Evelyn Reynolds

Entries are now open for the 2025 Dulux Colour Awards. Architects, interior designers, specifiers and design students from Australia and New Zealand are invited to submit recent projects that demonstrate an exceptional use of colour across seven categories.
Projects must have been completed between 1 September 2023 and 31 December 2024 and cannot have been previously entered into the awards.
Prizes are awarded across categories of commercial interior for workplace and retail; commercial interior for public and hospitality venues; commercial and multi-residential exterior; residential interior; single residential exterior; temporary or installation design; and students.

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A panel of industry experts will be judging the 2025 competition entrants based on the criteria of innovation, expression and execution of colour. This year’s panel includes Andrew Parr (SJB), Kim Bridgland (Edition Office), Rachel Luchetti (Luchetti Krelle), Kerstin Thompson (KTA), Alex McLeod (At.Space) and Andrea Lucena-Orr (Dulux).
Andrew Parr explains that the Dulux Colour Awards provide an exciting opportunity to witness and assess some of the most inspiring and innovative techniques being employed by the best of the best to push the boundaries of colour in architecture and design.
“The creative use of colour is such an integral aspect of design, particularly when a project has multiple constraints, and I’m eager to see how this year’s entrants have embraced it to enhance function and form across residential and commercial spaces,” adds Parr.
Finalists will have the opportunity to be judged for the coveted Australian Grand Prix and New Zealand Grand Prix titles. Entries are open until Friday 21 February 2025. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 28 May 2025.
For more information on the Dulux Colour Awards or to enter, visit the Dulux website. More

A pine-framed, Saveboard-clad house silhouette has been unveiled within the garden of the National Gallery of Victoria. Concealed inside its 236-square-metre footprint, a 50-square-metre timber pavilion provides a template and meditative space for contemplating smaller-scale dwelling solutions amidst Australia’s current housing and climate crisis.
As Jeremy McLeod, director of Breathe, explained, “Size matters, and I just want to have an honest conversation with Australia about that.”
Breathe’s winning design for the 2024 NGV Architecture Commission, titled Home Truth, interrogates Australia’s trend of building big. By capturing the actual footprint of Australia’s average home – the largest on earth – the design aims to reveal the ethical and environmental realities of oversized homes: including suburban sprawl, environmental degradation and social inequity.

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“You can live well in 50 square metres and you can live poorly in 450 square metres… it’s been proven time and time again that inequality of life is not described by the size of the housing footprint,” McLeod observed.
Rather than provide a specific solution to the problem, the design offers a reflective, timber volume, representing a small-scale home. As McLeod noted, “It’s meant to be a moment of respite to consider, what possible future could there be?”
In making their point quite literally at scale, Breathe has been mindful to conserve resources where possible, seizing the NGV Architecture Commission as an opportunity to further their research into (and advocacy of) closed-loop construction and material production while also experimenting with spatial qualities of a minimal material palette.

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For McLeod, the 90 x 35 millimetre proprietary pine frame of the external home ordinarily represents “some of the bleakest housing outcomes in our country [but] when you put it together in a particular way and you catch the light and shadow it becomes this beautiful thing.”
The frame’s skin of silver-flecked Saveboard is made by heating the Tetra Pak packaging of almond and soy milk cartons. “The whole thing is held together with screws and nails so that at the end of the Commission it can be dismantled,” McLeod added. “The framing pine will go back to the builder that assembled it [who’s] going to use it to frame other homes,” a case in point to build with less.
Home Truth will be on display from 13 November until April 2025.

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The Koorie Heritage Trust Stage II – designed by Lyons, Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates – has won the 2024 City Design Award at the Melbourne Awards.
The project involved expanding and rejuvenating a First Nations arts and cultural centre in the Birrarung Building in naarm/Melbourne’s Federation Square. The updated centre – extended from two floors to three – boasts new exhibition galleries and improved areas for hosting community and educational programs. The reimagined centre reopened in December 2023.
The design team involved in realising the Koorie Heritage Trust Stage II was praised by the jury for “honouring and amplifying Indigenous art and culture in a contemporary execution.”
Munro Development and narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services by Six Degrees Architects and Bates Smart was shortlisted for the award, alongside 38 Albermarle Street by Fieldwork. More

Coming up in Sydney on Friday 29 November, the Sydney rendition of The Architecture Symposium by Design Speaks will speculate on the architectural possibilities of a less centralised urban life.
Despite being one of the most urbanised countries in the world, Australia is undergoing a shift in its metropolitan areas. The pandemic, coupled with the increasing cost of living within Australia’s capitals, has boosted the appeal of a regional lifestyle and prompted a more decentralised workforce.
Curators Andrew Burges and Maryam Gusheh have coordinated a lineup of speakers who will investigate how works of architecture and infrastructure can galvanise and better support new urban environments, and what factors are informing the architectural project within these satellite cities.
Titled An/Other City, the symposium will feature speakers Thierry Lacoste of Lacoste Stevenson Architects; Steven Toia of Genton; Rhonda Itaoui of Centre for Western Sydney; Jared Webb of J.AR Office; Ian McDougall of ARM Architecture; Anna Maskiell of Public Realm Lab; Lee Hillam of Dunn Hillam; John Wardle of Wardle, and Dan Etheridge of Living Lab Northern Rivers.

The Architecture Symposium is a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media, supported by premium partners Planned Cover, Bondor and Deco, and hotel partner Ovolo.

To find more about The Architecture Symposium: An/Other City, visit here. More

A new on-estate Pullman hotel planned for Perth Airport has been greenlit for development and is slated for completion in 2027. Situated immediately adjacent to the airport’s terminals, the scheme by DKO incorporates a holistic architecture and landscape design intended to link the hotel together with the greater airport precinct.
The hotel development comprises 250 rooms spanning eight levels and is within walking distance of the airport’s arrivals and departure terminals, catering for the 15 million passengers that transit through Perth Airport on an annual basis. Amenities for guests include a pool, a gym, a lounge, a cafe, a restaurant, a bar, a conference room and a co-working space.
Director of DKO Perth Dennis Chew explained that the approach to the project was “guided by a vision to create a transformative space that exceeds the expectations of global travellers.”
“As we are designing a landmark that will serve as a gateway to Perth, the development needs to reflect the city’s vibrant spirit and its forward-looking ethos,” he said.

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According to a media communique, the firm’s intent has been to design a place “destined to become not merely a stay of convenience, but a destination unto itself with the textures and forms of the scheme all evoking the unique landscape and culture of West Australia.”
Chew added, “Our strength lies in delivering a hotel that is contextual to place.”
The project’s concept employs natural materials on the ground levels that are intended to mimic the earthy tones and rugged textures of Western Australia’s landscapes while warmly inviting travellers into the lobby. Above, a glass facade integrates active shading that aspires to the aesthetics of the modern age.
The landscaped gardens included in DKO’s scheme reference the state’s topography of sand dunes, geological formations and coastline forest. Inside the hotel, the practice has prioritised comfort and celebration of culture, collaborating with local indigenous communities to incorporate design elements that reflect their traditions, stories and art.
According to Chew, “The Airport Central Hotel is more than just a place to stay; it will be a catalyst of economic growth in the region, providing jobs, attracting more visitors and supporting Perth’s development as a major travel hub.” More

FJC Studio have made global architecture history, winning their second World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore.
The firm was awarded the prestigious accolade for the Darlington Public School in 2024 and for Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki in 2013. This makes FJC Studio the first practice in WAF history to win the top award twice.
On behalf of the jury, Paul Finch, the programme director of WAF, said the design team behind the winning project not only explored but also expanded the client’s formal programme to encompass the perspectives and experiences of the local community and various users.
“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. It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference – a pointer to brighter, better futures for all.”
The jury tasked with awarding the World Building of the Year was chaired by Sonali Rastogi and included Emre Arolat, Mario Cucinella and Ian Ritchie. 

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Upon receiving the accolade, FJC Studio associate Alessandro Rossi remarked, “It’s very humbling given the modest scale of the building – it’s a little school project, so to have won against all the other big projects at WAF is a testament to the client and the community engagement that helped drive the design process.”
Elsewhere in the awards, fourteen Australian projects won a category or received a high commendation across both day one and day two. Australian educational facilities accounted for the highest volume of awarded and commended projects. More

Fourteen Australian projects have either won a category or received a high commendation across both day one and two of the 2024 WAF/Inside Awards.
It was in the Future Buildings’ Education category that Australian projects fared best, with the University of Tasmania Forestry Building by Woods Bagot securing the top gong and the University of Technology Sydney – National First Nations College by Warren and Mahoney in association with Greenaway Architects, Oculus and Finding Infinity earning a high commendation. Another future building, the New Footscray Hospital by Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership was highly commended in the Health category.

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Of the completed buildings to win awards, the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre by Lyons won the Health category, while 88 Walker by Fitzpatrick and Partners received top honours in the Mixed-Use category.
Over to interiors projects, Bates Smart was crowned the winner of the Public Buildings category for the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C, while WSU Bankstown City Campus by HDR Pty Ltd was awarded top honours in the Education category. Additionally, Back to Front House by Ian Moore was highly commended in the Residential category.
Day one of the global awards program saw seven Australian projects awarded or highly commended. View the day one winners here. More

The 2024 National Architecture Awards, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, has shined a spotlight on Australia’s most prestigious and respected projects of the year, with this year’s ceremony reflecting themes of connectedness and community.
Forty-six distinguished projects have earned an award or commendation from a pool of 62 shortlisted entries. Common themes among the projects include championing a strong sense of social and economic responsibility, offering innovative material solutions, and celebrating the preservation and adaptive re-use of existing heritage.

Jury chair and immediate past national president of the Australian Institute of Architects Stuart Tanner said the award-winning projects are evidence of the broad typological spectrum the Institute’s members are engaged in, further substantiating how architecture elevates society and enhances lives.
“Flying over the seemingly endless red plains and river lines of far-northern Western Australia, one realises a land of vast power and profound narrative. It is an environ that our profession is priveleged to practice within, which presents challenges of climate, community and locale, urban and remote and which fosters the innovative thinking that places our members at the forefront of design excellence,” Tanner said.

The 2024 jury comprised Yun Nie Chong, Naomi Stead, Stuart Tanner, Jemima Retallack and Paul Owen. You can read the jury chair’s overview here.
The winners are:

Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award
Powerhouse Castle Hill – Lahznimmo Architects

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National Awards
Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall
Spinifex Hill Project Space – Officer Woods Architects
National Commendation
Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club – Adriano Pupilli Architects
Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award
River’s Edge Building, University of Tasmania – Wardle

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National Awards
Clifton Hill Primary School – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
The Cottage School – Taylor and Hinds Architects
National Commendation
St. Patrick’s College: Scientia Building – BVN
Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award
T3 Collingwood – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

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National Awards
Sanders Place – NMBW, Openwork and Finding Infinity
The Porter House Hotel – Candalepas Associates
The Warehouses – J.AR Office
National Commendation
Campbell House Private Office – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award
Burnt Earth Beach House – Wardle

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National Awards
Cox Architecture Adelaide Studio – Cox Architecture
Geelong Arts Centre (Stage 3) – ARM Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award
Naples Street House – Edition Office

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National Awards
Burnt Earth Beach House – Wardle
Six Ways House – Kennedy Nolan
National Commendation
Maitland Bay House – Studio Bright
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
High Street – Lineburg Wang

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National Awards
Aru House – Curious Practice
Mansard House – Studio Bright
National Commendations
Lee House – Candalepas Associates
Six Chimney House – Vokes and Peters
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award
Ferrars and York – Six Degrees Architects

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National Awards
Maggie Street – Curious Practice
Nungalinya – Incidental Architecture
National Commendation
Mari-Mari-Ba – Affordable Housing – Deicke Richards
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award
Campbell House Private Office – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

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National Award
Powerhouse Place – Public Realm Lab
National Commendation
Ravensthorpe Cultural Precinct – Peter Hobbs Architects with Advanced Timber Concepts and Intensive Fields
Heritage Architecture
The Lachlan Macquarie Award
The Glass House – Cracknell and Lonergan Architects

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National Award
The Porter House Hotel – Candalepas Associates
National Commendation
St George’s Performing Arts Centre – Kneeler Design Architects
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall

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National Award
Powerhouse Place – Public Realm Lab
National Commendation
Hope Street Housing – Officer Woods Architects and MDC Architects
International Architecture
The Jorn Utzon Award
The Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC – Bates Smart

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National Commendation
Acticity Centre for Dance and Movement-based Arts – Gall and Associates (Gall és Társai Építésziroda)
Small Project Architecture
The Nicholas Murcutt Award
North Head Viewing Platforms – Chrofi and Bangawarra with National Parks and Wildlife Service

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National Awards
Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge – Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects and ARUP
LESS – Pezo Von Ellrichshausen, Oculus and Molonglo
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Spinifex Hill Project Space – Officer Woods Architects
Enduring Architecture
C House – Donovan Hill
National Emerging Architect Prize
Jennifer McMaster More