Donovan Hill

Donovan Hill was a Brisbane, Australia, based architecture firm that was founded by Brian Donovan, Timothy Hill in 1992. The firm worked extensively in Brisbane, growing from a workforce of four to 50 within their 17-year existence. Donovan Hill's designs emphasized environmental impact and life cycle. The majority of their commissions were commercial, institutional and civic buildings, and included design concepts relating to interior fit out, landscape and master planning.

In 2013 Donovan Hill merged with BVN Architecture to form BVN Donovan Hill, now called BVN.

Brian Donovan, an independent architect, and Timothy Hill, who was employed by the Brisbane-based firm Lambert Smith, became partners to form Donovan Hill in order to design the C-House in 1992. Donovan had previously worked for the Japanese architect Atsushi Kitagawara, whose emphasis on uniform geometry influenced many Donovan Hill designs.

The firm worked from the verandah of an old property in Kelvin Grove for a lengthy period before moving to Doggett Street, Fortitude Valley. Finally the firm established themselves in the former home of fashion label Eponymous on Bowen Street, Spring Hill.

The firm existed as a separate entity until 2012 when it merged with BVN Architecture, one of Australia's largest Architectural firms. BVN is commonly known for their work on sport facilities for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games, as well as their work in Australia on Civic, Institutional, office, residential, tourist and urban design projects. When this merger occurred, both Timothy Hill and former director Paul Jones left Donovan Hill, but key staff members such as Brian Donovan, Damien Eckersley and Michael Hogg remained. Donovan Hill were able to bring to BVN a new sense of material as well as a more eco-friendly approach to residential projects.

Built in 1998 for an unpublished client, The C House has been the headline of the pre-merged Donovan Hill name. It was also cited by Phaidon (see Phaidon Press) as one of the great houses of the 20th Century.

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