Partners

Neil de la Coeur

Architect, FRAIA ARBV is a founding Director of Bird de la Coeur. He graduated from the School of Architecture at the University of Melbourne with Honours in 1985. Neil co-founded BdlC in 1996. Ever since he has been the driving force behind the practice and has been involved in all the practice's major projects including 7-9 Yarra, the Claremont, Roi, UNO South Australia, Yarra House and 661 Chapel Street.

Neil understands the full breadth of an architect's ability to support clients competitively and creatively. Neil is an expert in urban renewal and has led a great many projects in the new Forrest Hill precinct. He is regularly called on as a Juror in the Australian Institute of Architects Awards, and is a Green Building Council accredited member. His work has won Australian Institute of Architects Awards, the FMA Highest Award, for converting under-utilised Telstra Exchanges, and UDIA’s National High-Density Award for Uno Apartments. Neil has an interest in industrial design and holds international patent on several designs. He was made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2018.

Vanessa Bird

Architect, LFRAIA ARBV is a co-founder or Bird de la Coeur. She graduated from the School of Architecture RMIT University with Honours in 1988 and co-founded BdlC in 1996. She has maintained the design integrity of the office during its growth from individual dwellings to medium-density residential buildings. Vanessa has a strong interest in experimental housing models producing major projects such as Atherton Gardens, Roi and adaptive housing such as Wedmore House. In 2019 Vanessa was the only Architect shortlisted in the inaugural 'Women in Design Leadership Award' in the Good Design Awards Australia.

Vanessa is a member of City of Melbourne’s Design Review Panel, on the Board of Architecture Media, and a member of the Boyd Circle Representative Group. She has held roles as a Board Director of the Australian Institute of Architects, President of the Victorian Chapter from 2016-2018 and Nationally Elected Councillor of the Australian Institute of Architects. She was a Chapter Councillor from 2001- 2007 and was made a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2022. As an advocate for the benefits quality architecture makes to the public realm, she has represented the Australian Institute of Architects in planning review panels for C270, Fisherman's Bend and on the Better Apartment Design Standards advisory group, as well as on Architecture Course Accreditation Panels at the Universities. Vanessa has won awards for group housing and aged-care housing, including the Victorian Coastal Award for Excellence, the State Government's Highest Award. She has a personal interest in adaptive and accessible housing having organised and chaired a seminar for the Institute called Housing for the Third Age.