A development application has been submitted to the City of Fremantle for a U-shaped hotel designed by Smart Design Studio on an historic site the heart of the city. Located adjacent to the Fremantle Markets, the site was home to the former Spicers Building, built in 1899, which was demolished in the 1970s to make […] More
The University of Queensland has launched its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Design Framework intended to reshape campuses to better recognize, include and celebrate connections to place.
The framework analysed each of the university’s campuses and consulted with Indigenous students and staff about their associations with various sites. It also sets out six key Indigenous design principles.
Led by UQ senior lecturer of architecture Carroll Go-Sam, the Campuses on Countries framework “paves the way for future incorporation of Indigenous knowledges and excellence into the physical environment across UQ’s many campuses and sites.”
At its launch event, Go-Sam delivered a powerful call-to-action speech addressing developers, architects and landscape architects about how they can better co-design with Indigenous practitioners and collaborators for more meaningful project outcomes.
Go-Sam emphasized that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ participation, knowledge and perspective is meaningful and important, for both the university and broader society.
“[The framework is] a set of design principles to ensure that Indigenous Australian knowledges and perspectives are incorporated into UQ’s physical and built environments,” said UQ vice-chancellor and president Deborah Terry. “We will use this framework to guide the development of our places and spaces, so that they are welcoming, educational and inspirational locations.”
Bronwyn Fredericks, pro-vice-chancellor Indigenous engagement, added that the framework was an important step in the university’s reconciliation journey.
“Can I be clear, the framework is not about Blak brushing UQ’s campuses with Indigenous-themed murals, decal designs, or adding bush tucker gardens and yarning circles,” said Go-Sam said at the launch.
“The Campuses on Countries Framework is not asking those ‘not in the know’ to design something Indigenous about Indigenous people to the exclusion of Indigenous people. The starting point is engagement.”
The framework also identified several precedent projects where First Nations leadership had successfully informed and shaped, if not entirely dictated, public architectural and artistic projects related to campuses.
They included: Ngoolark Student Services Building at Edith Cowan University (2015) by JCY Architects and Urban Designers; Birabahn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Centre (2002) by Peter Stutchbury Architects; the Eyes of the Land and Sea Sculpture at Kamay Botany Bay by Alison Page and Dillon Kombumerri (2020); Murri Totems by Reko Rennie at the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science forecourt(2013); and the Koorie Heritage Trust by Lyons (2015).
The Campuses on Countries Framework follows similar documents developed by other universities around Australia incluing Queensland University of Technology’s Campus to Country, and the University of Sydney’s Wingara Mura-Bunga Barrabugu design principles. More
The Tasmanian government has released concept designs by GHD for a $130 million upgrade to the bridge linking Hobart’s eastern and western shores. The Tasman Bridge was originally built and opened in the early 1960s. The refurbishment will be its first upgrade in almost 50 years after a section collapsed when an ore carrier struck […] More
The proposed transformation of the former Perth Girls’ School into Western Australia’s largest build-to-rent development has been given the green light by the DevelopmentWA.
The masterplan for the precinct by MJA Studio and Nic Brunsdon, includes 742 new apartments, 500 of which will follow the build-to-rent housing model. This model is intended to alleviate pressure on private and social rental sectors while providing a viable solution to housing affordability and supply.
This project will be one of the first to benefit from the government’s new 50 percent land tax concessions for new build-to-rent developments – a reform introduced by the WA government in its 2022 budget to remove barriers to investment in the future supply of rental properties.
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The redevelopment of the former Perth Girls’ School site designed by MJA Studio and Nic Brunsdon.
Aspects of the existing heritage-listed school buildings will be preserved and redeployed as creative mixed-use spaces. Plans also include a supermarket, microbrewery, restaurants and cafes, an art gallery, yoga studio and performance spaces.
Located on the corner of Wellington and Bronte streets, the development has been designed as two sister buildings, using a stepped design to provide residents with views across the city, Swan River and Matagarup Bridge. The precinct will also include the creation of two parks, each connecting to adjacent existing public parks, under the guidance of landscape architects Mala Studio.
WA lands minister John Carey said the revitalization will showcase best-practice urban design, breathing new life into an important heritage site.
“This is a fantastic redevelopment project that preserves some of the great aspects of the historic former girls’ school, while delivering an injection of new social and affordable rentals, and providing a new cultural hub that will attract people from across Perth,” said Minister Carey.
“As part of the state government’s commitment to building more social and affordable housing, my hope is this iconic development will act as a blueprint for industry to deliver more affordable housing through clever and sustainable urban revitalization.” More
The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) released the shortlist for the Designers Australia Awards 2022 on 15 June. Entries are assessed across three cross-disciplinary categories – “place”, “use” and “interact” – and break away from traditional category distinctions towards a more multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving.
A shortlist of 82 designers and design teams have made the cut. The DIA said the awards are an industry first in emphasising the designers and their process as much as the outcome, to recognise the “most nuanced design thinking” across the three categories.
“The DIA’s awards value the designer’s influence over process and purchasing, which is integral to quality design outcomes that shape a better world,” said the Design Institute president Gavin Campbell. “We strive to highlight a designer/s ethics, conduct and capabilities, and processes. We believe that successful design outcomes embrace the circular economy and diversity and positively impact the environment and society.”
The jury for the 2022 Designers Australia Awards is made up of 18 jurors, including design experts, academics, writers and editors. The 2022 jurors are Cameron Bruhn, Gavin Campbell, Nathan James Crane, Penny Craswell, Adam de Guara, Emma Elizabeth, Kate Goodwin, Dale Hardiman, Tuba Kocaturk, Laura Kostanski, Shay McMahon, David Meagher, Liane Rossler, Andrew Scott, Tom Skeehan, Ellie Stathaki, Abdullah M I Syed and Karen Webster.
Winners will be announced at simultaneous events across five states in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, on Wednesday, 3 August. Tickets are available here.
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Cumulus for Goulburn Street Housing was nominated for the “place” category. Image:
Courtesy of the Design Institute of Australia
The award for “place” recognises designers whose projects expertly address the spaces in which we live, work and play. The nominees for this category are:
Anthology for Smith Street Bistrot
APS Design for Lucky Kwong
Architectus for Macquarie University 1 Central Courtyard
Bates Smart for Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street
Brahman Perera for Entrecôte Prahran
Carole Whiting for Calabash Bay Lodge
Cox Architecture for Midtown Workplace
Cumulus for Goulburn Street Housing
Das Studio for Esca Blewitt Springs
de Fiddes for St Bernadette’s. Specialist Dementia Care Unit
Design Paper for South32 Singapore
Design Theory for Indigo Oscar
Design Theory for Level 23, Exchange Tower
Design Theory for Parley Bar
DesignOffice for The Grosvenor Business Lounge
Diadem for 180 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Dot Dash for Logan Village to Yarrabilba Rail Trail
Edmiston Jones for Henry Brooks Estate Kanahooka
Foolscap Studio for The Commons South Yarra
Gensler for EY Melbourne Reimagined
Hither Consulting for Vermont Terrace
Hames Sharley for Hames Sharley studio WA
Kennedy Nolan for Always
Luchetti Krelle for Jane
Map Studio and Naomi Milgrom Foundation for MPavilion 2021, The Lightcatcher
Mata Design Studio Pty Ltd for Gage Roads Freo Brewery
Milieu Creative for Andrews Place II
Milieu Creative for Mineral Resources Headquarters, Osborne Park
Monash Urban Lab for RetroFit Kit: design tools for making our homes accessible
Neil Cownie Architect for 123 House
Plus Architecture for Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA)
RADS for Gladstone – The Cycad House
Rezen for IGO
Richards Stanisich for 9-15 Young Street
Richards Stanisich for The Woollahra Hotel
Russell & George for Society
Russell & George for Yakimono,
Simon Modra Design for Nihon Black
Simone Haag for Bassano
Simone Haag for The Whiskey Room
SITE Architecture Studio for Rockingham Youth Centre
SJB for Powerhouse Museum and Eucalyptusdom
Studio aem and Studio Gestalt for Harbour View House
Studio Nine Architects for The Calyx Project by Forage Built
Studio Quarters for Bondi Terrace
The Design Cupboard for King Tide Brewing
United Studio for St John Urgent Care Wayfinding
Whistle Design Group for Hemmings Street Dandenong Public Art Installation
Woods Bagot for ABN Group HQ Leederville
Woods Bagot for BDO Perth
Woods Bagot for Curtin Co-Working Space
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Breville for ‘an Aboriginal Culinary Journey’ was nominated for the “use” category. Image:
Courtesy of the Design Institute of Australia
The award for “use” acknowledges designers whose projects concern the objects we engage with in our daily lives. The nominees for this category are:
Advanced Navigation for Hydrus
Blackmagic Design for Blackmagic ATEM Mini Extreme
Blackmagic Design for Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro
Blackmagic Design for Blackmagic Studio Camera
Blundstone Australia and Monash University (SensiLab and Design Health Collab) for Blundstone Intelligent Footwear
Breville for ‘an Aboriginal Culinary Journey’ by Breville
Charlwood Design for Dsmile
Cobalt Design for Cobalt – magAssist VAD Heart Pump
DesignByThem for Olio Armchair, design collaboration by Christina Bricknell, Sarah Gibson & Nicholas Karlovasitis
Edward Linacre Studio and Danielle Brustman for Meteorite
Foolscap Studio for Soufflé
grazia&co for Catch Light
JamFactory for Heli Pendant Light
Monash University for miEye – Wearable Light Sensor
Nüüd studio and Naomi Milgrom Foundation for MPavilion 2021 Dancer Chair
Returnr / Cumulo Group for Returnr Marketplace
David Kay for Roman Shower
Russell & George for Lil Chair
Simon Modra Design for Hexadeca
Sans-Arc for Bankston Architectural x Sans Arc: Super Collection
Street and Garden Furniture Co. For Street + Garden Studio
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Monash University for Victorian Premier’s Design Awards Showcase was nominated for the “interact” category. Image:
Courtesy of the Design Institute of Australia
The award for “interact” is given to projects that depict what or who we engage with. The nominees for this category are:
Balarinji for Nation Brand Mark
CO-architecture for CO-architecture & Australian Architecture Job Board
Culture as Creative for Say It Loud Naarm Melbourne 2022
Design IS: Port Melbourne Secondary School brand strategy and design
Ellis Jones for Worth Holding Onto
Exhibition Studios for Underground
Grumpy Sailor Creative for How To Move a Zoo
Ian Wong and Monash University for Victorian Premier’s Design Awards Showcase – celebrating 25 years of design excellence
Monash University XYX Lab for Keep Running
Monash University XYX Lab for YourGround
For more information visit the Design Institute of Australia’s website. More
Regional Development Victoria will soon be seeking public feedback on a concept design for the proposed Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre – part of a $108.15 million project to redevelop the a section of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, home to the popular tourism destination. The visitor centre is intended to be a gateway to the […] More
Following its enforced closure after damage inflicted by severe hailstorms in January 2020, the Shine Dome, orignally designed by Roy Grounds, has been restored and is reopen.
In 2020, a catastrophic hailstorm dented the copper roof tiles and smashed several skylights, exposing the scientific archives to the elements. Significant works have taken place to restore the heritage-listed building to its former glory, including recladding the signature copper roof, which has been redesigned to deliver greater energy efficiency.
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The bright copper sheathing is intended to oxidise and gather a green-brown patina over time. Image:
Martin Ollman for the Australian Academy of Science.
As per the original construction, the concrete roof of the dome is sheathed in copper, under which is a layer of vermiculite that serves to insulate the interiors from outside temperatures. During the restoration, a second layer of copper was applied over the original, with a new waterproof material placed between the two layers. The new dual layer will create a ventilated roof, with airflow between the copper sheets providing insulation and improving the building’s energy efficiency. The bright copper sheathing is intended to oxidise and gather a green-brown patina over time.
Built in 1958 for the Australian Academy of Science, the Shine Dome quickly became a Canberra landmark of architectural and historical significance. It has received numerous awards and various recognition, including being named one of only seven projects the Australian Institute of Architects has nominated to the World Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture.
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Copper shingles being attached to Shine Dome, circa 1958. Image:
Courtesy of the Australian Academy of Science.
Australian Academy of Science chief executive Anna-Maria Arabia said that when the Shine Dome was first built, its design was described as “unconventional and futuristic”, creating significant challenges for the architects and engineers that still applied in the 21st century restoration.
A 100-year time capsule was placed inside the roof of the Shine Dome before the completion of the restoration, containing messages from the academy fellows to the scientists of the future, as well as newspaper headlines from 2020, a printout of the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome, and landmark academy reports on the issues faced in our contemporary time. More
State significant development approval has been granted to the new Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building in Western Sydney. Designed by a BVN-led team, the $47.5 million medical education and research facility will consist of a “series of twisted boxes” that break down the mass of the five-storey building to create an “undulating form”. The […] More
