QOCA was founded in 2016 by the Keene brothers, Hugo and Henry. With a wealth of experience collaborating, they established the practice to provide clients with unique, beautifully crafted, high-quality, affordable, and efficient buildings. We operate from two offices, one in Cardiff, South Wales, and the other in Adelaide, South Australia.

QOCA work across the United Kingdom, Australia, mainland Europe, and other locations under exceptional circumstances.

We have an exceptional team of talented assistants who collaborate to bring clients' projects to life. In addition, the practice partners with other consultants and architects to deliver high-quality outcomes that meet client's needs. We are committed to assembling the best possible team to realize our clients' dreams.

While our primary focus is designing buildings, landscapes, and urban environments, we also take on other design challenges such as furniture and graphic design. We approach all our projects through an integrated process that combines physical and theoretical experiments in craft, materials, technology, and experience to achieve the best possible outcome.

If you would like to learn more, please contact us.

Hugo Keene

Hugo is experienced, passionate, and dedicated to his craft. He has a unique background that spans many continents and cultures, giving him a diverse set of skills and design sensibilities. His focus on sustainability, context, and materiality in his designs is matched by his love for collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Prior to setting up his own private practice, Hugo gained valuable experience working in high-end architectural firms in Australia, Singapore, and England. During this time, he worked on multiple award-winning buildings and competition-winning proposals around the world.

In addition to his professional work, Hugo has also taught design and construction at various architecture schools, including Studio in the Woods, the Welsh School of Architecture, and the University of Newcastle. He has also been a guest lecturer at other architecture schools in the UK and Australia.

River paddler, ice hockey player, photographer, builder, and wanderer.

B. Arch. (University of South Australia)
Dip. PPM Arch. (University College London - Bartlett)
Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)

Henry Keene

Henry is a versatile practitioner with experience in designing high-end and low-cost buildings, as well as hands-on work with experimental construction. This unique background has given him a career that straddles both sides of the process, positioning him as a building innovator.

His professional experience includes working at two leading Adelaide firms, Williams Burton and Tridente Architects, as well as serving as a director at award-winning design/build company SpaceCraft. Henry's work has spanned across various sectors, including master-planning, education buildings, public projects, entertainment venues, and housing.

In addition to his professional work, Henry is also a regular architecture teacher at both Adelaide University and the University of South Australia. He has also served as a guest lecturer at architecture schools in the UK.

Henry is an innovative thinker with a range of skills to bring to any project, including design, construction conceptualization, sustainable thinking, and community engagement.

Bushman, ice hockey player, sound artist, builder, and farmer.

B. Arch. (University of South Australia)
Member of Master Builders Association of Australia

qoca is an unconventional acronym, (unconym) derived not from a single combination of letters, but where each letter represents multiple ideas, all of which coalesce to define the multiple modalities of our design process and practice.

q = questioning, quality, quantify, query, quantum, quokka
o = organisation, office, online, omnivorous, oculus
c = collaborative, curious, challenging, considerate, contextual
a = architecture, adventure, agile, australian, adapative

Embedded in our logo, the blue-green qoculus, symbolizes the Earth and our place within it, as well as the contrast between the blue and green biologies of the fundamental systems that sustain us and allow us to thrive.

At QOCA, we utilize a variety of design processes for our diverse range of projects around the world. We approach each project with an open mind and explore the appropriate method for the specific design problem at hand.

Handmade models are one of the most physical representations of a design and serve as a powerful tool for communicating complex buildings. Hand drawings are also crucial tools at the heart of architectural explorations.

We also embrace digital models and illustrations as they become increasingly ubiquitous in the industry. Our aim is to use these digital tools in a way that aligns with our design goals.

Finally, when the budget, project, and circumstances permit, we enjoy creating large-scale models and physical prototypes. Even better, when we are able to relish the opportunity to build these models ourselves.