Evelyn Reynolds

Western Australia’s first female government architect, Rebecca Moore has announced she will be stepping down from the role and as chair of the State Design Review Panel after three years in the position.
Since Moore accepted the position in September 2020, she has provided design advice on $28 billion worth of projects of state and regional significance and has chaired 61 State Design Review Panel meetings. During her tenure, she provided consultation on key state and regional projects such as the Metronet station developments, the Causeway Pedestrian and Cyclist Bridge, and the Women and Babies Hospital project.
Reflecting on her time spent as government architect, Moore said a highlight of the position has been providing future-focused counsel on critical public infrastructure projects.
“I have enjoyed establishing the government architect position to have a more strategic focus within the public sector and support the planning and delivery of government projects – especially as chair of the State Design Review Panel,” Moore said.
“I have also enjoyed collaborating with a national network of government architects, a forum to share challenges, learnings and best practice when considering impacts of environmental, economic, and social matters on urban design.
“After almost three and a half years in this dynamic role, I am looking forward to spending some time with my family.
“The latest round of planning reform initiatives presents an exciting opportunity for Western Australia’s next government architect to continue ensuring that good design is at the forefront of all planning and development.”
Ms Moore will take leave before finishing her appointment in February 2024. Architect and current principal associate, Barbara Gdowski will act as government architect and interim chair of the State Design Review Panel in the intervening period – until a new appointment is made.
Planning Minister John Carey thanked Moore for her contributions toward shaping the state.
“Ms Moore is a recognized Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects, and her expertise and advocacy has been brilliant in providing strategic whole-of-government advice on key transport, tourism, and infrastructure projects.
“I wish Ms Moore and her family all the best for the future.
“With the position now firmly established as a full-time senior public service role, providing leadership in design review services, a recruitment process will commence soon to permanently appoint a new government architect for Western Australia.” More

Thirty emerging architects have been selected to proceed to the second stage of judging in the Australian Institute of Architects 2024 Dulux Study Tour. The annual coveted prize offers five Institute members a 10-day world tour of some of the best international architectural sites and practices. Entrants are judged on their contributions to architectural practice, […] More

Open House Hobart is back for another year, permitting design enthusiasts take a sneak peek at the remarkable built forms they may never have had the pleasure of witnessing before. The line-up will feature more than 70 buildings, walking tours, garden tours, exhibitions, architectural drawing workshops and speaker series to be held across 11 and […] More

The Australian Institute of Architects has revealed Architectus Conrad Gargett and Lineburg Wang have been appointed for the renovation of its new Queensland headquarters in Fortitude Valley. The building, located at 620 Wickham Street, was originally designed by architect Karl Langer in 1953 as the showroom for West’s Furniture. A restoration by Riddel Architecture earned […] More

The federal government has launched a national design ideas competition, challenging architects and interior designers to reconceptualize aged care homes to better accommodate and suit the needs of residents.
The competition, Reimagining Where We Live, comes after The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety identified that less than half of residential aged-care homes adopt accessible and dementia-friendly design principles.
The contest has been developed to test the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines, which was released for public comment earlier this September and has the objective of creating a better quality of life for those in aged care through practical changes to aged care homes.
Two locations, one regional and one metropolitan, have been put forward for the competition, with participants able to submit designs for one or both sites. First place winners for either location will receive $50,000, while runners-up will be awarded $20,000.
Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells said the competition has the potential to vastly improve quality of life for older people and the working environments of the people who care for them.
“To achieve this, design must be grounded in the experiences of people who live in aged care homes and evidence for how best to mitigate the challenges that lead them to seek residential care,” she said. “The government wants to encourage flexibility and innovation in aged care accommodation design and support emerging technologies to better meet the need of future generations.”
The Australian Institute of Architects and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects have encouraged design practitioners to get involved and be part of the solution for supporting older people to live meaningful lives by creating safe environments, which promote accessibility, independence, function and a sense of belonging.
The Institute’s national president Stuart Tanner said the competition acknowledges the critical importance of aged care accommodation and the potential for positive impacts.
“Extensive research demonstrates that good design and architecture leads to improved liveability,” Tanner said.
“All Australians deserve effective design, especially our aged care residents. Well-designed, well-researched buildings and thoughtful spaces enhance quality of life, which is what we all want for our elders.”
An independent jury comprising nine eminent design and aged care sector professionals will assess entries, with insight from people with a lived experience of dementia. Jurors 2023 Gold Medallist Kerstin Thompson, architects John Choi, Allan Kong and Sophie Dying, interior designer Erin McDonald, landscape architect Catherin Bull, media personality Tim Ross, as well as 2023 Senior Australian of the Year Tom Calma and dementia care expert Stephen Judd.
Multidisciplinary design teams, led by a registered Australian architect or graduate of an Australian-accredited architectural program are eligible to enter.
Entries will be accepted until 12:00pm on 15 December, 2023. Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells will announce the winners by the end of April 2024. More

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Updated plans for a mixed-use building in Sydney’s Haymarket have been revealed, following the submission of a stage-two development application.
A 16-storey tower with four basement levels has been proposed for the site at 136 Hay Street, offering retail tenancies, supermarket, 318 hotel rooms and basement car parking.
Designed by BVN, the latest submission builds on the urban response, form and materiality of an application approved in 2017.
Plans show the facade with a masonry podium, that is interlocked with a glazed tower. The podium has been designed to be visually complementary to the adjacent, heritage-listed Manning Building (Capitol Theatre). Masonry cladding references the materiality of the historical form, while the ratio of solid wall to window mimics similar proportions to that of the Manning Building.
A glazed awning unites the podium to the tower, with the glass building set atop and within the stone base. The tower’s smooth and curved glazed skin juxtaposes the more textured podium. Glazing of the facade was selected to minimize overwhelming reflection at street level.
A green plane has been proposed for the glazed exterior, which slopes down to Belmore Park. A grid of stainless steel cables would support growth of climbing plants, creating a compatible relationship between the architectural green feature and the parklands. Balconies on each of level of the tower have been proposed for garden maintenance access. The building’s height sits below the solar height plane, maintaining Belmore Park’s access to solar.

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City Terrace looks onto the city and will house the hotel’s pool. Image: BVN

Level seven of the building would accommodate a sky lobby and restaurant level. Plans state the “elevated position and access to external terraces will be a significant attraction for guests of the hotel and the public.” Two terraces have been put foward for this level: the City Terrace and Park Terrace. The City Terrace looks over the city and would be the location of the hotel’s pool, while the Park Terrace provides views of Belmore Park and a public restaurant or bar offering. Sheltered by a green roof above, the Park Terrace would have access to natural light through skylights.
At ground level, the hotel lobby would be visible at the intersection of Pitt and Campbell Streets, while retail tenancies have been proposed for the glazed frontages on Pitt and Hay Streets. The glazed hotel pool proposed for level seven’s City Terrace would be designed to be seen from street level. Planning documents advise the ground level would be raised to reduce risk of flood damage to the building during wet seasons.
The design report stated the site would benefit from development as it was previously vacant and “only used temporarily for on-grade car parking.”
“The location suits a major hotel as it is within walking distance to the Capitol Theatre and Central Station.”
Early works such as earthworks and basement retention have now been completed on site, following the approval in 2017. The new application is now on exhibition. More

Architecture and design students and staff from Curtin University will soon be able to gain educational insights from global industry leaders, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Consulate of Italy.
Curtin’s global deputy vice-chancellor, professor Seth Kunin and Consulate of Italy acting consul Dr Emilio Sessa signed the agreement at Curtin’s Bentley campus in Perth. The arrangement will ensure Curtin University has a working relationship with several Italian universities across a broad range of educational disciplines and research fields, including architecture, design, entrepreneurship and innovation, and radio astronomy.
The MoU, which has a strong focus on sustainability, aims to support increased collaboration on research projects, as well as facilitate several international exchange programs. Exchange activities include organized exhibitions in Perth and excursions to visit scholars and industry experts, such as internationally renowned architect Mario Cucinella, who witnessed the signing.
The MoU has already prompted an exhibition on the work of Pier Luigi Nervi and a visit from professor Mario Panizza.
City of Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas said supporting the sharing of knowledge in the design space was critical for the sustainability of urban areas, such as Perth.
“Mario Cucinella is a global thought leader in architecture and built design and we’re so pleased to welcome him to Perth to share his insights,” Zempilas said. “His experience with innovative and sustainable urban development is invaluable to our local architects, developers and town planners as we work to build an even brighter and more sustainable future for our city.”
Sessa said both Italy and Australia have a strong commitment for tackling the climate crisis and reaching low carbon emissions targets.
“This MoU represents an important opportunity to make the bilateral collaboration stronger in terms of academic and cultural projects in the fields of design, architecture, green and circular economy,” Sessa said.
“At the same time, it aims to stimulate innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in our communities.” More