Studio
Established in 1990, Aktis Architects is a Melbourne-based architectural practice focused on thoughtful, well-crafted design. The studio works across residential, hospitality and small commercial projects, as well as strategic studies and feasibility work, bringing a consistent architectural approach to projects of varying scale. The practice values clarity of concept, careful material selection and a considered response to context.
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Over more than three decades, the studio has developed a body of work that ranges from private houses and renovations to cafés, bars and mixed-use proposals. Many projects engage with existing buildings, tight sites and complex planning conditions, where design thinking and spatial clarity become essential. This work often begins with feasibility and strategic studies that explore the potential of a site before evolving into built projects.
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Aktis operates as a small, collaborative practice, allowing close involvement with clients and consultants throughout the design process. Projects are developed through dialogue, careful research and iterative design, ensuring that each outcome responds to its brief, site and users while maintaining a strong architectural identity.
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The studio approaches each project as an opportunity to create spaces that are functional, enduring and quietly expressive—architecture shaped by constraint, materiality and the lived experience of the people who occupy it.
Bruce Katsipidis
Director & Principal Architect
Bruce is the founding Director and Principal Architect of Aktis Architects, with more than 35 years of experience in architecture, urban design, and project leadership across Australia.
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Since establishing the practice in 1989, Bruce has designed a wide range of projects spanning single and multi-residential, hospitality, institutional, and community architecture. His work has played a notable role in shaping Melbourne’s inner-city hospitality culture, including early rooftop bar projects along Brunswick Street and Chapel Street, which contributed to the evolution of the city’s vibrant urban nightlife and public life.
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Bruce’s professional expertise covers all stages of architectural practice, from early concept design and strategic direction through to coordination, delivery, and client management. As Design Director at Aktis, he leads a skilled team of architects and designers, guiding projects through complex design processes while maintaining strong relationships with clients, consultants, and stakeholders.
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Earlier in his career, Bruce worked as a government design architect under John Devenish, contributing to a number of institutional and community projects throughout Victoria.
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Bruce’s work has been widely published and recognised for its thoughtful integration of architecture, urban life, and cultural context.
Elaheh Mohamed
Architect
Elaheh joined Aktis Architects as an architectural student in 2013 and has since become an integral part of the practice. Her contribution is central to both the design and technical development of projects, from concept design through to spatial development, design refinement, architectural documentation and detailing.
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Her skills in project presentations and her ability to communicate design intent are a valued part of the practice’s design process. Working closely with project teams, Elaheh coordinates design and specialised consultant teams, supporting the progression of projects through their various stages and ensuring continuity between design development and project delivery.