Buchan has appointed architect Dino Delotavo as an Associate. Based in Sydney, Dino will work across the Studio’s diverse mixed use and precincts portfolio.
A registered architect in both Australia and the Philippines, Dino brings more than 25 years of international experience across Southeast Asia, Japan, China, the Middle East and Australia, with a career spanning residential, hospitality, education, retail, mixed-use developments and urban design.
His design approach is shaped by a deep interest in how people experience the places they inhabit; blending environmental psychology, placemaking and user-centred thinking to create destinations that are commercially successful, culturally resonant, and built for long-term community value.
Principal Malou Ellis says Dino’s appointment reflects the depth of expertise Buchan offers across its teams in all Studios. “Dino’s background in mixed-use, retail and placemaking across the region, is directly relevant to the work we undertake.”
Over a career spanning three continents and informed by postgraduate research in environmental psychology at The University of Tokyo, Delotavo has led significant projects including Eastern Creek Quarter, a 30-hectare state-significant retail and mixed-use development in Western Sydney; the Deira Waterfront Development (Fish Market) in Dubai; and the Mövenpick Resort & Spa in Jimbaran, Bali. His work consistently reflects a commitment to sustainability, urban regeneration, and creating environments with a strong sense of place and identity.
“What drives me is the impact of design on people’s lives and behaviour,” says Delotavo. “Good design goes beyond function – it shapes emotional and social experiences. I’m particularly motivated by the idea of creating places that endure; spaces that communities come to value as part of their identity and heritage. Joining Buchan – a practice I’ve admired since my postgraduate studies in Tokyo – is a defining moment in that pursuit.”
Malou says Delotavo’s international experience will add real value for Buchan’s clients. “Dino understands design at the scale and complexity our clients are working at. Having someone with his breadth of experience and his grounding in how people experience places strengthens everything we do.”
A Sydney District Councillor for the Urban Land Institute and an active member of the Urban Design Association NSW, Dino is committed to the profession and the communities it serves.
Buchan has recently expanded the Sydney studio with the addition of eight architects and designers to support new projects in hotels and hospitality, residential, mixed use and precincts.
Photography by Tom Psomotragos