Evelyn Reynolds

The practice is currently engaged in a series of projects in hospitality, resort, hotel, housing and ecclesiastical design across the Indonesian archipelago. More

A new mixed-use, build-to-rent (BTR) development designed by Plus Studio for SKS Group has been granted development approval on the fringe of Perth’s CBD.
Known as The Harvest, the Murray Street project is proposed within an inner-city commercial precinct between the CBD and Kings Park in West Perth. The site is surrounded by an eclectic mix of heritage and contemporary buildings housing offices, medical suites, consulates and government agencies.
According to a media release from Plus Studio, the project is “conceived as a new generation of development,” with the 21-storey proposal bringing together 87 serviced apartments, 118 BTR apartments and ground-floor retail space.

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The communique notes that Plus Studio amended an inherited development application scheme with “a version that works harder, feels lighter and fits more naturally into the rhythm of the city. Key design interventions include maximising the plot ratios and redesigning the entry lobbies, retail spaces, car parking and short-stay communal facilities to meet the client’s brief in line with the site and its context.”
Plus Studio senior associate Prasad Nimma said, “We were able to enhance constructability and efficiency while clarifying the vision for The Harvest as a place that responds to its site, supports everyday life and contributes to Perth’s evolving CBD.”
The project is underpinned by the idea of creating a vertical community supported by shared amenities. At podium level, a significant communal open space featuring a bocce court, landscaped seating and covered barbecue areas for residents and visitors is intended to serve as an active shared focal point for the building.
Short-stay amenities such as a gym, co-working spaces, a wellness space and private dining room/bar facilities overlook the ground-floor lobby from the mezzanine, while a dedicated residential amenities level is provided on the fifth floor.

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The proposed tower design – clad in a grey, concrete-look cladding punctuated by full-height glazing – meets the street with an angular expression. Bronze tones in the building’s perforated metal, window glazing and lobby interiors are intended to give “the building a calm presence and a strong sense of arrival.”
According to the studio’s media release, “The inclusion of build-to-rent apartments means the homes are purpose-designed for long-term rental, with a single owner and professional management. This model can offer residents greater security of tenure, consistent maintenance and access to shared amenities, while helping to deliver high-quality rental housing close to Perth’s CBD,” the release states.
“Together, the residential and short-stay components are designed to holistically support contemporary city living in a building that is fully electrical and guided by passive solar principles, helping to reduce operational emissions and support more efficient day-to-day running over time.” More

DKO Architecture has announced the recent launch of its Jakarta studio, marking the practice’s expansion into Indonesia as part of its broader growth in the Asia-Pacific. The new studio is led by Hughy Dharmayoga, who brings more than two decades of international experience to the role.
Having completed a Master of Architecture in Urban Design at the Pratt Institute in New York, Dharmayoga’s career spans almost 20 years at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) in New York, where he worked from 1999 to 2018. Most recently, he was design director for the Autograph Tower – with PT. Putragaya-Wahana, part of Jakarta’s landmark Thamrin Nine complex, the tallest high-rise tower in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at 382.9 metres.
“Jakarta is a city full of energy, ambition, and creative potential,” said Dharmayoga. “I’m thrilled to lead DKO’s next phase of growth here – collaborating closely with local talent to deliver design solutions that are not only innovative but deeply connected to Indonesia’s identity and community.”

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Across the Indonesian archipelago, DKO is currently engaged in a range of projects with Indonesian property developer Agung Sedayu and the Sari Pacific hotel, spanning hospitality, resort, hotel, housing and ecclesiastical design.
Dharmayoga’s goal is to strengthen DKO’s presence in Southeast Asia – including its 50-person Ho Chi Minh studio – while cultivating design excellence through local partnerships and regional expertise.
According to a media communique from the firm, “DKO’s expansion into Indonesia marks a strategic step in its commitment to designing for the Asia-Pacific, with Hughy [Dharmayoga]’s leadership ensuring a dynamic and authentic approach rooted in local collaboration and international excellence.” More

Architecture Media acknowledges recent concerning information regarding prominent Australian architectural photographer Derek Swalwell. More

Under the reforms, a single statewide approval pathway for prefabricated buildings would replace individual council processes, and clearer regulations governing the manufacture, transport and installation of prefabricated buildings would be established. More

Architecture Media acknowledges recent concerning information regarding prominent Australian architectural photographer Derek Swalwell. We extend our support to those impacted and condemn the actions in question.
After careful consideration, we have decided to retain his photographs on ArchitectureAu.com, LandscapeAustralia.com, HousesAwards.com.au, AustralianInteriorDesignAwards.com, Eat-Drink-Design.com, AAUnbuilt.com.au and AAuSocialImpact.com.au, considering the impact that their removal would have on the architects and designers whose work he documented.
Practices wishing to review their content can contact us directly at publisher@archmedia.com.au.
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The New South Wales government has proposed a raft of new building law reforms aimed at accelerating the adoption of modular and prefabricated homes and streamlining the broader housing approvals process.
Under the Building Productivity Reforms, a single statewide approval pathway for prefabricated buildings would replace individual local council processes, providing what the government describes as a more consistent approach to assessing applications. The reforms would also establish clearer regulations governing the manufacture, supply, transport, delivery and installation of prefabricated buildings.
According to a NSW government communique, the Commonwealth Productivity Commission estimates that prefab and modular buildings could cut construction costs by up to 20 percent and speed up home construction by as much as 50 percent.
Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said the prefabricated and modular housing reforms would remove barriers to such housing without lowering standards for building quality. “These are no longer fringe options – they are central to how we build the homes of tomorrow.”
The proposed reforms include measures to expedite building approvals more broadly. The current requirement to submit duplicate detailed designs to gain building approval for apartment buildings would be scrapped. Instead, only one set of detailed designs would be required, which the government estimates could save an average of $327,000 in design costs per apartment block.
Minor design revisions would also be permitted during housing construction without requiring a return to local councils for re-approval.
The proposed reforms also seek to crack down on situations involving conflicts of interest, such as when certifiers have financial or personal stakes in the projects they assess. A clear statutory conflict-of-interest test would be developed to determine when a building certifier must not be involved in assessing a project. Subject to consultation, tougher conflict-of-interest penalties would be imposed, increasing the maximum fine from $33,000 to $1.1 million. Regulators would also be given authority to immediately suspend a certifier’s registration when breaches occur.
Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said the reforms would help the state to meet its Housing Accord targets. “At a time when NSW needs to build 377,000 homes by 2029 to meet housing demand, these reforms are critical to delivering the high-quality homes around the state,” said Chanthivong.
The Building Productivity Reforms are expected to go before state parliament in 2026. More

The newly unveiled patterns are designed to “strike a balance between compact living and community connection … [and] enhance neighbourhood character while meeting the needs of diverse households.” More