Architecture

This issue’s round-up features a collection of pieces that marry art with utility.
Camada daybed from Fisch Designs
Finding a balance between nostalgically retro and starkly futuristic, the Camada daybed by Australian brand Fisch Designs is crafted using recycled materials and responsible production practices. Featuring a unique stacked base, the name comes from the Portuguese word for “layer.” Visit website.
Willie Weston × Kate Constantine wallpaper
Kate Constantine, proud Gadigal woman of the Eora nation, has partnered with Willie Weston to design a range of textiles and wallpapers. Three designs featuring soft, calming tones focus on the saltwater lands of Kate’s people, referencing traditional adornment practices, native coastal flora and the ocean. Visit website.

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Circle | Square stool by Davidov Architects
The winning design for Melbourne’s MPavilion 10 Chair Commission is now available for purchase. Inspired by the geometric architecture of Tadao Ando’s MPavilion, the design rejects ornamentation, instead focusing on the natural materiality of timber and precision of form. Visit website.

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Modular Plus collection from Goux Studio
Goux Studio’s modular shelving reimagines traditional wall-mounted designs. Plus-shaped aluminium pegs hold spans of solid maple or white oak timber, allowing for long runs or vertical stacking. Their sturdy construction makes them ideal for storing books, records and art. Visit website.

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Kelly Wearstler’s mono-points collection
Perfect for spaces requiring subtle illumination or fill lighting, Kelly Wearstler’s mono-points collection of LED sconces offers slimline profiles and focuses on minimalist beauty. The range comprises elegant, geometric forms crafted from sleek metal, frosted glass and alabaster stone. Visit website.

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Fem bowl from Normann Copenhagen
Named after the Danish word for five, the Fem bowl from Norman Copenhagen features a pentagon-shaped form sitting on top of a star-shaped base. The handcrafted piece is both decorative and functional, with a mirror-polished stainless steel finish that captures intriguing geometric reflections. Visit website.

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Central Sydney Property, a joint venture between developer Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners, has announced their plans to transform a 6,000-square-metre site in Sydney’s CBD. The two new 80-storey towers, which are expected to be under construction from 2026, will be among the tallest in the city’s skyline once complete.
Located in the city’s Midtown, the amalgamated site includes eight individual lots across Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets. Under the new plans, it will host two new 80-storey mixed-use towers, delivering 600 residences and hotel accommodation alongside a retail podium.

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FJC Studio were awarded the project following their success in an international design competition for the site, held in 2018. They are joined by Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design for the design of the podium.
According to FJC Studio, the architectural design of the towers reflects Sydney’s urban character, with a network of pedestrian laneways and public spaces activating the ground plane. The pedestrian laneways will lead to a new civic square, which will integrate outdoor seating, landscaping and public art.
“Our design proposal has a distinctive and forward-looking form but is also restrained, elegant and reinforces the geometry, urban structure and maturity of Sydney,” commented design director at FJC Studio, Richard Francis-Jones.
“Fundamental to the urban character of the design is the fine grain orthogonal structure of the public domain and streetscape. The small footprint tower forms nestle into a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces addressed and activated by a variety of low scale buildings – a city in microcosm.”
In the towers above, apartments are organised in a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations, alongside penthouses with unobstructed views spanning from Hyde Park to the harbour and over Sydney Heads to the east.
Subject to relevant approvals, demolition is anticipated to commence next year. More

The 2025 Dezeen Awards is now accepting entries for its annual awards program. In 2024, eleven Australian architecture and interiors projects made it through to the shortlist and two residential projects won their categories.
Northcote House in Melbourne by LLDS won 2024 Urban House of the Year while Grotto Studio’s Shadow House in Perth was awarded 2024 House Renovation of the Year.
This year, there will be 17 categories across architecture awards and 13 categories across interiors awards. Several new categories have been introduced, including kitchen interiors, bathroom interiors and house extensions.
The early bird deadline for entering is 26 March 2025. In June (date not yet specified), the portal for late entries will close and judging will commence. The longlist will be annnounced in September followed by the shortlist in October. The winners will be revealed in November.
To enter, visit the Dezeen Awards website. View last year’s Australian winners, shortlisted projects and longlisted projects. More

The NSW government has announced the addition of the twelve additional low- and mid-rise designs to the NSW Pattern Book, which is due for release mid-2025. Aimed at families, builders and developers, the Pattern Book will provide a collection of pre-approved, architecturally designed patterns that can be fast-tracked through the planning process.
The newly announced, additional designs will accompany the five winning projects from the professional category of the NSW Housing Pattern Book Design Competition, revealed in November last year.
Of this second wave, six designs for low-rise terraces, semi-detached dual occupancy dwellings and manor houses will be produced alongside six designs for mid-rise residential apartment buildings.
A recent post on a NSW Government Architect (GANSW) social media account noted that “the teams were selected through a competitive tender process, which invited firms registered under the Government Architect’s Strategy and Design Prequalification Scheme, as well as firms well recognised and awarded for their design quality and approach.”
“All selected architects are highly regarded, and have delivered award-winning residential designs that align with GANSW’s vision for well-designed, sustainable housing. The selected architects bring a diverse range of design expertise, ensuring that the final housing patterns are both innovative and practical for a range of users,” the post reads.
The additional low-rise designs will be produced by:

Anthony Gill Architects
Carter Williamson
Saha
Sam Crawford Architects
Sibling Architecture
Studio Johnston

The additional mid-rise designs will be produced by:

Bennett and Trimble
Collins and Turner
MHN Design Union
Nguluway Design Inc
Silvester Fuller
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

Additionally, Hassell has been commissioned to develop landscape design guidance for the low-rise and mid-rise patterns, for both private and shared open spaces.
According to a release from Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, the second tranche of designs is intended “to make the delivery of homes in NSW faster, providing more homes for those who need them.”
Housing choice and diversity are also key linchpins of the scheme. Scully commented, “As we see the average household change and evolve, we want to make sure there are homes to suit everyone, and this means more than just single dwellings and high-rise apartments.”
The Minister noted that the NSW Government “want new homes to be built faster, but the Pattern Book will mean those homes are good quality, sustainable and cost-effective.” More

Northern Adelaide is set to receive a new Family Health and Wellbeing Hub by 2027. The project, designed by Studio Nine Architects, aims to deliver care closer to home for residents in Elizabeth Vale and surrounding suburbs, serving the wellbeing needs of one of the state’s fastest-growing communities.
Led by the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH) Foundation, the project recently received $26 million in federal funding from the government’s urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP). The program is targeted at delivering “multipurpose urban precincts that are place-based, tailored to the local needs and positioned around a shared vision, need or theme,” the government’s website reads.
The multipurpose hub is designed to accommodate a wide range of integrated services, including early parenting programs, perinatal and adolescent mental health support, student-led allied health clinics, and accommodation for new parents adjacent to the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Studio Nine Architects’ design for the facility is aimed at de-institutionalising traditional healthcare architecture by steering away from conventional clinical aesthetics. According to a statement from the architect, the intent has been to create “a visually porous outcome that invites the community in, with an approachable design that feels welcoming rather than intimidating.”
“The building’s fluid ground plane and seamless indoor-outdoor transition fosters a sense of openness and accessibility, ensuring the facility engages with the street and is comfortable for all to enter,” the release reads.
Curved geometries have been employed with the aim of softening the built form, emphasising the building as a community space rather than as a healthcare facility. Across the site, public spaces such as community lounges, youth areas and indoor playgrounds are designed to encourage flexible, year-round use.
Vegetation plays a dual role in the project, adding both aesthetic and functional value, such as in the building’s green facade. According to the architect, “The integration of greenery supports the project’s broader goal: to be a place where people want to spend time, fostering wellbeing through both design and nature.”

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Throughout, earthy colour tones and extensive landscaping are aimed at conveying the architect’s concept of “re-wilding, blending natural elements with the built environment to create a physical and psychological oasis.”
CEO of the WCH Foundation Verity Gobbett commented, “The Community Health and Wellbeing Hub has the potential to make a profound difference to a region experiencing entrenched disadvantage. We are excited to be one step closer to bringing to life our vision of a vibrant community resource that fosters health, learning and connection to the people who need it most.”
For Studio Nine Architects, the “concept design represents more than a building; it embodies the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation’s vision for healthier, more connected communities.” More

A plan to rezone a 42-hectare site in Parramatta North, prepared by Property and Development NSW, has been lodged and is now open for public comment. The proposal seeks to transform a significant portion of unused government land either side of the Paramatta River into a diverse precinct with education, research, commercial, cultural and residential outcomes.
Located on the Parramatta light rail line, the site represents one of the city’s greatest urban renewal opportunities. The area is home to 30 buildings of significant heritage value and a network of open spaces.

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The government have worked with local Dharug people, as well as the Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council, to understand and reflect the wishes of First Nations peoples in the plan for Parramatta North. ACT-based firm Stewart Architecture, design practice Aspect Studios, arts and culture consultancy City People and Aboriginal consultancy Bangawarra have together shaped the scheme.
According to Stewart Architecture, “…the vision for the Parramatta North precinct is guided by its connection to Parramatta River. Place-based urban outcomes that prioritise ecological regeneration through landscape, urban and architectural design outcomes will ensure that Parramatta North supports strong and diverse ecological communities of people, plants and animals to live together safely long into the future.”
The rezoning plan is aimed at creating a collection of neighbourhoods connected by green corridors. Across the site, 10.5 hectares of public open space is intended for diverse uses, including sports fields, parks and gardens, plazas and play spaces.

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If approved, the new plan will also facilitate the delivery of approximately 2,000 new homes – 5-10 percent of which will be allocated to affordable housing – and a new university campus for 25,000 students, supporting the Westmead Health and Innovation District.
New and varied uses are intended to rejuvenate the site’s historic buildings by showcasing stories through experiences in nature, in learning and in leisure. In a media communique, Stewart Architecture has noted that “revitalisation of the site will draw on the past – adaptively reusing heritage buildings in the precinct and working with Parramatta North’s existing character. It will support local First Nations peoples’ enduring cultural connections to Country and ensure all people now here can also connect with and learn from Country.”

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While the suburb’s cultural precinct, which incorporates the Parramatta Female Factory, falls beyond the scope of the rezoning application, Property and Development NSW claim that it has been considered in the overall precinct planning.
In order to enable the delivery of the plan’s intended outcomes, the application seeks approval to change permissible land uses, building heights and floor-space ratios across a portion of Parramatta North. It also seeks to introduce planning controls for future state significant development applications across the precinct, including design guidelines and design excellence processes.
The plan is on exhibition online and open for comment until 24 February. More

Early and mid-career architects, landscape architects and design professionals from across Australia can now express their interest in a fellowship that could take them abroad to one of the oldest cities in the world: Rome.
Launched by the Alastair Swayn Foundation and RMIT University, the 2025–26 Alastair Swayn Foundation-RMIT Architecture Affiliated Fellowship is an eight-week residency that offers one successful applicant the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research, advance their practice and form international connections in Italy.
Fellows will be hosted by the American Academy, an American institution in Rome that accommodates independent studies and advanced research in fine arts and humanities. The campus features buildings designed by American architectural practices such as McKim, Mead and White and Michael Graves.
Over the eight weeks, the successful candidate will be provided accommodation, meals, a studio space, and access to the academy’s resources, including library archives. They will also be permitted to attend various programs, such as lectures and site visits.
According to a communique released by the Alastair Swayn Foundation and RMIT University, “applicants are expected to be outstanding practitioners at a pivotal point in their careers, where the fellowship will significantly contribute to their professional growth.”
Upon returning to Australia, the fellow will be required to share their experience through a public lecture and an illustrated report or relevant exhibits for publication in the Swayn Open Research repository on the Alastair Swayn Foundation website.
Simon Robinson, director of the not-for-profit design and research practice Office, was the inaugural recipient of the 2023–24 fellowship. During his residency at the American Academy in Rome, Robinson explored Learning from Corviale, a project documenting the refurbishment of one of Italy’s largest post-war public housing estates. This work supported his Melbourne-based Retain, Repair, Reinvest initiative, which focuses on sustainable public housing renewal by retaining communities, improving comfort, and reducing carbon emissions. Robinson’s fellowship concluded with a sold-out public lecture in August 2024.
Architect, artist and educator Stephanie Pahnis was awarded the 2024–25 Fellowship. During her upcoming residency, she will develop her project, Enduring Cultural Matter. The project will explore the relationships between materials, cultural memory and identity in architecture through the lens of adaptive reuse, maintenance practices and local material applications.
Expressions of interest for the next fellowship round can be submitted until 11 March 2025. The residency will occur between September 2025 and July 2026, with specific dates to be arranged in agreement with the successful applicant and the academy.
To apply or learn more about the selection criteria, visit the RMIT University website. More

A 13-storey high-rise approved for development in Sydney’s CBD is slated to become the tallest commercial mass timber building in New South Wales.

Designed by architecture and urban design practice Tzannes for property developer NGI Investments, the building has been approved for 4–6 York Street, opposite Wynyard Park and next to 341 George Street, the heritage-listed former Bank of New South Wales. The site currently serves as a parking lot for the George Street building.

The weight of the building was a significant consideration during the design process. The structure needed to be lightweight as the site is located above subterranean railway tunnels. Tzannes’s approach for addressing has involved transferring the load from the building’s western side to a central core using a hybrid concrete and steel structure. This system then supports 12 timber commercial floors, with 11 levels rising above the load transfer structure and one suspended below. According to a communique issued by Tzannes, “all timber and steel elements will be crafted for future disassembly and reuse.”

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The communique stated that facade materials and dimensions were selected to “respect and respond to the architectural language” of the neighbouring former bank. A concrete portion on the lower levels of the facade is intended to mirror the granite base of the heritage bank. Additionally, a double-height terrace establishes a visual connection to the historic building.

The project marks the design firm’s third application of timber construction in a commercial building, following International House Sydney and Daramu House. International House, completed in 2017, is recognised as Australia’s first engineered timber commercial building. More