Architecture

There’s a sense of deliberate eclecticism to Nikolai Kotlarczyk’s portfolio, undoubtedly bred from a strong graphic expression that incorporates bold curves and rationalized forms, as well as the odd decorative flourish. The Mullumbimby-born, Copenhagen-based furniture and lighting designer takes visual cues from all around and works hard to manifest them as purposeful designs relevant to interior environments.

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Nikolai Kotlarczyk says his inspiration is drawn from outside the world of design. Image:

Mathias Christensen.

“My inspiration comes from outside the world of design and I combine this with my knowledge of design history and the contemporary design industry,” he explains. “Then I ‘cook down’ or re-contextualize these inspirations into refined, beautiful products.” Nikolai’s approach is highly considered and, while simplicity drives the aesthetic, his penchant for narrative-laden concepts imbues each piece with personality, evoking curiosity and a sense of playfulness. In the Royce armchair for SP01, for example, a sculptural, curvaceous wing-back form is inspired by the loud, colourful tropical birds that lived in the rainforest where he grew up – a joyous nod to his childhood.
The concepts for the Chapel coffee table for Design By Them and the Barocche mirror, on the other hand, were informed by Nikolai’s recent European travels. “I have always loved the architecture and monumental forms of baroque churches – the scale and grandeur, materiality and theatricality – especially the ones in Italy,” he says. Chapel takes the stained glass rose window as a motif, strips it right back and repeats it to form the top of the table’s steel frame, while Barocche adopts the graphic qualities of the churches’ schematic plans to striking effect, paired with an oxidized brass finish.

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Chapel’s symmetry and transparency stem from the opulence of stained glass. Image:

Pete Daly.

These designs highlight Nikolai’s emphasis on robust materiality and the importance it plays in realizing his ideas. He often favours steel because it allows him to articulate an idea graphically, as seen in Indre, his new lighting design for Rakumba. In this instance, the fitting’s finely executed metalwork – in the form of an interlocking modular rod system – allows for configurations that are quite simply stunning. Nikolai studied interior design at Queensland College of Art, a background that has enabled him to view product design as an extension of an interior. That foundation is especially evident in Indre, which defines a space through its arrangement.
Currently working on a presentation to be shown in Milan 2022 and furniture and lighting collections for existing and new collaborators, Nikolai continues to focus on producing timeless designs. “I want my work to have relevance for many years to come,” he says. “Combining strong forms with durable, high-quality materials and great manufacturing is the best approach to design and the environment.” More

Griffith University and Murweh Shire have launched an international architectural competition for the design of a new museum – the Outback Museum of Australia (OMOA) – for Charleville, in south-west Queensland.
Architects are invited to submit expression of interest for a sustainable and resilient building, demonstrating an “understanding of the outback” in the land of the Bidjara People, the project’s proponents said.
The museum is intended to celebrate the diversity of Australia’s outback, unveiling its “mysteries, natural environment and people”, the brief read, along with its “contemporary spirit”.
“OMOA is not so much focusing on history and heritage, but rather on the present and future of the outback, as expressed by immersive and multi-sensory experience installations for the visitors,” the competition website reads.
OMOA is expected to complement Queensland’s existing tourism attractions like the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre in Longreach, the Outback at Isa, the Qantas Founders Museum, and the new Desert Dreaming Centre in Barcaldine.
The museum will be located in the proposed “Top Secret Tourism Precinct” in Charleville, to be located on the site of a former World War II military base that is current home to the Cosmos Centre and Observatory.

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“Top Secret Tourism Precinct”, which is the new tourism precinct of Charleville, on the site of a former World War II military base and current home to the Cosmos Centre and Observatory. Image:

Courtesy of the Shire of Murweh

The landscape on the site is characterised by expansive flat plains, red dirt soils and desert vegetation, and this competition offers an opportunity to create a new architectural landmark on virgin soil.
The shire has specified the design should target a 5-Star NABERS rating and allow for flexible spaces that respond to the region’s changing needs. “OMOA must become a living platform, increasing dialogue and exchanges through accessible and convivial public spaces,” it said.
The museum design must include an entrance hall with a reception and cloakroom; a commercial space for catering and souvenirs; around 300 square metres of flexible exhibition space; engagement and research spaces; and external landscaping and pathways connecting to parking and outdoor attractions. A more detailed list of key requirements is available on the OMOA competition website.
The competition jury includes Queensland government architect Leah Lang, UQ School of Architecture director of Indigenous engagement Carroll Go-Samm, architect Greg Burgess, landscape architect Lisa Mercer and jury chair Gordon Holden who was foundation head of Architecture at Griffith University.
Murweh Shire expects the museum will become an outback landmark that embraces the region’s evolution and harnesses the local conditions to maximise operational efficiency. The competition jury comprises seven professionals with expertise including architecture, landscape architecture, museology, Indigenous design and culture, urban design and planning.
The construction budget for OMOA is estimated at $6.5 million with a building footprint of 700 square metres.
The design competition was launched on 17 August. Deadline for registration is 20 September and cutoff for submission is 22 September. Winners will be announced 29 September. Recognition will be awarded for first, second and third place, with prizes between $40,000 and $10,000.
Click here to enter. More

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) has announced the 2022 Special Prize shortlist, selected from the greater WAF Awards shortlist and shining a light on submissions that exhibit an outstanding use of engineering, colour, natural light and certified timber. The Special Prize shortlist also includes the Small Project of the Year Prize and sees the introduction […] More

Six Australian projects have been shortlisted in the architecture categories for the 2022 Dezeen Awards. Australia is third among 24 countries with shortlisted projects, behind China (10) and Mexico. Across the 11 architecture categories, a total of 57 projects have been shortlisted. The shortlisted projects will progress to the next stage of judging by a […] More

The City of Melbourne has released its business case for its Greenline Project – an urban renewal plan for the banks of the Yarra River, connecting Birrarung Marr park with the Bolte Bridge. The council said the project is expected to deliver more than $740 million in net benefit to the city, with a triple […] More

The City of Sydney has approved the $27.5 million redevelopment of a church in Redern, designed by Candalepas Associates.
Known as the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady, the 173-year-old church is recognised as the centre of Greek Orthodoxy in Australia and has been listed on the state heritage register as an instance of “early ecclesiastical design” in the architecture of Edmund Blacket.
The church filed a development application with the City of Sydney almost two years ago, which has finally been approved, having undergone negotiations with the Heritage Office and Transport for NSW.
Works will entail the conservation of the cathedral building, along with the demolition of the existing theological building, alterations to the former St Paul’s rectory, and the construction of two three-storey buildings.

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Render of the redeveloped Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady. Image:

Candalepas Associates

The redevelopment will also include a new accommodation and offices wing in St Andrew’s Theological College; a great hall building that will increase the capacity of the site to receive important international guests; and a museum to hold important artefacts collected and gifted over the last century and to showcase exhibitions of a religious nature.
The redesign will incorporate the characteristics of Orthodox architecture, including the use of domes, and the architect said the design will prioritise the improvement in presentation of the cathedral with all intrusive accretions to its facade removed.
In a statement to the local planning panel, architect Angelo Candalepas said he drew from his own Greek heritage to create a design that was “generous to the public” and took into account the important juxtapositions between new and old.
“I’ve put everything I could imagine into this work, having drawn from my memory and the memory of my parents, to offer a work which I hope will be a seminal work for my office,” said Candalepas.
He added the designs came from “a place of deep reverie” and intended to communicate “something optimistic, something rare and something reposeful to our future”.
Candalepas has worked on several religious institutions, including Punchbowl Mosque and Church of the Living God. More

Bates Smart and Neeson Murcutt and Neille have won a design excellence competition on a $750 million new building at Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital in Sydney. The redevleopment will be the most significant upgrade in the hospital’s 140-year history. The design competition was the first ever held by Health Infrastructure, for which it invited […] More

A three-storey mixed-use building, designed by Z Architects, has been proposed for a popular waterfront promenade in the Brisbane riverside suburb of Bulimba. The developer acquired the 3,085 square metre site at 187-193 Oxford Street with the plan to demolish the existing trio of apartment buildings and amalgamate the three sites. A development application is […] More