As Queensland’s cities continue to evolve, Associate Will Simpson reflects on the opportunities emerging across the region and the importance of holding design intent from concept through to delivery.
What feels most exciting about the work emerging in Queensland right now?
There’s a clear shift in the ambition of projects coming through Queensland. Clients are arriving with more considered briefs. They’ve done the research, and there’s a growing recognition of the role placemaking plays in good design. That raises the bar and creates space to push the design conversation earlier, which is where the most interesting outcomes tend to emerge.
The scale of what’s being proposed across Southeast Queensland is also significant. There are genuine opportunities to contribute buildings that shape how people experience the city for decades.
How does technical depth influence the way you approach design from the outset?
Technical fluency gives you confidence to be more ambitious in the design phase, not less. The role is about balancing design quality, client expectations, programme and delivery. A strong technical foundation makes that easier to navigate.
When you understand how something is built and where the risks sit, you can hold the design intent more confidently through each stage, rather than seeing it diluted along the way.
How do you see Brisbane’s evolution shaping the types of projects coming through the studio?
I’ve watched Brisbane shift from a city that celebrated design in pockets to one that is beginning to prioritise design and placemaking more broadly. The appetite for quality is real. Clients are seeking buildings with a genuine identity, not just functional outcomes.
There is also a stronger focus on sustainability and a growing interest in working with Brisbane’s subtropical environment. That is shaping how projects are conceived from the ground up. The Olympics is accelerating this further. There is a civic ambition attached to 2032 that is already influencing conversations around hospitality, public realm and mixed use. For a studio like Carr, that timing feels significant.
How do you ensure architecture and interiors remain aligned from early concept through to construction?
It comes down to consistent, early dialogue. The strongest outcomes come from exploring challenges together as they arise, rather than resolving them in isolation.
I’ve worked on projects that began as interiors commissions and evolved to include architecture. In each case, the outcome was stronger for it. When both disciplines are aligned in intent, opportunities emerge that would not surface working independently.
What mindset or strategies help you keep projects progressing in complex planning environments?
Experience helps you recognise where the challenges tend to sit. From there, early collaboration with planners and consultants is key. Understanding the planning framework, and the intent behind it, allows you to advocate for the design with more clarity and credibility.
Building relationships with authorities early and being transparent about what you are trying to achieve is often more effective than taking an adversarial position. The right external consultants also play an important role. A strong planning or heritage advisor does more than navigate process. They elevate the conversation and often open doors that would otherwise remain closed.
What are you currently working on, and where do you see the most opportunity over the next few years?
We have a strong mix of projects across residential, hospitality and mixed use, spanning early concept through to construction. I’m currently involved in several residential projects in the Gold Coast such as Ocean Place, and Brisbane at various stages.
Looking ahead, the most interesting opportunities sit at the intersection of high-quality multi-residential and hospitality. Client expectations around amenity and experience are converging. Combined with continued interstate migration into Southeast Queensland, there is clear demand for a more considered level of offer. That creates a strong platform for meaningful work.
What continues to motivate you as your role evolves into leadership?
What drew me to architecture was the idea that design could genuinely change how someone feels about where they live or work. That remains constant.
What motivates me now is seeing what happens when a team is working well and playing to its strengths. You may begin with a clear direction, but the team often takes it somewhere better. Watching that unfold is as rewarding as the design outcome itself.
