Architecture

An international ideas competition has launched, inviting tertiary students and graduates of urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture to submit an urban adaptation proposal for a site of their choosing.
The Future Climate Future Home Competition is an annual competition initiated by the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC), part of the School of Design at the University of Western Australia. The 2025 theme “Adapt Me” invites participants to select an existing urban site – developed or undeveloped – and adapt the site to projected climate conditions, focusing on extreme temperatures.
Conceived to promote better understanding of the design and planning implications of increasing temperatures on urban precincts, public open spaces and housing, the competition offers a total prize pool of $15,000 to be divided among the winners.

The jury for the competition is yet to be announced. The jurors will assess entries according to their working knowledge of established climate-sensitive urban design strategies and their development of innovative approaches. Rather than a purely technical exercise, the judges will recognise entries demonstrating creative engagement with increasing temperatures as a springboard to designing delightful, socio-ecologically enriching, innovative urban proposals.

Entries for the competition can be submitted until 28 February 2025. Find out more at the AUDRC website. More

Architect and urbanist Caroline Stalker has been named the new president of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, succeeding immediate past president Russell Hall.
With more than 34 years experience working in the built environment sector, Caroline has held numerous leadership positions at Architectus, Arup and Hassell. Currently, she serves as principal at Pilot Places, where she leads projects that address urban challenges, such as housing needs and climate resilience. In addition to professional practice, Caroline is an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology, as well as a member of the Queensland Urban Design and Places Panel and Brisbane City Council’s Integrated Design Advisory Panel.
As president, Caroline emphasised her commitment to “expanding architects’ contribution to solving the complex issues of cities.” She will also advocate to government and community for the inclusion of the architecture profession in tackling contemporary issues within the built environment.
“We’re facing pivotal decisions about housing and planning in Queensland. Governments, communities and corporations are grappling with unprecedented housing, equity and climate crises. Our unique training, 3-dimensional minds, and ability to be both practical and visionary, means that architects have a hugely important role to play in helping address all these challenges.” said Caroline. More

From a customisable sunshade to a double-coated oven, these practical items elevate the outdoor living experience without compromising on style and sophistication.
Icarus UX Shade Umbrella
Inspired by nature, the Icarus umbrella’s cocoon-like form acts as a sun shade and wind shelter, with 360-degree rotation, adjustable height and a retractable canopy. The range is designed and manufactured in Belgium using water-repellent and UV-resistant materials. Visit website.
Warema Terrea awning

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Engineered to tolerate high winds, the Warema Terrea folding arm awning features robust functionality, without compromising aesthetics. A range of fabrics allow integration within an existing scheme, while optional automation offers convenience. Visit website.
Morsø Forno outdoor oven

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Crafted to be the centrepiece of an entertaining area, the Morsø Forno outdoor oven featuresa sculptural curved form. The double-coated cast iron ensures perfect heat distribution for cooking wood-fired pizzas, with an additional door for smoking fish. Pair with the Outdoor Table for easy food preparation and storage. Visit website.
EK Outdoor Fireplace from Escea

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Escea’s engineers consulted professional chefs in the design of their EK Series grill. With 13-point adjustable height grills and an ember generator, the design redefines traditional barbecue capabilities for a more sophisticated cooking experience. Visit website.
Fanco Sanctuary DC ceiling fan

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A fresh take on a traditional fan, the DC ceiling fan adds a sculptural touch with its elegant solid timber blades. The fan is available in four sizes and several finishes. Visit website. More

The Northern Territory is anticipated to soon have its own crop of locally educated architects, following an announcement that Charles Darwin University has launched a Bachelor of Architectural Design course.
The course has been developed to foster a community of locally trained architects with firsthand knowledge of the unique environmental conditions in the territory. According to the university, the course will focus on equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design buildings that are suitable for and resilient to these conditions. It will also provide students the opportunity to explore quintessential Northern Australian architecture – such as Darwin’s cyclone-proof residences, Queenslander homes and desert dwellings – and the concepts and theories underpinning these architectural styles.
Previously, Charles Darwin University (CDU) offered a major in architectural design as part of its Bachelor of Arts program. The university’s decision to introduce a dedicated course stemmed from the need to address the shortage of homegrown architects.
Director of CDU’s Academy of the Arts, Dr Amanda Morris, said the course is expected to reduce the reliance on architects from southern states, who are often engaged in major projects and natural disaster rebuilding efforts.
“Following the destruction of much of the domestic housing in the northern suburbs of Darwin from Cyclone Tracy, new building codes were introduced and new homes were constructed, but these were built as replicas of southern designs which didn’t suit the tropical environment of Darwin,” Morris said.
“Fifty years on, we are starting to design domestic houses and public buildings for the tropical environment with the territory having only a small workforce of architects.
“We need more architects who understand the unique challenges of designing buildings for tropical environments and this is where CDU’s new course fits in, providing a local workforce which understands the unique tropical and arid environments of the territory.”
Enrolled students will be offered opportunities to gain industry experience through work placements and a desert project based in Alice Springs. Additionally, students will be provided collaborative study opportunities through the design studio.
“Students will be able to create architectural designs in response to extreme environments as well as being able to build sustainably for domestic and public infrastructure and develop methodologies to engage with Indigenous communities and those living in regional and remote areas,” Morris added.
CDU acting vice-chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson said there is high employability demand for architects in the territory. “CDU is proud to be able to meet the needs of the territory by supporting construction growth and providing a foundation for students to get a local education that will see them make a difference to the territory’s skyline.”
President of the Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects Miriam Wallace said a local profession with experience and detailed understanding of the territory is critical to the sustainable development of cities and communities.
“Long-term strategic attention to a locally grown territory architecture profession does deliver dividends,” Wallace said. “This is evident, for example, in the alumni from CDU’s previous built environment degrees who now fill key positions in NT Government and local industry, and who have made long-term commitments to living and working in the NT.”
The university will soon appoint a professor of architecture to help facilitate the new course.
To achieve accreditation as an architect, students must complete a total of five years of education, which includes both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. CDU is in the process of launching a Master of Architecture course, which will enable architecture students to complete their study in its entirety at CDU.

The Bachelor of Architectural Design program is set to commence in the first semester of 2025, with students able to enrol now. The Master of Architecture will open for enrolment in 2026. More

Australia’s most prestigious biennial prize for innovation in craft and design, the Make Award presented by the Australian Design Centre, is now open for entries. This national competition celebrates Australian designer/makers across a wide range of disciplines, including ceramics, glass, furniture, woodwork, metalwork, textiles, fibre, and jewellery.
With a generous $35,000 cash prize for the winner and a $10,000 second prize, the Make Award stands as the richest non-acquisitive prize for craft and design in Australia. The award aims to recognize designer and makers who push boundaries and demonstrate exceptional skill, particularly those working with new materials or exploring innovative techniques.
Entries are open to Australian designer/makers who have created work within 18 months of the entry date. The competition encourages fresh and inventive approaches, with a focus on works that extend the maker’s usual practice. Additionally, submitted works must not have been exhibited in any other exhibition context.
Entries to the awards close 5 May 2025.
For further details on how to enter and eligibility requirements, visit the Make Award website. More

The NSW government has announced it is moving forward with plans to transform the former Manly Hospital in Sydney into a health and wellbeing precinct, following the appointment of a preferred delivery partner to create a masterplan.
The 1896 Manly Hospital closed in October 2018, with all services relocated to the Northern Beaches Hospital. In November 2018, the NSW government announced that the Adolescent and Young Adult Hospice would be located on a portion of the site. The hospice opened its services to the community in March 2023 and continues to operate from the site.
Following an expression of interest and tender campaign, the state government revealed that it had selected aged care provider Aveo to develop the master plan vision at the former hospital site. Aveo will collaborate with the government to prepare a concept state significant development application (SSDA).
Pending planning approval, the precinct is envisioned to accommodate seniors housing, including independent retirement living and affordable housing; a residential aged care facility; public open spaces; a health and wellbeing centre; community and retail spaces; and a childcare centre. Heritage buildings on site will be adaptively reused for contemporary occupation.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “When the new Northern Beaches Hospital opened in 2018, it meant the closure of the iconic Manly Hospital, where many locals were born and cared for.”
He added that the “government is finding new complementary uses for the site, which will celebrate the former Manly Hospital’s past while meeting the evolving needs of the community.”
The plans will be lodged with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. More

The Australian Institute of Architects Queensland chapter, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the Planning Institute of Australia, and the Design Institute of Australia, has united to advocate for the implementation of key design and planning strategies for the upcoming Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The four Australian architecture, design and planning institutes, which collectively represent over 26,000 professionals, have submitted a Green Pathways, Gold Places initiative to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority. This initiative was submitted in response to a 100 Day Review conducted by the authority, which invited public input on the infrastructure and planning of the Games.
In their submission, the institutes highlight the importance of infrastructure that not only serves its immediate purpose of hosting the Games but also supports sustainable, long-term city planning objectives.
The four key recommendations outlined in Green Pathways, Gold Places iniative include:

The establishment of a 2032 Design Coordination Unit within the Office of the Queensland Government Architect.
Implementation of a green grid strategy that supports sustainable transport and an urban Olympic forest.
A precinct-based approach to venue design and planning in collaboration with the Games partners.
The development of place-funding models for the Games budget which ensures design and place outcomes are recognised as strategic investments, not costs

According to the document, the proposed Design Coordination Unit would serve as a centralised multidisciplinary unit responsible for coordinating and integrating design and place outcomes for the Brisbane 2032 Games. The unit would collaborate with games partners and the independent authority on planning decisions. President of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Caroline Stalker said design expertise is crucial for achieving long-lasting, sustainable benefits for the community beyond just the Games period.
“Embedding multidisciplinary design expertise early ensures consistent, climate-conscious outcomes while avoiding costly design compromises and urban blight,” she said.

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The submission highlights that a green grid strategy is vital for achieving the Games’ net-positive commitment, enhancing connectivity across the city and reducing vehicles on the road. The institutes’ submission asserts that the implementation of a green grid would support recreational use, biodiversity, waterway health, as well as health and wellbeing benefits for commuters and visitors across the city.
President of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Glen Power emphasised that “Green infrastructure is not just about sustainability; it’s about creating healthier, more connected and livable communities.”
“By investing in a green grid, we can leave a legacy of vibrant, walkable precincts that benefit Brisbane for generations to come,” said Power.
The submission recommends a precinct-based planning approach that integrates stadia and venues into the existing physical, cultural and environmental fabric of the broader context.
President of the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) Queensland division Sean Cullen stated decisions about Games venues and infrastructure must begin and end with precinct-scale planning to ensure cohesive integration with surrounding communities and transport networks.
“To ensure the success of individual venues, we must design them as part of cohesive precincts supported by integrated transport and public realm infrastructure,” Cullen said.
In their final recommendation, the institutes’ assert that “place-funding models could better recognise the importance of investing in good design and place that nevertheless provide significant social and environmental dividends for the community when it comes to infrastructure and venues. […] By leveraging the boost in development interest and potential, we can harness the additional capital and ensure a more equitable place-based distribution of long-term community assets.”
“Aligning funding with community-focused design ensures enduring value and avoids the burden of increased lifetime costs on the state,” said chair of the Queensland chapter of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Daniel Spat. “By integrating design and place-making into funding strategies, we can deliver community assets that stand the test of time.”
To view the full submission, visit here. More

Construction has now begun on the $2.75 billion redevelopment of Melbourne’s Jam Factory precinct in South Yarra, which is set to be transformed into a mixed-use hub.
First constructed in 1858, the Jam Factory was introduced as a brewery, then later became a preserve and jam manufacturer, before eventually evolving to become a retail and cinema precinct in the 1990s.
The precinct will now once again be redeveloped to accommodate 600 residences across five towers, 10,000 square metres of commercial office spaces, 20,000 square metres of retail and hospitality offerings, a new cinema complex, a 5-star hotel and a second boutique hotel. Additionally, a 2,500-square-metre north-facing public piazza called Village Square will be established.
Developer of the project, Gurner Group appointed American-born international architectural practice Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) alongside local architects Buchan to design the precinct, in conjunction with Gurner’s in-house architect and interior design business Gurner Design House. Townshend Landscape Architects has been engaged to design the gardens and landscaping.

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The project has undergone several design iterations since planning approval was first granted by Stonnington Council to the original property owner Newmark Capital in 2018. Changes and additions to the development team and various design amendments resulted in several proposals being resubmitted to the council, including one in 2021 by Bates Smart, Townshend Landscape Architects and Leonard Design Architects, which featured four residential towers, a hotel, and commercial, retail and entertainment spaces.
After Gurner fully acquired the site in early 2024, the new design team comprising SOM, Buchan and Townshend were awarded the project that is currently under construction.

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Gurner’s general manager of design Alexander Fin explained that the design features a variety of built forms to create visual interest. “The intent has been to design buildings that combine functionality with aesthetic expression, creating a visually captivating and architecturally diverse urban environment,” he said, adding that the architecture “takes inspiration from both the timelessness of New York’s most iconic residential and hotel buildings, and the modern buildings that make up its skyline.”
Initial demolition efforts to remove all non-heritage elements have commenced across the 20,000-square-metre site. This phase of demolition involves removing the current Village Cinema complex while ensuring the iconic facade of the building is preserved. Village Cinemas will be reinstated into the precinct. More