We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Internationally experienced architect and urban designer, Dr. Michael Kahn (pictured) is DesignInc’s newest Principal.
DesignInc Sydney are proud to announce a series of promotions to start 2025—headlined by the appointment of Dr. Michael Kahn (pictured above) to Principal, Urban Design.
Mary Anne McGirr, Director at DesignInc Sydney, said:
“These promotions reflect the personal and professional growth of our team, as well as complementing the strategic direction of the studio. Congratulations to the team on all their hard work and we look forward to seeing them continue their journey in the business.
“We especially welcome Michael into the senior leadership team where he will head up the urban design discipline, building on a portfolio that extends across every sector.”
Michael joined DesignInc as a Senior Urban Designer in 2021, rising to Associate in 2023 and attaining his architectural registration in Australia in 2024. His appointment as a Principal and his role as Head of Research for the national practice complements his international architecture and urban design experience—which consists of civic and cultural facilities and city-shaping transport infrastructure—and a background in academia.
Since 2022, Michael has led the Western Harbour Tunnel project at DesignInc, working across disciplines in the delivery of this catalytic mega-project that will not only transform the way people move to and through Sydney, but deliver amenity in the form of public parks and recreation spaces for residents. In his role as Head of Research, he is leading the national research team on a piece that examines the processes and potential of co-design in architecture.
“The built environment is a stage upon which the daily life of the city plays out,” said Michael.
“What we do as designers directly impacts the lives of people now and well into the future. Our team is eager to continue to work on major projects that leave lasting legacies on our city and improve the everyday experience for Sydneysiders and visitors alike. We have a very talented team who’ve worked on some of the biggest projects across the state, including Metro, rail station accessibility, and Western Harbour Tunnel; we look forward to being a part of shaping the region’s future and enhancing connectivity and liveability”
Promotions
Dr. Michael Kahn – Principal, Urban Design / Head of Research (top)
The Western Harbour Tunnel draft Place, Design and Landscape Plan (PDLP) has been released to the public, capturing the breadth of the design work undertaken across the 6.5-kilometre twin tunnels spanning Rozelle…
Driving advocacy, influence and quality in the urban design profession. Urban designer, research lead and DesignInc Sydney Associate, Dr. Michael Kahn, has been elected as a committee member for the Urban Design…
In a time where the urgency of climate action has never been clearer, the recent Impact X Sydney Summit served as a platform for collaborative discourse. Representing DesignInc Sydney in a panel…
Redfern Station claimed the Lord Mayor’s Prize for Public Architecture, Creative Adaptation for Heritage and two commendations while Parramatta Town Hall received a commendation at this year’s Australian Institute of Architects NSW…
This World Environment Day, DesignInc Sydney is proud to unveil our updated Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Framework—part of our commitment to a sustainable future where environmental protection, social equity and economic wellbeing…
Craft, detail, assemblage and experience. Four key ingredients that have defined DesignInc Sydney Principal, Alex Matovic’s worldly career to date. Earlier this year, Alex and his five-strong Aeta Studio team joined DesignInc…