Architecture

A proposal for a new seven-storey student accommodation building in Moreton Bay, Queensland has been submitted for planning approval.
Designed by Plus Architecture, the accommodation aims to support the anticipated increase in student numbers in Moreton Bay, driven by the expansion of the University of Sunshine Coast. Population forecasts predict the tertiary campus will have a student population of 10,000 by the year 2035.
The nominated siting for the lodgings is a 3,100-square-metre block in Petrie, approximately one kilometre from the university. Plans state the building would supply 203 beds for students as well as a rooftop pool, communal study spaces, entertainment and game areas, outdoor barbeque and dining, integrated green spaces, and an activated street frontage with hospitality outlets.
The design was largely informed by Brisbane City Council’s “Buildings that Breathe” guide, which outlines key considerations for designing resilient subtropical architecture. A statement from the architect describes how the implementation of this strategy can be seen in the stepped building mass, which recedes on the northern and eastern aspects to enable light, air and solar to penetrate into the building and a central courtyard.

The architect’s material palette for the facade – consisting of concrete, perforated panels, tinted and clear glazing and brick – is intended to harmonise with the site’s context. In their design statement, they note how how the base of the structure employs bricks that match the texture and tone of neighbouring buildings, while the upper portion of the building adopts a green colour palette to reflect the shades of surrounding trees.

Chrisney Formosa, a principal at Plus Architecture, said the proposal aims to capture the vibrant and creative spirit of a student. “Imbued with youthfulness and dynamism the space has been designed to […] foster a profound sense of community and wellbeing.”
The development application is currently on exhibition with the City of Moreton Bay. More

The Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library and community hub in Geelong has opened, with the new three-storey facility housing a collection of more than 30,000 books and resources.
The $21.8 million building is designed by Buchan, which secured the project through a design competition. The project is considered the first civic and social infrastructure development in the new Geelong suburb of Amstrong Creek.
Spanning 2,500 square metres, the community facility houses a children’s story time area, outdoor terraces, co-working areas, multipurpose spaces and a winter garden.

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The raw concrete facade features organic, circular windows of varying sizes. Buchan architect Aleksander Borek said the overall conceptual framework for the exterior was inspired by a concept of “living water,” developed in collaboration with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the City of Greater Geelong.
“The waterways of the Wadawurrung people have been a natural meeting point for centuries and are rich in cultural and spiritual significance,” Borek said. “The new library is conceived as a nourishing place for the community to come together and create a shared future.”
The diversity of circles on the facade also symbolises the unification of many individuals within the community. At street level along Main Street, a waveform canopy shades internal occupants on the ground floor and external pedestrians from excessive heat and light.

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The interior features an open-floor plan that can be reconfigured for various activities using operable walls, moveable furniture and mobile bookshelves. Furniture, bookshelves and fittings are crafted from timber, while a rammed earth feature wall serves as a textured divide between front-of-house and back-of-house spaces.

A winter garden on the first level and a terrace on the second floor offer outdoor access.
The library is located at the centre of the Armstrong Creek Town Centre precinct. The suburb of Armstrong Creek was gazetted in 2012 from largely undeveloped land. The City of Greater Geelong released renders of the design in late 2021. More

Construction has started on the HDR-designed RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility co-located at Macquarie University’s Wallumattagal campus.
Once established, the facility will be used to manufacture vaccines and treatments for human and animal clinical trials, as well as undertake research studies. It will also be a space for housing and testing RNA technology, which has the potential to assist with the prevention and treatment of a broad spectrum of health concerns, such as viruses and genetic diseases.
The new facility – located in North Ryde – will be connected to the Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District, a hub containing several medical and health-related organisations, as well as industrial and technology startups.
Macquarie University’s deputy vice-chancellor of research, Professor Sakkie Pretorius, said that the new facility is a “significant addition to the thriving medical precinct within the Connect Macquarie Park Innovation District.”
“RNA research has incredible potential, and we share in RNA Australia’s vision for advancing biomedical science for the benefit of Australia and the world,” Pretorius added.
Imagined as a “pavilion in the trees,” the contextual facade adopts a colour palette that references surrounding native trees. Additionally, vertical elements have been incorporated on the exterior to mimic tree forms in a nearby forest.
The project is targeting a 5-star Green Star Buildings rating.
Construction of the RNA Research and Pilot Manufacturing Facility is expected to be completed in 2026. A state significant development application was lodged for the project in late 2023. More

The shortlist for the 2024 Eat Drink Design Awards has been announced, with 64 projects shortlisted across six primary categories.
Eat Drink Design Awards jury convenor and editor Cassie Hansen explained that the awards provide a lense in which to examine the latest hospitality design innovations, along with the broader cultural and economic influences impacting the places we eat and drink.
“In a time of extreme economic uncertainty for the industry, celebrating the places where we break bread and convene as a community has never been more important. These shortlisted venues represent the very best newly designed venues in the country and many have common threads that unite them,” said Hansen.
The jury said, “This year we applauded the many restaurants, bars and cafes looking far from the traditional and making a big impact with almost an otherwordly design. Patrons can be transported to fantastical destinations when they visit these venues, whether it’s a slightly alien landscape or a new country.”
2024 Eat Drink Design Awards shortlist
Best Restaurant Design
Best Bar Design
Best Cafe Design
Best Hotel Design
Best Retail Design
Best Identity Design
From hundreds of entries, the Eat Drink Design Awards are shortlisted and awarded by a jury of industry leaders from the hospitality and design sectors. The 2024 jury consists of:

Di Ritter, jury chair and former Eat Drink Design Awards winner
Greg Lamb, co-founder, Hogg and Lamb
Matiya Marovich, principal, Sans-Arc Studio
Pat Nourse, creative director, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Rebecca Yazbek, co-founder, Nomad Group

Winners will be announced on Thursday 31 October 2024. Each category winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500. The jury will also select one iconic hospitality venue from Australia or New Zealand to be inducted into the Eat Drink Design Awards Hall of Fame. Venues considered for this accolade have achieved a level of cultural significance as well as demonstrating longevity in an industry often categorized as transient.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are organized by Architecture Media (publisher of ArchitectureAu). The 2024 awards’ principal partner is Laminex.
The Eat Drink Design Awards are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Design Institute of Australia. More

Global design and architecture website Dezeen has announced the longlist for its 2024 awards, which recognise architecture, interiors, design and sustainability projects, as well as the studios and individual designers producing outstanding work around the world.
Australian projects fared particularly well in the residential categories.
The longlisted Australian projects are:
Architecture
House (urban)
Bangalow Road – Son Studio
Life Down A Lane – Tom Robertson Architects
Northcote House – LLDS
Robin House – Wolveridge Architects
Shed House – Breakspear Architects

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House (rural)
Mapleton House – Atelier Chen Hung
House renovation
House in Surry Hills – Architect George
Northcote House – MA+Co Architects
Shadow House – Grotto Studio
Smith House – Fowler and Ward

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Housing
Park Street – Breathe Architecture
Cultural project
Powerhouse Castle Hill – Lahznimmo Architects
Workplace project
116 Rokeby – Carr

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Health and wellbeing project
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw
The Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub (BEST) – ARM Architecture
Total Fusion Platinum – ACME
Education project
Clifton Hill Primary School – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Darlington Public School – FJC Studio
Michael Kirby Building – Hassell

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Heritage project
119 Redfern – Aileen Sage
Landscape and urban design project
Rocks on Wheels – Mike Hewson
Interiors
Residential interior
Mo Jacobsen – YSG Studio
Northcote House – LLDS

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Restaurant and bar interior
Gerard’s – J.AR Office
Journey Beyond Gold Premium Carriages – Woods Bagot
Starward Distillery – Pom Pom
Workplace interior (small)
Golden Studio – Golden
Today Design – Studio Edwards

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Workplace interior (large)
CSL Global Headquarters – Cox Architecture
Intermain – BVN Architecture
Retail interior (small)
Postal Hall – Trower Falvo Architects
Exhibition design (interior)
Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness – ENESS
The Dezeen Awards shortlist will be announced in October and category winners will be revealed in November. More

Two architects have announced they will be running for council in the upcoming city council elections in Sydney and Melbourne.
William Chan is running for re-election to the City of Sydney Council. Chan, who has practised as both an architect and urban planner, was first elected to council in 2021.
If elected for a second term, a key agenda he will advocate for is “density done well.” Chan emphasised that urban growth should be managed thoughtfully with high quality public amenity and infrastructure. “What makes a city fair and welcoming is well-designed public spaces where people feel they belong and can build community,” he said.
He has also pledged to support strategies for well-designed affordable housing and a network of green public spaces throughout the city.

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In Melbourne, Michael Smith, an architect and director at the architecture practice Andever, has announced he will seeking election to the City of Melbourne Council. As a first-time candidate, Smith aims to address what he perceives as a potential gap in city planning experience on council, due to the forthcoming departure of councillor and urban planner Rohan Leppert.
“Planning decisions are among the most consequential that a city council can make […] they require both big picture understanding of the system and rules,” Smith said. “We need a voice in council who has the knowledge and expertise to help guide the right planning decisions for our future.”
If elected to council, Smith mentioned a primary focus of his agenda would be to advocate for the transformation of Elizabeth Street into a green spine, a move he said would encourage pedestrians to spend more time on the street rather than just pass through. He also envisions a car-free strategy being applied to the street on weekends in summer, allowing only trams and pedestrians to access the area. Smith said this pedestrianisation of Elizabeth Street would create more opportunities for urban activity.
Furthermore, he would like to see any new towers in Melbourne featuring designs that are climate resilient and less reliant on energy.
Both Smith and Chan are independent candidates, with Chan on the ticket of current Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore.
The election for the City of Sydney Council will be held on 14 September 2024, while the election for the City of Melbourne Council will be held by postal vote in October 2024. More

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) have released a discussion paper outlining the principles and scope of a new Building Product Registration Scheme. Prompted in part by the 2014 Lacrosse building fire in Melbourne’s Docklands and the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, the discussion paper follows a ministerial direction on 21 June 2024 for the development of a proposal to establish both a national building product register and a mandatory product labelling and traceability scheme.
As outlined by the ABCB, the purpose of the national scheme is to remedy problems caused by building products that do not conform or comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) and limited accessibility to compliant building product information in Australia. By addressing dangerous, slow and/or inaccurate building product choices, the proposed scheme aims to reduce unnecessary risks to Australians’ wellbeing.
Under the new scheme, all building products would be required to have minimum information, including evidence of conformance to the NCC and traceability through labelling, in a standardised format.
In a recent statement, the ABCB noted that “the scheme would introduce a risk-based designated products category in the NCC to increase industry and consumers trust in building products. The designated products category would be determined by the board in consultation with jurisdictions through a combined assessment of building products’ uses, safety and risk of defects.”
While state and territory governments would retain their authority to grant construction approvals and undertake compliance activities using the relevant provisions of the NCC, the register, much like the NCC itself, would be controlled on their behalf by the board.
No decision has yet been made and any feedback received will be considered by the ABCB and building ministers prior to any further action being taken. The discussion paper states that “if a new scheme were to be created, it is likely to require several more years of design and development, in partnership with industry and jurisdictions, followed by an implementation period that enables a smooth and efficient transition.”
The discussion paper is open for comment online until 3 October 2024. More

Following the appointment of a design team and community consultation earlier this year, Sydney’s Redfern Place will form a case study for quantifiable research into the benefits of social and affordable housing in Australia.
Transforming a vacant inner-city site, Redfern Place will deliver 350 dwellings, a new community facility and new head office for community housing provider and precinct developer, Bridge Housing. Within the mix of social and affordable housing, ten to fifteen percent of homes allocated by Bridge Housing will be dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenants. The design approach aims to provide long-term liveability by incorporating communal spaces, a large central garden and multiple rooftop gardens.
As precinct executive architect and design architect for two of the buildings, Hayball is joined by Silvester Fuller and Architecture AND, who will each lead the design of individual buildings. The team also includes Aspect Studios as landscape architect and Yerrabingin overseeing design with Country.

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Hayball will apply their recently awarded ‘Design Thinking’ grant from the Alastair Swayn Foundation (ASF) to forecast the social value of Redfern Place by implementing a newly-created monetisation framework created by Swinburne University, the Australian Social Value Bank (ASVB) and Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA).
The SIGMAH calculation tool measures the financial costs of operating social and affordable housing against wider, project-specific social and economic benefits. The framework argues that these benefits generate cost savings across public and private sectors, thus strengthening the business case for new developments.
“We know that architecture has a fundamental impact on peoples’ and communities’ wellbeing. However, to demonstrate and evaluate how our design decisions influence wellbeing, architects need empirical data. In Australia, there is currently no agreed methodology in place to measure the social value of projects,” explained Hayball principal Dave Tordoff.
“To capture the complete picture of creating social value through design, we need to further investigate how we can establish social value principles at the beginning of a project and track this through the whole project timeline. Ultimately, we want to forecast the social value that could be created through design and then evaluate the social value created when it is completed.”
Together with the ASVB and Bridge Housing, Hayball are developing the ASF ‘Design Thinking’ case study report to be made available in September 2024. Construction of Redfern Place is scheduled to commence in 2025 and due for completion in 2028. More