Evelyn Reynolds

Global design firm Arup has been appointed by the Queensland government to lead the masterplanning of the Victoria Park precinct in Brisbane’s north, which is set to be the heart of the city’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
According to a media release from the government, “Arup … brings a wealth of experience in developing complex masterplans on major projects,” which will “kickstart the integrated masterplan for the Victoria Park precinct.”
The precinct is set to host the new Brisbane Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre, and encompasses the proposed Brisbane Athletes Village at the Brisbane Showgrounds nearby. Altogether, the precinct will host more than 10,000 athletes and officials during the Olympics and over 5,000 during the Paralympic Games.
Just last week, the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) launched an expression of interest (EOI) for principal architects for the Brisbane Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre.

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The appointment of a principal consultant to lead the integrated masterplan of the Victoria Park precinct attracted 20 expressions of interest, which the state government attributes to “enthusiasm in the market to build generational infrastructure.”
Arup project director Penny Hall said, “The opportunity to reimagine the inner Brisbane precinct as a world-class hub for recreation, events, entertainment, and lifestyle as a lasting legacy for Queenslanders well beyond the games is both familiar and tremendously exciting for our team to be a part of.”
Hall commented that Arup’s portfolio includes the Sydney 2000 Olympics, through to London 2012 and, more recently, Paris 2024, as well as global events such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“Our approach to masterplanning is grounded in a once-in-a-generation lens – one that aligns with the Queensland Government’s bold vision for the Victoria Park precinct,” Hall added.

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According to the government, “The first phase of the detailed masterplanning process … will include technical site investigations, planning and design [of] the major pieces of connectivity and public realm infrastructure to support infrastructure delivery and ensure visitors can move seamlessly around the precinct.
“The masterplan will also focus on … public and green spaces, improving connectivity, and creating seamless experiences for the thousands expected to enjoy the precinct during and long after the games.”
According to Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie, the contract is the first to be awarded for stadium delivery and “will ensure key venues, including Brisbane Stadium and National Aquatic Centre, are designed on time and with a clear vision to benefit Queenslanders for decades to come.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner added that, once realised, the “precinct will be the beating heart of Brisbane, where green turns to gold during the games and Queenslanders unite to celebrate sport, culture and lifestyle long after.”
The government notes that they are working closely with Brisbane City Council, the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), and other key stakeholders to ensure integrated design outcomes across the precinct. More

A proposal for a seven-level park-facing apartment building in Melbourne’s Brunswick has received fast-tracked approval.
The project marks the first collaboration between Austin Maynard Architects and developer Hip V. Hype. Named Parklife 2, the project aims to build on the success of the design of Parklife by Austin Maynard Architects, which claimed several architectural awards as part of Nightingale Village – including the Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture (Multiple Housing) at the Australian Institute of Architects 2023 National Architecture Awards.
ParkLife 2 was expedited for approval via the Victorian government’s Development Facilitation Program planning pathway. The proposed building at 427 Albert Street will accommodate 61 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. According to Hip V. Hype, the apartments “are configured to enable long-term flexibility, with the option to amalgamate dwellings to meet the needs of changing family structures.”

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A communal rooftop yard, enclosed by a mesh structure, is designed to create a safe and open environment where children can play freely. A six-metre, open-air public path at ground level with landscaped areas will create a new direct connection between Albert Street, Gilpin Park and Clifton Park. Gardens of the Sun are behind the landscape design of the project. Additionally, a ground-floor tenancy within the building will house Hip V. Hype’s new headquarters.
The project is targeting a minimum NatHERS rating of 8.5 stars. According to a communique from Hip V. Hype, the building will be fully electric. More

The Tasmanian Planning Commission (TPC) has recommended against building the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium in Hobart – the latest setback for the Tasmania Devils’ AFL and AFLW aspirations, with the stadium intended to be their future home ground.
An independent expert panel delivered its recommendation in a report that was publicly released on Wednesday 16 September. It states, “The panel has concluded that the benefits are outweighed by the disbenefits.”
The report notes, “The stadium (including its roof) – through its size, scale and form – will be dominant within the landscape, diminishing the prominence and significance of The Domain headland as a frame of Sullivans Cove, and standing as a significant obtrusive element in the present urban form in and surrounding Sullivans Cove.
“It will irrevocably change, for the worse in the opinion of the panel, the way in which the landscape and urban pattern is appreciated and understood.
“The size, shape and location of the site is ill-suited to a building like the stadium – a singular, large, bulky monolith which will overwhelm those surrounding buildings and the setting.”
Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis conducted by the panel found that constructing and operating the stadium would result in “a substantial net social cost to the Tasmanian community,” as the economic and social benefits are relatively small compared to the project’s public cost, the report states.
The panel concluded the report by saying that the “fundamental problem is the size, location and geographical features of the site, in its highly valued context, do not support the disproportionately large, monolithic building proposed.
“Proceeding with the project will give rise to irrevocable and unacceptable adverse impacts on Hobart’s spatial and landscape character, urban form and historic cultural heritage.”
In response, Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said, “[The report] massively underestimates the social and economic benefits of the stadium, our Tassie Devils AFL and AFLW teams, and a supercharged events industry will have on our state.”
“As a growing state, reaching for aspiration and opportunity for young people, we must pursue ambitious projects like that at Macquarie Point.
“It will create jobs, boost our tourism and hospitality sector, secure world-class entertainment and keep our economy strong.”
Concept designs for the stadium were unveiled in July 2024. Cox Architecture was announced in May 2024 as the lead design consultant for the project alongside Tasmanian architecture practice Cumulus Studio, specialist engineers and technicians AECOM, Cova, Aldanmark, and Pitt and Sherry, and international partner Schlaich Bergermann Partners.
The recommendation doesn’t carry legal weight, with the Tasmanian parliament set to have the final say on approval for the project with a vote in both houses of parliament. More

Highly esteemed British architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw has died aged 85.
In 1980, he founded Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners, the practice behind several iconic projects – including the Financial Times printworks in east London (1988), the Eden Project in Cornwall (2001), and the International Terminal at Waterloo Station in London (1993), which won the 1994 RIBA Building of the Year Award, the precursor to the Stirling Prize. In 2024, the practice won its second Stirling Prize for the Elizabeth Line.

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Today, Grimshaw has offices in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Dubai, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. In Australia, Grimshaw’s practice has also achieved significant success with projects such as the Parramatta Aquatic Centre – designed with Andrew Burges Architects and McGregor Coxall – which won the Australian Institute of Architects 2024 National Award for Public Architecture and the 2024 Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design. Other notable works include the Martin Place Metro in Sydney (2024) and the Sydney CBD and South East Light Rail stations (2019).

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Grimshaw was knighted for his services to architecture in 2002, served as the president of the Royal Academy from 2004 to 2011, and was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 2019. At the time of receiving the 2019 RIBA Gold Medal, he reflected, “My life, and that of the practice, has always been involved in experiment and in ideas, particularly around sustainability; I have always felt we should use the technology of the age we live in for the improvement of mankind.”
In 2022, Grimshaw established a foundation aimed at supporting and empowering young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by helping them explore creative and built environment career paths. According to his firm, the Grimshaw Foundation has supported more than 500 young people over the past three years, helping them to develop practical skills, build confidence and curiosity, and see creative careers as both realistic and achievable.
Grimshaw’s firm, which announced his passing today, characterised him as “a man of invention and ideas” who will be remembered “for his endless curiosity about how things are made and his commitment to the craft of architecture and building.”
“Nick had an extraordinary ability to convince others that daring ideas were possible.”

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Chairman of Grimshaw Andrew Whalley recalled that from the very first day he arrived at the practice in 1986, he felt the warmth and generosity of Nick’s leadership. “The lack of hierarchy in the studio, shaped by his amiable and open personality, was its true strength. It created a collegiate spirit, a place where people genuinely enjoyed working together, supporting one another, and finding the tenacity to deliver some of the most complex buildings,” said Whalley.
“His architecture was never about surface or fashion, but always about structure, craft and purpose – about creating buildings that endure because they are both useful and uplifting and, in Nick’s words, ‘bring some kind of joy.’”
Grimshaw lived with his wife and was a proud father of two. More

Melbourne-based practice Kennedy Nolan has been appointed to progress the evolution of a masterplan for the historic Abbotsford Convent precinct in the city’s inner north-east.
The 16-acre convent site has been a place of enduring historical significance, currently serving as a multi-arts precinct.
From 1863 until 1974, the site was home to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd – at the time, “one of the largest charitable institutions in the southern hemisphere,” a communique from the convent notes.

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In 2017, the complex was added to the national heritage list in recognition of its historical and architectural significance. A year later, in 2018, Kerstin Thompson Architects completed an adaptive re-use of the convent’s Sacred Heart building, which won a National Commendation for Heritage at the Australian Institute of Architects 2019 Architecture Awards.
In collaboration with specialist consultants, architecture practice Hassell were appointed to update the masterplan for the site, then 15 years old, in 2022.
According to the convent’s communique, the appointment of Kennedy Nolan to assist in the realisation of the masterplan marks a significant milestone in the site’s journey of renewal.

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CEO of the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Justine Hyde said, “Abbotsford Convent has always been a place where heritage and creativity converge – partnering with Kennedy Nolan ensures that our built and natural environment will continue to inspire and serve the community while respecting the unique character of our beloved precinct.”
“As a values-aligned local practice known for its sensitive, human-centred approach, Kennedy Nolan was a natural choice to progress this next phase of work,” Hyde added. “Their appointment underscores the convent’s commitment to design that is both forward-thinking and deeply grounded in place to create spaces that invite creativity, inclusivity and sustainability.”
Kennedy Nolan principal Rachel Nolan said the studio was honoured with the appointment. “Our partnership with Abbotsford Convent is enormously satisfying to us, bringing together so many elements of intrinsic importance to our practice: First Nations priorities, repair of ecology, growing infrastructure for creative production, inclusivity and placemaking for Melbourne and its many visitors,” she said.

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The convent’s communique notes that over the next six months, Kennedy Nolan “will scope and prioritise key projects for development in realising the 2022 convent masterplan vision to protect and enhance the precinct for future generations.”
In June this year, Hyde expressed opposition to plans for the four-storey redevelopment of an aged-care facility designed by Life Architecture and Urban Design (formerly CHT Architects) for Mercy Health, located adjacent to the heritage-listed Good Shepherd Chapel. The application is currently under assessment from Heritage Victoria. More

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games – an event remembered as “the green games” for its environmental legacy. In preparation for this global spectacle, a team of built environment professionals came together to deliver an ambitious and lasting urban masterplan – among them, architects Lawrence Nield and Philip Thalis.

In this episode of Design Speaks Weekly, Lawrence and Philip draw on this experience to consider the opportunities for city-making in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Lawrence, a founding principal and director of BVN and recipient of the 2012 Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal, was head of masterplanning for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He has since been involved with the delivery of Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games. Philip is a founding principal of Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects, who, working with several collaborators, won a national competition for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Athlete’s Village at Homebush Bay. Philip is also a former City of Sydney councillor and the recipient of the 2024 Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.
During the conversation, Lawrence remarked that the goal of Olympic masterplanning should be to create “a piece of the city, not a sporting park.” He points out that while many Olympic parks around the world fall into disuse, those that are well integrated into the urban fabric tend to thrive long after the games.
Philip reflected that at Homebush, the real opportunity was the scale of the site – more than 800 hectares of publicly owned land – but the missed opportunity was not properly connecting the precinct to the broader city’s transport network. He recalled meeting with government departments to propose a through rail line, but there were no plans, so they ended up repurposing existing lines to make a loop to handle the crowds of more than 300,000 people a day. Now, decades later, they’re adding metro and light rail to the precinct – infrastructure that was proposed in the 1992 Olympic Village scheme developed by Hill Thalis and collaborators.
“I think when you talk about legacy, you really need to talk about increasing the capability for city-making. This is the challenge for Brisbane and this is where Sydney could have done much better,” said Philip.
Design Speaks Weekly is presented in partnership with the Australian Institute of Architects and with support from Lysaght. A fresh episode will be delivered every Tuesday. You can listen to it on major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts.
For more reflections on Sydney 2000, read the archival article Identity and the Olympics by Harry Margait, published in Architecture Australia (Sep/Oct 2000), and an article by architectural photographers Patrick Bingham-Hall and John Gollings, who were each commissioned to document the games in progress, published in Architecture Australia (Jan/Feb 2001).
For current thinking on Brisbane 2032, explore our recent dossier. Read Catherin Bull’s introduction here, Malcolm Middleton’s article on the complicated Olympics planning process here, a roundtable on legacy pathways here, Richard Kirk’s take on the history and opportunities for Woolloongabba here, Michael Keniger on the potential of design review here, and Helen Lochhead’s comparison of lessons from Sydney 2000 and London 2012 here. Tickets are also now on sale for The Architecture Symposium: All eyes on Brisbane, a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media, which will be held on 17 October 2025. More

Designs have been unveiled for a $150 million revitalisation of the Cadbury Chocolate Factory site in Claremont, Hobart, which would see the factory’s waterfront parklands transformed into a “chocolate experience.”
According to a media communique, the vision from tourism entrepreneur Simon Currant and Associates is to “combine wonder, indulgence and Tasmania’s rich provenance into a global benchmark attraction – a celebration of chocolate on a scale never before seen.”
Together with Art Processors – an experience design enterprise from David Walsh, founder of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) – Tasmanian architecture firm Cumulus Studio has shaped the creative direction of the project.

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The communique notes that their “design takes cues from the adjacent Cadbury Factory, reimagining its pipes, machines and conveyor belts into a hyperreal chocolate world.”
Centred around the factory-like “chocolate central” space, the project is set to feature a masterclass space, chocolate emporium and chocolate lounge.
According to the communique, visitors will be able to journey through an “immersive chocolate tour” designed to “celebrate Tasmania’s past, present and future” and bring “Cadbury’s 100-year Tasmanian heritage to life.”
The tour will include a cacao forest, a chocolate lab, a taste kitchen,a factory control space and a build-your-own bar, among other experience-oriented spaces.

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Founding principal of Art Processors Tony Holzner said that the project is “built on curiosity, invention and joy” and “an active sensorial experience that brings the wonder of chocolate to life, inspiring discovery and connection through generosity and hands-on fun for all ages.”
Director at Cumulus Studio Peter Walker added that the design “is an architectural embodiment of chocolate itself – rich, layered and unforgettable. It is a place where magic is not just seen, but felt, tasted and experienced in every detail.”
Each year, the attraction is forecast to welcome 550,000 visitors – the equivalent of $120 million into Tasmania’s visitor economy. Ninety-five percent of the funding for the project is intended to be secured from private investors, with the remaining “government support providing confidence for future success,” the media release notes.
The project will also include the redevelopment of the Claremont waterfront with landscaped walkways and a new ferry terminal.

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An article in The Mercury reported that plans for the development have been lodged with Glenorchy City Council and noted that Currant “is hopeful a decision on the project will be made by the end of January with construction starting next year.”
Currant commented, “Cadbury’s story runs deep in Tasmania, and by pairing that heritage with the best local produce, we will create a destination that locals are proud of and visitors will love.”
The project is slated to open in 2027. More

A new viewing platform with a distinctive curved tubular form has opened at the Loch Ard Gorge Blowhole in Port Campbell National Park in Victoria’s south-west.
According to a release from the Victorian government, the project draws upon the story of Koontapool, the Southern Right Whale, and as such is named Poombeeyt Koontapool – ‘breath of the whale’ in the Keerray Wooroong language.
Led by Denton Corker Marshall (DCM) with landscape design by McGregor Coxall and engineering by Arup, the design for the lookout was borne of a collaboration with traditional owners of the Eastern Maar Country, including artist Vicki Couzens.
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A communique from DCM notes that Couzens’s “integrated artwork embodies the breath of the Southern Right Whale, a creature central to Eastern Maar spiritual beliefs, where the blowhole itself is interpreted as the whale’s blowhole.”
At the opening of the lookout, Couzens reflected, “It’s an amazing work that incorporates our cultural songlines and stories with the principles of biomorphic design, which is designing with nature and environment.”
“The design avoids projecting over the edge, preserving the sanctity of this culturally and environmentally sensitive location,” DCM’s communique states. “The lookout embeds storytelling, ecology and equity of experience, ensuring all visitors – regardless of physical ability or cultural background — can engage meaningfully with the site.”
Director at DCM and design team lead Neil Bourne reflected, “We are proud to have led the design team on this remarkable project, in collaboration with the Eastern Maar people, to deliver an outcome that is culturally expressive yet sits comfortably in Country.”

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Described by the practice as “a sculptural insertion into the landscape,” the platform curves organically into the landscape and coastal vegetation with a shell-like form. The tubular form is sliced open at either end, meaning that the view – like the shelter itself – is revealed only upon approach.
This response to the site is intended to amplify the sensory experience of the blowhole through the sound of the waves and movement of sea spray, while also “evoking imagery of cresting waves, seashells, geological formations or a breaching whale,” DCM’s communique notes. Custom seating, inspired by whale-like barnacles, is intended to provide places of rest and yarning.
Due to the unstable geology and remoteness of the site, the lookout was constructed from fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) – a lightweight and durable material which allowed for precision prefabrication of the lookout in modules, which were assembled together off-site, disassembled and then reassembled into the finished project on site.

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The Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout is the third and final intervention funded under the first stage of the Shipwreck Coast masterplan, each designed by DCM. At the Twelve Apostles, the firm’s design for a cantilevered lookout developed in collaboration with the Eastern Maar Aborigional Corporation was opened in 2024. In Port Campbell, a new pedestrian bridge over Campbell’s Creek completed in 2020 adopts the principle of “treading lightly” to connect the town and national park.
According to DCM, the three projects are linked by the symbolic motif of the black and white cockatoos – the Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout adopting a recessive, black exterior in contrast to a light interior – however, Bourne noted that they each respond “in very different ways to unique environmental and cultural qualities of their locations.”
The trilogy of projects originated from an invited design competition in 2018, with concepts shaped by guidance from Parks Victoria following engagement with traditional owners. The design team were also the proponents of the 2015 Shipwreck Coast masterplan – a strategic framework for integrating architecture that honours cultural narratives and ecological integrity across the 28 kilometres of natural coastline and hinterland surrounding the Twelve Apostles.

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The Poombeeyt Koontapool Lookout officially opened to the public on Friday 12 September. Nearby, construction is currently underway on the Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, designed by Grimshaw Architects and Aspect Studios. More