About OLEA Studio
OLEA Studio is a boutique residential design studio based in the Northern Rivers, creating calm, climate-responsive homes shaped by light, materiality and everyday rituals.
Rooted in Mediterranean design principles and shaped by Australian experience, OLEA creates thoughtful homes that feel grounded, generous and deeply human. The studio approaches design as something to be lived and felt, carefully shaped through light, materiality, proportion and spatial flow.
OLEA creates homes that restore rather than overwhelm.
Homes designed to slow life down, support daily rituals and offer a sense of ease; quietly, naturally and over time.
Meet The Team
Clara Sotillo | Master of Architecture
OLEA Studio is led by Clara Sotillo, who holds a Master of Architecture and has over ten years of professional experience across Australia and Europe.
Clara has worked in architectural practices in London, Melbourne and regional New South Wales, with a strong focus on high-end residential projects, planning approvals and construction documentation. Her experience includes coordinating consultants, navigating complex planning requirements, and delivering clear, well-resolved documentation that supports successful project outcomes.
Alongside this strong technical foundation, Clara brings a deep sensitivity to design, informed by Mediterranean principles, a careful understanding of light, materiality and proportion, and an appreciation for how spaces are experienced in everyday life. This balance allows OLEA Studio to guide projects confidently through design, approvals and documentation while maintaining a thoughtful, human-centred approach.
As a boutique studio, OLEA offers a highly personalised service, ensuring direct involvement, continuity and attention to detail throughout every stage of a project.
OLEA comes from the Latin name for the olive tree : an ancient Mediterranean symbol of peace, longevity and nourishment. Slow-growing, resilient and deeply rooted, the olive tree reflects OLEA Studio’s philosophy: designing thoughtful, climate-responsive homes that are grounded, enduring and shaped with care over time.
Our Story
OLEA Studio is shaped by a Mediterranean upbringing and a life now rooted in the Northern Rivers, NSW.
Growing up surrounded by sun, patios, shared meals and extended family, space was never just about form. It was about how people gathered, how light moved through the day, and how homes supported connection, rest and ritual. Kitchens as the heart of the home, outdoor spaces as extensions of interior life, and spaces shaped by climate and time.
These values translate naturally into the Australian context. While OLEA’s design philosophy is rooted in Mediterranean principles, all professional experience has been developed in Australia, with a strong understanding of local climate, construction systems and planning controls.
OLEA operates at the intersection of these two worlds: translating Mediterranean sensibility into residential design that responds intelligently to its place and context.
Our Values
Designing for wellbeing
Homes should support how people feel, rest and connect, not just how they look.
Light, Climate & Context
Good design responds naturally to its environment, using light, shade and materials with integrity.
Human Connection
Residential spaces are designed to support gathering, ritual and everyday moments shared with others.
Technical Clarity
Strong knowledge of planning approvals, regulations and construction underpins every project, allowing clients to feel supported and confident.