Michael Bell Architects at the Kanebridge Property Futures Summit: Rethinking Heritage and Modern Living

A Landmark Event: Deconstructing the Kanebridge Property Futures Summit

The Kanebridge summit was a pivotal evening designed to equip industry leaders with the foresight needed to navigate and succeed in a rapidly evolving market. The event provided a rare platform for dissecting the critical trends that will define the next decade of Australian property.

Event Details at a Glance:

• Event: Kanebridge Property Futures Summit
• Date Held: Thursday, 7 August 2025
• Venue: The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW
• Primary Focus: Unlocking the future of property, finance, and technology by exploring capital markets, proptech, economics, and architectural trends.

The forum was distinguished by its lineup of "gold-star" speakers, each a recognised leader in their field. The keynote was delivered by globally renowned Swedish-Australian futurist Anders Sörman-Nilsson, who provided powerful innovation strategies for clients like Apple and Macquarie Bank. The panel also featured:

• Dr. Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist at My Housing Market, who delivered a sharp, data-driven analysis of Australia’s evolving economic landscape.
• Darren Younger, CEO of Assetora, who unveiled the cutting edge of proptech and fintech convergence.
• Paul Chapko from JLL Capital Markets, offering exclusive insights into global capital shifts and financing strategies.
• Michael Bell, Principal of Michael Bell Architects, who presented an authoritative guide on the adaption, enhancement, and investment potential of heritage architecture.

Michael Bell on the Enduring Value of Heritage Architecture

During the panel discussion, Michael was asked to address several key questions on the minds of developers, investors, and homeowners. His answers, presented here in their entirety, offer a clear and strategic perspective on the unique opportunities that heritage properties present.

1. Why should heritage-listed properties still be considered a strong investment in today’s market?

"Listed properties are such because they are deemed valuable by the community. Often established by families who have made a significant contribution to that community. Owners of a listed property have the opportunity to enhance the legacy and, in many cases, return the property to its former status.

With the right renovation, they afford the owner all the comfort of modern living wrapped in delightful character.

A well-restored or enhanced listed property is already established and can raise the status of the owner to become part of the provenance."

2. How do you balance preservation requirements with modern living needs in heritage homes?

"You can’t balance anything until you know what you are working with.

There are three parts to most listed items: 1. The original building. 2. The part you want to add or alter and 3. all that has been added in the years in between.

First, remove everything that is unsympathetic or doesn’t contribute meaningfully.

Then, restore and add back where possible contributing elements.

This process reveals the building’s dna and its language and you start to see how it enriched the lives of those who came before.

It is then possible to speak to the building in a way that is effortless and calm. Additional rooms can be added with more volume adjacent to outdoors to suit our evolved lifestyle in a way that sits comfortably if you use the language to achieve that end."

3. What role do heritage properties play in shaping the future of our cities and suburbs?

"The listed properties are usually the earliest buildings and gardens in an area. They were part of the establishment of the suburb. Indeed, some suburbs are named after the listed property. Rose Bay cottage, Elizabeth Bay House, Rouse Hill House. The legacy left by the people who built the earliest homes, is part of the human experience of the place, and anyone choosing to live in the suburb buys into the idea of living there often without knowing precisely what drew them in.

This is the wonderful thing about architecture, it is a language we engage in subconsciously, like music. We don’t all write or play music, yet we all know what we like and when something is being played badly or beautifully.

The owners of listed properties have the opportunity to have a greater understanding of the area because they occupy the land where the establishment first took place."

4. Are there common misconceptions about owning or renovating heritage-listed homes?

"People often expect to be restricted and told by all the neighbours and the experts that only small changes will be permitted. That is not so because it is necessary to remodel these buildings to make them work for today’s lifestyle.

The opposite is true, you have to go all in!

Also, due to neglect and unsympathetic alterations many items are in disrepair. This provides the owner an opportunity… when the important parts of an item are restored the owners are permitted to make larger changes by way of negotiation."

5. Is there an ideal strategy for the adaption and enhancement of heritage listed properties?

"Like most property development a long-term approach is beneficial. The longer term the greater the rewards. People grow up and grow old in homes and the many shared memories are what enrich the occupants of an inspiring building.

You need to take an entire property approach to find all concealed opportunities. Once revealed and carefully arranged all the essentials for living can be found and the property as whole fully optimised.

From an approvals point of view we make the case that if the building and garden is carefully optimised throughout it leaves very little reason for further structural change and we have noticed that this provides relief for those concerned with conservation.

So if an owner re-developed the property as a forever home in sync with the with the ideas of the original building it will be seen as an even greater opportunity for people who follow if it should change hands.

We have seen one of the heritage items we have optimised in Lang Road Centennial Park reimagined with fresh interior decoration up to three times as each new owner takes possession.

The volume and scale of heritage buildings is grand and provides a perfect backdrop for all manner of interiors from traditional to contemporary and everything in between."

Conclusion: Crafting Enduring Homes from a Rich Legacy

The Kanebridge Property Futures Summit affirmed a belief we have held for over twenty-five years of practice: the enduring value in Australian property lies not in passing trends, but in timeless design, meticulous craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of a home’s unique story. Heritage properties are living pieces of our history. More importantly, they hold incredible potential to become functional, beautiful homes for modern families when guided by an experienced hand.

As one of Sydney’s leading architectural firms in heritage home design, our reputation is built on making the complex simple. We guide our clients through every stage, from the first design conversation and navigating the DA process with council, to managing trusted builders on site. Our National Trust award-winning process, applied to beloved homes from Centennial Park to country NSW, is proof that sympathetic renovation and contemporary living can be achieved in harmony. We don’t see heritage constraints. We see a clear path to enhancing a home’s legacy and value.