 2010 | Director – Yarrbat Place Pty Ltd – retirement village |
| 2010 – 2015 | Director – Donwood Community Aged Care Services |
| 2011 | Director and Chairman CK Designworks China |
| 2011 | Jury Chairman – China International Future Architect Award – Shenzhen – China |
| 2012 | NMIT Bachelor of Built Environment (Architecture) – Inaugural Advisory Reference Group Member |
| 2012 | Director and President – Kidsafe Victoria Inc |
| 2013 | Bayside Built Environment Awards – Juror |
| 2015 – 2016 | Director Archicentre Pty Ltd |
| 2017 | Director of Council on the Aging (COTA) |
| 2018 | Co-Founder & Chairman of Architects Group Australia |
| 2018-2020 | Director of Donwood Community Aged Care Services |
| 2021 | Councillor Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter |
| 2023 | President of Council on the Aging COTA) |
| 2023 | Councillor Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter |
Papers and Presentations
| 1978 | K A Henderson Thesis (RAIA) – “The Architect and the Promotional Approach to Commercial Architecture” |
| 1979 – Current | Technical articles on building problems for newspapers throughout Australia |
| 1979 – 2009 | Archicentre training seminars – Australia wide |
| 1979 – 2009 | Research, presentations and training seminars to architects on building faults in Australian Homes |
| 1981 – 2009 | Public Home Buying Seminars |
| 1985 – 2000 | The Practice and Business of Architecture – RAIA Seminar speaker |
| 1985 | “Marketing Architecture” seminars – Palmerston North, New Zealand – presenter |
| 1986 | “Marketing Architecture” seminars – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane – presenter |
| 1987 | RAIA Thesis – “The Pathology of Building” |
| 1987 | “Finding Work and Keeping Out of Trouble” – a series of seminars in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch – presenter |
| 1988 | “Negotiating Skills” a series of seminars in Melbourne, Adelaide & Sydney – presenter |
| 1988 | “Establishing and Running A Small Business – Jaycees World Congress – Sydney – presenter |
| 1989 | “Building Failures, Facts and Fixes” – seminar for the American Institute of Architects – Houston, USA – presenter |
| 1990 | “Finding Work and Keeping out of Trouble” – seminars Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin – presenter |
| 1991 | “Surviving the Recession” – a series of seminars for architects and builders – Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin – presenter |
| 1991 | “Building Failures, Facts and Fixes” – Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, Auckland – presenter |
| 1992 | Management Strategies for Professional Practices – Melbourne – presenter |
| 1993 | Management Strategies for Professional Practices – Sydney – presenter |
| 1994 | “Professional Networking” a series of marketing and motivation seminars – Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide – presenter |
| 1994 | “Advanced Negotiating Skills” – Travelodge Melbourne – presenter |
| 1995 | “Building Faults – Their Effect on House Valuation” Guest Speaker Australian Institute of Valuers and Land Economists- presenter |
| 1996 | “Investing in Property” Seminar |
| 1997 | “Investing in Property” Seminar |
| 1997 | Australian Institute of Building Surveyors National Convention – presenter NSW Country Architects Convention – Jenolan Caves – chairman and presenter – “Marketing Architecture” National Housing Conference – presenter “Home Safety” |
| 2000 | “How Successful Architects Make Money”. A series of seminars for Architects. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Auckland. |
| 2001 | New South Wales Country Architects Convention (Ballina) – chairman and presenter “Architecture on Mars”. |
| 2001 | National Housing Conference – Adelaide. Chairman and presenter. |
| 2001 | “Living Safer, Healthier and Happier – a housing profile of Victoria’s older population” – A research paper based on findings from Archicentre’s Home Services Program.
“Quality of Owner Built Buildings”. A research paper prepared in conjunction with Deakin University. “Australian’s Residential Building Faults. A View From The State of Victoria” a research paper prepared in conjunction with Deakin University and featured in The Building and Environment International Journal. “National Town Planning Survey” A survey of architects and research report prepared by Archicentre and presented to state and federal governments and the media. |
| 2003 | “Inquiry on First Home Ownership”. A research paper prepared by Archicentre and the RAIA at the request of the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission. |
| 2003 | “How Successful Architects Make Money”. A series of continuing education seminars commissioned by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Napier. |
| 2005 | “Making Homes Safe as Houses” an updated profile of Victoria’s older population. A research paper based on findings from Archicentre’s Home Services Program. |
| 2006 – 2009 | Archicentre Cost Guide. Review of Australian building costs – updated quarterly |
| 2008 | “Safe & Sound” A housing profile of Victoria’s older population |
| 2010 | “Growing Cities – A Vegi-tecture Approach” – Read More |
| 2011 | The Retirement Industry in China – Asia Property Investment Conference – Shanghai – China |
| 2012 | “Sustainable Cities of the Future” Victorian Government Trade Mission – Chengdu – China |
| 2013 | Cost Guide, Renovation Guide, Child Safety Guide – Homesafe Group https://caulfieldkrivanek.com/resources/ |
| 2013 | Australian 60 Minutes TV Cities of China |
| 2015 | “2015 China’s productive Cities; Reality or Myth” – Cities of the Future Symposium Adelaide |
| 2016 | “Can Australian Professions Prosper in the Emerging Global Economy?” – Delta Sigma delta Society- Melbourne |
| 2017 | “A facelift for older facilities”, Australian Aging Agenda Magazine |
| 2018 | “Look to NDIS for new income sources” Australian Aging Agenda Magazine |
| 2018 | Melbourne Skyloop Video |
| 2020 | “How to secure overseas commissions” – Architecture Au. |
| 2020 | “How to survive a recession” – Architecture Au |
| 2021 | “How to be an expert witness” – Host AIA Webinar |
| 2021 | “Reinvenitng Retirement”- COTA Victoria |
Professional Awards
| 1978 | RAIA Urban and Community Design Award |
| 1984 | RAIA Merit Award for Outstanding Architecture |
| 1984 | Finalist – Jaycees Five Outstanding Young Australians Award |
| 1984 | Nominated BHP pursuit of Excellence Award |
| 1987 | RAIA Presidents Award |
| 1987 | Melbourne Art Directors Club Award |
| 1989 | Runner-up RAIA Institutional Buildings Award |
| 1991 | Commendation – Industrial Supplies Office (Vic) Australian Business Award |
| 1991 | Winner MBA Innovative use of timber in design award |
| 1991 | Runner-up HIA Home of the Year (over $300,000 category) |
| 1991 | Runner-up HIA Medium Density Housing Award |
| 1992 | Winner James Hardie National Design Award |
| 1992 | Life Fellowship, Royal Australian Institute of Architects |
| 1995 | Victorian Government Fair Trading Award (Archicentre) |
| 1998 | Victorian Yachting Council – Media Award |
| 1998 | Victorian Yachting Council – Commodore of Outstanding Yacht Club of the year |
| 2003 | Federal Government Centenary Medal for Services to Architecture |
| 2010 | Winner – UDIA Award – Special Purpose Living – Yarrbat Place |
| 2016 | Victorian Government Award for services to Child Safety |
RAIA/AIA Involvement
| 1968 – 1970 | Student member RAIA (Vic) Membership Committee |
| 1970 – 1973 | Gonvenor – RAIA (Vic) Activities Committee |
| 1973 – 1978 | Member RAIA Membership Committee |
| 1979 – 1986 | Councillor – RAIA (Vic) |
| 1979 – 1985 | Member RAIA (Vic) Information Committee |
| 1982 – 1986 | Vice President RAIA (Vic) |
| 1984 – 1990 | RAIA National Information Committee Member |
| 1986 – 1993 | RAIA National Councillor |
| 1989 | National Vice President RAIA |
| 1989 | Chairman RAIA (NSW chapter) Finance Management Committee |
| 1990 – 1991 | National President RAIA |
| 1992 | Chairman RAIA National Awards Jury |
| 1994 – 1996 | Chairman RAIA (Vic) Membership Committee |
| 1997 | Deputy Chairman RAIA (Vic) Membership Committee & Various RAIA Committees |
| 2003 | Member RAIA 2004 Year of The Built Environment Committee |
| 2010-2012 | Australian Institute of Architects National Councillor |
| 2015 – 2016 | Director Archicentre Pty Ltd |
| 2021 | Councillor – Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Chapter |