a design studio for buildings, material preservation, research, and collective dialogue                             






























About






@sens___sens
sens-sens.com


Sens is a global design and research studio. We design collaboratively to cultivate projects that are carefully situated within their environmental, cultural, historical, and social contexts.  

We design spaces that support care, community, and material memory. Our work centres participatory collaboration as essential to the success of a project. We work closely with our clients, stakeholders, Traditional Owners, and the public to shape spaces that are grounded, inclusive, and responsive to place. 




Our Collective
Founded in Australia by longtime collaborators and registered architects, Nicola Cortese (New York), Lauren Crockett (Paris/Brussels) and Stephanie Pahnis (Naarm/Melbourne). Sens brings together a shared commitment to advancing design through dialogue, education and public engagement. 

Collectively, the founders bring decades of experience delivering high-quality, design-led projects across public, education, residential and commercial sectors. 


Nicola Cortese Founding Director 
Architect, ARBV #800199
M.Arch (RMIT)
B.Arch (RMIT)

Nicola@sens-sens.com


Lauren Crockett
Founding Director
Architect, ARBV #800231
M.Arch (RMIT)
B.Arch (RMIT)

Lauren@sens-sens.com

Stephanie Pahnis 
Founding Director 
Architect, ARBV #800699
M.Arch (RMIT) 
B.Arch (RMIT)

Stephanie@sens-sens.com





Our Services
Buildings, Interiors, Exhibitions and Scenography, Curation and Cultural Programming, Adaptive Reuse and Material Strategy, Design and Material Research, Publications and Community Engagement



Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Andrew Curtis Photography 
2023
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Alex Reilly 
2023
Enduring Cultural Matter 
Travertine Quarry Visit in Tivoli, Italy 
(Research, current) 
Photo: Stephanie Pahnis 
2025
Faith 
Caliper Journal, Issue 9. Edited by Simone Chait, Yuchen Gao, Connor Hanna, Victoria Marquez, Jack Murray and Yiling Shen  
(Publication, complete)
Photo: Yuchen Gao 
2021
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Andrew Curtis Photography 
2023
Studio School Site Visit 
Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, Bunuba Country 
(Spatial, complete)
Photo: Stephanie Pahnis 
2023
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Tope Adesina
2023
Shift(ed) for Melbourne Design Week
Collingwood Yards, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Molly Townsend
2021
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Andrew Curtis Photography 
2023
Love, Caliper Journal Launch
M Pavilion, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Event, public, complete)
Photo: Alex Reilly 
2019
Sample, Caliper Journal Launch
The Curtain Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Lauren Crockett 
2019
Body Space   
Competition entry
Transmediale, Berlin
2022
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Andrew Curtis Photography 
2023
Building Beyond Borders 
Morocco Study Trip
(Research, current)
Photo: Lauren Crockett 
2026
Enduring Cultural Matter 
Travertine Quarry Visit in Tivoli, Italy 
(Research, current)
Photo: Stephanie Pahnis 
2025
Identity, Caliper Journal Launch
Testing Grounds, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Event, public, complete)
Photo: Lauren Crockett 
2019
Shift(ed) x Caliper Journal for Melbourne Design Week
Collingwood Yards, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Molly Townsend
2021
Enduring Cultural Matter 
American Academy in Rome Fellowship, Rome
Supported by the Alastair Swayn Foundation and RMIT Architecture 
(Research, current)
Photo: Stephanie Pahnis 
2025
Nguukarrina Kulyparrana 
Eco-Tourism, Barkindji Country
(Community Engagement, current)
Photo: Stephanie Pahnis 
2023
Reading Space: The Common Room 
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Tope Adesina
2023
Love, Caliper Journal Launch
M Pavilion, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Event, public, complete)
Photo: Alex Reilly 
2019
Sample, Caliper Journal Launch
The Curtain Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Lauren Crockett 
2019

Shift(ed) for Melbourne Design Week
Collingwood Yards, Naarm/Melbourne 
(Exhibition, public, complete)
Photo: Molly Townsend
2021
Neversink House
Prototyping custom furniture on site
Interior Renovation, Custom Furniture
Photo: Nicola Cortese
2026























© Sens
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