Eight thousand tennis balls will line the walls of the National Gallery of Victoria in a special, participatory exhibition by British artist David Shrigley, inviting visitors to swap their pre-loved tennis balls for fresh ones. Shrigley’s Melbourne Tennis Ball Exchange installation will make its Australian debut in January 2024 as part of the free, late-night […] More
Artek has teamed up with research-based design studio Formafantasma to re-evaluate its rigorous wood selection standards and develop a more environmentally friendly furniture range made from wild Birch Trees.
Stool 60 Villi will be the first piece to drop as part of the wild birch range, in celebration of 2023 being the 90th anniversary of Stool 60, designed by Alvar Aalto and manufactured in Finland.
View gallery
Stool 60 Villi will be the first piece to be released as part of the wild birch range, in celebration of 2023 being the 90th anniversary of Stool 60, designed by Alvar Aalto. Image: Supplied
Prior to the introduction of the new range, Artek prioritized using regularly grained wood, which does not display any natural wood markings or characteristics. Each piece underwent a strict selection criteria process, with the production of furniture based on market expectations for aesthetic consistency and perfection.
Stool 60 Villi will instead celebrate individuality and the beauty of natural imperfections of raw wood materials. The new collection will enable more of the tree to be used, rather than end up as waste. Wood knots, insect trails, colour fluctuations and a darker wood core will be visible on the stool’s legs, with all of these features contributing to the one-of-a-kind quality of the range.
View gallery
Wood knots, insect trails, colour fluctuations and a darker wood core will be visible on Stool 60 Villi’s legs. Image: Supplied
The objectives behind the new range, according to Artek, include “promoting a more responsible usage of raw materials in the manufacturing of products,” to “instigate a new aesthetics of sustainability,” and to “provide insights into the changing conditions of Finnish forests in the light of industrialization and climate change.”
View gallery
The process of making Stool 60. Image: Supplied
A spokesperson for FormaFantasma said to obtain the level of flawlessness that Artek achieved in its previous furniture ranges, only a small percentage of the birch tree could actually be used, despite the quality of wood being the same.
“It is important to mention that there are also marks in the wood left by insects that have now expanded into Finnish forests because of climate change. So, for us, accepting those flaws in production also means not neglecting what is actually happening in the world.
“The changes we are trying to achieve with Artek are also a way to make the culture of the forest become the culture of the company. This means, for instance, making these shifts in the quality control of the wood and accepting certain things that are considered flaws. First of all, this will mean that you will need fewer trees to produce the objects. And second of all, wood that in the past would probably have ended up producing lower-quality products – such as paper pulp – is now applied to something much more durable. Consequently, this will also mean less CO₂ emissions because the CO₂ will remain in objects for longer.
“All these changes we’re talking about are rather invisible in the product. They are definitely visible in the production, and in the end they will also be visible in some details of the product. But I think that the most interesting changes you can do now, in architecture and design, are rather invisible. It’s behind the scenes where you can do the most.”
Artek has announced Stool 60 Villi will be apart of their permanent collection in 2024, with the collection available exclusively in Australia at Anibou. More
A collaboration between office seating designer and manufacturer Humanscale and Danish textile company Kvadrat sees the introduction of nine new upholstery offerings. Aligned through shared values of innovation, longevity and sustainability, the collaboration combines colour, texture and pattern with ergonomic, functional and efficient design. Image: Supplied Each textile variation is manufacted from quality raw materials […] More
Aodeli’s Mirror Aluminium Panels (MAP) make their Sydney debut at the W Hotel in Darling Harbour. The mirrored panels are showcased on the ceilings above eye-catching installations in both the rooftop bar and reception area of the new hotel. Since launching in July 2021, MAP has been used in projects including the KDV Sport Centre […] More
The newly opened South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Bega Valley, New South Wales, designed by Sibling Architecture, has doubled the size of the former Bega Valley Regional Gallery.
The reimagined gallery has been built within the existing footprint of the former gallery. Comprising 500 square metres of exhibition, archive, storage and workshop spaces, the expansion of the gallery will enable two exhibitions to run simultaneously.
View gallery
The cultural hub is double the size of the former gallery building. Image:
David Rogers
The public building features a contemporary perforated steel facade with a steel screen on the building’s exterior offering an opportunity for exhibitions to extend beyond the gallery’s interior.
The integration of windows in the gallery provides visual access to the surrounding landscape, Biamanga (Mumbulla Mountain) and the community garden across the street.
View gallery
The redevelopment was funded as part of the Bega Valley Cultural and Recreational Infrastructure Project. Image: Supplied
SECCA director, Iain Dawson said the vision for the project was to create a space where people could visit to “experience art and free expression, to learn about different cultures, and above all, be inspired.”
“The gallery has earned a place on Australia’s cultural calendar through its dynamic setting and a long history of engaging exhibitions as the Bega Valley Regional Gallery. This is a testament to the quality of our new space and our commitment to supporting contemporary art,” said Dawson.
The redevelopment was funded as part of the Bega Valley Cultural and Recreational Infrastructure Project, which received around $2.47 million in funding from the federal government to transform the arts space, construct the Pambula Squash Courts (completed in 2022), and upgrade the Eden Skate Park – expected to begin construction November 2023.
View gallery
The newly expanded South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) in Bega Valley, New South Wales, has opened, designed by Sibling Architecture. Image:
David Rogers
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, and Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick attended the gallery on 17 November to cut the ribbon and declare the arts space officially open.
McBain said the new cultural hub will have a significant, positive impact on the region.
The first exhibition, the Archibald Prize 2023, will be on display until 7 January, 2024. To find out more about the gallery, visit the SECCA website. More
Danish architect and urbanist Jan Gehl, of Gehl Architects, has returned to Sydney, 16 years after submitting his vision for transforming the city into a greener and more livable metropolis.
Gehl was commissioned by the City of Sydney in 2007 to undertake a study – Public Spaces Public Life Sydney – that would form the basis for the city’s long-term strategic plan, Sustainable Sydney 2030. Gehl’s recommendations resulted in the revitalization of George Street, the establishment of the Sydney Light Rail through the CBD and 20,000 square metres of open communal space.
“A good city is like a good party – people stay longer than really necessary because they are enjoying themselves,” Gehl said.
“After being invaded by cars and traffic for 50 years we’re now seeing many examples of cities being reconquered for people. Sydney is an example of this, where the transformation of George Street is a great change.”
View gallery
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore with architect Jan Gehl on the Light Rail. Image:
Courtesy Clover Moore
In 2017, Gehl was presented with a Key to the City of Sydney by lord mayor Clover Moore, following in the footsteps of his fellow Danish predecessor Jorn Utzon. The key to the city is the highest honour a city can present an individual or organization.
During Gehl’s latest visit, Moore reiterated just how vital his contribution to the Sydney has been, calling it “unparalleled.”
“We have come a long way since 2007 when Jan Gehl said Sydney had turned its back on the harbour, and that it was at breaking point, unable to cope with traffic volumes and gradually being choked in fumes and noise. Back then I was in my first term as lord mayor and Sydney had had a history of ad hoc interventions rather than considered long-term planning. I wanted to change that and transform Sydney with a vision and strategy to achieve it,” Moore said.
“When we saw Public Spaces and Public Life, featuring George Street as a 2.5 kilometre pedestrian boulevard with light rail as its centrepiece and three large civic squares, pedestrian and cycling networks, green connections and revitalised laneways, I knew we had our vision.
“Once a noisy, polluted traffic jam, Sydney’s central spine is now the people-friendly, tree-lined boulevard you’d expect in an international city.”
Gehl reviewed and updated Public Spaces and Public Life Sydney in 2020, while the City of Sydney has extended its strategic Sustainable Sydney 2030 initiative out until 2050, with plans for a public square at Central Station and another overlooking the harbour at Circular Quay. More
Architects will have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge about First Nations’ connections to Country by participating in a three-day immersive course held by the Australian Institute of Architects from 14 to 16 February, 2024.
The Country, Culture, Community program – to be held in nipaluna (Hobart) will explore the practicalities of connecting and designing with Country, as well as engaging with community throughout the design process.
Institute national education program lead Kate Concannon said the role of architects was evolving and recent advocacy for First Nations perspectives had emphasized an awareness that architecture has had a “blind spot” for Indigenous perspectives. However, she said, there was a collective desire to address the issue.
“Through various forums and continuing professional development programs we are striving to help architects attain the newly introduced competencies that underpin the effective engagement and informed design that celebrate and support Country, communities and cultures,” Concannon said.
View gallery
Puntukurnu AMS Healthcare Hub by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture. Image:
Robert Frith
The 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA) introduced eight new performance criteria to establish specific requirements related to Country, First Nations cultures and communities. The course aligns with the NSCA in that it assists architects to identify successful approaches to intercultural design and artist collaboration, consult and engage in an effective and respectful manner, as well as balance community needs and expectations with regulatory frameworks such as the National Construction Code.
The program seeks to provide practical and actionable insights to guide architects on how to address regulatory compliance, cultural responsiveness, understanding of Indigenous aspirations, project budgeting, and integration of quality, and performance standards considering environmental impact.
Speakers will include Kevin O’Brien (BVN), Sarah Lynn Rees (Jackson Clements Burrows), Michael Mossman (University of Sydney), Jefa Greenaway (Greenaway Architects), Troy Casey (Blaklash), Poppy Taylor and Mat Hinds (Taylor and Hinds), and Aaron Roberts and Kim Bridgland (Edition Office).
View gallery
Bendigo Law Courts by Wardle. Image:
Tim Griffith
Concannon strongly encouraged architects and other professionals within the field to attend.
“Together we can commit to the development, at both an individual and practice level, of knowledge, understanding and practical skills to produce architecture that is more informed, respectful and enriching,” she said.
CEO Cameron Bruhn said the Insitute remain dedicated to supporting the call for Voice, Treaty, Truth, using it as a guiding principle for strategies and plans – with this program just one example of that commitment.
“Working together, we can change outcomes for Indigenous Australians through our support of the profession and alignment of our policy, advocacy and education approaches with First Nations values and priorities,” Bruhn said.
The three-day program will attract 10 CPD points in competencies including NSW mandatory topics, First Nations, Sustainability and NCC 2022. The program will feature a welcome reception, a Dark Sky Tasmania experience and a half-day tour of Murrayfield Station on Bruny Island.
Early bird tickets are on sale now. For the full speaker line-up and to find out more visit here. More
The ArchitectureAU Award for Social Impact returns in 2024, with the program honouring projects that promote the common good and have made valuable contributions to society. The 2024 jury comprises David Fisher of Housing Choices Australia, Maryam Gusheh of Monash University, Kieran Wong of the Fulcrum Agency, Linda Cheng, of Architecture Media and Greens MP […] More
