Meet Realm
As I became an accredited heritage designer, my view of design shifted to encompass a broader perspective, expanding from the pure built environment to the larger interplay between the spaces we create, the lives we live in them, and the cultural and environmental footprint that these structures leave with the passage of time.
Janita Norman, Lead Building Designer
The Realm Building Design team enjoy a rare moment sharing the same physical space, with the picturesque Mitchelton Winery – and its iconing lookout tower and dining room – as the perfect backdrop
A building design practice built around a reverence for the power of the built environment to transform the lives of the people who inhabit our cities, towns, streets, and homes.
A fresh-faced graduate embarks on her career
Our lead designer Janita graduated university in 1988 with a Degree in industrial design and a particular passion for architecture, interiors, and building design.
With ten years experience, Janita goes out on her own
In 1998 Janita founded Janita Santilla Building Design after accumulating ten years of hands-on experience working as a technical draftsperson supporting structural engineers, civil engineers and licensed surveyors.
Envisage Building Design: a new name, a new direction
After growing the practice to a team of then, Janita rebranded to Envisage Building design, offering building design services throughout regional Victoria and southern New South Wales.
Winners of the 2010 BDAV Building Design Award
In 2010 Janita and the team were proud to be recognised for their work on the Banyula Park project, which can be found in our portfolio. We are still very fond of this project to this day.
Janita becomes a qualified heritage designer
Sowing the seed for things to come, 2012 saw Janita attain a graduate diploma in cultural heritage. This was a moment that would change the course of Janita's career.
And so it begins; the birth of Realm Building Design
Realm Building Design formally came into being in 2012, driven on by the notion of taking a more holistic approach to building design. Realm was borne of the idea that buildings and design are our REALM, fully inclusive of building, interior, landscape, and furniture design.
Realm goes virtual in response to COVID-19
We all know what happened in 2020: the pandemic-that-shall-not-be-named forced us all to rethink the way we live and work. And in the face of these challenges, Realm became an entirely virtual practice with a distributed workforce.
Rivergums House wins a Design Matters Building Design Award
Last year we were all chuffed to be recognised again for our excellence in building design and landscaping, with the Rivergums House taking out the Design Matters Building Design Award for New House $500,001-$750K (NSW).
A space that expresses the unique identity, lifestyle, and aesthetic palate of its occupants can elevate their experience, inspiring joy at the simplest of things. But more than that, the building becomes an indelible mark of the creator's presence and individuality, shaping the lives of occupants for generations to come.
The Realm Building Design Team
“Creating singular spaces that spark joy in the lives of those who inhabit them.”
A space that expresses the unique identity, lifestyle, and aesthetic palate of its occupants can elevate their experience, inspiring joy at the simplest of things. But more than that, the building becomes an indelible mark of the creator's presence and individuality, shaping the lives of occupants for generations to come.
The Realm Building Design Team