In Conversation | Studio Tate

With a distinctive aesthetic and a values-driven approach, Studio Tate has spent the past decade shaping Melbourne’s residential landscape through considered, context-led design.

Studio Tate has established a defining voice in Melbourne’s residential design landscape. Founded by Alex Hopkins, the now 20-person strong studio has built its reputation on a foundation of rigour, passion and collaboration. And these values continue to shape its multi-sector work, from private homes to aged care and commercial spaces.

“We don’t have a house style,” Hopkins notes. “Our narratives are unique to each project, even though there are shared hallmarks like a tactile approach to materials and a strong sense of colour,” Hopkins notes.

It’s a sensibility that is evident across the studio’s work, from private homes to workplace transformations. “Our recent Malvern project, for example, is highly detailed, and we were able to explore interesting materials,” Hopkins shares. “On the other hand, a project like 500 Bourke needs to feel sophisticated but also deliver value for money. We’re comfortable flexing between those extremes.”

Hopkins didn’t originally set out to launch her own design studio. “I would have stayed at two of the practices I worked at if equity had been on the table,” she reflects. “I’ve always had that drive for ownership, but the leap into my own studio came through a past client. They encouraged me to take on a project and start something of my own—I was really fortunate to have that opportunity.”

Malvern Residence III by Studio Tate | Photography by Anson Smart

Layers of texture and tones, with a strong sense of colour are all defining elements of a Studio Tate project. Malvern Residence III by Studio Tate | Photography by Anson Smart

“We don’t have a house style. Our narratives are unique to each project, even though there are shared hallmarks like a tactile approach to materials and a strong sense of colour.”

– ALEX HOPKINS

Mecca by Studio Tate | Photography by Sharyn Cairns

The fit-out for Mecca brings a soft touch to the workplace | Photography by Sharyn Cairns

The Melburnian III by Studio Tate | Photography by Sharyn Cairns

Studio Tate began in a modest space in Armadale and its early growth was fuelled by referrals and word of mouth. The first commission—an assisted living development—set the tone for a core focus on residential design in all its forms. Today, residential work continues to underpin the studio’s design approach, bridging sectors and scales. “We take what we learn in private residential and apply that thinking to our commercial work. It’s a sector that has always grounded us.”

A project that captures the values of Studio Tate is The Living Room—a drop-in centre in Hosier Lane for people experiencing homelessness. Completed pro bono, it exemplifies Studio Tate’s belief in design’s social impact. “It would have been so easy to not put in the time. But we treated it with the same design rigour as any other job,” she shares.

While Studio Tate works across key sectors of Live, Work and Play – the residential work has been a stable over the years, with no two interiors looking the same. The Melburnian III by Studio Tate | Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

Hopkins credits early supporters like landscape designer Jack Merlo, who referred the studio on to what would become a defining project, a penthouse at The Melburnian. “The industry needs to be collegiate. We always refer work on to friends when a project’s not the right fit for us.”

The studio is guided by Hopkins alongside Anita Zampichelli and Liz Ride—a female-led leadership team with many working parents among them. “Creating a studio that supports both career and family is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she says.

Creative inspiration flows from many directions: the Melbourne design community, travel, and often simply from the work itself. “Some of the studios we admire most are our peers, past colleagues or even competitors. There’s so much to be gained by staying connected to the community.”

As Studio Tate enters its second decade having celebrated 10 years in 2024, it does so with the same grounded clarity it began with—an unwavering belief in the power of thoughtful, considered design to shape better spaces.