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MCGIRR VAN HORNE

Rooms | Buildings | Precincts

Every project has its own logic and character

about

Hi - I'm Pamela. I am an architect who has worked across the 3 Ds - design, development and delivery - in leading practices in both Melbourne and New York City and also as a client representative.I've covered diverse sectors including residential, hospitality, retail, education and public projects. This breadth has given me multiple perspectives on how to create places, buildings and interiors that are functional, welcoming and age well.MCGIRR VAN HORNE is my Melbourne-based studio.

my story

My career began at Denton Corker Marshall, as a graduate architect. I worked on the competition for the Museum of Victoria. The project was won, and more than 25 years later the museum remains one of Melbourne's most significant public buildings. DCM was an extraordinary place to learn the craft of architecture.Curiosity then took me to New York. A student visa and a Master's degree from Yale opened the door to ten formative years in that marvelous city. I joined Davis Brody Bond, working on an addition to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, before moving to Robert A.M. Stern Architects. At RAMSA, I deepened my design knowledge of traditional architectural detail, space planning and construction through high-end residential projects across the United States and the restoration of one of America's oldest regional theatres. Working at RAMSA opened my eyes to the creative freedom that comes from architecture that people can understand and intuitively navigate.Returning to Melbourne with an American spouse, who is also an architect (and the reason for the Van Horne in my practice name), I joined Grimshaw, contributing to precinct scaled civic, hospitality and retail projects before moving client-side to the University of Melbourne. At UniMelb I developed project briefs, guided stakeholder engagement and design teams to help shape significant campus developments.Projects, like people, have their own specific and individual requirements, their own logic and character. Whether I am working on a private home or with a large business organisation, the element I carry through all projects is a focus on solving a complex planning problems, celebrating craftsmanship and creating places that feel grounded, generous and connected to their context.If you have a project and looking for support seeing it through, please get in touch.

my work

The selection of projects shown on this website represents the range of experience accumulated throughout my career, including work undertaken while employed by other architectural practices and organisations, together with independent commissions and collaborations.Specific project credits are available on request.