Evelyn Reynolds

The Australian Institute of Architects’ Western Australia chapter has awarded fellowships and prizes to architects and allied professionals at their President’s Dinner. More

Three Australian projects have claimed accolades in this year’s Dezeen Awards, including a new home in Melbourne, a Sydney bathroom design and a Melbourne-designed-and-made surface finish. More

Leading design curator Simone LeAmon has been appointed CEO of the Design Institute of Australia after more than a decade at the NGV. More

The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has appointed former National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) curator of contemporary design and architecture Simone LeAmon as its next chief executive officer, marking what the organisation describes as a “bold new moment” for the peak body and for the future of Australian design.
LeAmon, who will formally begin the role on 12 January 2026, joins the DIA after more than a decade at the NGV. During her tenure, she helped shape the NGV into a globally recognised centre for contemporary design, building a significant collection and establishing programs that spotlighted Australian designers on national and international stages.
Her work at the NGV saw her forge partnerships across industry, government and cultural institutions, creating platforms that lifted the visibility of design in public life and reinforced its economic and cultural value. The DIA says this experience will underpin a refreshed national strategy focused on strengthening the role of design across policy, industry and innovation.
“Simone embodies the spirit and ambition of Australian design,” DIA president Ryan Russell said. “Her career has been defined by creativity, intellect and vision; qualities that sit at the heart of the DIA’s mission. We are delighted to welcome Simone as CEO and look forward to the leadership, energy and clarity of purpose she brings to the organisation.”
Before joining the NGV, LeAmon built a multi-disciplinary practice spanning furniture, product, jewellery, interiors, digital and experimental design through her studios N+1 Equals and Simone LeAmon Design and Creative Strategy. She holds a bachelor of fine art from the University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts and a master of design (industrial design) from RMIT University. She is an adjunct professor in RMIT’s College of Design and Social Context, a mentor to emerging designers and a contributor to national design policy and in 2021, she received Good Design Australia’s Women in Design Award.
“My vision is to place design at the centre of Australia’s national conversation, to make it seen, valued and invested in as essential to our prosperity, identity and future. The DIA will be the catalyst for that culture, uniting designers of every discipline and amplifying the impact of what we do,” LeAmon said in a statement. More

According to Plus Studio, the project is “conceived as a new generation of development,” with the 21-storey proposal bringing together build-to-rent and serviced apartments with ground-floor retail space. More

The practice is currently engaged in a series of projects in hospitality, resort, hotel, housing and ecclesiastical design across the Indonesian archipelago. More

A new mixed-use, build-to-rent (BTR) development designed by Plus Studio for SKS Group has been granted development approval on the fringe of Perth’s CBD.
Known as The Harvest, the Murray Street project is proposed within an inner-city commercial precinct between the CBD and Kings Park in West Perth. The site is surrounded by an eclectic mix of heritage and contemporary buildings housing offices, medical suites, consulates and government agencies.
According to a media release from Plus Studio, the project is “conceived as a new generation of development,” with the 21-storey proposal bringing together 87 serviced apartments, 118 BTR apartments and ground-floor retail space.

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The communique notes that Plus Studio amended an inherited development application scheme with “a version that works harder, feels lighter and fits more naturally into the rhythm of the city. Key design interventions include maximising the plot ratios and redesigning the entry lobbies, retail spaces, car parking and short-stay communal facilities to meet the client’s brief in line with the site and its context.”
Plus Studio senior associate Prasad Nimma said, “We were able to enhance constructability and efficiency while clarifying the vision for The Harvest as a place that responds to its site, supports everyday life and contributes to Perth’s evolving CBD.”
The project is underpinned by the idea of creating a vertical community supported by shared amenities. At podium level, a significant communal open space featuring a bocce court, landscaped seating and covered barbecue areas for residents and visitors is intended to serve as an active shared focal point for the building.
Short-stay amenities such as a gym, co-working spaces, a wellness space and private dining room/bar facilities overlook the ground-floor lobby from the mezzanine, while a dedicated residential amenities level is provided on the fifth floor.

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The proposed tower design – clad in a grey, concrete-look cladding punctuated by full-height glazing – meets the street with an angular expression. Bronze tones in the building’s perforated metal, window glazing and lobby interiors are intended to give “the building a calm presence and a strong sense of arrival.”
According to the studio’s media release, “The inclusion of build-to-rent apartments means the homes are purpose-designed for long-term rental, with a single owner and professional management. This model can offer residents greater security of tenure, consistent maintenance and access to shared amenities, while helping to deliver high-quality rental housing close to Perth’s CBD,” the release states.
“Together, the residential and short-stay components are designed to holistically support contemporary city living in a building that is fully electrical and guided by passive solar principles, helping to reduce operational emissions and support more efficient day-to-day running over time.” More

DKO Architecture has announced the recent launch of its Jakarta studio, marking the practice’s expansion into Indonesia as part of its broader growth in the Asia-Pacific. The new studio is led by Hughy Dharmayoga, who brings more than two decades of international experience to the role.
Having completed a Master of Architecture in Urban Design at the Pratt Institute in New York, Dharmayoga’s career spans almost 20 years at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) in New York, where he worked from 1999 to 2018. Most recently, he was design director for the Autograph Tower – with PT. Putragaya-Wahana, part of Jakarta’s landmark Thamrin Nine complex, the tallest high-rise tower in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at 382.9 metres.
“Jakarta is a city full of energy, ambition, and creative potential,” said Dharmayoga. “I’m thrilled to lead DKO’s next phase of growth here – collaborating closely with local talent to deliver design solutions that are not only innovative but deeply connected to Indonesia’s identity and community.”

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Across the Indonesian archipelago, DKO is currently engaged in a range of projects with Indonesian property developer Agung Sedayu and the Sari Pacific hotel, spanning hospitality, resort, hotel, housing and ecclesiastical design.
Dharmayoga’s goal is to strengthen DKO’s presence in Southeast Asia – including its 50-person Ho Chi Minh studio – while cultivating design excellence through local partnerships and regional expertise.
According to a media communique from the firm, “DKO’s expansion into Indonesia marks a strategic step in its commitment to designing for the Asia-Pacific, with Hughy [Dharmayoga]’s leadership ensuring a dynamic and authentic approach rooted in local collaboration and international excellence.” More