We believe in architecture that connect people, history, and nature.
(Yep, all three!)
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Crush exists to help you create a home that feels connected to its history, to its surroundings, and to your family.
For many homeowners, it’s not just about “preserving heritage.” It’s about creating a home that’s more beautiful, more functional, and more in tune with the way your family actually lives.
So how does your story move forward from here?
It starts with your home’s past.
The culture, the craftsmanship, the little details that first made you fall in love with it, those become the inspiration for what comes next.
Then the focus shifts to your present.
What does your family need?
What moments matter most?
How can your home keep its soul while finally giving you the light, comfort, and flow you’ve been missing?
That’s where the magic happens, not in the drawings, but in the moment your home begins to grow into something both familiar and beautifully timeless.
Every project we take on becomes a new chapter in someone’s story.
Yours might be the adaptation of a terrace, a thoughtful extension or first floor addition, or the creation of an entirely new home, but the heart of it is the same:
a place that reflects who you are, honors where you’ve been, and supports where Your family is going.
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We believe that architecture should establishing a connection between past, present and future
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We believe that the environments we build today need to positively impact tomorrow.
we believe in EMPOWERing THE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO TACKLE FUTURE GLOBAL CHALLENGES
we believe in /
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Before I ever became an architect, I was a collector.As a kid, it started with coins.
Then old newspapers, stamps, historical photos, lithographs.
As an adult, it became art pieces and designed furniture objects with stories, character, and a soul worth bringing back to life. Working on heritage homes feels exactly the same. You’re not just dealing with bricks and mortar. You’re stewarding history.
You’re restoring meaning. You’re giving something beautiful the chance to shine again.
And that level of care only comes from someone who loves details enough to protect them.
That’s why I started Crush to practise architecture differently.
After years in the industry, I realised my greatest strength was the high-touch, deeply personal collaboration I have with clients. Some architects design for people. I design with them. Because every home with a story deserves a team that treats it like one.
I choose my clients intentionally. Not because of exclusivity, but because the best work happens when both sides value the same things: art, history, craftsmanship, sustainability, and a deep respect for place. If that sounds like you, we’re already a great match.
I’m registered as an architect in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
I studied, worked and lived in Italy, Paris, Amsterdam and China, and finally found home in Sydney.
Outside Crush, I mentor emerging architects at University of New South Wales (UNSW), the Australian Architect Institute, and the Passive House community because inspiring the next generation matters to me as much as the work itself.
If your home has a story or deserves one, I’d love to help you write its next chapter.
Ciao, I’m Carlo, founder of Crush Architecture.
I'm a collector. I collect unfindable objects that have fascinating stories to tell. I started collecting coins at the age of five, then retro newspapers, commemorative stamps, historical photos and lithographs, and now in adulthood, arts and mid-century furniture pieces which I can restore and have them live in glory again.
Working on heritage projects is similar to collecting. It requires dedication, attention to detail, and a personal touch to make it truly special. Attention to detail is critical, and the history of the project should be handled with care. The same goes for my design projects.
That's why I started Crush - because I wanted to do Architecture differently.
After spending years in the industry, I realized that my unique offering lies in the high-touch collaboration I have with my clients throughout the design process. I believe that every project deserves that level of attention to detail.
I'm selective about who I work with because I want to create a personalized and tailored experience for clients who are visionaries. If you care about art, detail, history, style, innovation, and sustainability, then we're the perfect match! Together, we can create a project that's a true representation of you, memorable, timeless, and endearing.
I’m a registered Architect in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
I studied in Reggio Calabria, then Turin; lived and worked in Paris and Amsterdam, before moving to Brisbane and now settled in Sydney.
Outside of Crush, I am an industry mentor at UNSW, the Architect's Institute, and the Passive house Institute. I love inspiring the next generation of architects!
Ciao, I’m Carlo, founder of Crush Architecture.
Statements +
+ Vision: to change the industry's misconception that architecture is a luxury and a complicated process.
+ Advocate for: designs and sustainable solutions that have a sizable return on investment, to the occupier, investor and collector.
+ Focus on: building practices that lessen waste and impact on future generations.
+ Inspire by: works of Peter Zumthor, Alvaro Siza or artists Anish Kapoor and Alberto Burri, each to their own for creating art which reflects culture and harnesses community.
+ Fun fact: I'm Italian and talk with my hands - it's just part of who I am.
When I was a child, my family lived in a small apartment. Everything changed when my parents bought a piece of land near the sea and worked with a young architect to design their dream home. I still remember the first time I walked into that house. The texture of the materials.
The soft natural light. The double-height space that made me feel small and light in the best possible way.
And the way the home connected to the landscape around it. What stayed with me wasn’t just the beauty of the design, it was how the space changed the way our family lived. We talked more. We gathered more. We felt more connected to each other and to the place we called home. That experience shaped everything I do today. Because I know firsthand what a well-designed home can give a family: more light, more joy, more calm, more connection. It’s why I care so deeply about your story, your routines, your frustrations, and your dreams.
Your home isn’t just a structure, it’s the backdrop of the years you’ll remember most. And that’s why I’m here: to help you create a home that supports your life, your family, and your future in the same meaningful way.
why I do what I do: My back story
Mamma and I in the living of our home 1987
FOUNDED WITH the AMBITION to CHANGE the DESIGN AND BUILDING industry
that’s where we come in
Start your project here
I know how important your home is to you; it's often your most valuable asset. That's why I've carefully chosen a team of experts who share a common vision and are committed to working together towards the same goal - bringing your idea to life. I work for projects across Sydney - from Surry Hills, to Manly and the Northern Beaches, in Sydney's Inner West, North Sydney, and everywhere in between.
"As your partner, not just your architect, I treat your project with the same care as if it were my own."
Carlo russo
We have created this tool to help you to change your home and understanding the process and what to consider before jumping on the design and construction journey.
Download your FREE Workbook to see changes today!
design workbook
the free guide
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