FJC Studio (formerly FJMT Studio) and New Zealand firms Evatt Martin Architects and Design Tribe have been appointed to design a new art museum in Invercargill at the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island. The $39.4 million project will create a new 3,550-square-metre facility to replace the existing Southland Museum and Art Gallery Niho […] More
A 1980s office building in Perth’s CBD will be transformed into a vibrant education campus, with City of Perth approving the proposed design at a meeting of its Local Development Assessment Panel on 3 April.
Designed by Hassell, the project will accommodate a new campus for St George’s Anglican Grammar School and offices for the Anglican Schools Commission and ASC International.
St George’s Anglican Grammar School currently leases a building at nearby 50 William Street, and the redevelopment of its new site will allow the school to raise its enrolment capacity. Currently limited to 450 students, the school will have space for 600 students in 2025 (after the first stage of redevelopment) and 800 students when the second stage is completed in 2032.
Stage one involves the adaptive re-use of the existing seven-storey office building, while stage two adds eight new storeys.
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Proposed campus for St George’s Anglican Grammar School by Hassell. Image: Hassell
“This development hopes to be [a] showcase for vertical schooling and a beacon for sustainable design through a positive adaptive re-use of existing building and vertical expansion to reflect [the] growing needs of the community,” proponents said in the development application.
“The re-use and upgrading of the existing, slightly tired office building is a very good sustainability story and a good way of displaying different and unanticipated community activity in the CBD.”
The design proposes a series of terraces and balconies on the northern facade of the building.
“The cascading outdoor spaces creat[e] a series of habitable, north-facing landscapes that are fixed in and out of the frame, for breakout, informal learning, affordable non-airconditioned major circulation space and greenery – a city garden,” the proponents said.
“The northern orientation of [the] main facade allows for good natural light and views to the internal environments, while also creating a strong visual connection between inner workings of the school and public realm. This creates articulation and visual interest along the elevation, while allowing for sun shading to be integrated within additional elements.”
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Proposed campus for St George’s Anglican Grammar School by Hassell. Image: Hassell
A striking red “ribbon stair” will connect the outdoor breakout spaces, express student movement patterns and enhance wayfinding.
“The red colour for the ‘ribbon’ was chosen as a nod to the distinctive red blazers worn by the students of St George’s Anglican School [who] can be seen walking around the Perth CBD. This distinctive element creates a connection between the students, city and school,” the proponents said.
City of Perth Design Review Panel found the proposal to be “a valuable benchmark example for the adaptive reuse of an aging and vacant low-grade commercial office building.” More
Plans to transform Melbourne’s prominent Hotel Lindrum into a high-rise office tower have been submitted to the City of Melbourne for assessment. Designed by FJC Studio (formerly FJMT Studio), the proposal revises a previous scheme by Bates Smart that would have added a slender tower above the existing turn-of-the-century building. The original building was designed […] More
The Australian Institute of Architects is inviting submissions for oral presentations at the 2023 Australian Architecture Conference (formerly National Architecture Conference). Themed “precedent,” the conference will explore the idea of “how looking back will help us face forward.” “After decades of dire predictions, the 2020s have arrived with rolling crises – health, climate, security. We […] More
Powerhouse Museum has opened entries for a new annual award that recognizes innovation and excellence in the built environment. Australian architects, engineers, urban designers and planners are invited to submit projects for the $10,000 prize, which will be announced during the 2023 Sydney Design Week. Eligible projects must have been completed in the 2022 calendar […] More
David Mitchell Architects has designed an extension to an iconic Federation-era building in Sydney’s Taylor Square. Inspired by “the layering of volumes like the pebble stack,” the design creates a “sympathetic” addition to the existing building. The extended floors follow the curved design of the existing building’s facade. “Each floor is clearly separated in the […] More
Updated designs for a 34-storey build-to-rent tower by Rothelowman have been submitted to the NSW planning department for assessment. Dubbed “Novus on Harris,” the project is proposed for the intersection of Harris and Hassall streets in Parramatta. The tower will accommodate 204 apartments, with a three-storey podium containing retail and wellness spaces. Rothelowman was chosen […] More
The ACT government’s Suburban Land Agency and Arts ACT have appointed NH Architecture as the principal design team for the redevelopment of Kingston Arts Precinct, following the completion of the Place Brief for the project.
The redevelopment aims to transform the precinct into a “world-class” culture and visual arts destination for Canberra.
The project will create retail spaces, accommodations for artists in residence, a series of new buildings for arts organizations and an open events space. It will also leverage the site’s existing heritage assets.
Kingston Arts Precinct occupies the site of the former Powerhouse, which was among the first permanent buildings in Canberra and was completed in 1915. The Fitters’ Workshop was completed the following year. The Powerhouse was decommissioned in 1957; in 1997, the ACT government ran an ideas competition for the redevelopment of the Kingston foreshore. The competition was won by architect Colin Stewart, and in 2007, the Powerhouse was transformed into the Canberra Glassworks, creating the first stage of what is now the arts precinct.
Previously, the ACT government had contracted Geocon to redevelop the precinct. In 2019, a $750 million plan designed by Fender Katsalidis and Oculus was unveiled but subsequently stagnated, and the government announced in November 2021 that the Suburban Land Agency would take over the project.
The redeveloped precinct will prioritize the local Ngunnawal culture as the central focus of site’s artistic, cultural and creative opportunities. It will bring together new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, Canberra Contemporary Arts Space, Canberra Glassworks, Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, M16 Arts Space, Megan Print Studio and PhotoAccess.
The precinct will also integrate art with the building and landscape designs and host temporary installations to activate the site during construction.
“The Place Brief guides the SLA and Arts ACT, architects, landscape architects and urban designers in preparing the detailed design proposals for the precinct,” said ACT chief minister Andrew Barr.
“Over the next 12 months, the project team will develop a concept design for the new subdivision and arts buildings. Further engagement with the community and arts organizations will take place through different stages of the design to prepare submissions for formal approvals that will permit construction to commence.” More
