Evelyn Reynolds

A new survey collecting anonymous data on the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment and bullying in the Australian architecture and built environment sector has launched.
The Stop Harassment and Bullying Survey was announced by Parlour on 5 November. The survey objective is to discern the extent to which occurrences of bullying and sexual harassment may be prevalent within built environment professions, as well as the types of proactive and reactive support available. It is the first industry-wide scholarly survey to examine harassment and bullying among built environment professions in Australia.
The launch of the survey comes after the Positive Duty legislation was introduced into Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act in December 2022. Under the legislation, every employer is obliged to prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation through proactive measures, rather than simply reactive actions.
Co-founder of Parlour Justine Clark stated that one incident of harassment or bullying was “one too many.” She added, “At the moment we have little data about the extent of the problem, but an increasing number of stories have been reported to Parlour over time, across many communication channels. These swell whenever there is a discussion of harassment or bullying on Parlour’s social media or editorial program.”
“Informal individual stories – while heard – are not enough to effect change and, understandably, few individuals are prepared to discuss these issues publicly. There is also plenty of evidence in other fields that those who make a complaint most often bear the cost. This is borne out by the experiences of those in the built environment professions who have spoken with us.”
Current or historical architectural and built environment professionals are eligible to take part in the survey, which comprises four sections: demographic questions; general enquiries about current prevalence of sexual harassment and bullying within the broader built environment profession; a section for sharing specific (current or historic) harrassment and bullying experiences, and lastly, questions concerning workplace and industry policies, procedures and the support available before and and after an event is reported.
“There is strong interest from key professional bodies to work together to develop industry-wide strategies to prevent sexual harassment and bullying and to support those experiencing it. This survey is an important start,” Clark said.
The anonymous survey will be conducted by both Parlour and Dr Gill Matthewson of Melbourne’s Monash University, with results to be collated and published.
The Stop Harassment and Bullying Survey will close on 22 November 2024. Visit here to access. More

The 2024 Eat Drink Design Awards were announced on 31 October in Melbourne, with the winning projects spanning a wide range of styles and types, from a tactile, otherworldly Brisbane restaurant to a delightfully playful gelato shop in Western Australia.
“This year’s winning designers are to be commended for their high level of craftsmanship, bold choices and attention to detail,” said the jury.
“The jury observed multiple venues where the designers transport guests to somewhere they’ve never been before, whether it is a slightly alien landscape or a new country. The jury delighted in the restaurants, bars and cafes that look far from the traditional and make a big impact,” said the jury.
Winners and commendations of the 2024 Eat Drink Design Awards were announced along with this year’s inductee into the Hall of Fame, an accolade that acknowledges enduring excellence in the design of a hospitality venue that is of more than ten years standing. Designed in the late 1970s, Berowra Waters Inn by Glenn Murcutt showcases his distinctive Australian vernacular style, with its corrugated tin roof, glass louvre windows and sandstone rubble set amongst the eucalypts. Read the story here.
The winners are:
Best Restaurant Design
Gerard’s – J.AR Office
Best Bar Design
Bar Besuto – Tom Mark Henry
Best Cafe Design
Top Tea, Clayton – Wall Architects
Best Hotel Design
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne – BAR Studio
Best Retail Design
Chicho Gelateria and Production Lab – Bosske
Best Identity Design
Madeleine de Proust – Principle Design
Hall of Fame
Berowra Waters Inn – Glenn Murcutt
Commendations
See the 11 commended projects here.
The 2024 jury comprises Di Ritter (jury chair and former Eat Drink Design Awards winner), Greg Lamb (co-founder, Hogg and Lamb), Matiya Marovich (principal, Sans-Arc Studio), Pat Nourse (creative director, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival) and Rebecca Yazbek (co-founder, Nomad Group).
See the full gallery of winning and commended projects on the Eat Drink Design Awards website.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media (publisher of ArchitectureAu). The 2024 awards’ principal partner is Laminex.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia. More

The Sydney Olympic Park draft masterplan 2050 is now on exhibition for public comment, with the plan detailing a long-term vision for an area encompassing 650 hectares.
If approved, masterplan 2050 would supersede the previously approved masterplan 2030. A communique released by the NSW government stated that the new masterplan takes greater advantage of “opportunities created by new transport infrastructure,” including Sydney Metro West and the proposed second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail.
The draft masterplan 2050 proposes to deliver up to 13,000 homes with 5–10 percent dedicated to affordable housing, new school education facilities, new community sports, and leisure centres, a new cultural centre, a new library, retail amenities and a car-lite precinct.
According to the masterplan, “events will remain an integral aspect of Sydney Olympic Park’s identity,” however, this will be “bolstered by a range of land uses and diverse housing options.”
The draft plans envision Sydney Olympic Park as Sydney’s “beating green heart,” a place that is “energised with everyday life, is Country-first and nature-positive.” The proposed landscape design includes a network of green corridors connecting 430 hectares of recreational parkland, seven new public spaces, four new sports fields and hard-paved areas of public domain.
A substantial number of sites across the masterplanned area would be subject to architectural design competitions if the draft masterplan were granted approved.
SJB led the design of the draft masterplan 2050, in collaboration with Turf Design Studios (landscape architecture); Yerrabingin (Connecting with Country); SGS (economics and planning); Cred Consulting (social and community); Atelier 10 (sustainability); WSP (transport and movement) and Mark Gerada (artistic renders).
The Sydney Olympic Park Draft masterplan 2050 is on exhibition until 25 November. More

A century ago, on 7 November 1924, Victoria’s first large moving picture palace opened its doors with a spectacular launch. The years ensuing would see the opulent theatre draw thousands of spectators for silent film screenings. Throughout these years, the single-screen theatre has endured a volatile history, marked by threats of demolition, changes in ownership and periods of closure. Despite these challenges, the century-old theatre continues to stand as a significant landmark in Melbourne’s cultural and architectural landscape.The Capitol House, which comprises a tower and the Capitol Theatre, was designed by renowned architects Marion Mahoney Griffin and Walter Burley Griffin. The concept was highly progressive for its time as it accommodated mixed uses through the inclusion of a theatre and shops at ground level, along with a ten-storey office and residential tower above.

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The Capitol Theatre is regarded as one of the Griffins’ most impressive interior architecture projects, with the expressive auditorium ceiling the pièce de résistance. Designed with intricate crystalline geometry made from horsehair plaster, this elaborate ceiling conceals coloured lights that synchronise with orchestral and visual elements, introduced to create a richer sensory experience during the silent film screening era. The ceiling once had the capability to open, allowing cigarette smoke to filter out of the theatre, but this feature ceased operation in the 1960s.
A radical departure from the typical architectural styles of the era, the ceiling has often been described as being emblematic of the Chicago-Gothic style, while others suggest it may have been inspired by sacred Indian architecture, influenced by the Griffins’ trips to India.

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The upper foyers – including the former salon and smoking lounges – remain today as exceptional aspects of the building. Decorative columns and translucent square ceiling panels feature prominently within this space.
The ground-floor foyer was yet another grand feature; however, it was removed in the 1970s due to the operational costs of the theatre outweighing revenue.
The sacrifice of the lavish foyer was an unfortunate trade-off to prevent an even worse outcome: the complete demolition of the theatre, a proposition tabled by political leaders in 1964. The proposed razing ignited public outrage, as well as one of Melbourne’s earliest conservation campaigns, spearheaded by the Institute of Architects, the National Trust and esteemed architect Robin Boyd. The campaign led to a compromise – the theatre auditorium and upper foyers would be saved, but the grand foyer and theatre stalls would be converted into an arcade.
The removal of original stall seating decreased the theatre’s capacity from 2,137 to 574.

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The theatre has seen various ownerships over the years, but is currently owned by RMIT University. The institution acquired the theatre in April 1999 to accommodate large student lectures and conferences that it was previously unable to host. Outside of class hours, the venue was available for public event hire.

In 2014, the ninety-year-old structure had deteriorated and aged to the point where it was considered unfit for use, and was closed until 2017 when RMIT University appointed Six Degrees Architects to undertake the restoration and refurbishment of the theatre.
A significant concern was accessibility, as the lift on the arcade level only reached the first floor, leaving levels two to four inaccessible except via stairs. Furthermore, the theatre was almost invisible from the street due to the foyer being removed, which created a sense of the theatre being buried within the building instead of having a prominent street presence.
The project’s progress was entirely contingent on whether a lift could be inserted, as contemporary building codes necessitated universal access. Although Peter Malatt, co-director of Six Degrees, once remarked that locating an appropriate spot for the lift in the theatre was akin to “threading the eye of a needle,” the firm ultimately discovered a viable solution. This involved carving out concrete slabs — an especially challenging task within the building’s heritage fabric — to establish a hanging shaft, as the lift could not be anchored to the ground- and first-floor slabs due to their inability to withstand the load of the lift.
The refurbishment saw the installation of hundreds of LED bulbs in the auditorium’s sparkling ceiling, which previously featured only four coloured globes in red, yellow, blue and green. This enhancement has allowed for an almost infinite number of colour combinations and customisations. Additionally, the auditorium seats were replaced, the stage was extended and electrical cables were discreetly hidden behind decorative elements on the stage.
Elsewhere in the theatre, a small piece of original carpet was discovered and sent to India for reproduction. Once recreated, the carpet was laid throughout the building as a sentimental reminder of the theatre’s former condition.

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RMIT University Professor and associate deputy vice-chancellor of engagement in the College of Design and Social Context Martyn Hook elaborated that the 18-month refurbishment was quite extensive, as various sections of the building possess differing levels of heritage status.
The key achievements of the 2019 update is that the theatre now visually connects with the street, facilitated by appropriate glazing and illuminated signage on the first floor. Furthermore, internal accessibility has been improved, allowing ingress to all.

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Currently, the university is fundraising for the repair and return of the original Wurlitzer organ, allowing the cinema to once again screen films with synchronised ceiling lights and organ music. Hook noted that to have the organ and ceiling once again play together in harmony will be a “globally unique experience.” More

The federal government has released energy-efficient and climate-resilient home plans in a new Design For Place initiative on the Your Home website. Designed by an architect in collaboration with an energy assessor, the plans target up to a 40 percent reduction in energy required to heat and cool a typical new Australian home.
There are five house plans accompanied by sub-designs and specifications tailored for nine locations in different climate zones, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

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Each of the designs meets the new minimum 7-star NatHERS energy-efficiency requirement of the current 2022 National Construction Code. In calculating a home’s energy-efficiency, this rating also includes the annual energy consumed by its major or fixed appliances – including heating, cooling and hot water systems – offset by the energy provided by, and stored in, household solar batteries.
Assistant minister for climate change and energy Josh Wilson noted that many of the Design For Place houses in fact exceed this minimum, with ratings up to ten stars. “The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use in the first place. Providing free, practical and thorough design examples through Design for Place is about making new homes cheaper to run and more comfortable at the same time.”
“A home built to the new Design For Place specifications will reduce household energy bills and put downward pressure on the cost-of-living, while reducing emissions,” Wilson said.
In their media communique, the federal government suggest that Australian households “work with a builder to construct a Design For Place home, or work with a designer or architect to refine the plan to meet their needs and preferences.”

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The free plans can be accessed from the Your Home website. More

Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Minderoo Foundation have announced a $30 million, 25-year philanthropic partnership to advance Australia’s arts and culture with a new home for the university’s performing arts training academy.
The new Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) will be located within the ECU City campus designed Lyons, Silver Thomas Hanley and Haworth Tompkins, which is currently under construction in Perth’s CBD and on track to open in semester one, 2026.
According to a release from the Western Australian government, the donation from the Minderoo Foundation is among the top ten philanthropic contributions ever made to an Australian university. It builds on the $853 million investment made between ECU, the state and federal governments in the ECU City campus through the $1.7 million Perth City Deal, aimed at activating the city’s centre.
The new WAAPA at ECU City is intended to complement several major performing arts projects currently being delivered across Perth, including the $234 million Perth Film Studios, the $150 million Perth Concert Hall redevelopment, expected to open in 2028, and the transformation of the Perth Cultural Centre, anticipated to open in 2026.

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Western Australian premier Roger Cook observed, “These Western Australian institutions will draw thousands of students, staff and audience members into our city centre, driving economic activity, supporting businesses and creating a thriving and vibrant CBD day and night,” while the culture and arts minister David Templeman described WAAPA at ECU City as “the jewel in the crown.”
Along with an endowed fund for the delivery of an ongoing program of residency programs, Minderoo Foundation’s donation includes a fund for the building’s specialist fit-out. According to the release, the “gift will support ECU and WAAPA’s bold vision to deliver nation-leading, state-of-the-art performance and learning venues within the new ECU City campus.”

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WAAPA’s performance venues will include a recital hall, playhouse theatre, dance theatre, jazz and contemporary music studio, flex theatre and Aboriginal theatre, as well as music and theatre rehearsal spaces. The six public performance venues and two performance-capable rehearsal spaces will be equipped with advanced acoustics, box-in-box engineering and best-in-class technology. More

The state government has announced the appointment of a new Building and Plumbing Commission in a bid to deliver stronger consumer protections for homeowners by combining key regulatory functions of the building industry under one roof. It follows the release of an independent review of the Victorian Building Authority’s (VBA) handling of homeowner complaints, commissioned in 2023, which identified consumer distress over complex and drawn-out cases, some spanning more than a decade.
In reflecting on the report’s intent, Anna Cronin, chief executive officer and chief commissioner at the VBA commented, “I have met with six of the seven consumers involved [in the review], and spoken to the seventh on the phone. Their distress about how the system has treated them is palpable … if the VBA had had a clear focus and priority on consumers, we would have done things differently and better in terms of outcomes for them.”
The report’s recommendations included strengthening the oversight of building work during construction, enhancing the VBA’s powers, improving the dispute resolution policy offered by Domestic Building Disputes Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) and developing a professional code of conduct for builders.
In alignment with these suggestions, the new Building and Plumbing Commission will integrate the current building industry regulator – the VBA – together with DBDRV and the Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) function of the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, enabling the regulator to effectively manage all consumer complaints.
The regulator’s new powers will also include:

Compelling developers of apartment buildings above three stories to notify the regulator prior to occupation so the regulator can conduct a final inspection
Issuing an order to allow the regulator to act against a builder after an occupancy permit is issued, ensuring defects discovered after the homeowner moves in can be rectified
Introducing a strata bond for apartment owners in mid- to high-rise apartment buildings, ensuring funds are available to rectify defects after an occupancy permit is issued
Expanding DBI to encompass scenarios when a builder has failed to comply with the new rectification order, meaning that the builder must no longer be insolvent, have disappeared or died before a claim can be made.

According to a media communique from the VBA, the change signals the “most significant reform to building industry legislation in decades and puts consumer protection clearly front and centre in terms of the government’s regulatory priorities.”
The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian chapter president David Wagner welcomed the transformation, saying “these changes are essential for rebuilding consumer trust and raising standards in the building industry, particularly the housing market.” In addition to backing the government’s proposal to increase building inspections and extending the scope of mandatory DBI, he also applauded the suggestion for developers to be made accountable for projects post-handover through a decennial liability insurance scheme.
“The Institute advocates extending this approach to all builders, ensuring mandatory contractual guarantees for all projects — this would incentivise builders to address defects directly or provide financial means for consumers to hire alternative trades,” said Wagner.
Further changes, such as improved licensing and mandatory continuing education, were also recommended by the Institute in their response. According to Wagner, “Many building issues involve failed waterproofing, yet membrane waterproofing contractors are currently not required to be insured and are not regulated through a licencing system.”
“The most effective strategy for addressing construction defects is to prevent them from occurring in the first place — this is crucial as Victoria prepares to meet the challenge of constructing up to 80,000 new homes annually to accommodate its growing population.”
Once they pass through parliament, the proposed changes to legislation are anticipated to come into effect in the first half of 2025. More

WMK Architecture has been named the winner of a City of Sydney design excellence competition for a mixed-use residential development in Rosebery.
The winning scheme accommodates 145 build-to-rent apartments and retail spaces across two buildings at 12–20 Rosebery Avenue. The buildings are complemented by green spaces, pocket parks, through site links and a community pavilion at the centre of the site.
In a statement, WMK Architecture described the design as prioritising sustainability, functionality and community. The practice emphasised that a stepped building arrangement was the most suitable and “respectful” solution for the rhombus-shaped site.
“Each building has its own distinct character, yet the overall design is cohesive, offering both aesthetic appeal and efficiency,” said the design team. “This thoughtful blend of individuality and unity ensures that the development not only enhances the Rosebery area but also fosters a connected, thriving community.”

The practice has employed various climate resilient strategies in the design, such as minimising the number of west-facing windows on buildings to decrease heat gain and energy usage. Additionally, the facade features slender vertical elements that offer shade over windows, along with covered balconies that are also protected from excessive heat.
Drought resistant, native plant species will be introduced throughout the site to foster biodiversity.

WMK Architecture’s proposal was selected over entries by Bates Smart and BVN. More