Inside the Studio of a Port Stephens Architect: A Conversation with Murray Wood
As a Port Stephens architect deeply connected to the local environment, Murray Wood of Wood Architecture brings a thoughtful, contextual approach to every project he touches. With a portfolio that ranges from the dynamic Maitland Athletics Centre, to the historically sensitive Maitland Gaol, to a beautifully simple prefabricated residence in Salamander Bay, Wood’s practice exemplifies the balance between site-specific design, urban responsibility, and the personal stories of his clients.
In this conversation, Murray shares his perspective on what it means to design in the unique urban and coastal fabric of Port Stephens and the Hunter region.
1. What does designing in Port Stephens mean to you as an architect?
Murray: Designing in Port Stephens isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about understanding the rhythms of the place: the coastlines, the microclimates, the histories. Whether it’s a public facility or a private home, the question is always, how can this architecture belong here? Not just sit here.
2. How do urban design issues in the Port Stephens and Maitland region shape your work?
Murray: There’s a real complexity here — a mix of growing urban density, environmental sensitivity, and historic layers. At places like Maitland Gaol, we had to work with both heritage constraints and new public needs. And with the Athletics Centre, it was about designing for active community use while respecting open space. Good design here is responsive, not imposed.
3. Tell us about the prefabricated home you designed in Salamander Bay — what made it unique?
Murray: That project was about restraint and efficiency. The client wanted something sustainable, fast to build, and low-impact. We used a prefab construction method that minimized site disturbance, but still responded to the orientation, views, and wind paths unique to that site. Even prefab homes can — and should — be context-aware.
4. You’ve done a lot of work in the public realm. How do you balance function with design in community projects?
Murray: Function is a form of respect — if a space doesn’t work for people, it doesn’t matter how good it looks. But that doesn’t mean design takes a back seat. For example, at the Maitland Athletics Centre, we wanted the architecture to feel open and civic, but it also had to serve athletes, spectators, and maintenance crews equally well.
5. What role does sustainability play in your practice?
Murray: Sustainability isn’t an optional extra anymore — it’s foundational. But it also isn’t one-size-fits-all. In Port Stephens, it might mean passive design for coastal breezes, or reducing embodied carbon with smart material choices. Every site offers different opportunities to do more with less.
6. What advice would you give someone looking to build or renovate in Port Stephens?
Murray: Start with the site, not the style. Too often, people come in with images from Instagram or Pinterest. I get it — inspiration is important. But the best projects come from paying attention to where you’re building. Light, wind, slope, community character — these are your best guides.
Looking for a Port Stephens Architect?
If you’re thinking about building in the Port Stephens or greater Hunter region — whether it’s a home, public facility, or commercial project — Wood Architecture brings a rare combination of local knowledge, sustainable thinking, and architectural clarity.