The ACT government has announced it has received 21 submissions of interested from Australian and international consortia in a search for a design and technical partner for the redevelopment of Canberra Theatre Centre. The redevelopment and expansion will include the adaptive re-use of the existing Canberra Theatre to become a multi-purpose space capable of hosting […] More
Ahead of the Victorian state election, the Australian Institute of Architects has issued a statement calling for First Nations approaches to Designing with Country to inform the procurement, planning, design and delivery of built environment projects across the state. Victorian chapter president David Wagner said respecting Country forms part of the 2021 Nations Standard of […] More
The City of Melbourne celebrated the Melbourne Awards on Sunday 13 November. Now in its 20th year, the Melbourne Awards are the council’s highest accolade, recognising local individuals and organisations that help to make the city a better place. In 2022, winners were recognised across eight categories: Aboriginal Melbourne (the ganbu guljin Award); Arts and […] More
SJB has created a concept design for a new mixed-use development at 45-52 Macleay Street within the historical high-density suburb of Potts Point. A stage-one development application submitted to the City of Sydney proposes to demolish the existing building on the site and replace it with a nine-storey building with a ground-floor retail premises and […] More
Brisbane’s waterfront village Portside Wharf will undergo a $20 million makeover to “refresh and reactivate” the area. Established 16 years, Portside Wharf is a mixed-use precinct with a variety of live entertainment, local craft vendors, and hospitality venues. Designed by Cavill Architects with developer Urbis, the redevelopment will build on the precinct’s existing character, enhancing […] More
Quay Quarter Tower designed by 3XN and BVN has received the International High-Rise Award from the City of Frankfurt, The German Architecture Museum (DAM), and DekaBank.
Developed AMP Capital, the tower was recognized for its “radical sustainability” as the upcycling of a tired 1970s commercial tower. Almost a decade in the making, the repurposed AMP Centre building it is now the world’s biggest upcycled building.
By retaining two-thirds of the beams, columns and floor slabs and 95 percent of the original core of the 1976 building, the project reportedly saved 7,500 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions compared to what would be released into the atmosphere if it were demolished and built anew.
The design of the new tower comprises five cantilevered glass volumes stacked slightly askew, similar to Jenga blocks, which create light-filled spaces within the building. These reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering the tower by up to 30 percent, eliminating the need for internal blinds while offering uninterrupted views of the harbor.
Quay Quarter Tower was selected from 34 entries submitted from 13 countries. 3XN partner Fred Holt accepted the prize in Frankfurt on 9 November.
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Quay Quarter retains two-thirds of the beams, columns and floor slabs and 95 percent of the original core of the 1976 building. Image:
Adam Mork
BVN’s Quay Quarter project director Dan Cruddace said it was a “great privilege” to have worked on the “city defining” project.
“It’s been an incredible journey and the ultimate collaboration on what has been described as a ‘once in a generation’ project,” said Cruddace.
The International High-Rise Award was initiated in 2003 and is awarded every two years in recognition of excellence in aesthetics, design, sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and technological innovation. The developer of the winning receives a €50,000 prize (A$77,500) to be donated to the charity of their choice. Quay Quarter Tower is the tenth recipient in the award’s history. More
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has revealed the names of the first three Melbourne artists that will adorn the 2022 Architecture Commission with original painted murals. The commission, Temple of Boom, designed by Melbourne architects Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, is a contemporary reimagining of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. The scale […] More
The Queensland government has released a draft masterplan that proposes to overhaul Brisbane’s South Bank in preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games.
The plan was developed by a consortium led by Urbis, including Cox Architecture, Arup, E2 Design Lab, and 19 other organisations including urban planners, landscape architects, construction companies, and environmental and cultural consultancies.
The plan proposes to modernise the waterfront precinct, future-proofing South Bank with a long-term vision to shape how the landmark destination responds to the needs of the community and of the tourism industry.
Enhancements would include upgrades to the 1.2 kilometres of rivers-edge promenade, prioritising pedestrians and active transport modes. Grey Street would become more pedestrian-friendly with wider boulevards and bike lanes, while green spaces will be increased and the cultural forecourt upgraded.
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Render of the proposed future South Bank – The Promenade. Image:
Courtesy of the Queensland government
The draft plan also proposes to manage ageing assets and infrastructure and support the local economy through new attractions and diversified dining opportunities. Other considerations include an improved beach, improved active travel connections, and increased river frontage.
The 42-hectare site was previously overhauled for the 1988 World Expo, and Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the time has come again to revive and renew what she refers to as the “people’s park”.
“More than 10,000 pieces of feedback have shaped the Future South Bank Draft Master Plan, making it a plan by the people, for the ‘People’s Park’,” said Palaszczuk.
A community consultation period will run over the next few weeks until midnight 14 December, following which feedback will be analysed to help determine the final masterplan, expected by late 2023.
For more information or to have your say, visit the Future South Bank website. More
