Evelyn Reynolds

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the creative team for Australia’s exhibition for the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Anthony Coupe, Julian Worrall, Ali Gumillya Baker, Emily Paech and Sarah Rhodes were selected by the Institute’s Venice committee for their proposal “Unsettling Queenstown.”
The exhibition proposal explores ideas of decolonization and decarbonization, coupled with regeneration and revitalization, which responds to the overall theme for the Biennale set by curator Lesley Lokko, “Laboratory of the Future.”
Taking the example of Queenstown in Tasmania, emblematic of a settler town “built on resource extraction and labour exploitation”, the exhibition ponders the post-colonial future of this town and similar examples around the world.
Australia’s pavilion at the Giardini will be transformed into an immersive experience with a floating “ghost” in Tasmania’s colonial history.
“Queenstowns are real places but they don’t even have proper names. They are just outreaches of the monarchy and colonialism,” explained Anthony Coupe.
“They are resource driven places and some of them are collapsing – the resources have run out and you’ve got communities that don’t know what to do with these towns,” he continued.
“Particularly at the end of this second Elizabethan age, it’s cast a whole spotlight on the monarchy and what it does and what the legacy is for Australia.
“The whole of Europe is based on the low labour rates of colonial outposts. These are the global issues that we like to think about. We also like to think about how they play out at a local level.”
The exhibition will comprise four elements centred around an “ethereal and uncanny” replica of the arched belvedere of the colonial Empire Hotel in Queenstown, which will be reconstructed in woven mesh and will float above the floor of the Australian Pavilion.
“We’re unsettling Queenstown by chopping it off at the foundations, so to speak,” Coupe said.
The creative team will also seek oral histories from First Nations peoples and Queenstown residents whose voices will play through the ghost of the Empire Hotel.
“We’re very much interested in this area around temporality and narrative. So to some degree it’s about understanding that past in a different way and rethinking its history so that there’s possible different futures,” Coupe said.
On the floor will be the a layered map of Queenstown “with streets, buildings, and mining infrastructure inscribed on the underlying landform with its topography, waterways, and vegetation, overlaid with an abstract net of property boundaries, cadastral grids and survey points.” Aboriginal place names will be projected onto this ground layer.
On the walls will be projections of landscape photography of Country as it has changed over time, and an “open archive” of “exemplars and techniques from contemporary architectural practice, assembled in response to a call and response, gathered and interpreted by the Creative Directors.”
Coupe explained, “What we’re trying to do is invest ourselves and Australian architects in a conversation around what decolonisation might mean in architecture.
“Our callout, our survey of work is focused on tactics rather than exemplar projects. This is our ‘laboratory of the future’ to some degree. It’s a conversation.
“We’re calling out for projects that deal with ideas of incorporating First Nations knowledge, that provide listening and dialogue, that make spaces that are inclusive, that connect with time, memory and experience, and incorporate processes to enable change. As we do this we uncover what the tactics are and this can inform a framework.” More

UK practices David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) and Assemble, and Australian landscape architect Jane Irwin have created a masterplan for an interconnected residential neighbourhood on a former dairy farm in Canberra.
Dairy Road is a 14-hectare site between the suburb of Fyshwick and the Jerrabomberra Wetlands. In 2021, the state government rezoned Dairy Road, expanding its existing industrial activity to allow for commercial, light industrial, residential, creative and cultural activity.
Since rezoning, develoepr Molonglo, DCA, Assemble and Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture have been developing a masterplan for a new community neighbourhood, interconnecting the assets of the site from industry to living in one “ecosystem”. “Light industry, working, living, recreation, retail and entertainment will take place in a restored landscape,” a spokesperson for the developer said.

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Dairy Road residential neighbourhoods designed by David Chipperfield Architects, Assemble and Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture. Image:

Courtesy of Molonglo

The site currently features the adaptive reuse of two existing industrial warehouses, dating back to the 1970s, augmented with architectural insertions by Craig Tan Architects and Oculus Landscape Architecture and a pavilion by Chilean practice Pezo von Ellrichshausen. Dairy Road is presently home to a community of makers and producers including a brewery, distilleries, coffee roasters, creative co-working, a gallery, and an industrial design studio.
Over ten years, the developer proposes to build ten new flexible warehouse buildings to support a spectrum of activities, from work studios to community centres. Housing will entail 13 buildings by DCA, between three and four storeys, accommodating 700 future residents arranged around a restored wetland.
Landscape will be central to the design, responding to the sensitive ecosystem of the existing neighouring wetlands.
The first new buildings are expected to be completed in late 2024. More

The federal government has released the first budget of its parliamentary, in which it is aiming to address the supply of sustainable social and affordable housing.
In announcing the National Housing Accord, the government outlined an ambition to build 1,000,000 well-located homes over the course of five years, beginning in mid-2024. This includes $350 million in the budget for 10,000 new affordable homes over 5 years, with state and territory governments to deliver up to another 10,000 additional homes.
The budget allocation comes on top of the 30,000 affordable and social homes to be delivered via Housing Australia Future Fund, which was announced as part of the government’s election platform.
The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the treasurer’s announcement, stating this allotment in the budget is a first step in delivering a generational plan for affordable and social housing.
The Institute said that problems with the current housing model relate not only to supply, but the frequency of overcrowded dwellings that are costly to run due to low energy efficiency, and are unresponsive to people’s needs relating to ability and inclusion.
The Institute’s national president Shannon Battisson said that housing is a basic human right and should be recognised as such through fiscal policy and a solid supply chain.
“A decades-long, funded strategy will help to overcome the challenges of housing stress and unaffordability, and ultimately make Australia a better society where everyone has a home,” said Battisson. “Bipartisan support is necessary to make this happen.”
The Institute said it also supports the government’s action on climate change, with additional funds set aside for clean energy projects.
“We note the announcement to establish the National Reconstruction Fund including investment to support the manufacture of technologies that drive renewables and lower emissions,” said Battisson. “We hope for a national construction supply chain focus on increasing Australia’s capacity to manufacture high-quality and sustainable building materials, components and fittings.”
The Institute added that Australia should have a national construction supply chain strategy to increase sovereign capacity and ensure the ready availability of high-quality, low-carbon construction materials.
“With better local manufacturing capacity and government oversight, Australia can be a world leader in the development and manufacture of sustainable products. This will help to accelerate our vital transition to a low-carbon industry, while reducing our reliance on international products.” More

The Australian Institute of Architects has joined the calls for the South Australian government to reconsider its choice of site for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital citing heritage concerns. Recently released draft plans by Woods Bagot with Bates Smart, Jacobs and UK practice BDP, proposed to build the hospital in Thebarton on the site […] More

Four Australian designs have been selected from an international design competition hosted by Airbnb, turning 100 of the whackiest design concepts into realities. Under its $10 million OMG! fund, each successful applicant will receive up to USD $100,000 (around AUD $144,000) to realise their design.
Among the successful Australian designs, one submission was created by a brother-and-sister design team, comprising the founder of a tiny house provider and a University of Melbourne architecture and design student.
Matt Decarne created Elsewhere Pods as a luxury eco-tourism accommodation provider using stylish, customisable pods. The design, led by architecture student Natalie Decarne, takes the modern and minimalist aesthetic and modular structure of the Elsewhere Pods, and “supercharges” it in a cantilevered glass structure designed for Daylesford in Victoria.
“Kangaroom”, as it has been titled, connects occupants seamlessly with the outdoor environment, employing the concept of a “reverse zoo”, enabling visitors to observe local kangaroos in their natural habitat.

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“Kangaroom” floating pod designed by brother-and-sister duo Matt and Natalie Decarne.

Other winning concepts by Australian entrants included a luxury bubble on top of a mountain, an eco-igloo dome situated in a rainforest, and a salvaged Boeing 737 reimagined as a lodging.
Airbnb launched the competition in June, calling on the imaginations of architects, designers and DIYers to conjure up visions for the next homes in its OMG! category of weird and wonderful stays.
The competition received tens of thousands of entries from around the world, from which 100 designs were selected from 23 countries. The competition ran for one month and applications were reviewed by a judging panel including Australian architect Koichi Takada.
The winning ideas stood out for their “unique and inspiring design, sustainable consideration, and novel ways of offering immersive guest experience,” a spokesperson for Airbnb said. More

Held at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sydney from 20 to 22 October 2022, Design Show Australia presented more than 100 exhibitor stands and a full program of speaker sessions across three stages. Here, we pick some of our stand highlights from the 2022 Sydney show.
Snelling
This multidisciplinary lighting, furniture and objects studio based in New Zealand presented an intimate “cave” of their creations. Shaped by Bec Snelling’s formal training as a fine artist and her years of experience as a designer, the sculptural yet functional pieces literally glistened and shined on the stand. The result was a space that felt like an art gallery rather than an exhibition stand.

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Design Show Australia at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre Sydney. Image:

Courtesy of National Media

Nau
At the Nau lounge from Cult Design, Adam Goodrum’s new Lincoln sofa was on show alongside the new Nest Monochrome tables and Furl coat stand. Also on show were the Nami Dining Table and Sia Chair by Tom Fereday and the the Jolly pendant light by Kate Stokes. Styled among an understated backdrop of layered sheer curtains from Kvadrat Maharam, the stand felt like a beautiful residential setting.
Sugi
While tiny, this stand had big impact. Lined with Sugi’s Japanese cedar in different finishes, it gave the impression of a peaceful Japanese cabin – a huge feat in a busy trade show. The simple, authentic design by New Zealand-based Scott Fitzsimons Studio was a favourite of mine, and really captured the honest material, which is available from Japanese Timber Australia. And it smelled good too!
Australia’s Next Top Designer
Shining a spotlight on emerging designers and makers, Australia’s Next Top Designer’s Showcase presented an array of original and exciting products and concepts shaping the future of design. Some favourites of mine were the Channel Lamp by Anonymous Design Haus, the glass sculptures by Sasa Barnes, and the Shaved Timber vessels by Bolaji Teniola. The next gen of designers are certainly ones to watch.

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Design Show Australia at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre Sydney.

Artichoke Lounge
What type of proud editor would I be if I didn’t mention our very own Artichoke Lounge? Designed by Lisa at Freehand Design Studio with product from the Nau collection from Cult Design, the stand presented the perfect opportunity to lounge around, get some work done and pick up a free magazine in the process – all while being surrounded by Adam Goodrum’s Chameleon table, his Don, Molloy, Softply and Mega Tulip chairs and Tom Fereday’s Sia chair. More

Former prime minister Paul Keating and NSW premier Dominic Perrottet joined forces for a press conference in which both launched a “misguided and completely unwarranted attack” on the Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW chapter, labelling it “fruitcakes.”
The press conference was held on 20 October to announce height and floor space limits to development at Central Barangaroo, following the latest modification (9) that seeks to increase the gross floor area and approved building envelopes.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said, “Today, we provide certainty to Infrastructure NSW in relation to development here, ensuring that it is in keeping with this local area. Ultimately, by preserving the public amenity and public space, we ensure that Barangaroo is there for the people of NSW, not for vested interests.
“By restricting the floor space limit, we’ll ensure better public space, less shadowing, and ultimately […] better sightlines from Observatory Hill down to Central Barangaroo.”
Former prime minister Paul Keating said Barangaroo is a “world ranking outcome” and slammed the Australian Institute of Architects for its continued advocacy for due process and public benefit.
He also criticised Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects’ competition-winning proposal for Barangaroo. “That dull proposal issued by Philip Thalis […] was basically keeping the concrete wharf and grass with a few buildings down one end and we’re supposed to say, ‘Oh, fantastic’. It was a piece of rubbish, that’s why it got ignored,” Keating said.
Keating was a member of the jury that unanimously awarded the competition to the Hill Thalis-led team.

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The original competition winning proposal by Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects, Paul Berkemeier Architect and Jane Irwin Landscape Architects.

“If you need kitchen amendments, or another odd toilet off the corridor, Philip Thalis is your person.”
Keating praised the Wilkinson Eyre-designed Crown casino tower as “probably the most beautiful in Australia, easily. And at 75 storeys it’s one of the most important on its kind in the world.
“[But] we’re supposed to join with those fruitcakes at the NSW Institute of Architects to say, ‘Oh no, this is shocking, we can’t have that.’
“What really gives them horrors at the Institute of Architects is that the public love this place. The public are down here all the time. You know that public, just those ordinary people, what do they matter? They’re not members of the Institute.”
Perrottet also added, “I agree with the former prime minister. The Institute of Architects have no idea.”

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Photo of the Crown Sydney Tower taken from Observatory Park by Xer0_onPC, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Australian Institute of Architects hit back at the politicians for “twisting tales.”
In a statement the Institute said it “will continue to advocate for design-centred planning to benefit the entire community rather than a select few.”
“We represent our members and the community to ensure planning processes are robust, equitable and transparent,” said national president Shannon Battisson.
The Institute also told its member that it has written a letter to the premier demanding an apology for the “distasteful, derogatory and false remarks that have, of course, caused outrage among many of our members.”
“The facts of the matter are that at no time in recent months has the NSW Chapter made derogatory comments on the Wilkinson Eyre tower, or on the design elements of the Barangaroo site project itself,” wrote Battisson and NSW president Laura Cockburn. “The Institute does not negatively pass judgement on the work of members of our profession. It is our role, however, to point out government process discrepancies and failures which impact our profession and the general public, and this has been the case historically with the Barangaroo site.” More