Directors

Josh Batterton

Director & Nominated Architect

Josh works closely with clients to understand how they live and what they value. That relationship then informs the trajectory of the project through conversation, iteration and a sharing of ideas.

Josh is keenly interested in the handmade – how human skill or process affects the way in which materials express themselves. This, coupled with a detailed knowledge of how buildings maintain consistent thermal comfort informs a method of design which places the person at the centre of the project, giving consideration to how we both affect and are effected by what our home is made of.

Qualification: NSW Registered Architect no.13494
Certified Passivhaus Designer - Passive House Institute
Master of Architecture (RMIT)
Bachelor of Architectural Design (Monash)
Professional memberships: Australian Institute of Architects
Australian Passivhaus Institute

Annika Batterton

Director

Annika is a director of Grounded Works alongside Josh. Her interest in healthy environments manifests itself in the care she takes when considering designed spaces. Annika is a full time mother of two beautiful children and still manages to impact the practice and projects on a regular basis.

Annika spent her early career working amongst high end residential and commercial firms in Melbourne before applying her expertise within a regional context.

Qualification: Master of Architecture (RMIT)
Bachelor of Architectural Design (Monash)

The client relationship

We offer a distinctly human experience, built around conversation, collaboration and strong relationships with our clients. Our focus includes Passive House and high-performance design, with a broader ambition to create architecture that is beautiful, enduring and meaningful.

Each project begins with understanding what matters to you and why you’re looking to carry out the project. This may seem trivial, but defining answers to these simple questions creates a launching pad for future ideas.

Material, relationship
& place

PROCESS

The projects that we carry out are done with an understanding that our process is as important as outcome. We are passionate about producing an architecture that sets the foundation for relationships to evolve beyond the built project.

Hand-drawn site plan with notes and dimensions

MATERIAL

Quality builds are a product of considered design, high quality building materials and good craftsmanship. We are passionate about natural building methods, materials gathered from site and working with contractors to realise a projects potential.

RELATIONSHIP

We want a legacy of connected people who are able to share knowledge, build community and develop relationships beyond built work.

PLACE

Light falling across a forested mountain beneath clouds — Pavlina Horackova Photography ©

A bird flying beneath a dramatic cloudy sky — Pavlina Horackova Photography ©

Our focus is on localising the building industry, self reliance and community resilience. Connection to the natural world leads to being grounded in home, life, community and place.

Each project has its own characteristics, qualities and possibilities. Through our process we turn constraints into opportunities that celebrate the uniqueness of the site.

CLIENT STORIES

Client experiences

“Grounded Works Design Studio completed architectural drawings to CC stage of our commercial project. They came highly recommended by another architect who was unable to take on the project at the time. Grounded Works was excellent to deal with on all fronts.”
Kerrie M.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Josh on a project, and I was impressed with his approach. His design and project delivery made the entire process smooth and efficient on-site. It’s rare to work with an architect who not only excels in design but also has the practical knowledge to ensure that paper plans translate seamlessly into reality. Highly recommend!
Damian Hackett

We had a fantastic experience working with Grounded Works. Josh was attentive to every detail and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. His professionalism and eye for design really showed in the final result, and we couldn’t be happier. If you’re looking for a reliable and skilled architect on the Mid North Coast, you found him!
Clément Labbe

“We had a great experience with Josh. He supported us to design a shed renovation. His visuals allowed us to get crystal clear on the design and we are thrilled with the outcome. Josh listened, offered suggestions and adjusted our design efficiently and professionally.”
Hannah P.

“Josh has been great to work with on the planning and submission of our veranda extension.”
Todd A.

“Josh was great to work with, really on point and great communication, I’d recommend Grounded Works for any size project.”
Sam H.