Architecture

A photography exhibition that captures Australian suburbia is among the intriguing events scheduled for this month.

This exhibition explores how artists have used the medium of photography to interpret the Australian suburbs. These images from the gallery’s collection provide occasion to pause and reflect on familiar settings, places and people, imbuing them with aesthetic, historical and emotional significance. While rationales for capturing suburbia vary, these artworks demonstrate the enduring role of photography in enriching the national understanding of scenes from everyday life — whether homely or uncanny.

Tasmania Makes is an annual exhibition designed to celebrate and invigorate Tasmania’s rich culture of innovation and craftsmanship in design. This year’s program will be split into two exhibitions, with the first exhibition taking place at Design Tasmania in Launceston between 24 January–25 May 2025. Designers to feature at the first exhibition include Andrea Barker, Nanna Bayer, Kate Bowman, Christopher Clinton, Shauna Mayben, Liam Starcevich, Scott van Tuil, Adam Wallace and Isaac Williams. Designers to showcase at the second exhibition will be announced in May.

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From the ‘burbs, to the bush, to the inner city, Australians are obsessed with the idea of home and the dream of home ownership. In The Australian Dream? Tim Ross casts his discerning eye across the archival treasures of our much-loved public libraries and uncovers the telling images that reveal a multi-decade story of Australian homes: how they’re sold to us, why we buy them and how we make them our own. Ross explores the reasons why home ownership is such an all-consuming distraction among Australians and uncovers some of the unique and special ways we have built in this place. This talk is complemented by a selection of new cinematic style films produced especially for the presentation. The Australian Dream? with Tim Ross will be held nationally at venues in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

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A one-day course on materiality in Melbourne and Sydney that challenges designers and specifiers to lead the way towards a circular economy. Topics discussed during the course include the materiality of materials and products, how to investigate the composition of materials you use in your products and fit-outs, why waste as a resource is important for a circular economy, how to design with the end in mind, how to include suppliers and other stakeholders on the journey. This is a trade only course, to be held in Sydney on 20 February and Melbourne on 14 March.

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Construction has commenced on the Swan Hill Tourism and Cultural Hub, located in the rural city of Swan Hill, Victoria.
The project consolidates various tourism and community functions within a single building, including a lobby and entrance space with a visitor information desk, seating and a shop, a multipurpose space for exhibitions and community activities, and staff offices. Once established, the new building will provide entry to the adjacent Pioneer Settlement precinct, which is a historical hub comprising preserved buildings from the time of European settlement.
The Swan Hill Tourism and Cultural Hub building is approximately 45 metres in length, 10 metres wide at the southern end and 20 metres wide at the northern end.

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The project is being led by architecture firm Common ADR in collaboration with Enlocus Landscape Architecture and heritage architecture practice Conservation Studio. Common ADR and Enlocus have been involved in the project for more than five years, with both practices engaged by Swan Hill Rural City Council to conduct preliminary feasibility studies and develop early concept designs.
A key feature of the project includes the establishment of a meeting area for the Traditional Owners of the Swan Hill region (the Wamba Wamba, Latji Latji, Tatti Tatti, Wadi Wadi and Barapa Barapa peoples). According to a communique from Common ADR, the introduction of this meeting area aligns with future plans for an Aboriginal tourism precinct development immediately across the Murray River on Pental Island.

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The architects’ statement noted that the building form is inspired by the region’s rural vernacular. It features a series of gable roofs that mimic the triangular roof forms found in the Pioneer Settlement precinct. This approach aims to establish a relationship between the new hub and the historical precinct as tourism destinations. Additionally, the gable form was selected to break down the mass of the building along its street elevation.
The landscape design intends to establish a continuous flow from the street approach to the gardens within the precinct.
Preliminary works on the project commenced in late 2024 and foundation works commenced in early 2025. Project completion is slated for mid-2026. More

The Australian Institute of Architects has announced the first round of speakers for its upcoming 2025 Australian Architecture Conference, to be held in Sydney from 2 to 4 May 2025.
The 2025 conference will be hosted at the Sydney Opera House and the University of Sydney’s Seymour Centre. The invited Australian and international speakers will draw attention to stories that “demonstrate the capacity of design to instigate positive change, regenerate the planet and chart a sustainable and equitable future for humanity,” said Institute CEO Cameron Bruhn.
The steering committee responsible for shaping the 2025 program comprises Aaron Peters, Adam Haddow, Adrian Fernandez, Felicity Stewart, Nicole Mesquita-Mendes, Sally Hsu, Sharaan Muruvan and Tania Papasotiriou. The committee is joined by Institute representatives Cameron Bruhn, Alexis Schnitger and Kate Concannon.
The conference will feature keynote addresses from:
Jing Liu of SO–IL (United States)
A New York-based architect and co-founder of the architecture and design firm SO–IL, Liu has led various projects that tackle sociopolitical challenges in urban design. Notable projects include Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Cleveland and the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
Kevin O’Brien of BVN (Australia)
O’Brien is an architect, a principal at BVN, an adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and an advocate of informed, intersectional design practice. Renowned for his multi-disciplinary practice, O’Brien has played a pivotal role in projects such as Kith and Kin, Blak Box and Brisbane South State Secondary College.

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Andreia Teixeira of Shop Architects (United States)
An associate principal at the New York City-based architecture practice Shop, Teixeira has led numerous prestigious workplace projects, including the Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney, a project that centred around technology-driven design.
Neill McClements of Grimshaw (United Kingdom)
McClements is a partner at Grimshaw with more than 25 years experience. His portfolio spans rail, metro and high-profile infrastructure projects, including the RIBA prize-winning Elizabeth Line in London. His insights on complex network planning offer a unique perspective on innovative infrastructure design.

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Complementing the conference is a line-up of fringe events taking place in Sydney from 29 April to 4 May 2025. These events include:

Studio Soirées: a behind-the-scenes peek into Sydney’s architectural studios such as Terroir and Aileen Sage.
Sydney Unlocked: guided walking tours led by project architects that showcase sustainable and innovative designs throughout the city.
Archi-Party: an evening of celebration at the University of Sydney’s Chau Chak Wing Museum, where architects can network and explore all four levels of the museum.

More speakers and program updates will be released in the coming weeks, visit the conference website for more information. More

The jury for the 2025 ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact has been revealed. The program honours projects that are public-spirited, prioritise empathy over aesthetics and have made valuable contributions to society.
The 2025 jury includes Helen Barrie of University of South Australia, Amelia Borg of Sibling Architecture, architect and researcher Shaneen Fantin, Philip Thalis of Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects and Katelin Butler, the editorial director of Architecture Media. The jury convener will be Rory Hyde of the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne.
Wangaratta District Specialist School by Sibling Architecture won the 2024 Award for Social Impact, praised by the jury for being “[…] an exemplar of spatial and tactile design for numerous learning (or even workplace) environments across the country.”
Entries are now open for the 2025 ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact, with a cash prize of $5,000 awarded to the winning recipient. The award criteria focuses on demonstrable social benefit, and the quality and originality of the design thinking that delivered it. Eligible projects may relate to social cohesion, racial justice, inclusive housing, accessibility, equity, social sustainability or other areas where design can make a difference to society.
Completed projects can be entered until 7 March 2025. See previous winning and commended projects here and entry requirements here.
The ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact is organised by Architecture Media, and supported by presenting partner Melbourne School of Design, and supporting partners Latitude Group and Pepto Lab. More

The 2025 Australia Day Honours list has acknowledged and celebrated the contributions and achievements of 732 Australians. Among them are three individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of architecture.
Steve Grieve of South Australia, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to architecture, and to arts development through leadership roles.”
Grieve was director of Grieve Gillett Andersen Architects between 2014–2019, director of Grieve Gillett Architects between 2000–2014, and the founding director of Steve Grieve Architects in 1982. He has been a member of the Australian Institute of Architects since 1988, became a life fellow of the Institute in 2018, and served as president of the South Australian chapter from 2013 to 2015. He also received the 2019 South Australian Architecture Awards with the Sir James Irwin President’s Medal. In addition to practice, Grieve was a professor at the University of Adelaide’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment from 2013 to 2018.
Tanya Trevisan of Western Australia was a recipient of the Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to architecture, and to business.”
Trevisan is the director of Tanya Trevisan Consulting and a director of Fiveight. She served as the national director of the Property Council of Australia between 2017–2019, and simultaneously as the president of the council’s Western Australian division. Trevisan is a former member of the Development Assessment Panel, Medium Density and Liveable Neighbourhoods Stakeholder Reference Group, WA Department of Planning and a former member of the State Planning Policy 7, Design WA Advisory Group, WA Planning Commission. She was a member of the editorial committee for the Royal Australian Institute of Architects The Architect journal from 2015 to 2017 and the Institute’s The Bulletin journal from 2000 to 2003. Trevisan was appointed a fellow of the Institute in 2018.
Keith Sawdy of New South Wales was awarded the Medal of Order of Australia (OAM) for “service to architecture, and to the community.”
Sawdy was the director of Sawdy and Black Architects from 1971 to 2010. He was a member of the Building Planning Advisory Committee, NSW Council on the Ageing between 1976–1991, and a past member of the NSW Ministerial Joint Committee on Transportation for the Disabled. Sawdy became a fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1970. He served as a past honorary architect for the Uniting Church in Australia and an architect for the Churches of Christ, NSW and ACT from the 1970s until the 1990s. More

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 Houses Awards, an annual program celebrating the pinnacle of Australian residential architecture.
This year’s program comprises 10 awards categories, including Australian House of the Year, New House under 200 m², New House over 200 m², House Alteration and Addition under 200 m², House Alteration and Addition over 200 m², Apartment or Unit, Sustainability, House in a Heritage Context, Emerging Architecture Practice, and the newly introduced Small Projects category.
This new category recognises achievement in the design of a small-scale residential project. Projects must relate to a larger primary dwelling, but should be able to be considered by the jury as a standalone project. Eligible projects include granny flats; pool houses; decks, pergolas and outdoor rooms; studios and workshops; garages, sheds and boathouses, and stables.
The 2025 jury includes John Ellway of John Ellway Architect, Polly Harbison of Polly Harbison Design, Dimmity Walker of Spaceagency Architects, John Wardle of Wardle and Alexa Kempton, editor of Houses magazine.
The 2024 Houses Awards program saw homes of exquisite resolve being honoured, including the Australian House of the Year award-winner Red Hill House and Studio by Zuzana and Nicholas, Shed House by Breakspear Architects, and Tomich House by Mark Jeavons Architect with Ohlo Studio.
Entries close 14 March 2025. To enter, visit the Houses Awards website.
Houses Awards are organised by Architecture Media, supported by Artedomus, Blum, Brickworks, James Hardie, Roca, Fulgor Milano, Architectural Window Systems, The Heritage Council of Victoria and Latitude. More

Sydney-based architect Jansen Che is among three winners of an international design competition that invited participants to reimagine Freedom Square in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
The Norman Foster Foundation, in collaboration with Buildner, the Kharkiv City Council, UNECE and Arup, launched the Norman Foster Foundation Kharkiv Freedom Square Revival Competition, calling upon architects, designers and urban planners to present concepts for the redesign of Freedom Square and the Regional State Administration Building adjacent.
The competition is part of an ongoing effort to develop a broader masterplan for the reconstruction of the city of Kharkiv, which has faced significant challenges due to its proximity to the Russian border. The mayor of Kharkiv, Ihor Terekhov, underscored the need for a new landmark during the United Nations’ Second Forum of Mayors – a project that could embody renewal, resilience and hope, while honouring the history of the city. The Freedom Square International Competition was launched as part of this vision. The broader masterplan, once developed, is intended to be used as a blueprint for the reconstruction of other cities in Ukraine.
The competition garnered more than 80 international submissions, with Che the only Australian to be shortlisted.

While the jury intended to award individual place-winners, they concluded that they would recognise three proposals as equal winners as they found that no single entry adequately addressed the diverse needs of the building and public space.

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Che, an architect and senior associate at Lippman, has now been revealed as one of the winners. His proposal Memory seeks to revitalise Freedom Square with minimal intervention, opting instead to retain the expansiveness of the public realm so it maintains its ability to serve as a flexible space for events, festivals, protests and other civic functions.
A below-ground memorial with an oculus is introduced as part of the concept. The oculus establishes a visual link to the Regional Administration Building, reinforcing the symbolic connection between democracy and its people. Elements from the war-damaged heritage facade of the Regional Administration Building are incorporated into the design.

Upon being recognised as a joint winner, Che stated, “This achievement is particularly meaningful to me – not only because of its vital role in the revival of Ukraine, but also because it was chaired by Lord Norman Foster. I think he is one of the greatest architects ever and is someone that I have always looked up to throughout my career. It is a privilege to contribute to such a significant project, and I am excited to see the vision for Kharkiv take shape,” said Che.

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The two other equally recognised proposals include a concept from Nischal Ba (India), which comprised a seasonal landscape framework with biodiverse green zones, shaded pathways and multifunctional spaces for year-round engagement, and a scheme from Daniel Mintz (Israel), which focused on balancing historical preservation with contemporary insertions.
The ideas behind each of the three winning proposals will inform a forthcoming second stage competition, which will be open to new entrants as well as those who competed in the first stage.
The winners were each awarded from a prize pool of €10,000 (€3,000 for each winners and €1000 for a student prize). More

In Perth’s northern suburbs, the TAFE Balga Campus redevelopment has reached completion and is set to open to students from term one. The upgrade to the city’s education institute has been underway since 2022 and will replace the site’s 22 modular and transportable classrooms originally constructed in the 1970s.
Designed by Hassell, the upgraded facility includes two new buildings aimed at providing apprentices with high-quality training in future construction skills, students with foundational knowledge and new migrants with training in English. According to a release from the Western Australian government, the new Construction Skills Innovation Hub will host more than 5,800 students annually.

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WA Premier Roger Cook noted, “At the heart of North Metropolitan TAFE’s new Construction Skills Innovation Hub is a cutting-edge Future Trades Workshop, where students can gain the skills needed for jobs using emerging and future construction technologies.” The Western Australian government claim that the 1,140-square-metre workshop is the first of its kind in the country and estimate that it will accommodate 750 students each year.
On the ground floor, a flexible layout incorporates a digitally enabled training space that connects to a large, open workspace. The release noted that the workshop “also includes a simulated energy-saving smart home training facility, outfitted with new and emerging technologies adopted by the construction industry, giving electrical apprentices opportunities to build skills in digital light and home automation integration so they are job-ready to join this growing industry.”

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Alongside the Future Trades Workshop, a new three-storey multipurpose building operates as the entry point to the campus, hosting a student resource centre and learning hub, classrooms, computer labs, student breakout spaces, a client services centre, and student and staff amenities. The hub is outfitted with a simulated kitchen with automated cabinet hardware and a light gauge steel framing construction, showcasing a variety of building products and giving students an opportunity to familiarise themselves with what they will encounter in the industry.
The new Construction Skills Innovation Hub is part of wider $250 million investment in new and upgraded infrastructure at WA TAFE colleges. It is the final capital works project – of a total of 15 – delivered at TAFE campuses throughout Western Australia since 2021. More