Evelyn Reynolds

More than 780 projects were entered into the 2025 World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards, with 460 making the shortlist – including 36 based in Australia.
The awards program recognises projects across four overarching categories: Completed Buildings, Future Projects, Interiors and Landscape, each encompassing a range of sub-categories.
Within this year’s shortlist, practices from America are the most highly represented, with China, UK, Australia, India, Canada, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Japan also in the top ten.
Shortlisted entrants will present to juries at the World Architecture Festival, taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Center from 12 to 14 November. Category winners will be considered for World Building of the Year, World Landscape of the Year and Future Project of the Year Awards.
Darlington Public School by FJC Studio in Sydney won the 2024 World Building of the Year. “The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way,” said Paul Finch, the programme director of WAF.
The shortlisted Australian projects for 2025 are as follows:
Completed Buildings
Civic and Community
Blacktown Exercise and Sports Technology Hub – ARM Architecture
Guulabaa – Place of Koala – Gensler
Pyrmont Community Centre – Welsh and Major
Yarrila Place – BVN

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Creative Reuse
Brewery Yard, Stage 2 – Tzannes
Reddam House North Shore – AJC Architects
Rosebery Engine Yards – Group GSA
Younghusband – Woods Bagot

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Culture
Yellamundie Library – FJC Studio
Health
Canberra Hospital Expansion – BVN

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Higher Education and Research
Flinders University Health and Medical Research Building – Architectus
Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence – ARM Architecture
University of Queensland Soundshell – Kirk Studio

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Housing
One Sydney Harbour – Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Mixed-use
25 Martin Place Retail Development – Woods Bagot
388 George Street – FJC Studio
Martin Place Metro Precinct – Grimshaw, Tzannes and JPW
The Pump House – MHN Design Union and Fieldwork
Office
Brewery Yard, Stage 2 – Tzannes
Retrofit
Sirius Redevelopment – BVN
Sport
Blacktown Exercise and Sports Technology Hub – ARM Architecture
Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool – Co.Op Studio

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Transport
Central Station – Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan and Partners
Sydney Metro Martin Place Station – Grimshaw

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Future Projects
Education
AMRF Second Building – Architectus in collaboration with Aileen Sage Architects and Jacobs
The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness – New Wing Extension – HDR

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Sport
Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium – Cox Architecture in association with Cumulus Studio
Interiors
Bars and Restaurants
Prefecture 48 – Bates Smart
The International – Woods Bagot
Hotels
Journey Beyond – Woods Bagot
Residential (Single Dwelling)
Eaglemont Modern House – Sky Architect Studio
Palmerston Street House – Robert Simeoni Architects
Shell House – Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Veil – Madeleine Blanchfield Architects
Workplace (Large)
JLL Melbourne – JLL Design
Macquarie Group Global Headquarters workplace design – Architectus, Cox Architecture and Hecker Guthrie
To view the full shortlist, visit the WAF website. More

The Queensland government has opened expressions of interest (EOI) for the design of four of the new and upgraded sporting venues that will be delivered as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The “pre-construction design work” sought by the government relates to proposed indoor sports centres at Moreton Bay and Logan, and stadium upgrades at the Sunshine Coast and at Barlow Park in Cairns.
According to the government’s communique, the EOI process is intended to provide “government and industry the chance to create a world-class event with generational benefits for locals,” that also “attract[s] national and global audiences.”
Their release notes, “The Queensland government is pleased to be partnering with industry in delivering a games that will make all Queenslanders proud of our state and ensure we all share in a once-in-a-lifetime legacy.”

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Meanwhile, in response to the government’s plan for the games’ infrastructure, the Australian Institute of Architects has urged the government to employ architectural expertise in project governance to avoid “critical risks” facing the games’ delivery, including “cost blowouts and poor operational performance.”
Their submission to the state government comprises five key recommendations, which, in the Institute’s words, are to:

1. Embed in-house senior architectural expertise in project governance and delivery:
Architects experienced in complex project delivery are urgently needed at the highest governance levels, including GIICA Board, senior management, government directorates and advisory panels. Include in-house heritage and environmental expertise, especially for sensitive precincts like Victoria Park.
2. Empower and expand the Office of the State Government Architect:
Ensure this office leads procurement strategy, brief development, design integrity and governance, based on successful Sydney 2000 models. It must be significantly resourced to fulfil this expanded role.
3. Procure based on value, not lowest cost:
Prioritise high-performing, multidisciplinary teams accountable to client outcomes.
4. Invest in early phases:
Allocate time and funding to detailed briefing, site planning and iterative design to reduce downstream risks and cost blowouts.
5. Establish an Olympics Design Integrity Panel:
A multidisciplinary, independent panel should oversee design quality and alignment with Games objectives from procurement through to delivery.

Queensland Chapter president Caroline Stalker said, “Without immediate action to embed design expertise and governance, we risk repeating the mistakes of past Olympic hosts who were left with cost overruns and poor legacy outcomes.”
According to Stalker, “Architects can play a pivotal role in assisting government to navigate delivery challenges. We are uniquely equipped to support cost-effective delivery, ensure long-term functionality and achieve the games’ legacy ambitions.”
“As momentum builds, we urge the government to move quickly, but not at the expense of quality, functionality or value. Rushed processes often result in inefficiencies, design errors and costly variations,” Stalker said.
The EOI for principal design consultants to deliver the aforementioned Olympic venues can be accessed online and the EOI period is open until 24 July. More

Woods Bagot has been selected to lead a major redevelopment project at Perth Airport, which includes the establishment of a new domestic terminal and an expansion of the existing international terminal.
In a statement, Perth Airport highlighted the appointment as one of the city’s largest and most significant contracts to date, following a commercial agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport that will see more than $5 billion invested in aviation infrastructure. Under the agreement, Perth Airport will become Qantas’s second-largest operational hub after Sydney.
More than twenty-four consultants and experts will be engaged with throughout the project. The team responsible for the design of the project includes Woods Bagot in collaboration with Nordic Office of Architecture and Architectus. Landscape design will be undertaken by UDLA and TCL.

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The project will deliver an expanded international terminal building and a new domestic terminal building, but also new aprons and taxiways for aircraft. According to the communique from Perth Airport, the new domestic terminal and the expanded international terminal will connect, “allowing passengers to cross between existing and new facilities.”
The communique highlighted that the design will prioritise sustainability and incorporate technology to optimise travel efficiency and connectivity between different areas of the airport.
Woods Bagot CEO Sarah Kay said the project will involve both local and international designers working together. “Perth’s new terminal will reflect the essence of a modern, vibrant and dynamic Western Australia. Sustainable design methodology and best-in-class technology will be integrated into the design, which is centred on joy and simplicity,” said Kay.

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Perth Airport’s CEO Jason Waters said the project will encompass an area equivalent to nearly 30 Optus Stadiums.
“We are focused on building a smart terminal that operates efficiently and safely and makes use of technology that improves the customer experience and operational efficiency,” said Waters.
“With the passenger journey at the top of mind we will create a seamless and intuitive terminal experience for all passengers, whether they are starting their journey, transferring or returning home.” More

A selection of wall and floor products to add warmth, durability and timeless style to any home.
Ariaply panelling by Austral Plywoods
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Mono rug from Loom Rugs
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Mineral engineered stone by Caesarstone
Caesarstone’s Mineral range of engineered stone is crafted from sustainable, silica-free materials such as recycled glass and eco- friendly resins. Its heat-resistant, non-porous and stain-free properties make it ideal for the kitchen splashback. Visit website.

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Infinity Planks by Signature Floors
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Ventura Range from Concrete Collaborative
Ventura Concrete Overlay is a sustainable terrazzo flooring incorporating up to 80 percent recycled content. With a 10 millimetre thickness, it offers durability and is free from plastics. It can be custom-coloured, with finishes including non-slip, honed or fully polished. Visit website.

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Co Lab series from Tongue and Groove
Tongue and Groove has launched Co Lab, a luxury flooring initiative produced with a host of talented designers. The first collection is Bosco, created with award-winning designer Greg Natale, which merges tessellating designs with the warmth and natural beauty of solid European oak. Visit website.

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A new discussion paper from Swinburne University and Melbourne-based residential developer Ys Housing has identified the potential to build up to 26,000 social homes in Victoria over the next decade. According to Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) Victoria, the figure is about one third of the 80,000-home target needed to bring the state in line with the national average of 4.5 percent social housing.
“Currently, Victoria is sitting at the bottom of the league table at 2.9 percent, which means we have a substantial way to go,” CHIA Victoria spokesperson Jess Pomeroy commented.
Produced in partnership with CHIA Victoria and 10 community housing providers, the report has identified 1,637 suitable sites across Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo located adjacent to existing community housing properties that could be merged and redeveloped by not-for-profit community housing organisations to boost social housing supply.
According to the report, the purchase of 1,000 lots would allow the delivery of between 10,500 and 26,000 new social homes across the state.
CHIA Victoria chief executive Sarah Toohey said, “By buying properties next door to ageing community housing dwellings, we can create larger blocks and deliver more social homes at scale. This is a chance for not-for-profit organisations to develop more homes that are genuinely affordable, rather than allowing private developers to transform these sites into premium properties designed to maximise profit margins and drive up prices.”
“This would also help the Victorian government achieve its goal of delivering more homes in existing suburbs, rather than relying on an ever-increasing urban growth boundary,” Toohey said.
The report’s modelling argues that a state government investment of $80 million a year into the decade-long initiative would “save taxpayers $1.99 billion through lower land costs, efficient land use and more cost-effective project delivery,” a release from CHIA Victoria reads. The proposal claims a saving of $250,000 per new dwelling.
Ys Housing CEO Oscar McLennan noted, “We know it’s absurdly hard to deliver housing at a reasonable price-point at the moment, yet site amalgamation presents a viable pathway to do just that. Amalgamating ageing community housing with neighbouring properties would involve voluntary transactions, providing property owners who may already be considering selling with the opportunity to do so. Site amalgamation is a strategic and sustainable way to help safeguard Victoria’s social housing future.”
The report’s release coincides with the recent announcement from the Housing Australia Future Fund, promising funding for 1,275 new social homes across 25 projects in Victoria.
Pomeroy noted, “Across the first two rounds of the HAFF, Victoria has received the highest amount of investment at $4.3 billion, which will deliver 5,418 social and affordable homes, the most of any state or territory. This represents more than 30 percent of the total funding pool and almost 30 percent of all homes.”
“While this will make a big difference to many people’s lives, Victoria still needs far more investment to meet the crushing demand for social housing and undo the impacts of years of underinvestment,” Pomeroy said. “Waiting lists for social housing continue to grow and currently 146,000 families and individuals need a rent-capped home they can actually afford.”
CHIA’s release on the new discussion paper notes that “over the longer term with further investment, the strategy could create up to 65,000 social housing units, enough to clear Victoria’s social housing waitlist.”
According to McLennan, “The greatest challenge we face isn’t the strategy itself but the urgent need for upfront investment and swift action to secure these sites while we still can.”
“The state government, in partnership with the community housing sector, must act decisively to seize this opportunity now before rising land prices and missed acquisition chances reduce its potential,” McLennan said.
Toohey added, “Victoria faces a golden but narrow window of opportunity to unlock land that could deliver thousands of new social housing dwellings across Melbourne and regional Victoria. […] If we don’t act quickly, it will mean less homes that are affordable for Victorians, and inevitably a more expensive social housing budget in the long run to catch up. The longer we wait, the fewer options we’ll have to bring these sites together, meaning we will have to build further away, sacrificing proximity, services and amenities for lower cost.”
The full paper can be accessed online. More

A 16-hectare arts and environmental precinct has opened in Halls Gap, Victoria, featuring Australia’s first National Centre for Environmental Art (NCEA), alongside the Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden and Jallukar Native Grasslands.
A Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, delivered by Paul Kelly of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, Uncle Ron Marks of the Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and Tya Lovett of the Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, marked the official opening of the precinct on 5 July.
The Where Art Meets Nature (WAMA) precinct is designed to be a place that highlights and celebrates the intersection between art, science and nature. It features an arts centre building, designed by MvS Architects and Taut Architects, which includes a climate-controlled art gallery, a cafe, a retail space and a multipurpose room for workshops, events and educational sessions.

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Gallery exhibitions will showcase works that reflect, explore or are inspired by nature and the environment. The NCEA’s inaugural exhibition, End and Being by Western Australian artist Jacobus Capone, confronts planetary warming through a documented performance on Europe’s Bossons Glacier. According to the WAMA Foundation, the work presents a powerful contrast to the recent devastating bushfires in Gariwerd/Grampians National Park, highlighting the global scale of the climate crisis.
With a strong focus on the environment, landscape design was a central feature of the precinct. Delivered by Tract, it includes restored native bushland, gathering spaces and pathways, alongside the existing Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Garden and Jallukar Native Grasslands.

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In an earlier article revealing the project, director of MvS Architects Jan van Schaik stated, “the building is designed to tie in with the landscape in which it is situated […] the design techniques used give the sense that the landscape is drawn inside the building. It’s part of the mechanism of the landscape, like an outdoor room.” More

An urban, adaptive reuse social housing project, and a regional, First Peoples-led tertiary education facility have been named the joint winners of the 2025 ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact – an accolade that honours projects, which are public-spirited, prioritise empathy over aesthetics and have made valuable societal contributions.
Jury chair Katelin Butler commented, “This year’s joint winners each respond to two major societal challenges of our time: chronic homelessness […] and the need to acknowledge the past injustices and ongoing inequalities faced by Indigenous Australians.”
“Both projects are equally impressive examples of the shifting mode of practice of architecture, where social value is considered at every stage – from designing from lived experience or via a genuine collaboration with community, to considering long-term outcomes and opportunities for those who use the buildings,” Butler said.
Collins and Turner’s design of Habilis was praised by the jury as “an exemplar of architectural excellence” that challenges traditional notions of social housing with a “deeply humane and sensitive architectural response to one of society’s most urgent challenges: chronic homelessness and mental illness.”
The jury likewise declared Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence by ARM Architecture “a landmark of architectural self-determination, created through a best-practice co-design process led by First Nations community members,” which “reminds us that the best spaces are created by those who will use them.”
Three projects received commendations in the award program, including a remote sanitation project in Nepal, an urban transformation in Sydney and an Indigenous student accommodation facility in Darwin. Butler noted that these projects, along with those shortlisted, continue to showcase “the diversity of ways that social and public value can be determined.”
Read the full jury overview.
The jury comprised Helen Barrie, senior research fellow, Centre for Markets, Values and Inclusion, University of South Australia; Amelia Borg, co-director, Sibling Architecture; Shaneen Fantin, architect and researcher; Rory Hyde (jury convenor), associate professor of architecture, University of Melbourne; Katelin Butler (jury chair), editorial director, Architecture Media; and Philip Thalis, principal, Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects.
Joint winners
Habilis – Collins and Turner
Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence – ARM Architecture
Commendations
Bhattedanda Village Stupa Sanitation and Caretaker Project – Paul Pholeros Foundation in collaboration with Jasper Ludewig, Harry Catterns, David Donald and Shane Marshall
George Street Transformation – City of Sydney
Nungalinya – Incidental Architecture
The ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact is organised by Architecture Media, and supported by presenting partner Melbourne School of Design and supporting partners Latitude Group and Pepto Lab. More

Through the Adaptive Reuse City Housing Initiative (ARCHI), a program led by the City of Adelaide, more than 150 buildings across Adelaide and North Adelaide have been identified as having potential for conversion into housing.
The project aims to encourage owners of vacant buildings in Adelaide and North Adelaide to consider adaptive reuse opportunities. It is guided by a steering group comprising members from council, state government, universities and built environment professions.
ARCHI firstly focused on identifying vacant smaller-scale, shop-top style buildings with raw potential for adaptive reuse into housing, then expanded to other building uses that could also be converted for residential use. To determine viable buildings, the team gathered information on building vacancies by analysing a range of City of Adelaide datasets, including property rates data and historical audits. They also researched real estate listings. After analysing the datasets, the team then conducted ground-truthing to verify their findings and eliminate buildings unsuitable for residential use – such as those with floorplates that were too small, had accessibility issues or were too dilapidated and aged.
Project manager Ellen Liebelt said their research identified approximately 150 potential buildings, but noted that this figure “represents a point in time as vacancy rates are not static.”
Liebelt described the project as “a beast,” noting that developing the right methodology was a challenge in itself. “Rates data relies on information provided by building owners about how their properties are used, so while it’s a useful indicator, it’s not necessarily a hugely reliable source.” She added that real estate listings proved to be surprisingly valuable resource, helping to identify not only vacant buildings but also providing information on their floor plates.
The list of potential buildings is not publicly accessible but was shared with stakeholders able to influence or drive policy, research and advocacy.
As for the research collated by ARCHI, Liebelt said it is something to be proud of. “This data demonstrates that there are opportunities there,” said Liebelt. “When we began this project, I did some early research to see if similar studies has been conducted in other state or council areas to see what we could learn from others but I couldn’t really find anything comparable.”
Running in parallel to this research is the ARCHI Incentives Scheme, a grant program delivered through the City of Adelaide – with funding from the state government – that incentivises property owners in the City of Adelaide to adaptively reuse existing buildings into housing.
More dwellings would assist the City of Adelaide in meeting its strategic target of a residential population of 50,000 by 2036. As of the 2021 Census, the population of the city was 25,026.
Two funding streams are available as part of the incentives program. The first stream provides up to $25,000 in funding for design and documentation for the development approval process, while the second offers up to $50,000 for construction works.
“During early conversations with built environment professionals, building owners and the project steering group, it was highlighted that the cost of preparing a development application for an adaptive reuse project is higher because consultant input is needed early on. And we really want people to use consultants for these kinds of projects because there is more certainty [of achieving a good outcome]. To encourage that, the scheme provides funding toward design and documentation for the DA process. That funding can help partially cover the fees for an architect, a building designer, a heritage consultant if needed, or any other relevant consultants,” said Liebelt.
“We wanted to encourage people to deliver dwellings at scale. […] So, if you’re delivering one to three dwellings, you can get up to $10,000 for a shop-top. But as your building gets bigger and the supply of dwellings increases, so does the grant. The second funding option supports construction costs and offers up to $50,000, depending on the project type.”
Another form of assistance provided by ARCHI is a series of publicly accessible guidance materials developed in collaboration with Phillips/Pilkington Architects. These materials include input from various project consultants, including building surveyors, acoustic engineers and access consultants, who each provided advice on costs and key considerations for adaptive reuse projects.
Information about the incentives scheme or guidance materials can be found on the ARCHI website. Read a recent article about a group of South Australian architects, builders, academics and regulators – including ARCHI – advocating for national policy reform to prioritise adaptive reuse. More