Image Credit: Nam Tram, courtesy of Never Too Small

Geelong architecture and design studio, tsai Design, takes tiny footprints and add huge impact

Where thoughtful design marries function with layout to create beautiful, space-capitalising homes.

Paul Kelly made a case for the small with his song ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow’ back in ‘91. Tiffany and Co shared the sentiment that good things come in small packages, and there are a number of endearing terms for the small but significant – “tiny but mighty”. It’s a sentiment that stands with Geelong West architecture and design studio, tsai Design. 

tsai Design

Where: 68 Elizabeth Street, Geelong West

Website: View their portfolio here

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.

 

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Director, architect, and designer Jack Chen’s entire business journey has been carved from the small-scale, starting with watering his hobby into an award-winning business entry in the architectural landscape.

“tsai Design the brand was launched in 2013, back then it was a hobby project for me, to distract from the daily grind. It started out in small object designs, such as bedside lamps, stationery cards…etc, anything that I can produce from my own laser cutting machine. I still keep these in the official IG account, to remind me of the beginning,” he explains.

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

The years following saw tsai Design multiply the scale of design subjects. The initial tsai Design offering was centred around material objects. As Chen developed his practice the object of his attention multiplied in size, tackling structures in the form of residential spaces. tsai Design developed into the architectural space five years after the studio’s inception, initially based in Sydney before moving to Melbourne. 

“It formally became an architectural firm in 2018, after the surprise success with my own tiny apartment renovation, which prompted me to start my own office,” he says. From the outset, the vision was clear. “I wanted to problem solve rather than just creating visually interesting spaces.”

Cut to the lingering lockdowns of 2020 and the years that followed, much like many of the seachangers of that time, Chen and his partner in life and work Hidy Wong sought solace in a regional setting, landing on setting up shop and house in an Elizabeth Street former butcher shop. With its baby blue tiles, massive display window with welcome message “hi, we are your local architects, come in and say hi” vinyl lettering pasted on their glass pane, and curated gallery shelves of their crafted objects, the headquarters and manifesto is a generous representation of their signature design style and their favourite work in their rich portfolio.

“The key brief we gave to ourselves was to find something that can become both our family home and doubles as our office space, and something that is probably incomplete, that we can put our stamp on it.” It reflects tsai Design’s philosophy of challenging buildings to step up and do more for the people inside them.

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

That approach shines brightest in small-footprint projects. From the 27sqm St Kilda Sanctuary to the award-winning Small Grand Apartment and the multi-awarded Atop A Shop, tsai Design has become synonymous with smart, spatially efficient living. Chen admits the niche found them rather than the other way around. “This reputation kinda fell on us by a happy accident,” he says. “In the current housing climate with the high cost of living, smaller space is often the compromise people have to make when purchasing their house.”

For Hidy Wong, the appeal lies in reframing limitations. “Clients would want to find ‘extra space’ in the apartment but of course, physically the footprint is set,” she explains. “We can always visualise it from a different perspective… and this gives a new inspiration to the client to rethink what is important to them.”

That mindset challenges the long-held Australian dream of the three-bedroom home with a big backyard. “I believe being spatially efficient is more important than having an excessive size of house,” Wong says, noting a growing shift among clients towards valuing intelligent layouts, integrated storage and proximity to public spaces over square metres alone.

Keeping in line with the smaller sites and details of their business, Chen believes that the ability to engage an architectural firm should be accessible to more home owners. As such, tsai Design allows those with smaller project budgets to tap into the service.

“Architectural service often has a bit of stigma of a luxury service affordable only by few,” he comments. By working within realistic budgets and embracing smaller-scale projects, the studio is carving out a middle ground — one where good design isn’t reserved for the top tier but instead open to at least 20 – 30% of owners.

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

Image Credit: Nam Tran, courtesy of Never Too Small

Looking ahead to 2026, the studio faces both excitement and instability. Chen is balancing the final stage of their Geelong home with a deeply personal renovation in Taiwan, renovating his dad’s house. As for dream projects, “It would be great if I can design a house for each of my family,” he says, acknowledging it might be “a dream and a nightmare at the same time.”

In the meantime, tsai Design continues to prove that thoughtful design isn’t about size. It’s about intention, ingenuity, and making every square metre count.

To explore tsai Designs impressive portfolio, or to book a consultation, head here.

Words by Tammy Walters