Evelyn Reynolds

In partnership with Bric Housing, St George Community Housing has lodged a development application at 41–49 Carseldine Place to deliver new social and affordable homes in Brisbane’s north. The $87 million project designed by long-time collaborators DKO comprises 62 social and 90 affordable housing units.
Located 12km north of Brisbane’s CBD in Carseldine Village, the project is designated within Economic Development Queensland’s Fitzgibbon Priority Development Area (PDA) – a zone targeted for residential development incorporating significant bushland area and open space.
Director of DKO’s Brisbane studio Kai Chua commented that the team’s approach prioritised sustainability and passive design alongside resident amenity, longevity and ease of maintenance.
“The building has been designed as a series of boutique blocks to break up the long and narrow site, navigating scale and identity within Carseldine Village,” Chua said. “These spaces between the blocks became opportunities for us to incorporate ventilated corridors, communal break out areas, landscape elements and even moments for art.”
Of the 152 residences, 75 percent achieve cross ventilation. Sunshades and balconies have been incorporated along the building’s east and west facades to minimise heat gain. The proposal is set to achieve a 5-Star Green Star rating.
Chua commented that the firm has been “incredibly proud to have been involved in designing critical housing in this area and look forward to progressing the building through its next phases.” More

A development application that proposes the establishment of dual towers up to 17 storeys tall in Cottesloe, Perth, has been filed with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.
The application proposes the construction of two towers – one at 15 storeys in height and the other reaching 17 storeys – connected by a three-storey podium. The nominated site, a 3,232-square-metre parcel located at 7–11 Station Street, is positioned between the Cottesloe Train Station and the historic Albion Hotel.
Currently, the site is occupied by two single-storey retail and commercial buildings, which would be demolished if the development is granted approval.
Designed by Architectus, the building would accommodate 125 residential dwellings and residential communal amenities on the podium roof including a pool, cocktail lounge and gym. Additionally, it would contain a 128-room hotel with a restaurant, a function area, a bar, co-working spaces and a pool.

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Under the plans, four levels of basement parking and 1300 square metres of commercial and retail floor space would also be introduced, along with a new pedestrian link connecting Station Street to De Nardi Lane.
Property developer Sirona Urban first submitted plans for the site in 2021, with the plans having undergone multiple design iterations since then.
In its design report, Architectus notes that the proposal aims to revive the neighbourhood’s fine grain character at the ground level and reactivate the street edge. In aiming to accomplish this, the architects have envisioned a layered facade, the creation of a double-height laneway and the introduction of dining offerings that have the potential to spill out onto the street. Landscaped public spaces surrounding the building further aim to activate the area.
According to the design team, the articulation and materiality of the building was conceptualised to extend Cottesloe’s natural and built context. “Materials have been chosen to reflect the limestone and sand that characterises the Cottesloe coastline and historic quarries,” the report states.
“The soft and rounded corners, and gradation from darker to lighter tones, are also informed by the natural landforms’ erosion over time.”
The plans are on exhibition until 4 November 2024. More

A new housing development project at Sydney Olympic Park has been given approval from the New South Wales Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Located above the new Sydney Metro station, the precinct will include more than 300 new homes and nearly 35,000 square metres of commercial and retail space across three buildings ranging 21 to 45 storeys high.
Minister for planning and public spaces Paul Scully commented that “the NSW government is getting on with the job of actively planning and delivering more homes for the next generation. This approval cements our plan to support the delivery of well-located homes close to transport, jobs and amenities.”
Following the precinct’s approval, Sydney Metro have outlined their intent to revise the development by including 190 more dwellings, in line with the NSW government’s priority to increase housing supply. This will result in a total of 490 homes on the site.
While work on site is currently underway on the Sydney Metro station, the integrated development is not expected to commence construction until 2027, following a review prepared by the future development partner.
Further development opportunities are currently being considered along the line at Westmead, Burwood North and The Bays, while plans for integrated station developments at Parramatta and Pyrmont are under review.
Sydney Metro has also commenced the process to select a developer for over station developments at Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD. More

The first stage of a climate-resilient masterplan for a housing precinct in Dubbo, central New South Wales, has been granted development approval.
The first stage was approved via a fast-tracked design and approval process to meet urgent housing demand in Dubbo. The North-West Dubbo Urban Release Area, a greenfield site, has been designated as the location for the development, which is planned to accommodate up to 5,500 new dwellings over the next two decades.
The first stage of the masterplan focuses on housing. It features eight residential types, designed by Marra and Yeh Architects, including single residences, townhouses and apartments. Notably, 30 percent of the residences within the precinct have been designated as tenure-blind social and affordable housing.
The architects have confirmed that prefabrication methods will be used to build a portion of the housing, to further expedite the delivery of housing.

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Marra and Yeh Architects worked in close collaboration with landscape architects Latstudios on masterplanning and urban design. The architects also liaised with Dubbo Regional Council, private landowners and a supporting design group.
The project brief called for the establishment of a walkable, green precinct that embraced the Wambuul/Macquarie River and met the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also requested a design that demonstrated resilience against possible extreme temperatures and natural disasters.
To fulfil the brief for a “walkable” precinct, Carol Marra, co-director of Marra and Yeh Architects, emphasised that the practice’s key design priorities included maintaining low ground temperatures and creating shaded areas. “Road widths are reduced to keep paving to a minimum whilst maximising tree canopy,” said Marra. “The aim is to provide a shaded and enjoyable walk or cycle to any part of the precinct.”
The layout and arrangement of the precinct have been largely dictated by the natural contours of the land and river. The design aims to take advantage of rainfall by establishing a network of green spaces to retain and filter stormwater, then redirecting the captured water to trees. According to a design statement, the planning revolves around a village green that will eventually support retail and medical tenancies, pending approval of later stages.
Consultation with the site’s First Nations community – the Tubba-gah People of the Wiradjuri Nation – led to the new precinct being named Gunyah, which translates to “home” in the Wiradjuri language. This consultation played a crucial role in shaping various design elements, including the decision to transform the land along the riverfront into open recreational space, restoring the original floodplain and protecting the river gums, which are of cultural importance to the community.
The masterplan designates space for the future development of aged care facilities intended to support Indigenous elders to stay on Country. Space for these facilities has been allocated around the village green to minimise walking distance to nearby services and shops. More

The 2024 Open House Hobart program invites visitors into the intriguing homes and buildings across nipaluna/Hobart they’ve long been curious to enter.
This year’s program will host more than 100 experiences on 3, 9 and 10 November. As always, the weekend will include visits to houses of all ages and typologies, providing visitors the opportunity to see how others live.
A diverse assortment of new and refurbished residences feature on the program, including Pedder Street by Bence Mulcahy (2023), Bruny Island Cabin by Maguire and Devine Architects (2017), Coopworth by FMD Architects (2020), Dodges Ferry House by Aaron Roberts, in collaboration with Paul Whelan (2023), Fusilier Cottage by Bence Mulcahy (2018), and The Bae Tas by So. Architecture (2018).
An additional Day on the Domain event is scheduled for 3 November. On this day, Government House, Domain House, and a private residence from the 1800s will be open for tours, along with various other buildings.
Open House Hobart is organised and run by the Tasmanian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects. The full program is now accessible on the website. While Open House Hobart is free and many buildings don’t require registration, bookings are required for some tours and events. Bookings can be made from 12.00 pm on Friday 11 October 2024. More

Global design and architecture website Dezeen has announced the shortlist for its 2024 awards, with 82 architectural projects and 49 interiors projects making the cut from the longlist.
Australia was among the top four represented countries in the architecture shortlist and tied third with the United States and Spain in order of representation on the interiors shortlist.
The shortlisted Australian projects are:
Architecture
House (urban)
Northcote House – LLDS
Shed House – Breakspear Architects
House renovation
Shadow House – Grotto Studio
Cultural project
Powerhouse Castle Hill – Lahznimmo Architects
Health and wellbeing project
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw with Andrew Burges Architects and McGregor Coxall
Total Fusion Platinum – ACME
Education project
Darlington Public School – FJC Studio
Interiors
Residential interior
Mo Jacobsen – YSG Studio
Workplace interior (small)
Today Design – Studio Edwards
Workplace interior (large)
Intermain – BVN Architecture
Exhibition design (interior)
2023 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces – India Madhavi
The Dezeen Awards recognise architecture, interiors, design and sustainability projects, as well as the studios and individual designers producing outstanding work around the world. Category winners will be revealed in November. More

An application for a new 28-storey residential tower in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley has been submitted for development approval. Situated on a prominent corner site at 286 St Pauls Terrace, the proposal strives to engage with its surroundings, which includes the heritage-listed former Keating’s Bread Factory.
Designed by McFarland Architects – who set up office on the site following its acquisition – the scheme includes 164 apartments situated above a mixed retail and public podium. Split over two levels, the podium incorporates 400 square metres of retail space, a resident gym, bike parking and a publicly-accessible landscaped corner.
Parametric modelling enabled McFarland Architects to experiment and iterate in the early design phase. Firm director Blair McFarland commented that “a clear design framework emerged from our rigorous testing. We wanted the building to be as conventional in its construction as possible but have a distinct … expression of Fortitude Valley’s revitalisation.”
According to the architect, the design of ground plane and podium prioritised scale, pedestrian flow and views to the adjacent heritage building. In their design of the facade, the practice leaned heavily on their parametric modelling workflow to create sweeping banding around the building’s edges.
“The planning framework allowed us to wrap large balconies around the three road frontages of the building which assisted in our goal of making the apartments as much like houses as possible, but presented a challenge in how we treated the balconies as the planning requirements limited us from having solid elements on the balcony line,” said McFarland. “The outcome results in a permeable and interesting façade, responsive to Brisbane’s sub-tropical context.”
McFarland noted that “further opportunity presented itself when we were able to test some illumination strategies that showcase the sweeping curves of the banding which become more prominent on the skyline at night.”
The proposal is currently under statutory assessment from Brisbane City Council. More

A First Nations design team comprising Jack Gillmer, Emily McDaniel and Michael Mossman has been named the creative director of the Australia Pavilion at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.
The winning scheme Home features a highly sensorial design that incorporates physical, interactive and virtual mediums integrated within the space. It also provides participatory opportunities for visitors and contributors of the project to storytell their understandings of home through the lens of Country.
The creative directors for the 2025 exhibition were selected by the 2025 Venice Biennale Curatorial Committee from twenty-one entries and four finalists. The shortlisted proposals were varied, with one exhibition exploring the impact of asbestos on the Australian landscape, another investigating the markings made on houses to signify certain conditions of the home and positions of occupants, and a third building on an architect-led movement to transform Australia’s cities from being net consumers of energy, waste and water into net producers by the year 2030.
National president of the Australian Institute of Architects and member of the 2025 curatorial committee Jane Cassidy said Home was selected for its storytelling. “The […] committee’s vision was to find a team of creative directors who could present an Australian Exhibition that tells a rich, engaging story while demonstrating the depth of Australian architectural expertise. Michael, Emily and Jack certainly exemplify this with their vision.”
Creative director Michael Mossman said their exhibition was conceptualised as a space for facilitating meaningful dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples on an international scale. “This is the first Venice Architecture Biennale following the Australian referendum to amend the Australian Constitution for a Voice to Parliament. While the result presented a setback to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agency and self-determination at a constitutional level, it opened opportunities for impactful dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, which we will continue with Home.”
Rammed earth will feature prominently throughout the exhibition, as seen in a curved wall and bench seat that have been designed to embrace a sand-filled ceremonial and performance space known as the beating heart. Visitors will be able to contribute to the exhibition by sharing stories of home via a mud paint medium on what is referred to as a “living canvas.”

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Creative director Jack Gillmer said the design of the pavilion – along with its participatory format – celebrates cultural exchange, Country and cultural knowledge systems, while simultaneously igniting global conversations on First Nations-led approaches toward sustainability, net-zero carbon emissions and material circularity.
The creative directorial team behind Home were nominated to represent the voices of First Nations design practitioners Clarence Slockee, Kayle Salvatori, Elle Davidson and Bradley Kerr. The team will also engage global ambassadors who will lead certain programmed activities.
“Home is a generous and timely offering to the Venice Architecture Biennale that will welcome visitors as active contributors and participants. Through design, enlivened public conversations, cultural practice and ceremony, we will facilitate a shared and collective experience that resonates with international audiences and recognises the criticality of First Nations knowledge,” said creative director Emily McDaniel.
The Home pavilion will be debuted in Venice in May 2025. More