A 26-storey hotel tower would be built on a 40-square-metre site at the southern end of the Brisbane CBD under a proposal before council. Designed by Buchan with landscape architecture by Arcadia, the development at 44 Roma Street is being pitched as “a unique corporate traveller hotel” development that would help revitalize this “abandoned” corner […] More
The Victorian government has announced four winners in the Future Homes competition, which sought exemplar apartment designs that could easily be replicated across Melbourne’s suburbs.
The competition is the first phase of the Future Homes project aimed at producing apartments that could become world leaders in design, sustainability and liveability.
The winning proposals deliver high quality living spaces, useable communal spaces that encourage interaction between neighbours and designs that could be adapted to suit the needs of a changing population.
Two winning schemes – from Spiral Architecture Lab and Lian (with Finding Infinity and Openwork) – propose modular systems that could be arranged in various ways to suit different household types.
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The winning proposal by Lian (with Finding Infinity and Openwork).
The proposal by Design Strategy Architecture in collaboration with Includesign creates two shared outdoor spaces connected via stairs to foster community connections.
McGregor Westlake Architecture’s winning entry proposes a landscape-first approach, which will generate a network of gardens across a suburban block.
The winners will now work with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) to refine their entries into design models.
“We are planning for a better Victoria by designing world-leading apartments that are more energy efficient and spacious, and have plenty of green space,” said planning minister Richard Wynne.
“These new designs will set new benchmarks in sustainability and liveability – helping create a new generation of apartment living that’s better, smarter and healthier for the whole community.”
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The winning proposal by McGregor Westlake Architecture.
The government also announced it will adapt one of the winner’s designs and construct a demonstration project in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services.
“This means one of the competition winners will receive further paid work during the construction of a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) building,” Wynne said in a letter to competitors.
The winning designs will also inform potential planning reforms and future social housing developments.
The competition jury comprised Jill Garner (Victorian Government Architect), Sadie Morgan (founding director, dRMM), Koos de Keijzer (principal, DKO), Jan McRedie McCredie (urban design manager, Urban Design Manager, City of Parramatta), Jennie Officer (director, Officer Woods Architects), Tony Isaacson (chair, Robn Robin Boyd Foundation and former director of Kane Constructions) and Matt Cohen (director, development approvals and urban design, DELWP).
The winning schemes and four other shortlisted schemes are on exhibition at the Melbourne School of Design until 24 May. They will also be part of the A new suburban ambition exhibition at Monash University until 5 April. More
An apartment complex designed by Jackson Clements Burrows will be one of the first build-to-rent projects to incorporate community housing under an agreement between developer Assemble and not-for-profit housing provider Housing Choices Australia.
The Melbourne-based developer says that for its future projects at least 20 percent of dwellings will be allocated for low-income tenants, with Housing Choices Australia managing these houses.
This community housing component will be delivered through a long-term lease arrangement across six Assemble development sites in inner- and middle-ring Melbourne, including the Jackson Clements Burrows-designed apartments at Carinish Road in Clayton, south-east Melbourne.
“We are proud to partner with Housing Choices Australia to deliver much needed long-term mixed-income rental housing,” said Assemble managing director Kris Daff.
“At a time that has been socially and economically devastating for Victoria, fuelled by uncertainty in housing tenure and barriers to home ownership, our communities need support now more than ever to ensure we do not reach crisis point.”
“Build to rent is a scalable model, and when executed to its best effect, it has the potential to meet our nation’s demand for secure-tenure affordable housing. We see mixed-income communities as a blueprint for the future of Australian housing.”
Housing Choices Australia and Assemble will co-invest alongside institutional equity investors in all projects. Both parties will jointly participate in the procurement, delivery and management of the mixed-income housing. Groups offered tenancy could include women experiencing domestic violence, young people living with disabilities, or key workers on low, fixed incomes.
Housing Choices Australia managing director Michael Lennon said the build-to-rent model had been widely adopted internationally: “The establishment of build to rent as an asset class reflects the growing maturity of the community housing sector in Australia,” he said.
“Build to rent recognises that there are very significant unmet housing needs in Australia coupled with a strong desire by institutional investors to diversify and to contribute solutions to the housing crisis. The community housing sector offers ideal partnership opportunities because of its depth of experience in managing tenancies and communities cost effectively.”
“International examples of build to rent offer a wider array of housing choices, enrich city communities, benefit local economies and most importantly, take pressure off the housing system overall.” More
Young architects and students with a vision for a more sustainable future are encouraged to apply for a range of bursaries and mentorship opportunities thanks to the charity branch of Swarovski, the Austrian crystal glass company.
The Swarovski Foundation announced this month the launch of a new global grant program delivered with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, which will aim to “identify and accelerate the next generation of creative leaders in sustainability.”
The Swarovski Foundation Institute: Creatives for Our Future program will offer grants to people aged 18 to 25 across creative disciplines including architecture, design, engineering, fashion and art.
Applications for the grants opened on 9 March and will be accepted until 9 April.
According to the foundation, successful applicants will have a keen interest in, demonstration of, or exemplary potential to use the creative process to accelerate awareness, technologies or solutions for sustainable development.
Selected grantees will receive financial support to further their practice and “design new pathways for a better world.” They will also take part in an educational program in collaboration with a number of international institutions, and be given the opportunity to take part in tailored mentorship and industry networking programs.
Nadja Swarovski, chair of the Swarovski Foundation, said the program was part of the organization’s ongoing mission to foster education, creativity and a sustainable future.
“This ground-breaking program will empower the next generation of creative talent to unlock innovative new approaches to our global sustainability challenges and drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
Annemarie Hou, acting executive director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships noted the importance of the creative sector.
“In 2021, the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, we must work together to amplify the creativity and talent of young leaders,” she said. “The Creatives for Our Future program by the Swarovski Foundation Institute is a trailblazing initiative that is keeping the promise of the SDGs [sustainable development goals].” More
A Western Australian architecture firm has won an international competition to design an architectural landmark for Silicon Valley in California.
Smar Architecture Studio’s design – selected from a pool of 963 submissions from 72 countries – will see 500 dynamic rods erected on the Arena Green at Guadalupe Park and Gardens in San José. Forming a tower that will soar to 200 feet (61 metres), the rods will sway in the wind, giving a dramatic visual effect while also generating enough power to light up the structure.
Dubbed “Breeze of Innovation,” the kinetic structure will incorporate multiple levels of walkways and a dramatic viewing platform at its top.
“Silicon Valley is not about replicating the past; it’s about shaping the future,” said Smar founding partner Fernando Jerez. “Our goal from the beginning was to capture the ever-changing magic of Silicon Valley while also creating a deep connection with the San José community.”
Jon Ball, board chair of Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, said the design was destined to have a profound impact on the local community. “We are extremely excited to announce ‘Breeze of Innovation’ as the winner of our design competition,” he said. “This entry stood out because of its elegant and sophisticated visual style, representing Silicon Valley through vibrant motion and singular grace on an imposing scale.
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Breeze of Innovation by Smar Architecture Studio. Image:
Smar Architecture Studio
The Urban Confluence Silicon Valley ideas competition is organized by the San Jose Light Tower Corporation and supported by philanthropy. Despite the organization’s name, the San Jose Light Tower Corporation is keen to stress that the structure it plans to build is not a light tower itself, but rather, a tribute to the San Jose Electric Light Tower, built in 1881, which was a pioneering experiment in electricity-powered municipal lighting.
“…we came up with the idea of designing a dynamic landmark, one that is alive, moving with the wind and light, a magical space that includes a tribute to the San José Electric Light Tower of 1881,” said Jerez. “We want visitors to enjoy a unique experience on their ascent, connecting with the memory of the Valley while dreaming about its future possibilities.”
The goal of the project is to create something that embodies the “spirit of innovation” of the Silicon Valley, attracting tourists and locals alike.
More than $2.5 million has been raised for the project so far. The designs are expected to be submitted to the San José City Council in May 2021 for planning approval. More
City of Sydney councillors have cleared the way for a $726 million project that will occupy nearly half a city block in Sydney’s mid-town precinct.
The development at 338 Pitt Street, designed by an FJMT-led team, will include two interconnected 80-storey towers by FJMT at its centre, along with six podium buildings accommodating retail and hotel uses designed by four different architecture practices.
Councillors voted unanimously on 25 March for the final decision on the project’s approval to be delegated to the council’s CEO, effectively giving it the green light.
In stated reasons for the decision, councillors noted that the project was consistent with the city’s strategic planning as a high-quality mixed-use development.
“The slim tower design, materiality and siting contribute to the skyline and relate positively to the surrounding context,” the agreed upon motion states. “Sufficient separation is provided to maintain a good standard of amenity for adjoining properties and the public domain. The fine grain, varied podium designs and through site links will improve the quality and amenity of the public domain.”
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The 338 Pitt Street development, with lead design by FJMT.
Surrounding the towers will be the podium building designed by a number of different firms. Trias will design the 249 Castlereagh Street building, Polly Harbison Design will design the 241 Castlereagh Street building, Aileen Sage Architects will do Pitt Street Hotel, and Jerde will do the retail spaces. US-based Martha Schwartz Partners and FJMT Landscape will be in charge of the public domain architecture.
Altogether the buildings would accommodate 592 apartments, 158 hotel rooms and associated facilities, retail tenancies and new through-site links and a plaza.
According to the council, the application is “generally consistent” with a concept approval granted by the Central Sydney Planning Committee in February 2018. The FJMT-led team had won a design competition for the project that year.
The City of Sydney publicly exhibited the application for 28 days in July and August 2020, receiving eight submissions from government and statutory agencies – none of which objected to the proposal. More
Theme “Design the world you want,” the program for Melbourne Design Week in 2021 is full of bold ideas from Australian design and architecture practices that could transform our lives. With more than 300 events, the program is the biggest to date and also includes an extensive virtual program. Here, we round of some of the program highlights to get your minds racing.
WaterfrontOrganized by Open House Melbourne, Waterfront is a 11-day program of events across Melbourne and East Gippsland that celebrates and reimagines out waterways. The events include boating, bathing, snorkelling and eating, as well as tours, talks and films.
Future Food System by Joost BakkerInstalled at Federation Square’s River Terrace, the latest Greenhouse by Joost Bakker is the ultimate in self-sufficient living, complete with a productive garden, aquaponics, solar power, microfarms and a charcoal tank. Chefs Matt Stone and Jo Barrett have taken up residence in the Greenhouse and along with Joost, they will be conducting tours, workshops and intimate dining experiences inside the house.
A New NormalThis bold and future focused exhibition proposes to make Melbourne a self-sufficient city by 2030. An initiative of Finding Infinity, the exhibition proposes 10 initiatives to transform Melbourne, including electrifying transport, solar and wind energy, energy storage, ending landfill, waste to energy and new, efficient architecture, all envisioned by some of Melbourne’s best architecture practices.
Fresh Eyes Robin BoydRobin Boyd’s famed Walsh Street House, now the headquarters of the Robin Boyd Foundation, is reframed through this photographic exhibition. Some of Australia’s best architectural photographers were asked to look that this house through fresh eyes. The prints are also available for purchase.
Designing a legacy liveComedian Tim Ross brings his popular show Designing a Legacy, which aired on the ABC, to a live audience for Melbourne Design Week. The show goes on an architectural adventure to some of Australia’s most significant modernist houses and merges insights, anecdotes and humour.
Broached RecallA collaboration of Broached Commissions and Elton Group, Broad Recall is an exhibition of 12 applied art objects made with new and heritage timber veneers. Each object represents a dialogue of the past and present.
Melbourne Design Week is presented by Creative Victoria in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria. See the full program here. More
Penrith City Council has unveiled the winning design for the redevelopment of its former chambers, a project touted as a catalyst for the revitalization of Penrith CBD.
A scheme by Woods Bagot was judged the winner of a design excellence competition. The commercial office proposal was described as “a highly advanced workplace [that] will feature a sustainable design, and activated public and retail spaces for the community,” Penrith mayor Karen McKeown said.
Woods Bagot’s design is a tripartite arrangement of distinct element, which can be programmed separately or as whole to allow the building to adapt to future needs.
The podium base mimics the scale and materiality of existing site, with a brick facade reminiscent of the former council chambers building. Reclaimed bricks from the existing building will be used to create ground-level planter walls in the proposed scheme.
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The winning scheme for the redevelopment 131 Henry Street Penrith by Woods Bagot.
The upper tower will be a rectangular form that cantilevers over the podium base. Its glass and materiality will express the colours of the Blue Mountains, in reflection of Penrith’s role as a gateway to the natural attraction.
The third component of the design is a timber pavilion which will be raised to allow a future park to flow through the site.
The design also includes a new forecourt which will be located at a prominent corner of the site. The forecourt will include a tree in a circular planter, terraced brick steps, a water feature and public art.
“Reinforcing its place in civic life by providing a multitude of public uses, green space will flow through the site and connect it with the future City park, creating a heart to the civic and education precinct,” said Woods Bagot principal Jason Fraser said.
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The winning scheme for the redevelopment 131 Henry Street Penrith by Woods Bagot.
The proposed building will accommodate 8,000 square metres of commercial space, ground floor retail, on-site parking.
Fraser also said the design of the commercial building was informed by rapid changes in workplace design and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme is also designed to be flexible and adaptable to changing needs of users.
“This building is fundamentally different from commercial buildings of the past. It will offer a diverse range of experiences where people can work one day in a garden in the sun, the next at a quiet indoor location and the following at a rooftop overlooking the park,” he said.“Commercial buildings of the future need to overcome the tendency to be uniform – uniform lighting, uniform air quality, uniform spatial experience. Woods Bagot’s proposal for Penrith’s new community workplace deliberately moves away from this model.“Deep analysis of both the progressive changes underway in workplace design and the impact of COVID-19 on how people work has generated Woods Bagot’s scheme for a diverse and adaptable, breathable workspace that promotes different ways of working for different people. The design also responds directly to post-COVID workplace conditions by providing a porous, activated ground plane with multiple entry points to prevent bottlenecks of people using the space. There are also diverse and adaptable spaces, natural ventilation and access to greenery.”
Competition judge Kim Crestiani,”The Woods Bagot scheme envisions the future of commercial workplace design, and also responds carefully to the surrounding context, in particular the climate and public domain outcomes. Beyond providing local employment opportunities during construction and on completion, the supporting retail offering and public spaces will help create a vibrant destination next to City Park which can be enjoyed by all. It is a pleasure to be involved in such a great project and I look forward to its realisation.”
The design will undergo further development and refinement. A development application is expected to be lodged by the end of 2021. More
