Aileen Sage is a design collective providing architectural, landscape, heritage, and integrated public art services. We lead with integrity, collaborate with intent, embrace the unexpected and always look for moments of joy.

Aileen Sage Image

Our approach

Who is Aileen Sage?

Aileen Sage is not a person, but a shared mindset shaped through dialogue. Formed from the middle names of our founders, Isabelle Aileen Toland and Amelia Sage Holliday, it reflects our belief that architecture is most impactful when people come together, and ideas are communally generated.

Founded in 2013, our Sydney-based practice has grown from a partnership of two to a dedicated team of 10+ designers, architects and researchers who each bring complementary skills and expertise to our projects.

What do we work on?

We are experienced lead consultants providing full architectural, landscape, heritage, and integrated public art services from inception through to completion. We are recognised for making positive contributions to urban identity and translating the underpinning social, historical, and environmental narratives of a place.

Our past and ongoing projects include commercial and mixed-use developments, community and cultural buildings, homes for a single client or a mix of residents, adaptive re-use works on historically significant sites, arts events and activations, strategic masterplans for new neighbourhoods, and modular design.

Regardless of scale or typology, we ultimately aim to make good work that all involved can be proud of – places that communicate cross-culturally, cross-generationally, serve their purpose, and invite us to rethink the status quo.

We aim to build lasting relationships with clients and communities that extend beyond a single project. Founded on trust and a deep respect for many voices, these long-term collaborations allow us to co-create places for everyone that will be valued long into the future.

Aileen Sage Image
Aileen Sage Image

Our team

Our shared values include honesty, compassion and generosity. Each member of our team is passionate about design and committed to sustainable outcomes. The scale of the practice ensures that directors Isabelle and Amelia are involved with and collaborate closely on the design and delivery of all projects. We value debate and engage in productive collaborative partnerships.

Collaborators since 2013

Alex Jones
Cassandra Lal-Teerman
Gracie Grew
Jenna Rowe
Linda Lam
Marek Vilasek
Mikhaela Rodwell
Nicole Larkin
Nina Tory Henderson
Pierre Dalais
Prudence Duncan
Sean Bryen
Shannan Snowball
Stephanie Francis
Tye McBride
Yvette Salmon

Press

Our work has been published widely, locally and internationally.

2025

Reclaiming Colonial Architecture

Reconnecting Architecture with Country at 119 Redfern Street

2024

Architecture Australia

Featured Project: Redfern Community Facility

2024

PLOT Magazine

Contemporary Australian Practices

2023

The Local Project

Opened Repurposing: East Sydney Terrace

2023

The Local Project

A Narrow Navigation: Darlington Terrace by Aileen Sage

2022

Houses

Retro reimagined: Seberry Beach House

2021

The Local Project

A Central Focus: House with a Hole

2021

Architecture Australia

Reclaiming the charm: Marrickville Half House

2020

MMXX

Two Decades of Architecture in Australia: The Pool

2018

Hand Mind: Conversations on Architecture and the Built World

An Architecture of Good Intentions: Aileen Sage’s The Pool

2018

Architecture Australia

Striking a chord: Treetop Studio

2018

Green Magazine

Remaking History

2017

The New York Times Style Magazine

A social history of Australia, through its swimming pools

2017

Habitus Living

Finding A Secret Garden In The Heart Of Paddington

2016

Divisare

15 Biennale di Venezia. Australian Pavilion

2016

Dezeen

Australian Pavilion features swimming pool as "space for healing racial and cultural division"

2016

ArchDaily

The Pool: Inside Australia's Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale

2016

Architecture Australia

Damp power: Reflections on The Pool

2016

Divisare

Artbank Sydney

2015

Architecture Australia

Playing to type: Courtyard House

2015

Australian Financial Review

Australian architects take water installation to Venice

2015

Dezeen

Textured brick and concrete house in Sydney encloses a garden courtyard

2015

Architecture Australia

Diving deep: The Pool at Venice 2016

2015

Sturgeon

Artbank Sydney

2015

ArchDaily

Paddington Courtyard House

2014

Green Magazine

Paddo Push

Awards

We are proud that our work has been recognised and awarded locally and internationally for design excellence and innovation. We are pre-qualified for the Government Architect’s Strategy and Design Excellence Scheme.

2026

Tree Family Tables

Finalist, Australian Furniture Design Awards

2025

119 Redfern Street

Shortlist, Horbury Hunt Commercial, Think Brick Awards

2025

AMRF Building 2

Honourable Mention, Government Architecture, The International Architecture Award for 2025

2025

AMRF Building 2

Shortlist, Future Projects, World Architecture Festival

2024

119 Redfern Street

Award, Public Architecture Award, AIA NSW

2024

119 Redfern Street

Commendation, Heritage, AIA NSW

2024

119 Redfern Street

Shortlist, Public Architecture, AIA National Awards

2024

119 Redfern Street

Award, Heritage Architecture, National Trust NSW

2024

119 Redfern Street

Award, Adaptive Reuse (Alteration/Addition), Sustainability Awards - Architecture and Design Australia

2024

Bobbin Head Amenities

Commendation, Small Project Architecture, AIA NSW

2023

Clay Dynasty Exhibition

Shortlist, Installation Design, Australian Interior Design Awards

2020

Sydney Park Amenities

Award, Small Project Architecture, AIA NSW

2019

Aileen Sage

Longlist, Dorfman Internal Award, Royal Academy of Arts

2019

Paddington Courtyard House

Award, New Building, Woollahra Design Excellence Award

2019

Paddington Courtyard House

Award, Sustainability, Woollahra Council Design Excellence

2018

Aileen Sage

Emerging Architects Prize, AIA NSW

2018

Treetop Studio

Robert Woodward Award, Small Project Architecture, AIA NSW

2017

Aileen Sage

Finalist, Emerging Creative Talent Award, NSW Creative Industries Awards

2017

The Pool

Award, Commercial Interior - Public and Hospitality, Dulux Colour Awards

2017

The Pool

Commendation, International, Interior Design Excellence Awards

2017

The Pool

Commendation, Installation Design, Interior Design Awards

2017

The Pool: Architecture, Culture & Identity

Award, Adrian Ashton Prize for Architectural Writing and Publication, AIA NSW

2015

Aileen Sage

Commendation, Emerging Architecture Practice, Houses Awards

2015

Paddington Courtyard House

Award, Single Residential Interior, Dulux Colour Awards

2015

Paddington Courtyard House

Shortlist, New House Over 200sqm, House Awards

2015

Paddington Courtyard House

Shortlist, Outdoor, Houses Awards

2015

Paddington Courtyard House

Shortlist, Residential - New, AIA NSW

Careers

We are not currently recruiting.
Enquiries regarding future opportunities should be sent via email.

Contact us