Evelyn Reynolds

Renderings for a forthcoming hotel and residential development in Melbourne, designed by Kerry Hill Architects (KHA), have been unveiled.
The $300 million hotel is being developed by Orchard Piper alongside The Carter Group, with Como Hotels and Resorts newly appointed as operators. The hotel will be Como’s second hotel in Australia, following the opening of The Treasury in Perth, also designed by KHA, in 2015.
The project, known as the Carter Building, is designed to unite a hotel, spa and private serviced residences in one building, and is located on St Kilda Road – near Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens – in the city’s inner-south.
Orchard Piper director Luke McKie said, “Melbourne has seen an influx of new hotels in recent years, but few are in truly great locations. This property is perfectly situated for the city’s major events and will mark a return to a more understated and timeless luxury experience, one that’s not influenced by the latest trends.”

View gallery

Occupying the building’s first nine levels, the hotel will comprise 102 rooms, including several custom-designed family suites, and be serviced by a full-floor wellness centre, function room, fitness centre and indoor lap pool. These facilities will also be accessible by the building’s 54 private residences. A restaurant, cafe and bar will also be open to guests, residents and locals.
A media communique from Como notes that the building’s “bluestone facade pays homage to Melbourne’s architectural heritage, while the interiors create a sanctuary of understated luxury, showcasing KHA’s signature contextual approach to design.”

View gallery

Construction of the Carter Building commenced in August, with the new hotel slated to open in early 2028. More

Melbourne Walk, a new mixed-use development in the heart of Melbourne city’s retail centre, has officially opened – marking the first new development in Bourke Street Mall in more than 50 years.
Melbourne Walk, formerly known as The Walk, stitches together multiple buildings and 6,295 square metres of retail via a series of pedestrian connections across a 3,600-square-metre site bounded by Bourke Street, Little Collins Street, the Causeway and Union Lane, which was once home to eight separate buildings.
Buchan led both the architecture and interior design for the entire project, including the hotels, for client Steadfast Capital. Buchan senior associate Hayden Djakic said the development “leverages its premium position on Melbourne’s established north-south pedestrian ant trail.”
Four heritage-listed facades have been retained and restored – including Diamond House and the Public Benefit Bootery on Bourke Street, and the Allans and York buildings on Little Collins Street – in a move the architects said was intended to preserve the “sense of a collection of buildings” while consolidating the block into a unified whole.

View gallery

Djakic noted that the “new facades take cues from their historic neighbours, reinterpreting materials and geometry,” and reinstating the “distinctive blade signs that were a lost feature [on facades].”
According to the architects, the notion of separate buildings is reinforced internally through a network of new arcades and laneways that allow natural light to reach in and through the site. Union Lane, they noted, remains true to its service-lane origins, while food and beverage shopfronts along the Causeway support its revival as a “foodie” destination.

View gallery

A new nine-metre-tall arcade that links Bourke Street to Little Collins Street has also been established. According to the architects, this new arcade takes on similar proportions to the neighbouring Royal and Block arcades. Features such as gold-tinted skylights in faceted shapes serve as a homage to Diamond House’s history as a hub for jewellery businesses.
Within the site is a dual-branded hotel, Holiday Inn and Hotel Indigo, which are both part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group but each designed with distinct identities. Collectively, they accommodate 452 suites across nine levels atop a three-level retail podium.
The project officially opened to the public on 8 September. More

Guided by curatorial committee Sarah Lynn Rees, Carroll Go-Sam and Dillon Kombumerri, the Melbourne edition of The Architecture Symposium 2025 explores best practice when designing for First Nations clients, communities and Country through the presentation of ten projects.
Scheduled for 21 November at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s Clarendon Auditorium in South Wharf, the symposium will feature 13 speakers reflecting on their work and experiences. The event will also examine how the industry is faring in terms of education, advocacy and policy making.
The symposium comes at a time of growing momentum to integrate Indigenous perspectives into architectural thinking and practice. In recent years, a wave of built projects has demonstrated increased collabotation with First Nations communities and a stronger focus on the inclusion of Indigenous histories and knowledge. The program provides an opportunity to take a pulse check on the profession’s progress – considering how far the industry has come, and how far it still has to go.

View gallery

Projects to be presented include the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence by ARM Architecture; the UTS National First Nations College by Greenaway Architects; the Glen Waverley Civic Precinct by Winsor Kerr; the Blacktown Native Institute Masterplan Reference Design by COLA Studio; Mari-Mari-Ba by Deicke Richards; Djarragun College by People Oriented Design; Nungalinya by Incidental Architecture; and the Ieramugadu School Redevelopment, Roebourne by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects.
These project reflections will be complemented by a series of focused discussions, including:

Reshaping education: The impact of First Nations Performance Criteria, presented by Michael Mossman of the University of Sydney
Cultural considerations: Rethinking briefs, competitions and guidelines, presented by Danièle Hromek of Djinjama
Beyond architecture: Facilitating agency and advocacy, presented by Kieran Wong of the Fulcrum Agency
So how are we doing? – a conversation between Carroll Go-Sam and Sarah Lynn Rees and associate editor of Architecture Australia Georgia Birks.

The Architecture Symposium is a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media and supported by premium partners Bondor Metecno, Vicostone and Planned Cover, and hotel partner Ovolo South Yarra. More information and tickets can be found on the Design Speaks website. More

Plans to transform a historic arthouse cinema on Oxford Street in Sydney’s Paddington into a mixed-use development have been lodged with the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).
Led by developer WT Malouf, the state significant proposal for the Verona Cinema has been designed by local practice Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG). Almost thirty years ago, the firm completed a conversion of the same cinema building, which was originally built in 1946 as an industrial facility and later became a four-screen cinema complex after it was acquired by Palace Cinemas in 1995.
The building remained unused for a decade after having closed its doors in 2010. Following the site’s acquisition by the current developer in 2021, plans to redevelop the building have passed through the hands of Scott Carver (now Studio SC), who developed an six-storey, mixed-use commercial and retail scheme for the site in 2022 and an eight-storey iteration in 2024.
The current proposal from TZG adds residential uses into the mix. Plans include a new cinema run by Golden Age, with multiple screens and creative performance spaces; approximately 60 metres of retail frontage for small-scale businesses along Oxford Street; and 53 apartments, including 15 affordable dwellings.

View gallery

According to a media release, “the development will retain the Verona’s iconic brick facade, recognising the building’s role in Paddington’s cultural life for nearly three decades.” The proposal includes an extension of this facade and a new entry, articulated in red hues. Above, the faceted residential facade is envisioned in a blond brick.
The release also notes that landscaped public connections between South Dowling and Verona streets will improve walkability and accessibility.
Tim Greer, director at TZG, described the project as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore this important part of Oxford Street.”
Director at WT Malouf Jack Joseph added, “At a time when Sydney is losing suburban cinemas, we’re committed to creating a bigger and better cinema experience for Paddington. Golden Age’s arrival will ensure Oxford Street continues to be a home for independent film, live performance and community events.”
CEO at Golden Age Cinema and Bar Barrie Barton commented, “Cinema can be more than just watching a film — it can be the beating heart of a neighbourhood … we’ve seen how a cinema can anchor dining, music and social life, and we’re excited to bring that same cultural energy to Paddington.
“Verona will be a chance to radically reimagine what a cinema can be for Sydney, not just preserving a much-loved institution but giving it new life in a way that reflects the city’s creative future,” he said.

View gallery

According to the media communique, the project has been designed in line with the City of Sydney’s Oxford Street Cultural and Creative Precinct strategy, and the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy, “contributing to the revival of Oxford Street as a safe, vibrant and connected cultural precinct that operates by day and night.”
“This development is about more than apartments,” Joseph said. “It’s about contributing to Oxford Street’s restoration as one of Sydney’s great cultural boulevards, where people come to live, create and socialise.”
The project is expected to be determined by the NSW DPHI in 2026, with construction planned to start later that year and be complete within three years. More

Hassell has been appointed to develop a concept design for Western Australia’s Aboriginal Cultural Centre, located on Whadjuk Noongar Country. A communique from the WA government describes the vision for the new centre “as an immersive cultural hub that will showcase Aboriginal creativity through art, dance, language, song and storytelling.”
Plans for the project were first announced in August 2022, with the proposed site located between the Derbarl Yerrigan/Swan River and Perth Concert Hall, which is currently undergoing revitalisation by With Architecture Studio and OMA.
Premier Roger Cook said, “The appointment of Hassell is the next important milestone in delivering the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, a project of profound importance to Western Australia.”
According to Cook, “Hassell brings valuable design expertise to create a world-class cultural landmark that honours Aboriginal cultures and deepens our shared understanding.” Their appointment is based upon their portfolio of award-winning infrastructure projects, such as Perth’s Optus Stadium (with Cox Architecture and HKS), and involvement in the Laak Boorndap garden (with Solid Objectives, horticulturalists Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough and plant expert Jac Semmler from Super Bloom), which is currently under construction as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
Hassell will collaborate with key stakeholders and Aboriginal communities to develop a design for the WA Aboriginal Cultural Centre that is informed by First Nations knowledge and connection to Country. To realise this vision, the government has also appointed Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna and former Treasurer and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt as co-chairs of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre implementation group.
To date, $104 million in funding has been committed to the project, with matched contributions from the state and federal governments.
In the eyes of the WA government, the centre “will be a key driver for cultural tourism, offering vibrant events and connecting locals, interstate and international visitors with local community, artists and creatives.”
Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk noted, “Western Australia is home to some of the nation’s most talented creatives, and this project showcases that expertise on the world stage.” More

The Western Australian Planning Commission has unanimously approved plans to develop a $250 million, 14-storey building in West Perth for Hancock Prospecting, an Australian mining and agricultural company controlled by Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart.
Designed by Perth-based architecture practice Donaldson Boshard to be a “work meets wellness” business hub, the project comprises a single building with two towers – a northern office tower and a southern amenities tower – connected by a shared podium and gradually separating at higher levels.
The project will involve the demolition of several buildings on Outram Street, including a Federation-era home built in 1904, to clear the site for the new 14-storey development. The application sought the development of a “mixed-use building,” accommodating several levels of office space – set to include the new headquarters of Hancock’s Prospecting – along with gyms, swimming pools, childcare amenities, hospitality offerings and apartments.
The project was approved at a Statutory Planning Committee meeting on 8 October.
During the committee meeting, member Megan Adair raised questions about the project’s classification as “mixed-use,” noting that the proposed amenities – including pools and gyms – are intended for private use by Hancock Prospecting. It was also highlighted during the meeting that the residential component appears to consist of executive suites for the company’s use.
Adair queried whether this meets West Perth’s objective of being a mixed-use area.
Speaking on behalf of the client, Dan Lees of Element Advisory responded by saying, “I think West Perth is characterised as a mixed-used area. To my mind, that means that the area as a whole or the precinct as a whole has a mix of land uses, not necessarily that each individual building or development has to have a mix of uses within it.
“There are plenty of examples of entirely residential buildings in West Perth, in the same way there are plenty of buildings that are exclusively office or commercial,” said Lees. “This building does have a mix – albeit it’s a reasonably small one in terms of the proportions of office versus the executive suites.”
Other issues raised during the meeting by State Development Assessment Unit planner Jacky Jurmann related to the building’s height and the demolition of the existing Federation-era dwelling. It was noted in the committee that the dwelling was recently evaluated for heritage status by the City of Perth but was ultimately not listed. The building height was also considered less contentious given the built form features an open centre rather than a box-like mass.

View gallery

Aspect Studios were engaged for the landscape design.
The facade of the building incorporates a trellis system to support vertical landscaping, which, according to the architect’s website, is intended to soften the building’s appearance and promote wellbeing. The architect noted that building setbacks have allowed about 60 percent of the site to be allocated “to landscaping and publicly accessible open space at ground level.”

Adair commented, “I do think that the architecture is very welcome in Perth. It’s nice to see something that’s a bit different and will stand out for Perth as a building.”

View gallery

The architect’s website notes, “The campus is built around the evolving nature of work … If the workplace is no longer somewhere you have to be, it must become somewhere you want to be, and this project embraces that shift, prioritising comfort, flexibility and connection.”

The project will target a 5-star Green Star rating. More

Expressions of interest are now open for the milestone tenth edition of Melbourne Design Week, Australia’s largest annual design festival, set to return from 14–24 May 2026 with a statewide program celebrating the power of design.
Presented by the NGV, the festival has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, expanding from fewer than 100 events in its first year to more than 450 in 2025, with over 100,000 attendees.
Designers, studios, makers and collectives are now invited to propose bold and original ideas for talks, exhibitions, installations, workshops and more. Submissions are open until 13 November 2025. The 2026 program will again extend beyond Melbourne, activating venues across Victoria and including the Melbourne Art Book Fair, for which expressions of interest close on 1 December 2025.
Tony Ellwood AM, director of the NGV, said: “Since 2017, Melbourne Design Week has grown in strength and ambition – due in large part to the limitless imagination of our local design community. In 2026, we invite designers, architects, makers and collectives to help us shape the milestone tenth edition of the festival and to share their groundbreaking achievements with our ever-growing audience.”
For further information about Melbourne Design Week 2026, visit designweek.melbourne More

A new speaker series will reveal the stories behind the careers of Australia’s most respected designers. First and Last, launching this month in Melbourne, invites leading architects and interior designers to reflect on their earliest work and contrast it with a recent project — offering a rare glimpse into the creative evolution behind a career in design.
The inaugural event, taking place at King Living’s Southbank showroom in Melbourne on October 29, will feature presentations by Clare Cousins, director of Clare Cousins Architects, and Kirsten Stanisich, director of Richards Stanisich. Through candid storytelling and personal insights, the series explores how creative practices evolve over time, what influences remain constant, and how the design landscape itself continues to shift.

View gallery

For Clare Cousins, the journey begins with Page Street, one of the first houses she completed after founding her practice in 2005. The copper-clad home marked the start of her signature approach to contextually responsive design. Fast forward to today, Cousins will contrast this with Courtyard House, a refined reimagining of a 1885 corner store. The two projects, decades apart, demonstrate not only her evolving aesthetic but what has changed in residential architecture in Australia.

View gallery

Kirsten Stanisich will take the audience back to MG Garage and Fuel, a Sydney hospitality venue she designed in 1997 alongside Andrew Parr. The project was an iconic addition to the cultural fabric of Sydney. In contrast, Stanisich’s recent work on Motel Molly, a reinvention of a 1980s brick motel in Mollymook, showcases a more nuanced and place-sensitive approach, balancing nostalgia with contemporary comfort.
First and Last promises to be part design talk, part storytelling session — offering emerging designers, students, and industry professionals a refreshing and honest take on how careers in architecture and design unfold.
Tickets are now on sale at the Design Speaks website. More