Evelyn Reynolds

Perth Unbuilt is an exhibition of unrealized designs by some of the city’s most prominent architecture studios.
On display at WA Museum Boola Bardip, the exhibition surveys a selection of designs that succumbed to the vagaries of political and economic forces.
Hassell’s speculative proposal for the redevelopment of East Perth Power Station is one such scheme. The proposal called for the former power station to be transformed into a gallery for exhibits of Australian Indigenous and contemporary art. The design is characterized by overhangs and cantilevers with “rotating and shifting planks” inspired by the cliffs of the WA coastline.

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Hassell’s scheme for East Perth Power Station. Image: Hassell

While an art gallery is not on the cards, the WA government is still looking to redevelop the site. In 2020, the government selected a proposal from broadcaster Kerry Stokes and mining magnate Andrew Forrest to transform the site into a residential, commercial, recreational and tourism precinct with a concept designed by Kerry Hill Architects and, later, Woods Bagot. But in March 2023, it too fell on the scrap heap.
Perth’s Swan River foreshore has also been subjected to many failed schemes. One of them, ARM Architecture’s early masterplan for Elizabeth Quay, was selected for the exhibition. Its design concept featured a swan-shaped island and was once dubbed “Dubai on the Swan” for the futuristic-looking towers with which it would have surrounded the waterfront.

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The circular scheme for Elizabeth Quay by ARM Architecture. Image:

ARM Architecture

In 2008, a change of government saw ARM Architecture commissioned (along with Richard Weller and TCL) by the incoming Liberal government to come up with a new scheme for the waterfront. The eventual built result is “a vibrant hard and soft landscape in a wonderful homage to Roberto Burle Marx and Rio’s Copacabana,” Nigel Westbrook writes in his review of Elizabeth Quay.

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An unrealized scheme for Perth’s Old Treasury Buildings precinct. Image:

With Architecture Studio

Perth’s Old Treasury Buildings heritage precinct was the subject of another unsuccessful scheme. The WA government originally appointed Peter Elliott Architecture and Urban Design, Donaldson and Warn, Sandover Pinder, and Palassis Architects to redesign and redevelop the precinct. The resulting plan would have refurbished the Old Treasury Buildings and created a new multi-storey office block, which would have faced Barrack Street. However, this too fell foul of political forces – though the project was later revived with a design led by Kerry Hill Architects as part of the Mirvac Fini consortium.
Perth Unbuilt is on exhibition at WA Museum Boola Bardip until 30 March 2023. More

Architectus and Henning Larsen have designed a 40-storey tower that will be covered in greenery as a “catalyst project” for the heart of Brisbane’s CBD.
It is the first development application within the Albert Street Cross River Rail Priority Development Area. If approved, the tower will sit on the corner of Albert and Mary Streets opposite a proposed station.
The mixed-use tower will accommodate workplaces, retail and hospitality venues, and a range of civic spaces. It will also create a highly permeable public realm and pedestrian experience on Albert and Mary Streets that will be comfortable year-round.
The project is an “opportunity to create a distinctive urban marker,” proponents said in the development application.
Dubbed the “Rainforest Tower,” the project will be part of a proposed Albert Street green spine. Cascading vertical greenery and varying floor plates at the lower storeys will create multi-level visual interest.

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Proposed “Rainforest Tower” by Architectus and Henning Larsen. Image:

Architectus and Henning Larsen

“The terraced landscaping on the ground plane and podium facade will contribute to making these future spaces more vibrant,” proponents said.
The concept for the tower was inspired by a study trip to Mount Glorious, which is north-west of Brisbane, and reflects the story of the rainforest Binbilla – the area on the Brisbane CBD peninsula’s southern tip.
“The design of the project has been done in close dialogue with Blaklash and the Fulcrum Agency who are facilitating a dialogue and feedback process with the Traditional Custodians of the land,” proponents said.
“The Albert Street Tower will connect to country by creating comfortable habitats for native flora and fauna up through the building.”
The base of the tower references the creek bed through the materiality of the ground floor. Lower levels evoke the rainforest understory, while the highest levels represent the canopy.
Proponents said they envision an “inclusive and magnetic destination of global standing, embracing the youthful Brisbane culture and unique sub-tropical climate.” More

The board of DevelopmentWA has approved Woods Bagot’s design for a 21-storey mixed-use tower in the Perth City Link precinct. Perth City Link is a 13.5-hectare precinct that will reconnect the CBD and Northbridge for the first time in 100 years by sinking the railway line and bus station underground. The precinct spans from Yagan […] More

A state significant development application for a historic site in Sydney’s The Rocks precinct. Nestled between Cambridge, Argyle and Harrington Streets, the site at 35-75 Harrington Street has multiple street frontages, with strategic views overlooking Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. The application is for the demolition of the Clocktower Square building […] More

In early March, as part of The Architecture Symposium: Ideas from the Fringe, Rufus Black, vice chancellor of The University of Tasmania, gave a provoking address to the audience, stating that the architectural profession is simply not ambitious enough when it comes to reducing our impact in the destruction of the planet, “Architects Declare isn’t […] More

The City of Melbourne will soon introduce draft guidelines for voluntary design competitions as part of its Design Excellence Program.
The draft guidelines are part of a package of measures endorsed by councillors, which include a continuation of the Melbourne Design Review Panel, following a 12-month trial, and updated terms of reference for the Design Excellence Advisory Committee.
The endorsement of the draft competition guidelines mean that they will now proceed to community consultation.
The guidelines, prepared by the council’s City Design studio, outline equitable and transparent processes for all participants as well as remuneration and intellectual property requirements.
In its report to councillors, the City Design studio said that design competitions are “a design excellence procurement strategy to test ideas and potential teams, grow partnerships with designers and developers and lift design quality across the City of Melbourne.”
“In Melbourne, the worst design outcomes occur on the largest development sites,” City Design stated. The studio also said that design competitions could improve equity of access to city-shaping projects.
“The majority of city shaping projects are designed by a small cohort. Five architecture firms account for 25 percent of planning applications referred to City Design.
“This limits design diversity and innovation, and opportunities to invest in and nurture Melbourne’s design talent pool.
“Design competitions are a proven mechanism for enabling design diversity and quality.”
The draft guidelines outline a two- or three-stage competition structure with two options for the first stage: an expressions of interest option for the assessment of proposed teams, relevant experience, capability, and task appreciation; or, the second option, a blind expressions of interest with design ideas.
Where appropriate, a third stage of interviews would also be employed.
City Design also proposed a voluntary 18-month design competition pilot program to trial incentives and establish a pathway for mandatory design competitions.
The pilot would include three projects – a City of Melbourne development, a private development and a state significant site – which would be determined through an expressions of interest process. More

The City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne Committee has unanimously voted in favour of a proposed student accommodation tower designed by Jackson Clements Burrows. The purpose-built student accommodation tower has been approved for an amalgamated site at 166-176 Bouverie Street and 183-187 Grattan Street in Carlton, near the University of Melbourne. It is designed to cater […] More

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the state government’s support for a Paralympic Centre of Excellence at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus.
The facility is intended to help participation and training for para-athletes in the lead to the 2032 Olympic Games and beyond. The state government will dedicate $44 million towards the establishment of the centre and is asking the federal government to match support.
Preliminary renders indicate the proposed centre will be connected to an adjacent Health and Recreation Centre at University of Queensland. Construction is forecast to begin in 2025–26, for completion by 2027–28. An architect has not yet been appointed for the project.
The facility will include an international standard sports venue, a wheelchair and prosthetics workshop, and a dedicated testing facility, and will cater for 20 out of 23 listed Paralympic sports. As well as providing a paralympics training facility, Palaszczuk said the facility will have with long-lasting benefits for the community long after the games. It will also provide placement and study opportunities for the University of Queensland’s students in sports sciences subjects.
According to sports minister Stirling Hinchliffe, the Paralympic Centre of Excellence facility will be the first Centre of Excellence of its kind anywhere in the world, combining leading research, sports technology and rehabilitation under one roof.

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Preliminary artist’s impressions of Paralympic Centre of Excellence – not indicative of future design. Image:

Courtesy of the University of Queensland

The Queensland government stated that of the 4.3 million Australians living with a disability, around one in four participates in sport, while 75 percent would like to. Hinchliffe hopes the centre will set a new benchmark for sports inclusion, creating grassroots opportunities for community activities through to the Paralympics.
Vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland Deborah Terry said the partnership with the Queensland government and Paralympics Australia provides an opportunity to deliver a “world-leading” Paralympic facility in Brisbane. “The centre will be a lasting legacy, supporting more people with disabilities to access sport and strive for gold beyond 2032,” said Terry.
President of Paralympics Australia Jock O’Callaghan said the project was an “overwhelming demonstration” that the Brisbane 2032 Olympics can deliver tangible outcomes for for the community that will outlive the games.
“This proposed development can not only produce future Paralympic champions and develop world-leading sporting expertise, but importantly, provide a range of opportunities to improve the lives of Australians living with a disability,” said O’Callaghan. More