David Dally

After graduating with a Masters in Architecture from the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, David has gained over ten years of architectural experience on a diverse range of luxury residential, multi-residential and mixed-use projects in Australia and overseas. David joined MHNDU in 2021 and now focuses his skills primarily on luxury single residential projects, which he is most passionate about. As the leader of one of our luxury housing teams, he guides multi-million-dollar projects on some of Sydney’s most exclusive and notable waterfront properties from concept and strategically through the approval process.

David is fascinated with interior and exterior space and believes that experiencing and inhabiting the built environment is one of the most fundamental aspects of being human. He approaches crafting unique homes as an intimate and personal journey for each client. Inspired by both modern architecture and the textural forms produced by the natural world, he embarks on each project with an awareness of the pivotal role that shelter has in defining aspects of our lives, seeing each architectural stage as a creative opportunity to create both beauty and functionality.

Ann Elise Hampton

Before joining the team, Ann-Elise worked collaboratively on the design schemes for some of Sydney’s most prominent art galleries. As Project Architect at MHNDU, her projects have ranged from multi-million-dollar waterfront residences to a backyard tiny house. She leads her team from concept design through to council approval, documentation and construction of many high-end houses. Each project is met with a fresh approach to meet the desires of her clients and take best advantage of the sites, which have been predominantly steeply sloping with extensive harbour views.

Ann-Elise has also tutored various subjects at the University of Technology, Sydney and Sydney University, and has represented on design juries at various universities.

With her knowledge of Sydney architecture greatly influenced by working as an editorial assistant and researcher on the book, Guide to Sydney Architecture by Graham Jahn, she considers her specialty gaining council approval for contemporary projects within heritage contexts. Her personal passion is for the ‘Sydney School houses’ built in the 1960s and 70s in bushland settings.

Alex Wills

Fascinated by architecture from an early age, MHNDU Associate Alex studied a First-Class Honours degree at the University of Sydney (fetching numerous academic accolades, including being featured on the Dean’s List of Excellence and being awarded the prestigious Ethel M Chettle Prize in Architecture). He then joined MHNDU (then BMA) in 2009, working on a range of boutique homes and multi-residential projects.

As a testament to his loyalty to the firm, Alex returned to MHNDU after a stint working in London, where he cultivated a diverse portfolio, ranging from designing spas in the Seychelles Islands and lavish private residences in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Having accrued significant experience in Sydney and overseas, Alex has refined his principal interest area to crafting and delivering unique homes for clients.

Alex is inspired by innovative architectural thinking, as well as textures and patinas developed in the natural world, which he often subtly incorporates into project detailing. What initially drew him to an architectural career remains a fundamental motivation for him today: that in its purest form, architecture is a form of creative expression.

Malwina Wojcik

After completing a Bachelor of Engineering at Wroclaw University of Technology, Malwina continued her studies and obtained a Masters in Architecture and Urban Planning. Before joining MHNDU in 2017, she worked in Europe, where she gained specialisation in residential buildings, offices and industrial estates.

As an MHNDU Associate and registered architect, Malwina liaises with directors to work collaboratively on multiple stages of projects, from conceptual design, building documentation and construction coordination. She is known for bringing visual presentation value to our projects through her graphic skills.

Malwina is a firm believer that architecture should be texturally expressive and draw upon natural and local materials in order to connect with a wider sense of place, culture and context. She is passionate about helping to craft projects that are sculpturally expressive, and evolved from a sympathetic understanding of the site’s surrounding landscape.

Luke Buttenshaw

While still a student at Sydney University, Luke became a part of the team at MHN, and has now been with us for over a decade. Luke has cultivated a career focused on­ houses and boutique multi-residential buildings. He has particular know-how with DA’s, CDC’s, planning proposals, LEC, and construction documentation.

Since childhood, Luke has been drawn to visual art, while also possessing a technical mind. Growing up on a farm, he routinely tinkered with motors and building contraptions. His pursual of an architectural career represents a logical fusion of his two interests and skills.

While Luke loves the modern design MHNDU is known for, and the incorporation of clean lines and raw materials, he also has a fondness for the Art Deco movement, which imbues him with a wide architectural and cultural knowledge and an edge to his creativity. He is inspired by the varying landscapes and climates Australia has to offer and enjoys reflecting on how buildings and their designers have responded to their unique environment.

One of the standout projects of his career at MHNDU is ‘On the Rocks’, a clifftop home in North Bondi; its bold and weather-responsive design resulting in a meticulous and high-quality build. Another of Luke’s recent team projects, ‘Chainmail House’, fetched silver at the 2022 Sydney Design Awards.

Shaun Gaylard

Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, MHNDU Associate Shaun worked for ten years in his native city and two years in London before joining MHNDU’s multi-residential team in Sydney. From a young age, Shaun revealed his innate feel for architecture, playing with small timber blocks to create forms and structures. These formative years of self-directed play would become a catalyst for him discovering his passion, and were the beginning of his natural progression into an architectural career.

Shaun admires architectural work that focuses on classic configurations and draws upon contrasting, natural, and textured materials that weather naturally over time. He enjoys creating compositions of form and space which complement each other in plan and elevation.

A talented building illustrator, Shaun has designed coins for the South African Mint, published a book on South African architecture and created city-inspired fabrics for Siemens, which have been displayed at various global fashion events. His dream project is to design an art gallery.