About us

​​K+ARchitects brings together the creative vision and expertise of husband-and-wife team Kate and Andrew Rowe to craft homes that are not just buildings, but places where life, love, and laughter thrive. Each design by K+AR is a unique masterpiece, carefully tailored to suit your site, environment, and the way you live, work, and play.

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At K+ARchitects, we are passionate about creating spaces that are a true reflection of your personality while enhancing your lifestyle. Our designs seamlessly blend innovation, functionality, and sustainability, ensuring that your home is not only visually captivating but also environmentally mindful.

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We pride ourselves on offering a personalized experience, working closely with our clients to fully understand their vision and transform it into reality. From initial concept to final touches, we are committed to delivering extraordinary design solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations, resulting in timeless spaces that inspire and elevate everyday living.

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Our Story

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Kate and Andrew Rowe founded K+ARchitects in 2005 to leverage their complementary skills. Andrew combines design expertise with construction knowledge, while Kate excels in technical design and project management. Married in 2008 with three children, the couple relocated from Richmond to Barwon Heads in 2020 to raise their family by the ocean. Committed to a two-person practice, they focus on offering personalized service, bringing both professional and lived experience to each residential project. Their goal is to help others create homes that truly enhance family life.​​

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What we do

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We specialize in designing new homes, extensive renovations, beach houses, and rural retreats for families and couples.

Our focus is on creating spaces that enhance the lives of our clients. From the initial concept through to design and construction, we provide expert guidance throughout the entire process, ensuring a seamless and rewarding experience.

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Our Design Philosophy

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We start by listening carefully to understand what makes you unique. From there, we create spaces that truly reflect who you are. We believe great design enhances life’s simple moments, allowing you to fully appreciate the small joys. By taking the time to learn about what matters most to you, we ensure our designs elevate and support these meaningful experiences.

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​We design architecture that is deeply rooted in its surroundings. We take the time to understand the unique characteristics of your site—its shape, size, and orientation—while considering how natural light will interact with the space throughout the day. By thoughtfully integrating the surrounding environment, we ensure that every opportunity is maximized. The connection between indoor and outdoor spaces is central to our approach, creating a harmonious and functional flow that unites your home with its broader context.

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We believe that exceptional design is found in the details. From the balance of scale and proportion to the way materials are thoughtfully combined, craftsmanship is essential. True luxury, to us, is found in spaces that are carefully designed, enduring, and exude timeless elegance.

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Sustainability

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​We design with a focus on comfort, wellbeing, and creating spaces that stand the test of time. We prioritize natural light, ventilation, and passive heating and cooling to ensure energy efficiency. Sustainability is key to everything we do, from choosing materials that are built to last to sourcing locally and ethically whenever possible.

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Credentials

 

KATE ROWE
Architect, LEED AP, BArch(Hons) BPD(Hons) Melbourne.

Kate worked with award-winning residential architects Rob Mills Architects and De Campo Architects before joining the larger multi-award winning and sustainability-focused Perkins and Will in Vancouver. There she obtained her Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation and supplemented her extensive high-end residential experience with large commercial mixed-use projects, health care and tertiary education. Kate focused on her love of residential architecture after to returning to Australia in 2012. 

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ANDREW ROWE

Architect, MAIA, BArch(Hons), BPC, BPD(Hons) Melbourne.

Andrew worked with award-winning institutional, educational and recreation architects, Williams Ross Architects before joining Governor General Award-winning Henriquez Partners Architects in Vancouver. There Andrew added large multi-residential and mixed-use project experience to an existing portfolio of residential projects from Melbourne. On return to Australia Andrew became Design Director of Centrum Architects in South Yarra, designing scores of high-end homes across Victoria whilst assisting Kate with K+ARchitects. In 2021, Andrew resigned from Centrum to focus on K+ARchitects after relocating to Barwon Heads.