Former Glory Inc. is a unique, collaborative property venture breathing new life into historic and architecturally significant homes and buildings in Australia.
Launched in 2016 by father-son team Michael and Dean Bialek, Former Glory Inc. focuses on stylish residential and mixed-use prospects, and aims to buck the current trend to “demolish-and-rebuild” that is gradually (and unfortunately) eroding the architectural character and heritage of Australia’s capital cities, suburbs and regional centres.
The Former Glory Inc. vision is to seek out and collaborate with like-minded partners in the acquisition and / or rejuvenation of beautiful heritage buildings, enabling a new generation to experience the style, character, quality and workmanship of early and mid-20th Century architecture.
Michael Bialek is one of three founding partners of the much-acclaimed Australian architectural practice SJB (formerly 'Synman Justin & Bialek'). Dean Bialek is a design-savvy former diplomat and lawyer with experience in design, project management and build contract administration.
The first Former Glory Inc. project (North Bondi Penthouse) won 'Best use of interior finishes' at the Belle Luxury Builders' Awards in November 2017, and was featured in Belle Magazine's Feb/March 2018 edition, as well as the Belle ‘Smart Spaces’ book for 2018. The project was shortlisted for 'Best Residential Design' at the 2018 Australian Interior Design Awards, and again in the 'Residential Single' category at the 2018 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA Awards).
Our second project, the dramatic and creative renovation / extension of a Harry Siedler-designed mid-Century home in Sydney’s Dover Heights, was completed in 2019, and represented a significant deepening of our involvement in the detailed design and build-management aspects of our projects, ultimately recognised with a shortlisting in the ‘Residential Design’ category for the 2020 Australian Interior Design Awards.