Evelyn Reynolds

While the Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed investments in infrastructure and housing in the federal government’s budget for 2025–26, they have emphasised that further action is necessary, urging the appointment of a federal government architect.
The budget, released on 25 March, precedes the upcoming federal election scheduled for 3 May 2025. It allocates $54 million to accelerate the adoption of modern construction methods, such as prefabrication and modular building, in an effort to increase housing supply. The budget included a further $17.1 billion investment over ten years for road and rail projects.
In a recent communique, the national president of the Institute Jane Cassidy has highlighted that while the contributions to housing and infrastructure are valued, a national, design-led approach should be adopted to ensure these public investments address the challenges of rapid urbanisation, climate change and housing affordability, as well as provide lasting social, economic and environmental benefits to communities.
Cassidy stated that in the lead-up to the federal election, the Institute is calling for the appointment of a federal government architect within the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to maximise the funding and achieve long-term, high quality design outcomes.

National president-elect Adam Haddow said “a federal government architect would provide strategic oversight and lead the development of smart, scalable solutions to ensure housing, infrastructure, and public spaces are designed for future needs, enhancing liveability and economic productivity. The federal government architect initiative would expand the positive impact of the existing government architects’ network across state, territory and local government levels.”
In addition to the call for national design leadership, the Institute has announced it will be advocating for a list of priorities this election, which include:

The adoption of innovative and modern construction methods to address housing shortages and support the transition to net zero
Healthy, affordable, equitable and sustainable housing that enhances community wellbeing
The strengthening of building codes to support an orderly decarbonisation transition through the National Construction Code (NCC) and the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)
The inclusion of architects and other licenced professional in design-led projects and policies to improve urban outcomes, safety and consumer confidence.

Although Cassidy welcomed the budget’s provisions for increasing housing supply across the country, she said addressing this need should not come at the expense of safety, quality or sustainability. “Maximising liveability within space constraints requires careful planning of privacy, natural light, ventilation, storage and shared amenities. These factors are critical to quality of life and public health,” she said.
She added that with the growing frequency of extreme weather events, there should be increased investment in climate-responsive design, adaptive reuse of existing structures and reduced embodied carbon in construction materials.

The Institute’s full list of 2025 federal election priorities can be found here. More

Melbourne-based property developer PDG Corporation has submitted a planning permit application for a new skyscraper situated adjacent to the city’s Crown Casino in Southbank. Designed by Cox, the scheme offers residences atop a commercial podium alongside the site’s heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel.
Cox has confirmed in a communique that, if built, the 67-storey tower will reach approximately 240 metres in height. According to PDG, the proposed development includes public dining and entertainment facilities, as well as “luxury wellness and lifestyle amenities” exclusive to the building’s 483 residences.
In addition to capturing “optimal views whilst providing efficient shading and thermal performance,” Cox noted that their design for the development draws inspiration from the site’s ecological and geological histories, echoing the erosion patterns of the Yarra River within a stepped architectural form.
Director of Cox Simon Haussegger reflected, “At its core, this project is about honouring the forces that have shaped Melbourne – both natural and human-made. By embedding ecological narratives into the design, One Queens Bridge Street becomes more than a building; it becomes a dialogue between past and future, landscape and city.”
According to the firm’s design statement, the proposed tower is envisioned as an “urban connector,” acting as a gateway between Southbank’s riverfront entertainment promenade and the site’s neighbouring residential and arts precincts. The building’s articulated facade integrates a series of terraces that are intended to create intimate spaces that offer moments of respite and connection to nature.
“One Queens Bridge Street is designed for longevity – its form is conceptually shaped by the elements, but its purpose is deeply human-centric,” senior associate of Cox Ignacio De Mena commented. “By integrating a generous ground plane and an active mixed-use program, the project enriches Southbank’s urban life, and ensures it will remain a dynamic and welcoming destination for generations to come.”
The 1–29 Queens Bridge Street site was previously home to a 90-storey proposal from Crown, which was controversially exempted from local planning controls and approved by state government in 2017. Designed by Wilkinson Eyre in association with Architectus, the previous scheme sought the title of Australia’s tallest building at the time it was lodged for planning. Approval for the proposal lapsed in 2019 when the state government rejected Crown’s request for a permit extension. As a result, the site was sold to PDG in 2024.
Founder and managing director of PDG Vince Giuliano stated that the luxury residences, which enjoy panoramic views of the Yarra River, Melbourne CBD and Port Phillip Bay, are “designed to be liveable, sustainable and ensure lasting value for our clients.”
“We are looking forward to collaborating with the state government, the City of Melbourne, and the local community to further elevate the Southbank Precinct, ensuring it remains Australia’s premier destination for residential living, arts, entertainment and lifestyle,” he said.
The scheme is located down the road from PDG’s Boyd Village development – a mixed-use residential and affordable housing project designed by DKO Architecture that commenced construction in 2022 and reached its peak height in February 2025.
Subject to approval, PDG note that One Queens Bridge is expected to be complete in 2029. More

Dulux has announced the finalists of the this year’s Dulux Colour Awards – a program that recognises innovative and considered use of colour within the built environment.
Selected by a panel of prolific architects from Australia and New Zealand, 88 projects have been selected as finalists from nearly 500 entries received this year.
According to a media communique, the private residential projects in this year’s awards were united by bold palettes with hues of burgundy, gold-yellows and sage greens. Warm whites mainted a consistent presence from past years, and were married with “greiges,” mist greens and soft blues.
Colour and communications manager at Dulux Andrea Lucena-Orr observed, “Year after year, we are presented with an extraordinary array of exceptional colour use that exemplifies the pivotal role colour plays in spatial understanding, placemaking and mood setting.”
The communique notes that this year, finalists challenged architectural stereotypes through palette and application decisions, such as using colour to highlight ceilings, and architectural trims and features. This year’s program also saw a rise in colour-washing as a design device.
The program invites architects, designers, specifiers and students from Australia and New Zealand to submit projects that demonstrate an innovative use of Dulux paints. The categories include Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail; Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality; Commercial and Multi-residential Exterior; Temporary or Installation Design; Residential Interior; Single Residential Exterior; Australian Student; and New Zealand Student.
The 2025 jury comprises director of SJB Andrew Parr, co-founder at At.Space Alex McLeod, co-founder of Luchetti Krelle Rachel Luchetti, co-founder and director of Edition Office Kim Bridgland, principal at Kerstin Thompson Architects and adjunct professor at RMIT and Monash Universities Kerstin Thompson, and colour and communications manager at Dulux Andrea Lucena-Orr
The winners of the awards will be announced on 28 May at the National Gallery of Victoria, with Australian and New Zeland Grand Prix awards selected from the category winners (excluding student categories).
On the shortlist are:
Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality

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Auburn High School Senior Centre – Wowowa Architecture
Melbourne Place – Kennedy Nolan
People’s Coffee Studio – Tate
Bar Julius – SJB
Cibaria – Luchetti Krelle
Harbour Early Learning – Danielle Brustman
Island Radio – Etic
The Eve Hotel Sydney – SJB
Chianti – Genesin Studio
Common Bakery – Rezen Studio
Karratha Senior High School – Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects
Burly Bar – Studio Plenty
Cucina Regina – Tom Mark Henry
Whitsunday Anglican School STEAM Centre – BSPN Architecture
YOMG – Pacific Fair – Elvin Tan Design
Netball North Harbour – Kanat Studio
Quinn Bar – Izzard Design
Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail

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Atlassian Melbourne Connection Hub – Craig Tan Architects
Epic Melbourne – M. Moser Associates
GPT SpaceCo 550 Bourke – BVN
Leonard Joel Auction House – Studio Doherty
Menopause Specialist – Nickolas Gurtler Office
Nicholas Hall at Wesley Place – Cox Architecture
Professional Services Firm – Unispace
Sarah and Sebastian Armadale – Richards Stanisich
The Meeting Place at 181 William – BVN
Adrian William – Richards Stanisich
Buon Gusto – Studio Shand
Comma – Byron Bay – Duet
Henne Fiveways – Brahman Perera
Matrix Education – Parramatta Campus – SJB
No Gaps Dental – Span Design Studio
The ACO Workshop – Alexander and Co.
Mosmo Studio – Mosmo Living
Edna Store – Kanat Studio

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Commercial and Multi-residential Exterior
Larnangurrak Our Place – Y2 Architecture
Northern Memorial Park Depot – Searle x Waldron Architecture
Double Bay Arches – Stafford Architecture
Hurlstone Memorial Reserve Community Centre – Sam Crawford Architects
Windale Hub – Adriano Pupilli Architects
Blok Three Sisters – Blok Modular in collaboration with Vokes and Peters
Residential Interior

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Blue House – Sibling Architecture
Bridge House – Powell and Glenn
Charnwood – Studio Whiting
Claremont – Wowowa Architecture
Clique House – Wowowa Architecture
Cobden Terrace – Matt Gibson Architecture and Design
Elonera House – Studio Doherty
Gable House – Studio Doherty
Hilltop – Flack Studio
House on a Hill – Allison Pye Interiors with Leeton Pointon Architects and Interiors
Kazoo – Alessandra Smith Design
Rosherville House – Kennedy Nolan
South Yarra House – Studio Doherty
South Yarra Residence – Pandolfini Architects and Simone Haag
Stellar House – Robson Rak
Temple House – Golden
The Collectors – Julia.Cox.Co.
Bay House – Arent and Pyke
Balmain East House – Studio Johnston
Kilmory House – Jillian Dinkel
Redfern – Flack Studio
Wharf House – Arent and Pyke
Coronation House – Brunsdon Studio
Heathcote Valley House – Pac Studio
Lava Flow – Pac Studio
Mt Eden Garden House – Pac Studio
The Leather Jacket – Pac Studio
Single Residential Exterior

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Dunstan – SSdH
Oval House – Topology Studio
House in Erskineville – Architect George
The Daydream House – Goldie Homes
Lava Flow – Pac Studio
Mt Eden Garden House – Pac Studio
Temporary or Installation Design

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Landmark by Lexus – Brahman Perera
Overlay: A New Australian Heritage – CJ Cornish and Locki Humphrey
Carol Jerrems: Portraits – Youssofzay Hart
Kokoda House Teneriffe – Cottee Parker and Carr with Kokoda Property
Australian Student
Fitzroy Creativa – Vicky Licha, RMIT
The Red Centre – Shean Zuriel Eugene, RMIT
Whimsical Piglet – Alexander Ravel Kristono, RMIT
Landscape of Co-existence – Angela Xu and Georgia Reader, the University of Sydney
Need Over Green – Paris Perry, the University of Sydney
The Faith Nungalinya College Accommodation – Dirsten Jude Pornel, the University of Sydney
Movie Theatre Interior – Tao Zou, the University of Adelaide
New Zealand Student
Artistic Activism – Tom Arbuckle, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington
Pātaka Kōrero Fale o Tala: A Storehouse of Narratives in Samoa – Lalitpat Chomchoei, the University of Auckland
Te Anau Downs Outdoor Lodge – Hudson Ross, Otago Polytechnic More

A state significant development application for the $300 million heritage renewal of the 146-year-old Powerhouse Ultimo has received planning approval from the NSW government.
Designed by Durbach Block Jaggers in partnership with Architectus, Youssofzay and Hart and landscape architects Tyrell Studio, a contract for the project is expected to be awarded shortly, following nearly a decade of design revisions.
The approved project focuses on reorienting the original museum entrance to The Goods Line – a partly elevated urban walkway from Central Station in the Sydney CBD to Darling Harbour – in a move that seeks to maximise the use of the pedestrian link and improve access to public transport.
The Harris Street facade will be activated through a new built form that the planning application described as being sympathetic to the existing heritage skin. These materials include a mix of recycled and new bricks, brick slips, stone, ceramics, glass, metal cladding and concrete.

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According to a NSW government communique, “the project will exhibit design excellence across the built form and public domain, making it a contemporary facility with a variety of exhibition spaces that have been designed to meet international museum standards.” The release adds that the museum will feature new and improved exhibition spaces and a new public square at the northern end of the Goods Line.
The development application for the modest renewal of the site was first exhibited in May 2024 and then again in September 2024 following the NSW government’s announcement that the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo complex would have its heritage listing broadened to include the 1988 Wran Building, the 1988 Galleria and the 1899 Harwood Building alongside the original power station. In November 2024, site establishment works commenced, with construction works anticipated to begin mid-2025.

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NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the redesigned museum will improve the visitor experience with more public space and better accessibility to surrounding streets. “The approval of the Powerhouse Ultimo Revitalisation project is an important step in seeing this cultural institution renewed for greater public use,” said Scully. More

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has unveiled the state’s plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which include a new Brisbane Stadium, a new National Aquatic Centre, a major expansion of the Queensland Tennis Centre and a dedicated para-sport facility for the city.
The state’s plan, titled “Delivering 2032 and Beyond” has been formed in response to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s (GIICA’s) 100-Day Review, which was delivered to the government on 8 March 2025. The plan involves a $7.1 billion capital works program of new and upgraded venues and infrastructure, as well as a $250 million investment into upgraded community clubs across Brisbane and greater Queensland.
According to Crisafulli, “Brisbane will be centre stage for the greatest show on earth and the benefits will last for decades after the Closing Ceremony.”
The heart of the games will be located 2 kilometres north of Brisbane’s CBD at Victoria Park. According to a release from the Premier’s office, the public parkland, which was previously home to a private golf course, will be transformed into “a thriving central games precinct spanning Spring Hill, Bowen Hills and Victoria Park.”
The new stadium will be built at an estimated cost of $3.785 billion, seating a minimum of 60,000 spectators during the Olympics events and up to 63,000 attendees after the games. According to the plan, “Victoria Park offers a unique opportunity to develop a world class stadium which will showcase Brisbane on the global stage. Its inner-city location, city views and ability to integrate within a masterplanned park make it an unparalleled choice for an iconic sporting and entertainment venue.”
“A new stadium will allow Queensland to attract sporting and music events and be the new home for AFL and Cricket,” Crisafulli said.

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The nearby RNA Showgrounds site in Bowen Hills will also be upgraded to deliver multiple games facilities. Within walking distance of the new stadium, the main Olympic Athlete Village will be built within the precinct and converted to permanent housing after the games. The Main Arena of the showgrounds will also be upgraded with a 20,000-seat outdoor arena, intended to serve the ongoing Queensland Ekka event.
Across the road, a new National Aquatic Centre will be developed to host the games’ swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming events at the site of the city’s heritage-listed Centenary Pool, designed by James Birrell and completed in 1959. The proposal is at odds with the GIICA’s recommendation to deliver a new High Performance Aquatic Centre adjacent to the current Brisbane Aquatic Centre in the city’s east.

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In keeping with the GICCA’s recommendation for the new main stadium at Victoria Park, the Premier has decided to abandon plans to upgrade the Gabba Stadium in the south of the city. The Gabba will be used to host cricket in 2032, “before being transformed as a vibrant new entertainment and housing precinct,” the release reads.
The government notes that plans for a new Brisbane Live arena at Roma Street will also no longer proceed. Instead, the Brisbane Arena Priority Area will be relocated to the vacant GoPrint site in Woolloongabba, “paving the way for a permanent legacy in addition to a new housing and entertainment precinct over the Gabba when it is taken down.” According to the Premier’s office, the move will also bring security to East Brisbane State School, ensuring it is not relocated.
“While a Brisbane Arena is no longer required for the games, the Queensland Government has taken steps today to allow Brisbane Live to be delivered by the private sector, providing the opportunity for the Federal Government’s contribution to be directed toward other essential Games infrastructure,” the release reads.
Further afield, the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson, currently home to Pat Rafter Arena, will be expanded to include a new permanent 3000-seat show court arena and 12 new match courts.
Eastwards, the Chandler Sport Precinct will be upgraded to support the National Aquatics Centre and to include a dedicated para-sport facility, as well as the Brisbane International Shooting Centre, which will be upgraded to increase capacity of the indoor range. The Premier’s office also notes that a New Redland Whitewater Centre will be delivered within the future Birkdale Community Precinct.
The plan also includes new Indoor Sports Centres at Logan and Moreton, which the government hopes will “address the growing demand for indoor courts in some of the fastest growing areas of Queensland.”

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“With major new venues and upgraded sports facilities, greater Brisbane will have high-performance venues attracting world events beyond 2032,” Crisafulli said.
A new stadium on the Sunshine Coast, along with new and upgraded venues on the Gold Coast will be supported by new Athletes Villages at each location. Venue upgrades in Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Cairns will also enable events across the state. More

Homes Victoria has announced the approval of the Bell-Bardia stage one development in Melbourne’s Heidelberg West, which will transform an existing public housing site at 322–328 Bell Street with new social and affordable housing.
Designed by Architectus with landscape architecture by Site Office, the proposed Bell-Bardia development is located near the recently completed Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing by NH Architecture and Bird de la Coeur Architects with Openwork and Tract. Both sites were originally slated for redevelopment as part of Victoria’s Public Housing Renewal Program back in 2017.
Stage one of the Bell-Bardia development will transform the eastern end of the site with 53 social and 51 affordable homes, replacing the 94 previous homes that Architectus claims “were no longer fit for purpose” and achieving a 10 percent net increasing in housing at the site.
Homes Victoria noted on their website that tenants who lived in the site’s previous housing will be the first invited to return to the new homes, with the remaining social housing allocated through the Victorian Housing Register. Affordable homes will be allocated through Homes Victoria’s Affordable Program, which is designed to give low to moderate income renters access to high quality and secure housing.
Associate principal at Architectus Liz Seuseu commented that the project’s design was led by a landscape approach “that aims to seamlessly blend the precinct with the surrounding neighbourhood.” Site Office’s landscape design for the site aims to integrate natural elements of the nearby Darebin Creek and create community connections through cross-links between Bell and Bardia Streets.

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The proposed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are spread across two L-shaped buildings. “By incorporating 4–7 storey buildings and using contextual colour palettes, it [the project] aspires to foster a village-like atmosphere within the suburb,” Seuseu said.
According to Architectus’s website, “The layout emphasises functional and inviting spaces, including a community garden, covered outdoor seating area and quality landscaped spaces. Thoughtful placement of entrances, windows, glazed louvres and breezeways optimises natural light and ventilation throughout living and shared spaces.”
The homes are designed to meet Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver Level standards, and achieve a 5-Star Green Star and a 7-Star NatHERS rating. Architectus observes, “This means that every home will be easier to keep warm in winter and cool in summer, allowing renters to save money and stay comfortable.”
Their website notes that the proposed buildings feature robust materials that reflect Heidelberg West’s local character. Anchored by brickwork on the lower levels, the upper levels are articulated in muted tones, including green hues inspired by the foliage of wattles, with sloped roofs “creating a village-like silhouette.”
Construction will begin in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed by 2027. Homes Victoria noted on their website that “there are currently no confirmed plans for any other stages of development at the site.” More

The Premier of South Australia has unveiled updated designs for a new tower within Adelaide’s Festival Plaza, which will soon be lodged for development approval. The office of the South Australian Premier claims that, if approved, the tower will be the largest commercial building in the city.
Developed by Walker Corporation in partnership with architecture practice Johnson Pilton Walker, the updated proposal iterates the team’s previous tower proposal for the site, which is itself a revision of an earlier scheme for a three-storey retail building. The newly updated tower scheme comes after South Australian Minister for Planning Nick Champion approved a planning code amendment at Festival Plaza in January this year, enabling a maximum building height of 40 storeys.

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According to a media communique from the premier’s office, the code amendment also specified a minimum setback of nine metres from the new building to Parliament House’s heritage facade. As such, the new proposal creates a new laneway between the two buildings, which Walker Corporation envision as an activated hospitality and retail place.
Champion noted that regular design reviews between the state government and Walker Corporation have ensured that public space is maintained in Festival Plaza and that heritage protections are in place to complement Parliament House and surrounding areas.
“The code amendment stipulated strict development guidelines, with the independent State Commission Assessment Panel to have the final say over the development application,” he said.
Immediately to the west of the proposal, Festival Tower, also by Walker in partnership with Johnson Pilton Walker, opened in August 2024 and reaches 29 storeys in height. At 160 metres high, the 38-storey second Festival Plaza tower proposal includes nearly 50,000 square metres of floor space, with thirty levels dedicated to commercial offices.

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In their release, the premier’s office notes that “a major drawcard of the new building will be a rooftop bar and restaurant to take in panoramic views of the riverbank, Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Hills.” At its base, the tower design features a podium with a raised outdoor space, lower-floor restaurants, cafes and bars, and access to end-of-trip facilities and parking within the multi-storey basement.
CEO of Walker Corporation David Gallant commented, “The building will set a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development in South Australia. Its world-class diamond-shaped facade will create a striking visual identity, while a signature rooftop bar and restaurant will offer unparalleled views of the Riverbank, Adelaide Oval, and the Adelaide Hills.”
The premier’s office claims that, once complete, the tower “will be one of the most sustainable office buildings in Australia and will be Adelaide’s largest all-electric commercial building, with the largest solar array on a commercial building in the city.”

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A development application for the early works stage of the project was approved in 2024. The preparatory works have already commenced at the site, with the new development to be constructed by Built, who was also the major construction partner for Festival Tower.
Walker Corporation noted that the development application consent process will soon be finalised with their submission of the updated design to the independent State Commission Assessment Panel. The Premier’s office anticipates that a decision will be made in the coming months. More