THE TEAM:
ANDRE FRINO
- Director
Andre, originally from Wollongong, Australia, earned his Bachelor's in Architecture, Design & Planning from the University of Sydney in 2015 and his Master's in Architecture from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2018. After working in London, he returned to Sydney to teach architecture at the University of Sydney while continuing to practice. With experience at renowned firms like Grimshaw and MHNDU, Andre founded Darkside Architecture Studio, focusing on high-quality, sustainable design solutions for residential and commercial clients across Australia. He brings extensive expertise in architectural design, team facilitation, problem-solving, and contemporary methodologies.
andre@darksidearchitecture.com
+61 429 926 373
STEPHEN ZHANG - Residential Design Lead
Stephen, a Sydney native with a lifelong passion for architecture and design, holds a Bachelor's in Design in Architecture (2020) and a Master's in Architecture (2023) from the University of Technology Sydney. After earning a degree in Resource Economics from the University of Sydney, he pursued his true calling in architecture. His studies included placements in Berlin and Japan, where he gained a deep understanding of contemporary design in both modern and historic contexts. In his practice, Stephen combines local and international, historic and contemporary influences to create functional, contextual, and beautiful architecture in close collaboration with clients.
stephen@darksidearchitecture.com
+61 433 724 331
KATIE O’HERLIHY - Commercial Design Lead
Katie, originally from Cork, Ireland, graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from University College Cork in 2020. After nearly two years at Jacobs Engineering, where she collaborated with industry leaders like Pfizer and Eli Lilly on major pharmaceutical projects across Europe, Katie moved to Melbourne. There, she gained invaluable experience in the construction industry as a contract administrator. However, her passion for design drew her back to architecture, leading her to Sydney. Katie approaches each project with a deep understanding of contemporary design, consistently delivering creativity, excellence, and a strong commitment to sustainability.
katie@darksidearchitecture.com
+61 493 404 740