Evelyn Reynolds

The South Australian government has unveiled new designs by Cox Architecture for the 16-storey Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre at Lot Fourteen, an area of urban revewal at the site of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Cox Architecture’s design builds on the concept design prepared by Baukultur, delivering a “series of twisting and interconnected floorplates, a faceted facade, public atrium and landscaped roof terrace.”
In a statement, the government said Cox Architecture’s design had been granted planning approval. The Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre is intended to be a lynchpin for Lot Fourteen, “fostering idea exchange, accelerating commercialisation and business growth, while catalysing joint research between business, universities and the public sector.”
The government has previously said that interested tenants include the federal government, universities and global defence and technology companies.

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The Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre by Cox Architecture.

The ground and first floors will be occupied by an Innovation Hub, with the ground floor to be an open area for events and collaboration, accessible to the public.
The federal government has committed up to $20 million in capital towards the establishment of the Innovation Hub through the Adelaide City Deal.
South Australian premier Steven Marshall said his government would be seeking expressions of interest in 2022 year for a suitably qualified organisation focused on business acceleration and commercialisation to operate and manage the Innovation Hub.
“Our vision is to create a curated ecosystem of entrepreneurs, researchers and global companies to help build the future of innovation and a pipeline of jobs for South Australia,” he said.
The wider Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre will be developed, owned and managed by property management firm Quintessential Equity. The company has also signed a 10-year lease on the Innovation Hub.

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The Entrepreneur and Innovation Centre by Cox Architecture.

“We’re incredibly excited to be developing the Innovation Hub, which will be the centrepiece of the EIC and a gateway to attracting and retaining world-leading talent to Adelaide,” said executive chairman Shane Quinn.
“Embodying the office and workplace of the future, the EIC will be a powerful generator of jobs of the future – and this dedicated Hub will be a place where ideas, research and entrepreneurship can thrive.
“The revised design is more functional and accessible as we focus on collaboration and the provision of a healthy and engaging work environment.”
Construction is scheduled to start in mid 2022 and tenants are expected to move in from 2024. More

A trimmed version of Koichi Takada Architects’ South Brisbane “urban forest” tower has been approved, after the original 30-storey proposal was deemed too tall. In its original form, the 88 Merivale Street tower was to be home to 1,003 trees. The approved design is for a 20-storey tower supporting around 400 trees along with a […] More

The Victorian government has unveiled the design for the final stage of the Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment by ARM Architecture.
The $140 million project at Little Malop Street will feature a distinctive draped concrete facade that references traditional stage curtains, performance tents and circuses of Victoria’s early colonial history.
The concrete canopy over the entrance reflects the shape of a calliope – a musical circus wagon – and Geelong’s historic Lascelles wool-store will also be reflected in the moulded concrete walls.
“Each element of the external design is enriched with a story of its own, whether that be visual references relating back to performance, the historical context of the site, or to Wadawurrung culture and traditions,” said Ian McDougall, founding director of ARM Architecture.

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Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street redevelopment by ARM Architecture. Image:

Courtesy Geelong Arts Centre

The practice worked with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation as co-designers to incorporate traditional stories of the lands, waters and skies into the design. Each of the four levels of the building will have a different Wadawurrung narrative: the colours of Moonah forests, local ochres, jarosites from Bells Beach and greenstone found at Dog Rocks in Batesford.
“The involvement in the co-design process with ARM brings to life the Wadawurrung spirit and cultural values of the Djilang (Geelong) and Bellarine landscapes,” said Corrina Eccles, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner. “This project continues to provide a gathering space for all, originally known as a place of many stories of our past generation where Wadawurrung gathered with ceremony, songs, dances, story-telling, and to now, a place for our present community, and our future Peoples in a new centre in the heart of Djilang enlivened with a platform for all to share creative narratives.”
Ian McDougall added, “The design has its own identity which feeds back into its location. It’s telling the story of Djilang (Geelong), and of the profound traditions of performance on the Wadawurrung site for thousands of years. This is what speaks to people all over the world though its design, it’s a celebration of everything Geelong is.”

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Geelong Arts Centre Little Malop Street redevelopment by ARM Architecture. Image:

Courtesy Geelong Arts Centre

ARM also worked with Wadawurrung artist Kait James, and local First Nations artists Tarryn Love, Gerard Black and Mick Ryan to showcase First Nations stories throughout the site.
The project will incorporate a range of flexible arts, performance and general community-use spaces, including a 500-seat theatre, which can expand to accommodate 800 and a 250-seat hybrid theatre connected to an outdoor plaza. Additional spaces such as foyers, bars and alfresco dining will be adaptable for a range of events such as concerts, exhibitions, festivals and markets.
“We wanted the internal design to be flexible in encouraging creative expression from all cultural groups in Geelong, and far beyond,” McDougall said. “Its interplay of texture and colour impart a curious and dynamic atmosphere, inspiring people to express their individuality in connection to the rest of society.”
There will also be a playful and interpretive light portal connecting Little Malop Street and Ryrie Street buildings.
“This design delivers on our bold vision for this project. It embraces the cultural precinct and challenges the idea of ‘black box theatres’ that turn their back on the world,” said Joel McGuinness, CEO and creative director for the Geelong Arts Centre. “Inspired by the principles of universal design, this outcome is welcoming, inclusive and facilitates joy and creativity, encouraging people to be part of Geelong’s creative community.”
The Little Malop Street redevelopment is the largest and final stage of the Geelong Arts Centre transformation, following the completion of stage one, the refurbishment of of the Playhouse Theatre by Studio 101 Architects, completed in 2010; and the Ryrie Street redevelopment by Hassell, completed in 2019. The Little Malop Street redevelopment is expected to be completed in 2023, when it will become Australia’s largest regional arts centre. The project is a partnership between Geelong Arts Centre, Creative Victoria, Development Victoria and Lendlease. More

Four more Australian projects have won their categories at the 2021 World Architecture Festival Awards, and another has been highly commended. These projects follow three winning and three highly commended Australian projects that were announced in the first round of the awards a week ago. In the second round, Australian projects dominated the completed residential […] More

Furphy Foundry have released the next generation of their Aqua-Hub drinking fountains. The Aqua-Hub range provides clean and accessible drinking facilities for public environments. The new touch-free unit comes with sensors to activate the bubbler, bottle filler or pet drinking panel – for a more hygienic user experience. The touch-free Aqua Hub has a steel […] More

Olimpia Splendid has launched the Unico Pro, a new wall-mounted air conditioner with no external compressor unit. The Unico Pro can be installed at floor or ceiling level, in the middle of the wall or in the corner of the room, providing ultimate flexibility. The absence of an outdoor unit also removes some of the […] More

A new primary school campus planned for the Sunshine Coast will replace traditional classrooms with open plan environments to suit a “team-teaching” model, according to the school.
Designed by M3 Architecture for the Suncoast Christian College, the new building will accommodate years 1 through 6, with the students split into three cohorts. Each cohort will be taught by a team of six teachers and teachers’ aides in a dedicated, open-plan space over two levels.
A tiered seating area in each of these open spaces will connect the two levels, providing a whole-group meeting place and allowing students to move between floors. Each cohort has its own maker space and kitchen, while an art room and performing arts space service the whole primary school.
M3 Architecture director Ben Vielle said the design responds to the location on reclaimed farming land, the climate and the school’s legacy. Founded in 1979 as the Suncoast Christian Academy, the school’s first building was an old pineapple packing shed. “Suncoast was founded on the idea of minimal means, with a focus on child development, wellbeing and community,” Vielle said. “We have respected and developed this ethos. The architecture takes its cues from an agricultural attitude and responds to the educational approach.”

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Suncoast Christian College building by M3 Architecture.

The building will be wrapped in a steel mesh, allowing maximum ventilation and light penetration through to the verandahs, while keeping students safe.
The open teaching spaces will be zoned and furnished to allow for multiple teaching modes, allowing teachers to tailor lessons to the abilities and learning styles of individual students.
The school’s principal Greg Mattiske said team teaching delivers the best social, emotional and academic outcomes for students. “Today’s students have diverse needs,” he said. “It’s too much for one teacher to have the burden of trying to be all things to all people.”
The school said the project was about to go to tender. “…this project has gone way beyond our expectations,” said Mattiske. “I want kids, staff and parents to come to the school and feel excited about this facility, and what M3 has done with the design is absolutely that.” More

Sydney councillor and architect Phillip Thalis is running for re-election, and this time he’s being joined by another architect, HY William Chan. Thalis and Chan are both running as independent candidates on the ticket of current lord mayor Clover Moore. They say they will advocate strongly for social and affordable housing and work with the […] More