Evelyn Reynolds

The Northern Territory is anticipated to soon have its own crop of locally educated architects, following an announcement that Charles Darwin University has launched a Bachelor of Architectural Design course.
The course has been developed to foster a community of locally trained architects with firsthand knowledge of the unique environmental conditions in the territory. According to the university, the course will focus on equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design buildings that are suitable for and resilient to these conditions. It will also provide students the opportunity to explore quintessential Northern Australian architecture – such as Darwin’s cyclone-proof residences, Queenslander homes and desert dwellings – and the concepts and theories underpinning these architectural styles.
Previously, Charles Darwin University (CDU) offered a major in architectural design as part of its Bachelor of Arts program. The university’s decision to introduce a dedicated course stemmed from the need to address the shortage of homegrown architects.
Director of CDU’s Academy of the Arts, Dr Amanda Morris, said the course is expected to reduce the reliance on architects from southern states, who are often engaged in major projects and natural disaster rebuilding efforts.
“Following the destruction of much of the domestic housing in the northern suburbs of Darwin from Cyclone Tracy, new building codes were introduced and new homes were constructed, but these were built as replicas of southern designs which didn’t suit the tropical environment of Darwin,” Morris said.
“Fifty years on, we are starting to design domestic houses and public buildings for the tropical environment with the territory having only a small workforce of architects.
“We need more architects who understand the unique challenges of designing buildings for tropical environments and this is where CDU’s new course fits in, providing a local workforce which understands the unique tropical and arid environments of the territory.”
Enrolled students will be offered opportunities to gain industry experience through work placements and a desert project based in Alice Springs. Additionally, students will be provided collaborative study opportunities through the design studio.
“Students will be able to create architectural designs in response to extreme environments as well as being able to build sustainably for domestic and public infrastructure and develop methodologies to engage with Indigenous communities and those living in regional and remote areas,” Morris added.
CDU acting vice-chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson said there is high employability demand for architects in the territory. “CDU is proud to be able to meet the needs of the territory by supporting construction growth and providing a foundation for students to get a local education that will see them make a difference to the territory’s skyline.”
President of the Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects Miriam Wallace said a local profession with experience and detailed understanding of the territory is critical to the sustainable development of cities and communities.
“Long-term strategic attention to a locally grown territory architecture profession does deliver dividends,” Wallace said. “This is evident, for example, in the alumni from CDU’s previous built environment degrees who now fill key positions in NT Government and local industry, and who have made long-term commitments to living and working in the NT.”
The university will soon appoint a professor of architecture to help facilitate the new course.
To achieve accreditation as an architect, students must complete a total of five years of education, which includes both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. CDU is in the process of launching a Master of Architecture course, which will enable architecture students to complete their study in its entirety at CDU.

The Bachelor of Architectural Design program is set to commence in the first semester of 2025, with students able to enrol now. The Master of Architecture will open for enrolment in 2026. More

Australia’s most prestigious biennial prize for innovation in craft and design, the Make Award presented by the Australian Design Centre, is now open for entries. This national competition celebrates Australian designer/makers across a wide range of disciplines, including ceramics, glass, furniture, woodwork, metalwork, textiles, fibre, and jewellery.
With a generous $35,000 cash prize for the winner and a $10,000 second prize, the Make Award stands as the richest non-acquisitive prize for craft and design in Australia. The award aims to recognize designer and makers who push boundaries and demonstrate exceptional skill, particularly those working with new materials or exploring innovative techniques.
Entries are open to Australian designer/makers who have created work within 18 months of the entry date. The competition encourages fresh and inventive approaches, with a focus on works that extend the maker’s usual practice. Additionally, submitted works must not have been exhibited in any other exhibition context.
Entries to the awards close 5 May 2025.
For further details on how to enter and eligibility requirements, visit the Make Award website. More

The NSW government has announced it is moving forward with plans to transform the former Manly Hospital in Sydney into a health and wellbeing precinct, following the appointment of a preferred delivery partner to create a masterplan.
The 1896 Manly Hospital closed in October 2018, with all services relocated to the Northern Beaches Hospital. In November 2018, the NSW government announced that the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice would be located on a portion of the site. The hospice opened its services to the community in March 2023 and continues to operate from the site.
Following an expression of interest and tender campaign, the state government revealed that it had selected aged care provider Aveo to develop the master plan vision at the former hospital site. Aveo will collaborate with the government to prepare a concept state significant development application (SSDA).
Pending planning approval, the precinct is envisioned to accommodate seniors housing, including independent retirement living and affordable housing; a residential aged care facility; public open spaces; a health and wellbeing centre; community and retail spaces; and a childcare centre. Heritage buildings on site will be adaptively reused for contemporary occupation.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “When the new Northern Beaches Hospital opened in 2018, it meant the closure of the iconic Manly Hospital, where many locals were born and cared for.”
He added that the “government is finding new complementary uses for the site, which will celebrate the former Manly Hospital’s past while meeting the evolving needs of the community.”
The plans will be lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. More

The Australian Institute of Architects Queensland chapter, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the Planning Institute of Australia, and the Design Institute of Australia, has united to advocate for the implementation of key design and planning strategies for the upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The four Australian architecture, design and planning institutes, which collectively represent over 26,000 professionals, have submitted a Green Pathways, Gold Places initiative to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority. This initiative was submitted in response to a 100 Day Review conducted by the authority, which invited public input on the infrastructure and planning of the Games.
In their submission, the institutes highlight the importance of infrastructure that not only serves its immediate purpose of hosting the Games but also supports sustainable, long-term city planning objectives.
The four key recommendations outlined in Green Pathways, Gold Places iniative include:

The establishment of a 2032 Design Coordination Unit within the Office of the Queensland Government Architect.
Implementation of a green grid strategy that supports sustainable transport and an urban Olympic forest.
A precinct-based approach to venue design and planning in collaboration with the Games partners.
The development of place-funding models for the Games budget which ensures design and place outcomes are recognised as strategic investments, not costs

According to the document, the proposed Design Coordination Unit would serve as a centralised multidisciplinary unit responsible for coordinating and integrating design and place outcomes for the Brisbane 2032 Games. The unit would collaborate with games partners and the independent authority on planning decisions. President of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Caroline Stalker said design expertise is crucial for achieving long-lasting, sustainable benefits for the community beyond just the Games period.
“Embedding multidisciplinary design expertise early ensures consistent, climate-conscious outcomes while avoiding costly design compromises and urban blight,” she said.

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The submission highlights that a green grid strategy is vital for achieving the Games’ net-positive commitment, enhancing connectivity across the city and reducing vehicles on the road. The institutes’ submission asserts that the implementation of a green grid would support recreational use, biodiversity, waterway health, as well as health and wellbeing benefits for commuters and visitors across the city.
President of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Glen Power emphasised that “Green infrastructure is not just about sustainability; it’s about creating healthier, more connected and livable communities.”
“By investing in a green grid, we can leave a legacy of vibrant, walkable precincts that benefit Brisbane for generations to come,” said Power.
The submission recommends a precinct-based planning approach that integrates stadia and venues into the existing physical, cultural and environmental fabric of the broader context.
President of the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) Queensland division Sean Cullen stated decisions about Games venues and infrastructure must begin and end with precinct-scale planning to ensure cohesive integration with surrounding communities and transport networks.
“To ensure the success of individual venues, we must design them as part of cohesive precincts supported by integrated transport and public realm infrastructure,” Cullen said.
In their final recommendation, the institutes’ assert that “place-funding models could better recognise the importance of investing in good design and place that nevertheless provide significant social and environmental dividends for the community when it comes to infrastructure and venues. […] By leveraging the boost in development interest and potential, we can harness the additional capital and ensure a more equitable place-based distribution of long-term community assets.”
“Aligning funding with community-focused design ensures enduring value and avoids the burden of increased lifetime costs on the state,” said chair of the Queensland chapter of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Daniel Spat. “By integrating design and place-making into funding strategies, we can deliver community assets that stand the test of time.”
To view the full submission, visit here. More

Construction has now begun on the $2.75 billion redevelopment of Melbourne’s Jam Factory precinct in South Yarra, which is set to be transformed into a mixed-use hub.
First constructed in 1858, the Jam Factory was introduced as a brewery, then later became a preserve and jam manufacturer, before eventually evolving to become a retail and cinema precinct in the 1990s.
The precinct will now once again be redeveloped to accommodate 600 residences across five towers, 10,000 square metres of commercial office spaces, 20,000 square metres of retail and hospitality offerings, a new cinema complex, a 5-star hotel and a second boutique hotel. Additionally, a 2,500-square-metre north-facing public piazza called Village Square will be established.
Developer of the project, Gurner Group appointed American-born international architectural practice Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) alongside local architects Buchan to design the precinct, in conjunction with Gurner’s in-house architect and interior design business Gurner Design House. Townshend Landscape Architects has been engaged to design the gardens and landscaping.

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The project has undergone several design iterations since planning approval was first granted by Stonnington Council to the original property owner Newmark Capital in 2018. Changes and additions to the development team and various design amendments resulted in several proposals being resubmitted to the council, including one in 2021 by Bates Smart, Townshend Landscape Architects and Leonard Design Architects, which featured four residential towers, a hotel, and commercial, retail and entertainment spaces.
After Gurner fully acquired the site in early 2024, the new design team comprising SOM, Buchan and Townshend were awarded the project that is currently under construction.

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Gurner’s general manager of design Alexander Fin explained that the design features a variety of built forms to create visual interest. “The intent has been to design buildings that combine functionality with aesthetic expression, creating a visually captivating and architecturally diverse urban environment,” he said, adding that the architecture “takes inspiration from both the timelessness of New York’s most iconic residential and hotel buildings, and the modern buildings that make up its skyline.”
Initial demolition efforts to remove all non-heritage elements have commenced across the 20,000-square-metre site. This phase of demolition involves removing the current Village Cinema complex while ensuring the iconic facade of the building is preserved. Village Cinemas will be reinstated into the precinct. More

A new development application has been submitted for the North Sydney MLC building, proposing adaptive reuse of the Miller Street wing instead of the previously proposed demolition.
The MLC building, designed by Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, was completed in 1957. Upon its completion, it was the first high-rise office block in North Sydney, the largest building of its type in Australia and the first national example of a glass curtain wall facade.
The building has been the subject of a lengthy nearly five-year dispute between proponents of its demolition and those who wish to preserve it for its historical significance. During this time, property developer Investa has filed several applications to demolish the building and replace it with a new high-rise commercial tower.
When demolition was first proposed in 2020, the property was included on the local heritage register. A petition to save the tower ensued, resulting in the proposal being denied and the building being upgraded to the state heritage register. In 2022, the dispute was reignited when the state heritage listing was revoked, prompting Investa to submit an appeal, which the NSW Land and Environment Court rejected in May 2023. Later, in December 2023, the NSW Environment and Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe announced that the 14-storey building would be reinstated to the state’s heritage register.

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On 4 January 2025, Investa submitted yet another development application to the North Sydney Council for the redevelopment of the building – again designed by Bates Smart. The $365 million plans outline that the Miller Street wing would be preserved and refurbished for contemporary use, whereas the Denison Street wing would be replaced with a 22-storey building with proportions similar to those of the Miller Street wing.
In their vision statement, the architects highlight that activating the street interfaces is a key component of the latest design iteration. The proposed Miller Street frontage features retail spaces set behind a restored colonnade and a landscaped forecourt. New urban steps leading to a public terrace have been proposed for the Brett Whiteley Place interface, which currently features an inactive facade, with the exception of one retail outlet located on the corner of the eastern section. Street-facing retail tenancies have also been proposed for Denison Street.

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Proposed upgrades to the much-loved Miller Street wing include raising the ground floor to mitigate flooding and establish a double-height lobby with retail spaces. Investa stated that the facade of this wing, “including its curtain wall and terracotta tiles, will be fully restored to align with the original design.”
The MLC Building is adjacent to the Victoria Cross over-station development, which is currently under construction. As part of this project, the area in front of the metro station on Miller Street will be pedestrianised into a public plaza called Miller Place.
The North Sydney Council is currently assessing the development application. More

Expressions of interest are now open for the ninth iteration of Melbourne Design Week, taking place across Melbourne and Victoria from 15 to 25 May 2025. Designers, studios and collectives are invited to submit their ideas for events, talks, exhibitions, workshops and more for the festival’s state-wide program, including the Melbourne Art Book Fair.
The annual 11-day festival is an important national platform for designers, industry and enthusiasts to come together and share innovative ideas, show new work, connect with industry and imbed themselves within Victoria’s design community. The state-wide program features events held at the National Gallery of Victoria, alongside ateliers, studios, retail spaces, universities, galleries, gardens and public spaces throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and delivered by the NGV. Since its inception, the program has grown in scope and scale – from just under 100 programs in 2017 to over 350 in 2024. Over 100,000 people attended this year’s festival, making it Australia’s largest design event.

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From 16 to 18 May, next year’s Melbourne Art Book Fair will mark the festival’s eleventh anniversary. Since launching in 2015, the Melbourne Art Book Fair has brought together publishers, writers and designers to showcase and launch some of the region’s best publications at venues across Melbourne and Victoria, including the National Gallery of Victoria, bookshops, galleries, libraries, community centres and public gardens. Held within NGV’s Great Hall, the iconic Stallholder Fair gives visitors the opportunity to explore and buy unique printed matter from the best local and international publishers and designers.
Director of NGV Tony Ellwood said, “In 2025 we are delighted to present Melbourne Design Week, an important national platform that celebrates our rich and diverse Australian design community. Our sector has enthusiastically embraced the festival since its inception, and we can’t wait to share another thought-provoking program in 2025.”
Expressions of interest are now open and close Monday 20 January 2025. Visit here to register. More

For this month’s roundup, I’m feeling festive and doing things a little differently, selecting gifts for each of the seven members of Architecture Media’s editorial team. For the purposes of this story, I’m choosing to live in a world where the cost of living crisis doesn’t exist and the budget is infinite.
Dancer light by Coco Flip
This one goes out to our editorial director, team head honcho, Katelin Butler. She loves a neutral palette, a stripe and is fond of a minimalist ceramic number so I think I’ve nailed it with this one. This new collection of lighting from Coco Flip in collaboration with Melbourne ceramicist Belinda Wiltshire includes table lamps, wall lights and ceiling mounts. The collection takes inspiration from the Triadisches ballet developed by Oskar Schlemmer, who was part of the Bauhaus design movement in the 1920s. Each light is hand thrown by Belinda in her Preston studio using mid-fire clay. Three black iron oxide stripes are applied, giving the light its bold and classic look. I think a little table lamp would look right at home at Katelin’s place.

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La De Da candle holder by Nightworks
Houses editor and my desk buddy Alexa Kempton is the lucky recipient of this candle holder from Nightworks. If you’ve been paying attention, I featured the La De Da pendant light in the September product roundup and now the folks at Nightworks have used the rippled design to create a special stocking filler – a candle holder hand cast from bronze or zinc (and brass to come). I hope it brings a bit of zen to Alexa’s day.

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Tivoli Audio Songbook Max
Georgia Birks, our Design Speaks curator and my fellow Corinthians connoisseur, gets this one under her tree this year (metaphorically speaking). GB and I have the exact same taste in music (i.e. Beyonce Giselle Knowles Carter) so why not blast said music on one of Tivoli Audio’s new Songbox Max speakers. This Bluetooth speaker does all the things a top-of-the-line speaker does, but what I love most is its 70s/80s/90s retro-futuristic nostalgic boombox look. This would fit perfectly atop GB’s shoulder as she struts around the office.

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Hay Sobremesa tablecloth
Our office foodie and avant-garde diner is Emily Wong, editor of Landscape Architecture Australia. She knows of the very coolest restaurant openings and chef pop-ups long before we do. She’s also a great cook so I hope she’ll like the Hay Sobremesa tablecloth I have gifted her in this chimerical scenario. A collab between Hay and artist Laila Gohar, this tablecloth is joyful and playful featuring embroided motifs by Gohar. Since budget is no issue, I’ll also throw in some dinnerware from the collection too.

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Bruce Rowe Alter sculpture
The Alter collection by Bruce Rowe has been the talk of the office since we first caught wind of it and I can think of no better recipient than Lucia Amies, associate editor on ArchitectureAu, and an architect and ceramicist… just like Bruce! You can read my interview with Bruce here, and learn how the collection came about. I’m selecting one of the yellow ones from the collection, because Lucia is pure sunshine.

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Architecture Australia subscription
Jack Vening is Architecture Media’s managing editor, making sure all the publications (and their editors) are running on time and with no typoos … err, typos. A big part of his role is sub-editing Architecture Australia magazine, translating tens of thousands of words of archi-speak each issue and making architects sound comprehensible. And I’m certain, nothing would make Jack happier at the end of a long day at the office than coming home to a copy of the magazine, the very issue he slaved over a few weeks back, and reading it from cover to cover, over and over, again and again. You’re welcome, Jack!

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Melbourne Place gift voucher
I’ve saved the best for last – this one goes out to our team’s MVP, associate editor of ArchitectureAu, Adair Winder. You’re not supposed to have favourites in the team, but if I did, let’s just say it wouldn’t not be Adair. She’s hard-working, she cares about what she does and she’s got bucketloads of talent. So, to cap off a year of daily deadlines for Adair, I’m gifting her (again, figuratively and imaginatively; can you imagine how much money I’ve spent so far?) a gift voucher to stay at the new Melbourne Place hotel by Kennedy Nolan, where she can put her feet up in the exquisite rooms, dine at Marmelo and enjoy a few well-earned end-of-year drinks at Mid Air.
Merry Christmas, editorial team. You’re the best there is. More