Evelyn Reynolds

The Australian Institute of Architects has issued a statement in which it describes housing as a “basic human right,” urging federal politicians to address the national affordable housing supply ahead of the federal election on 21 May.
The Institute said housing should be supported by a generational plan for affordable and social housing that will provide a national housing policy for 30 years. Institute president Tony Giannone said all parties should appoint a cabinet-level Minister for Housing to regulate and centralize supply.
“Adequate housing should be a right in a country as lucky as Australia, but it’s not,” Giannone said. “We need a national, centralized system to monitor housing supply and establish targets for social and affordable housing for those who need it.”
In its federal election policy statement, A Time For Action, the Institute identifies housing affordability as one of the two most critical issues facing the country at the present time.
“It is estimated that one in five First Nations households living in dwellings that do not meet an acceptable standard, and one in 28 are homeless,” the peak body for architects states in its call-to-action.
According to a survey carried out by the Institute, almost 9 in 10 of its members said the government needed to do more to address Australia’s rising housing stress.
“Despite this, the Institute believe neither of the two major political parties has committed to a plan to increase significantly the availability of social housing during the campaign,” the Institute said in a statement.
While the Australian Labor Party’s Housing Supply and Affordability Council is “headed in the right direction,” according to the Institute, more needs to be done to guarantee supply, quality and affordability on a national level.
The Institute said it approved of the Greens’ “ambitious” policy, targeting one million affordable public and community houses over the next 20 years, but voters still need to be convinced in its implementation plan.
Designing national minimum standards could help to promote planning code changes and regulate acceptable living conditions on a policy level, the Institute suggests.
“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,” Giannone added. More

A small town in the Macarthur region of New South Wales will soon have a new performing arts centre, after it was approved by a state planning panel.
The 350-seat Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre in Picton, designed by Williams Ross Architects, forms part of the first stage of the Wollondilly Community, Cultural and Civic Precinct and will be a versatile, multi-purpose local venue capable of hosting dramatic theatre, music concerts, comedy, dance performance, cabaret, catered events, conferences and expos.
“The Performing Arts Centre will be able to host a range of live performances and functions, which will not only provide a space for people to gather and socialize but will support the stimulation of our local economy,” said Wollondilly mayor Matt Gould.
“It will provide an important space for the local arts sector and will hopefully inspire creativity and cultural expression in the years ahead.”

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Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre by Williams Ross Architects.

The design of the facility will create a strong presence on corner of Menangle and Colden streets in Picton, taking its cues from the form of nearby post office. It will also celebrate the creative culture of Picton through a series of illuminated art boxes on the Colden street facade.
The theatre itself and the foyer spaces will present a double height glazed facade to the street. The design also includes sustainable elements such as rooftop solar, rainwater harvesting and energy efficient equipment.
Wollondilly Council appointed Williams Ross Architects and Tract Consultants in May 2020 for the design of the Wollondilly Community, Cultural and Civic Precinct. Stage two of the project will consist of a new Council Services Centre, more parking spaces and new public spaces.
It will accommodate council staff and the council is also looking to share the proposed building with state government agencies. The existing council administration building will be demolished and replaced with multiple buildings with public open space in between.
A Child Services Building, also part of the community, cultural and civic precinct, has already begun construction. More

Brickworks’ new Bowral Highlands brick range by Austral Bricks is inspired by the rolling hills and heritage towns of the Southern Highlands region in New South Wales. The bricks’ rugged materiality is drawn from the natural Australian landscape, comprised of clay sourced from the Southern Highlands. As an ode to the bricks’ origins, each colourway […] More

Phoenix’s Teel collection of mixer taps, shower mixers and outlets – created by an Australian in-house team – has won Best of the Best at the 2022 Red Dot Design Awards, recognized for excellence in Product Design.
The Red Dot Design Award is conferred on the year’s best products, as selected by the Red Dot jury, for excellence in design, function and innovation. The Best of the Best is the highest distinction in the competition, bestowed on pioneering designs.
John Hoogendoorn, creative design manager at Phoenix, is proud of his team for this latest award. “Our design philosophy is firmly rooted in both form and function innovation,” John revealed. “The continual quest to do better has led to a raft of international design awards over the last decade, culminating in two Red Dot Best of the Best awards in the last three years. We have been humbled by all the awards but are focussed on building our brand to be the most respected world-wide for excellence in design.”
Reflecting on the thought process behind the product, Phoenix’s design lead Ban Liu explains: “Teel originated through the exploration of how two shapes organically flow together. I started to blend an oval into a circle which resulted in the basis of Teel’s unique, dynamic form.”
Liu reflects, “When I think of Teel, two words come to mind – fine and slender. I wanted to convey sophistication and draw on my manufacturing knowledge to create seamless, highly finished tapware designs which are pleasing to the eye.” He continues, “Every element has been considered to keep the profile slender and in proportion – the body, internal cartridge, aerator, outlet height and width, back plate shape and handle design.”
Phoenix nurtures Australian talent and is a strong advocate of creating uniquely designed taps, mixers, showers, and accessories. Throughout its 30-year history, Phoenix has grown to be a leader within the Australian plumbing industry, winning multiple awards as recognition of its commitment to excellence and innovation.
Phoenix Tapware More

Leading building material manufacturer Brickworks has announced that it has recently acquired the assets of National Masonry in Mackay. The addition of this facility and sales centre extends Brickworks’ distribution reach across Queensland, complementing existing masonry sites in the northern markets in Rockhampton, Ayr, Townsville and Cairns. This acquisition secures a production and distribution point […] More

The upcoming edition of The Architecture Symposium will take a very personal dive into the residential work of Australia’s emerging and established architects. Through the theme of Truth or Dare? the symposium promises to be a raw and revealing discussion from architects whose projects are a testament to their experiences, process and creativity. Curators Rachel […] More

Moreland City Council has opened a new $30.1 million community centre in Melbourne’s north. The Glenroy Community Centre designed by Designinc is intended to be a “one-stop-shop” for residents of the area to access a range of council and community services. “You can borrow a library book, drop your child at childcare, access healthcare and […] More

The 28th annual National Trust (New South Wales) Heritage Awards ceremony was held on 13 May at Sydney’s historic Doltone House, recognizing outstanding practise in the field of heritage in the built environment.
The awards ceremony is the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival in the state, supported by Heritage NSW. It recognizes organizations, individuals and community groups that demonstrate excellence in conservation, advocacy, education, interpretation and communication.
In 2022, 16 winners were named across eight different categories, as well as two individual prizes: a special President’s Prize and the highly esteemed Judges’ Choice Award. Among the winners were exceptional examples of architectural projects exhibiting understanding and appreciation for heritage and promoting an awareness of conservation.

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Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects. Image:

Brett Boardman

From a shortlist of seven buildings and precincts, three architectural projects received an award for adaptive reuse. They included Ngununggula or Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects; Stephenson’s Mill by Hector Abraham Architects (entered by Susan Hutton); and the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, also by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
Ngununggula is the first regional art gallery in the Southern Highlands, borne out of what was the old, leaky dairy at Retford Park. Opening to the public in October 2021, the architect undertook a heritage-sensitive redesign that turned the historical building into 700 square metres of gallery space.
Stephenson’s Mill by Hector Abrahams Architects is recognized for the sympathetic solutions and the careful retention of the original details of a former flour mill in Crookwell, constructed in 1870 by Anthony Stephenson. The architect converted the old flower mill into a home in which owner Susan Hutton could live out her retirement.

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Stephenson’s Mill by Hector Abrahams Architects. Image:

Neil Waldron

The $371 million Walsh Bay Arts Precinct was recognised for its adaptive reuse of 100-year-old heritage-listed wharves, which the architect transformed into a new 1,800 square metre arts ecosystem.
The Judges’ Choice Award went to the Great Cobar Museum and Visitor Information Centre by Dunn and Hillam Architects. The renovation was intended to preserve the history of the building and return it to its former glory. The redesign improved the functionality for staff, better utilized the accessible ground floor for public exhibits, and integrated the landscape and external exhibition spaces into the museum precint.
The President’s Prize went to Dawn Fraser Baths by TKD Architects – the nation’s oldest remaining example of a fully enclosed tidal pool in Sydney Harbour. Commissioned by Inner West Council, the redevelopment raised the bath’s central pavilion and boardwalk by 1.25 metres to accommodate rising sea levels in conjunction with the construction of new amenities.
NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage James Griffin said the awards present a unique opportunity to celebrate the diversity of heritage across the state.
“The winning projects remind us not only of the importance of protecting our shared past, but also the ways in which we can bring heritage to life for all the people of New South Wales to enjoy and explore,” Minister Griffin said.
The judging panel for the National Trust Heritage Awards 2022 included Barrina South, David Burdon, Dr Siobhán Lavelle, Kathryn Pitkin, Lynn Collins and Peter Salhani. More