Evelyn Reynolds

The National Trust of Australia’s Victorian branch has released a discussion paper denouncing facadism as an acceptable architectural practice for heritage redevelopments.
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria), an independent heritage advocacy organization, has recently published The Facadism Discussion Paper 2023 in response to what the organization describes as a growing trend, over the past 15 years, for heritage redevelopment projects to preserve only the external faces of a building and demolish the remainder.
The paper states that to demolish everything but the external face of a structure erases all evidence of how a building was previously arranged, used, and constructed deleting any record of the characteristics that once “made that building a lived place.” It urges architects, developers and planners to “retain as much significant heritage fabric as possible,” including internal features, room arrangements and construction materials to “provide evidence of how and when the structure was built,” as well as “indicate former use and history.”
The document also encourages those within the built environment profession to “substantially set back” any new additions to a heritage retained building so as to clearly define the new form as a separate entity, avoid visual domination of the historic form, and be respectful of the original building’s character and architectural expression.
“If everything but the facade of a building has been demolished, it is no longer a building, and most of its heritage significance has been lost. Facadism should therefore not be considered an acceptable heritage outcome in the redevelopment of a heritage place,” the paper reads.
“The National Trust strongly believes that the heritage significance of a place is associated with that place as a whole. It is evident in the bricks and mortar, but also in its internal spaces, which provide evidence of its former use and story. It does not rest only in the facade, even if this may appear to be a building’s most notable feature from the street level.
“Furthermore, this loss of significance cannot be mitigated through a token setback of a new development only a few metres from the facade. Enough original fabric must be retained to ensure that the heritage place can be appreciated and understood.”
In accordance with the Planning and Environment Act (1987), local councils in Victoria are responsible for safeguarding heritage sites in their municipality by including a Heritage Overlay in their Planning Scheme. In recent years, many councils have revised and amended their heritage policies to discourage facadism, the paper acknowledged.
Certain councils have updated their heritage policies to ensure that a minimim depth of at least two rooms is retained when redeveloping. The document states that this specific policy modification is “a practical guide for most Victorian or Edwardian homes,” however, is not as useful for other building typologies such as “pubs, hotels or former industrial and commercial buildings,” leading the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) to call for more explicit, site specific guidelines.
The paper commends several projects for their preservation of a historical building, including the Holdsworth Buildings in Carlton’s Lygon Street. The terrace-style buildings were designed by architect George Johnson, with construction completed in 1871. In 1986, a shopping centre was added to the rear, with ten metres of depth from the original building retained. The redevelopment has been highlighted as an exemplary model of preservation.
To view the list of commended projects or read the full discussion paper, visit the website. More

City of Melbourne councillors have unanimously endorsed a 24-year-old development application in Melbourne’s Docklands, following amendments to the original 1999 application.
The 1999 plan sought to establish a 50-metre commercial building on the site at 396-416 Docklands Drive. A revised application has proposed a mixed-use precinct with two triangular podiums – east and west – on the site. Across both podiums is a total of five towers.
Designed by ARM Architecture with Rush Wright Associates, the precinct features retail and dining options within each podium, office floor space, podium car parks, a 700-square-metre public park adjacent to Docklands Primary School [to be maintained by council], and a new laneway connecting the primary school to the tram depot and New Quay Central Park.
Plans state the development could result in the delivery of between 500 and 600 residential dwellings and 20,000-square-metres of commercial spaces. The site, at nearly one hectare, is the only remaining undeveloped piece of land south of Little Docklands Drive, and currently functions as a car park.
The west podium comprises three residential towers, while the east contains two. Planning documents propose podiums mirror the existing context and character of the streetscape, with each tower articulated in such a way that each frontage has a “varied architectural language and material language” yet still presents as a complementary collection of buildings. The concept plan additionally recommends the podium car parks be “sleeved, concealed or architecturally treated to achieve an active and attractive public realm.”
Each of the five proposed buildings has been depicted at varying heights – three at 70 metres, one at 50 and one at 75. The towers are all separated by a minimum of 10 metres and have been positioned at oblique angles to create clear sight lines between and beyond each form.

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Community park at the corner of Little Docklands Street and St Mangos Lane. Image:

ARM Architecture with Rush Wright Associates

The planned laneway is slated to have a minimum internal width of 11 metres, which will expand to 13 metres at the opening of Docklands Drive. The thoroughfare will be landscaped and “will have a fine-grain human scale with resident-oriented ground floor uses that are complementary to the other main street activities.” The proposed park, sited at the corner of Little Docklands Street and St Mangos Lane, features sandstone boulders, a children’s play area, a cafe terrace, and bike ramp access.
In endorsing the plan, Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece expressed that he was extremely pleased with the proposal.
“This is a happy day for Melbourne, a happy day for Docklands and a happy day for the community at Docklands Primary School. This application is 24 years in the making, and I’m really pleased with what is before us,” he said.
“The most exciting aspect of this proposal is the 700-square-metres of new green space, which is directly opposite the Docklands Primary School. For those of us who know this area, we know that there’s a desperate need for green space around the Docklands Primary School.
“This proposal is going to deliver a new park right in the spot where it is most needed and that is fantastic.”
The project applicant and property developer, MAB Corporation, closely collaborated with the City of Melbourne throughout the application process. The development is expected to occur in four stages, with either the west or east podium being the first stage of development. The park will concurrently begin with whichever stage is the first to proceed. More

A development application for a high density urban village in downtown Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory, has been lodged.
Designed by Stewart Architecture, the application proposes the development of two buildings (stage 2A), to be integrated with two additional buildings of lower scale fronting Eastern Valley Way (stage 2B). Plans show staggered towers, rising progressively from the south to form part of a four building ensemble at the corner of Eastern Valley Way and Cameron Avenue.
The application has been submitted following the completion of stage one of the project, which saw the Linq Apartments being established on the corner of College Street and Eastern Valley Way.
The first two buildings, consisting of 277 dwellings, are positioned around a central landscape with native plants and a designated deep soil planting area. A substantial tree canopy extends from the central landscaped area to Cameron Avenue, providing more access to shade.

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Veryard Lane extension, facing south from Cameron Avenue connection. Image:

Stewart Architecture

Plans detail the extension of Veryard Lane, which would connect through to Cameron Avenue, allowing for a break down in scale of the oversized city block, as well as improved pedestrian and cycling flow. Additionally, it has been proposed that the laneway be activated with retail tenancies, building entrances, and a resident bicycle hub.
The buildings feature a complementary warm and textured facade that is sympathetic to the surrounding context and creates visual consistency between each form within the “urban village.”
“These are quality buildings with a sense of solidity and privacy. By limiting the extent of glazing, we are not only creating comfortable, private dwellings that feel good from the inside, but we are reducing energy bills by reducing reliance on mechanical heating and cooling,” said Stewart Architecture practice principal, Marcus Graham.
“The density of development in Belconnen’s town centre must be coupled with exceptional pedestrian experiences and streetscapes which connect people together and encourage walking where ever possible. The architecture responds to place, echoing the Lake Ginninderra landscape with textures and tones that bring warmth to the town centre. The buildings twist to limit overshadwing of adjacent sites whilst creating opportunities for terraced landscapes above ground,” said Stewart Architecture’s Sydney director, Felicity Stewart.
The proposal scheme was selected from a design competition, aimed at setting a new benchmark for residential development in the Belconnen CBD.
The application was lodged by NDH Development. More

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment and the University of New South Wales’s High Performance Architecture team have partnered together to create a new national body to monitor urban heat in Australia’s towns and cities. The National Heat Vulnerability Observatory will measure and report on heat vulnerability and cooling potential of Australian’s urban centres. […] More

The $44 million revitalization of Sydney’s Haymarket precinct, including Chinatown on Dixon Street, has been given the green light, following a unanimous decision by City of Sydney council members.
Concept plans designed by Aspect Studios, with Sibling Architecture, Electrolight, and Studio Yu and Mei, were released in October 2023.
The enlivened Chinatown will feature an ever-changing light canopy, new public seating, paving inserts with inlaid traditional Chinese symbols, and the planting of additional trees to increase access to shade.
The design team has made a conscious effort to be sympathetic to the already existing heritage and character of Chinatown through the preservation of the cherished Chinatown Ceremonial Gates, as well as several mature fig trees.
The project involved one of the largest multilingual consultations in the history of the City of Sydney, with more than 1,150 residents, businesses and community members taking part in discussion over the early plans and 350 responses to the public exhibition. Consultations revealed a desire for a hub that is diverse, friendly, safe, easily navigable, has a wider variety of dining experiences, and is respectful of culture.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the community warmly welcomed the plan’s expanded space for pedestrians and sitting and dining outdoors, as well as the creative lighting, support for business and celebration of culture.
“Haymarket is one of Sydney’s most iconic urban villages and has long been recognized as a focal point for Asian food, cultures, and communities both locally and internationally. But the last few years have been incredibly challenging for the area,” Moore said.
“This is a perfect time for a new overarching plan for the area, and our communities have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to work with us to celebrate the important precinct’s past and help safeguard its future.”
As part of the project, a series of works have been proposed to enhance the surrounding areas, including a reconfiguration of Sussex Street to encourage walking and cycling, streetscape improvements to Thai Town, revamp of Belmore Park, as well as public domain upgrades at Harbour, Goulburn, Ultimo, Quay and Hay Streets.
“Our plans include a long-term upgrade of public space, with more trees, seats, lighting and integrated public art, as well as a proposed review of planning controls to support vibrant building signage and renewal of smaller buildings as a point of difference from the city centre,” Moore said.
“The community told us clearly that our first priority should be the heart of Chinatown, Dixon Street, so that work is already underway, and we will be restoring the iconic Ceremonial Gates next year.”
Since 2010, the Haymarket area has undergone a significant transformation through projects such as the $43.5 million pedestrianization of George Street south, new public space at Thomas Street, as well as upgrades to local streets such as Kimber Lane.
“The new plans take this work to another level while continuing our focus on bringing together different cultural groups to celebrate the area’s heritage, history and features,” Moore said. “The City of Sydney will invest millions of dollars over the next ten years to upgrade Goulburn, Sussex, Harbour, Quay and Thomas streets, to complete public domain improvements and reinstate light catenaries on Dixon Street, and upgrade Belmore Park.” More

Curtin University has appointed professor SueAnne Ware as its new Head of School of Design and the Built Environment in the Faculty of Humanities. She is currently head of school and dean of built environment at University of Newcastle. Ware has a degree in landscape architecture from Colorado State University, a PhD from RMIT University, […] More

A development application has been submitted for an integrated health, education and research precinct in Camperdown called the Sydney Biomedical Accelerator (SBA), designed by Denton Corker Marshall and HDR, in collaboration with Arcadia Landscape Architecture and Aileen Sage.
The proposed complex would be located on a vacant site at the corner of Western Avenue and Cadigal Lane in Camperdown, with the precinct comprising two wings, one named the Isaac Wakil Biomedical Building (IWBB), and the other called Building B.
According to planning documents, the IWBB wing would be sited at the University of Sydney’s Camperdown campus. The proposal states the wing would span across eight floors, with designated spaces for wet lab research, dry research, anatomical teaching, clinical research, as well as workstations. The IWBB will connect to the existing Susan Wakil Health Building (SWHB) to the north of the proposed site.
Plans show the proposed location for Building B is within the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital site, on the boundary of the university’s Camperdown campus. Building B would primarily house specialist laboraties, along with a dry research space and biobank facility.

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View from Gloucester House Courtyard and the two pedestrian bridge links. Image:

Denton Corker Marshall

Both wings would be linked by an angled glass sheet dubbed the ‘Connector’ on the northern facade of the SBA complex. The Connector is “a dynamic 8 storey volume,” which contains “three glass lifts located in the centre of the space, the lobby to two passenger lifts in Building B, atrium voids containing two sets of cascading open interconnecting stairs… and a series of bridge links.”
Pedestrian bridges have been proposed between level three of Building B and the RPA Hospital, and between Building B and Gloucester House, to provide greater opportunities for cross discipline interaction and collaboration between the university and hospital. The glazed links will provide visual access to the activity occuring inside the bridge, while also providing new vantage points to overlook the Gloucester House courtyard.
The design team have ensured SBA’s facade is complementary to the surrounding context, including Gloucester House to the west and the Susan Wakil Health Building (SWHB) to the north. Plans state “the massing, materiality and fenestration of the SBA podium reflects Gloucester House, and its principal massing reflects SWHB with the solid podium base and floating development above, behind a lighter, shaded curtain wall facade.”
Passive design elements such as orientation, internal layout and facade shading have been incorporated to ensure the complex is well equipped to endure future weather conditions.
According to plans, the SBA would provide “increased tertiary education opportunities, the generation of new jobs and will foster research and innovation,” as well as “foster scientific innovation and collaboration, with the potential to deliver catalytic and transformational medical research outcomes, which will benefit the wider population of New South Wales and beyond.”
Denton Corker Marshall and HDR won a design competition for the project in 2022. The plans have been updated in line with recommendations presented at four Design Integrity Panel (DIP) meetings.
The application, which is now on exhibit, was submitted by the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the NSW Government (NSW Health), and the Sydney Local Health District. More

The Australian Institute of Architects has urged the Australian government to follow in the footsteps of the 27 nations, who, at the 2023 international climate forum, committed to supporting a new initiative focused on decarbonizing the built environment, called ‘Buildings Breakthrough.’
World leaders have gathered in Dubai to discuss global strategies for tackling climate change at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), taking place between 30 November and 12 December.
During the conference, two new initiatives were unveiled – the “Buildings Breakthrough” and the “Concrete and Cement Breakthrough,” both of which have an objective of reducing the carbon footprint of the building and construction sectors.
Twenty-seven nations have pledged their support for the Buildings Breakthrough, which aims to have near-zero and resilient buildings as the standard by 2030. Australia is not currently among the supporting nations. The Concrete and Cement Breakthrough also set the objective of achieving near-zero cement emissions by 2030.
According to information presented at COP28, building and construction industries account for nearly 40 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions, 50 percent of extracted materials, and one-third of global waste.
Institute national president Stuart Tanner called on the Australian Government to join the global battle, which could support sustainable decarbonization of the industry.
“The launch of these frameworks is a vital step to the transformation of the built environment through coordinated responses from national governments and international cooperation,” he said. “As one of the most urbanized nations in the world, cities are critical to Australia’s decarbonization journey. Australia should step up and accelerate the net-zero transition of our built environment.”
This year, COP28 featured a dedicated day for the built environment. Other declarations at the conference included a commitment from Australia to reduce the use of energy for cooling through the Global Cooling Pledge – an announcement that the Institute welcomed.
The Institute said it will continue to advocate for urgent climate action through partnerships with other industry bodies including the Green Building Council of Australia and ASBEC to develop practical solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and create a more sustainable future. The Institute is currently pushing for a national climate and energy plan to support global efforts in limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as well as a new national policy for the built environment to expand the scope of the National Construction Code. More