Studio Ilk

Studio Ilk is a Hobart-based architecture and interior design practice founded in 2020 by Kate Symons, who leads the studio as Director and Principal Architect. Operating from South Hobart, Tasmania, the firm is known for its collaborative approach and commitment to creating thoughtful, enduring architecture that responds sensitively to people and place.

The practice is recognised for its refined, site-responsive designs that balance functionality, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Drawing on Tasmania’s materials and landscapes, Studio Ilk combines contemporary design with respect for heritage and context. Its projects are characterised by natural textures, warm palettes, and careful detailing that reflect both restraint and richness.

Notable works include Tinderbox House—a coastal family home celebrated for its material honesty and connection to landscape—Queen Street House, a heritage extension combining old and new, and Wentworth House, which reimagines a weatherboard cottage with light and openness. Each project reflects the firm’s philosophy of sensitivity, precision, and environmental responsibility.

Studio Ilk’s guiding principles focus on collaboration, sustainability, and a deep respect for existing built fabric. By valuing heritage retention, locally sourced materials, and low-impact design, the practice creates spaces that feel authentic, timeless, and grounded in their surroundings.