Born in Melbourne, at age 8 Cousins moved to London, and then later to Berlin as her father who practised as a surgeon pursued further medical education.[5]
Cousins lives with her husband Ben Pedersen and her two children. The couple purchased their brick Edwardian home in 2007, and three years later did a major renovation designed by Cousins, and built by Pederson and his company Maben.[6]
Education
Cousins attended RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) from 1994 to 2001 receiving her Bachelor of Architecture.[5] Her first year coincided with a Sand Helsel's first year as Head of Architecture at RMIT. Cousins has stated "an exciting time to have a female head of architecture."[7] During her degree Cousins went back to Berlin to do an exchange with Technische Universität Berlin.
During her degree at RMIT, Cousins began working in the construction arm of Van Haandel Group. While working on the Aurora Spa Retreat on the roof of St Kilda's iconic Prince of Wales Hotel she met Wood Marsh.[8] After more than two years on the job, and the completion of her schooling Cousins petitioned Marsh for a six-month role at Wood Marsh Architecture. The six-month role became a three year stint.[8]
Architecture career
Cousins opened her studio Claire Cousins Architects in 2005, in 'The Blackwood Street Bunker', a semi-brutalist space adjoining her husband's building practice.[8]
During Cousins' tenure as National President of AIA she fought to increase the role of architects in national policy debates, fighting for issues of sustainability, affordable housing and urban density.[9] Cousins has also served as the Victorian chapter councillor,[10] an active member of the Victorian Small and Medium Practice Forums, chair of the Member Services Committee (Victoria), chair of the Architecture Australia Editorial Committee, Constructive Mentoring Program mentor (Victoria) a juror at both state and national levels of the Australian Institute of Architects' National Architecture Awards program.[11]
Nightingale involvement
In 2014, Cousins and Pederson invested $100,000 in Nightingale 1.0, a not-for-profit replicable, triple bottom line housing model with an overarching priority towards social, economic, and environmental sustainability.[12]
Completed in 2022, Cousins lead the design of Nightingale Evergreen. Located along five other Nightingale projects within Nightingale Village, Nightingale Evergreen contains 27 apartments designed for diverse individuals and families.[13] Through a collaboration with Housing Choices Australia and Women's Property Initiatives, Nightingale Evergreen has pre-allocated 20% of their apartments to community housing providers.[14]
Awards and honours
2007 Australian Interior Design Awards – Winner – Best State Award Commercial Retail Interior (ACT) (Aesop, Canberra)[15]
2007 Australian Interior Design Awards – Commendation – Award for Retail Interior (Aesop, Canberra)[16]
2009 Australian Interior Design Awards – Commendation – Award for Colour in Residential Interiors (Page Street Residence)[17]
2017 Think Brick Awards – Finalist – Kevin Borland Masonry Award (Rail House)[32]
In 2018 was awarded the American Institute of Architect's Presidential Medal in New York City.[2]
Cousins was inaugurated as the national president of the Australian Institute of Architects at the institute's annual general meeting in Melbourne in 2018. Focusing on affordability and sustainability during her term Cousins says, "I am passionate about the transformational role architects play in the life of our cities and communities as champions of innovation, quality and design that enhances sustainability and liveability."[14]
2018 American Institute of Architects – Presidential Medal[33]
2018 Think Brick Awards – High Commendation – Bruce Mackenzie Landscape Award (Garden Room House)[34]
2018 Think Brick Awards – High Commendation – Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award (Lewisham Rd House)[34]
In 2021 Cousins was awarded the President's Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the ACT chapter of AIA. Cousins was recognized for her contribution to the advancement of the profession as a whole, as well as serving as a spokesperson for the #HandsOffAnzacHall campaign,[2] a campaign to stop the demolition of the award-winning Anzac Hall.[3]
2021 Australian Institute of Architects ACT – Chapter President's Medal[38]
2021 Think Brick Awards – Winner – Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award (Camberwell House)[39]
2021 Think Brick Awards – High Commendation – Hornbury Hunt Residential Award (Camberwell House)[39]
2021 Think Brick Awards – High Commendation – Hornbury Hunt Residential Award (Waterfall House)[39]
2021 Melbourne Design Week Award – Winner (A New Normal)[40]
2022 National Architecture Awards – Award for Residential Architecture – Houses Alterations & Additions (Stable & Cart House)[41]
2022 Victorian Architecture Awards – Award for Residential Architecture – Houses Alterations & Additions (Stable & Cart House)[42]
^"Medal of Freedom, African American Recipients of the Presidential", African American Studies Center, Oxford University Press, 2013-03-15, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195301731.013.34825
