“gm” in gmarchitects is for George and Maryanne. Angela, Natalie and I’s parents.

George and Maryanne are children of migrants. Their parents left a trying Lebanon in search of a new life, away. Arrived in Australia and were required to immediately assimilate, which started with changing their surname from Baini to Khouri. My mother’s mother (an incredible archivist of photo albums) still holds copies of the literature issued by The Commonwealth Office of Education, that were tools instructing “how to be Australian” to newcomers.

They made it work as best they could by working in a brail factory making phones for the blind; as a steel worker; working at Ford; crafting jewellery; as a machinist; importing goods; cutting hair; dress making; teaching; singing; entertaining; mediating in the community; opening their home to others in need; in construction; and running a milk bar café.

George grew up in that milk bar café in Summer Hill (now Andiamo’s Pizzeria). It was in the little laneway adjacent that their love began and continues today (ew, but real).

George developed skills by watching and learning and participating while his parents “made it work”. The last 40 years has seen him translate these skills to spread love, joy, and happiness through the craft of design and construction in the 950 completed projects (not including projects undocumented for charity and the many free jobs in the 100s).

Maryanne has done the same through the craft of admin, cooking, hosting and entertaining at charity, family, community and other events.

My sisters and I have been riding their wave and have all we could ever ask for and more. We want to celebrate their legacy by acknowledging our privilege and expressing our gratitude by combining their actions with our experiences.

The architecture café is a public library and archive for the continuation of making it work by sharing knowledge, craft, stories, good times, love, joy and happiness, and we would love for you to be a part of it with us.