The Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland chapter has announced the winners of the 2024 Philip Y. Bisset Planning (Architecture) Scholarship. Maitri Gohel and Lucinda O’Neill have each received $15,000 in grant funding to support their international research into their chosen interests.
According to a media communique from the Australian Institute of Architects, the pair have “demonstrated exceptional insight into issues critical to Queensland’s built environment.”
As a current graduate of architecture at Hassell, Gohel’s work across a range of sectors informs her passion for adaptive reuse and regenerative design. Gohel’s project investigates the widespread uptake of adaptive reuse in European architecture as compared to Australia, focusing on how Circular Economy principles and urban regeneration contribute to sustainable design.
“By exploring how these practices and policies can be adapted to the Queensland context, I aim to identify opportunities for systematic change in design,” said Gohel. The jury appreciated Gohel’s ability to connect policy reform with practical solutions, ensuring her research delivers actionable outcomes.
O’Neill’s research focuses on materials that address issues of sustainability, affordability and energy efficiency, such as hempcrete and waste-derived bricks. Her proposed research program includes partaking in a six-day workshop in Turin, Italy, followed by four weeks of investigation into innovative material applications in Italy and Belgium.
“My research will explore the role of advanced materials in shaping sustainable architectural practices,” said Lucinda. “I aim to understand how materials can address barriers in implementation, such as public perception, legislation, and industry practices.”
By applying her findings to Queensland’s construction industry, O’Neill hopes to offer solutions to the challenges posed by material shortages, cost escalation and the pressing need for climate-conscious design.
Anna Svensdotter, executive director of the Institute’s Queensland chapter, observed that “Maitri and Lucinda’s work addresses critical challenges, such as sustainability, affordability and construction innovation, offering insights that will benefit our state as we prepare for the 2032 Olympics and beyond.”
“The challenges faced by today’s students demand more than academic rigour – they require additional resources to allow our future professionals to thrive and lead in an increasingly complex world,” she added.
The Philip Y. Bisset Planning (Architecture) Scholarship was established in 2016 through a bequest left to the Institute by the late Philip Y. Bisset. The scholarship enables final-year Master of Architecture students to gain global perspectives from architectural study overseas and encourages them to bring their findings back to Queensland.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
