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August 2, 2026 \u2014 5:30am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n There is one member of The Block cast whose job is so fundamental to the project that, without him, there would be no show. He\u2019s not a contestant, a tradie, or foreman Dan. He isn\u2019t a judge or a host. He\u2019s the man standing quietly at the starting line of every three-month build \u2013 the architect.<\/p>\n Julian Brenchley has been designing the houses for The Block since the series began in 2003. This year, he is tasked with creating five new homes in the blue-ribbon Victorian peninsula suburb of Mount Eliza.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are becoming more design-educated,\u201d Brenchley says. \u201cThe calibre of their questions says a lot about their understanding of the building they\u2019re working in. This year\u2019s contestants certainly seem a lot more qualified than we\u2019ve had in the past. Often, that makes it a better relationship. But sometimes it can get a bit weird and wonderful, too.\u201d<\/p>\n This year\u2019s \u201cBlockheads\u201d are Gold Coast fitness couple Chantel and Wyatt; South Australian cattle station managers Adam and Jolene; Perth paramedic Lisa and FIFO oil and gas worker Rosco; and Melbourne builder Rick and his daughter Tayla. The pair with the clearest construction credentials are Brisbane site manager Courtney and her bestie, commercial interior designer Sev.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir energy is fantastic,\u201d says Brenchley of the latter pair. \u201cThey\u2019re finding every angle and straightening out every fold in the design. I\u2019m probably the problem, really. Crushing their ideas is the first step. I hate being a \u2018no\u2019 person.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article Despite interior design judge Darren Palmer\u2019s brief for the area, which he decrees is Kardashian-inspired, \u201cwhite, light and bright\u201d, Brenchley believes in individuality.<\/p>\n \u201cThe houses have got to have their own points of difference \u2026 There\u2019d be no point in five real estate agents selling five identical houses \u2026 And stick to your vision and explore that,\u201d he says. \u201cDon\u2019t chop and change halfway through because you happen to land on a different Pinterest page that morning. Stick to your guns and really make a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the big things that I always tell clients is don\u2019t rush into a decision. Think about the gestation period of an idea and give it time to bubble and ferment and get chucked out and start it again. Because if there are big, expensive decisions to make, the more time you can give it, the better the result will be.\u201d<\/p>\n While butler\u2019s pantries and en suites are still in vogue, Brenchley is noticing a preference for internal curves, and a greater emphasis on sustainability. But a timeless philosophy still applies \u2013 the floor plan can mean the difference between a happy household and an unhappy one.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cBedroom spaces and secondary living spaces are becoming such an important part of house designs now, to make sure that a young family can grow into an older family without siblings killing each other or spouses getting divorced \u2026 Definitely, the pressure on young kids for affordability is keeping children at home longer.\u201d<\/p>\n This season marks the 14th time in a row The Block has been filmed in Victoria, with Bondi, Manly and Vaucluse the only interstate locations to have had a look-in. According to Brenchley, it\u2019s not personal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe look everywhere,\u201d he says. \u201cWe had a good old sniff at Byron Bay for a while. We\u2019ve looked at Perth. We\u2019ve looked at Brissy [Brisbane]. It comes down to where we want to be in our aspirational space. So there\u2019s nothing wrong with Bali or New Zealand, either. But Victoria is a good sounding board for what people aspire to with housing.\u201d<\/p>\n When not sourcing future Block development sites, Brenchley and his Sydney firm design smaller house-and-land packages and hospitals. When he watches The Block, he prioritises his favourite parts of the show.<\/p>\n \u201cMy standout moment is seeing these houses come to life in their location and how successfully they sit in the environment,\u201d he says. \u201c[On set], I don\u2019t get to see that much of the shenanigans and the drama. So I don\u2019t love catching up with that. The Sunday night room reveals are the best.\u201d<\/p>\n The Block returns at 7pm on Sunday on Nine, with episodes airing Monday-Wednesday, 7.30pm.<\/p>\n Want more TV? We\u2019ve got you.Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c4188478dc6947df131122e0616e8ae31d0357f9.jpeg\")
The Block architect Julian Brenchley, who has been designing homes for the reality show since 2003.<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/d63a8b629194b3bec9fdff1d735355f22c5c15c1.jpeg\")
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The 2026 crop of Block contestants on site at the blue-ribbon suburb of Mount Eliza.<\/p>\n![\"As](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/4d84ff11252c5cfb9512cca43f30b7f34586de5c8dd1af76478906f6d9f19e0d.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Contestants](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/526208b92c28331e09061783115a83ee0a6d8606.jpeg\")
Contestants Courtney and Sev have the most building experience.<\/p>\n
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