Architecture

Brisbane’s contentious resort and casino precinct has opened, nearly a decade after the proposed development was first announced by the Queensland government.
The $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf precinct includes four towers situated atop a seven-storey podium and a five-level basement. The towers take shape as distinct entities, before uniting approximately 30 storeys above ground level via a sky deck that overlooks the Brisbane river, the CBD and Mt Coot-tha.
The precinct is mixed-use, featuring several hotels, the Brisbane Star casino, retail tenancies, an event centre with ballroom, a public art gallery, and dining and beverage establishments.
The design prioritises access to the riverfront and the adjacent riverfront precincts. A new footbridge, named Neville Bonner after the first Indigenous Australian to sit in Australian Parliament, is suspended above the river, connecting Southbank to Queen’s Wharf.

View gallery

The project’s design partners include Jerde Partnership (lead design in masterplan, urban design and place-making), Cottee Parker (lead architects for integrated resort development), ML Design (heritage architects), Grimshaw (Neville Bonner Bridge architects), Urbis (landscape architects, heritage specialists, town planners and urban designers) and Cusp (landscape architects).
The project has received considerable backlash since it was first proposed, due to the site’s history as a former government precinct. Frequently regarded as the birthplace of Brisbane’s colonial history, the site was home to several historical government buildings – some of which have now been retained as part of the development, while others have been demolished.
The Neville Bonner Building, designed by Davenport Campbell and Partners in collaboration with Donovan Hill and Powell Dods and Thorpe, is among the now-demolished structures, despite the building having won the FDG Stanley Award for Public Architecture at the 1999 Queensland Architecture Awards.

Despite the project being contentious, Economic Development Queensland gave the green light to the plan of development application in January 2018, following assessments by different government entities.
Although many components of the precinct such as The Star Grand hotel, the Neville Bonner Bridge, the casino gaming floors, and numerous restaurants are currently accessible, more establishments are set to open in the upcoming months. The Dorsett and Rosewood hotels are expected to open by the end of 2026.

In a communique announcing the precinct’s opening, chief executive officer of the Star Brisbane Daniel Finch said the new precinct aims to contribute to the tourism sector and the cultural fabric of Brisbane. “Once fully operational, The Star Brisbane and broader Queen’s Wharf precinct are expected to attract approximately 1.4 million additional visitors to Queensland each year,” Finch said. More

The Australian Institute of Architects’ annual Super Studio design competition has been won by a team of University of Tasmania master’s students, comprising Luke Pendergast, Mia Larsen and Lachlan Sutton.
A national conceptual design competition, Super Studio is open to the Institute’s Student Organised Network for Architecture (SONA) members from all year levels and gives students license to explore highly creative responses to a design brief. This year’s competition tasked participants with designing radical and creative solutions to address the impacts of extreme weather.
Over 180 students from 20 universities participated, with 83 submissions presented to local juries across the nation. In the words of Tasmanian state juror Jonathan Buist, “The quality of thought and work presented at a state level was outstanding and all this occurred at the same time as the current semester study schedule.”
After careful deliberation, the national jury awarded the Tasmanian team’s Jingana Epicormic Resilient Community Housing Strategy project, which was lauded by the jury for exemplifying an innovative approach to disaster relief housing. Inspired by the resilient Jingana plant, the design mimics nature’s adaptability in the face of constant changes to climate.
The jury was impressed by the careful consideration of timescale in the response to the brief, such as the immediate rollout post-disaster, allowances for customisation and modification during occupation, and the capacity for repair and relocation in the longer term. The jury citation noted that “this strategy successfully balances the need for immediate respite and emergency shelter with the longer term needs of a community in recovery.” More

The America’s Cup returns for its 37th regatta, with leading bathroom product manufacturer, Roca, as the official sponsor.
Founded 173 years ago, the sailing competition is one of the longest-running international competitions still operating in any sport, with a thriving global audience.
Also founded over 100 years ago, Roca’s headquarters is based out of Barcelona, which is coincidentally where the event is taking place.
As part of the collaboration, Roca has equipped the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team’s base facilities in Barcelona’s Port Vell with smart products linking to the Roca Connect platform, allowing for remote control of plumbing services and promoting water conservation.
In addition to the support of facilities, the company hosted Roca Design Day. The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Brazilian-American photographer Paul Clemence, where architects Mario Cucinella, Rodrigo Ohtake, and Borja Ferrater shared their experiences and explored emerging trends in the bathroom design sector.
Next month, Roca is set to host Design Dynamics alongside Alinghi Red Bull Racing, a seminar that will explore technological advances in the design and racing sectors, product innovation in the companies’ respective fields, and production efficiencies.
The competition commenced on the 22nd of August and will run through until the 27th of October. More

From an exhibition displaying the colourful creations of Sydney Ball to a discussion regarding critical housing issues in Gununa, we’ve rounded up a series of events to keep you informed and inspired.
Sydney Design Week
Titled “In Between Worlds,” Sydney Design Week 2024 invites presenters and attendees to consider how cities can enhance inclusivity and how design can innovate to support sustainable models for living, connection and culture. Key highlights of the festival include a keynote discussion by Sumayya Vally, architect and artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale, who will speak on designing for belonging. Additionally, architect David Gianotten, the managing partner of the international architecture practice Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), will share insights into the evolving role of architecture.
Gunana Futures
What is the role of research in identifying and addressing critical issues in housing? How do the complex interactions of culture and housing affect the provision of adequate housing? In this yarn, Sarah Lynn Rees is joined by Carroll Go-Sam and Kelly Greenop to discuss their Gunana Futures report on housing, energy and town design in Gununa, Mornington Island. The report, grounded in comprehensive surveys, includes design response recommendations, which focus on better housing design for the Gununa community. The format of this event is a one-hour online session presented across Australia and New Zealand by Parlour.

View gallery

Graduates of the Year Awards 2024
A celebratory event where the Design Institute of Australia will reveal the winners of its 2024 Graduate of the Year Awards (GOTYA), an awards program that recognises exceptional emerging designers from across Australia. The 2024 GOTYA-winners will be announced at national Stylecraft showrooms in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Previous winners from 2023 include Joanne Odisho, Sandra Srun, Liam Georgeson and Kate Masters.

View gallery

Sydney Ball curated by David Flack
Award-winning architect and designer David Flack has long been captivated by the work of Australian artist Sydney Ball (1933 – 2017). In this exhibition, Flack presents some of his favourite abstract works by Ball – all of which are a playful expression of colour and form. This exhibition takes place at the Sullivan and Strumpf gallery in Naarm/Melbourne, providing attendees the opportunity to see inside a space designed by Flack, while admiring Ball’s creations.

View gallery

Stories of Earth: Echoes in Architecture
This one-day discussion-based event brings together international stories of responsible architecture developed in response to global challenges. International speakers Níall McLaughlin (UK), Marusa Zorec (Slovenia), Rick Joy (US) and Marina Tabassum (Bangladesh) present a hopeful vision for a purpose-led profession – rooted in a return to people, place and planet, over profit alone.

View gallery More

The winner of a design competition, which tasked architects with reimagining a portion of the historic Pentridge Village precinct in Melbourne’s Coburg, has been announced.
The winning concept, a preliminary masterplan by DKO Architecture, envisions the 19,000 square metre site – home to the 1851 Pentridge Prison – as a $1.2 billion mixed-use precinct. The design features an activated public realm, community spaces, retail tenancies and multi-residential buildings.
The portion nominated for redevelopment is bordered by Pentridge Boulevard, Urquhart Street, Warden’s Walk and Stockdale Avenue. The state significant site contains several heritage assets that would be preserved as part of the project, such as Ned Kelly’s grave site, the original F Division building made from bluestone and a historic mural by First Nations artist Ronald Bull.

View gallery

Property developer and competition organiser Salvo engaged a panel of internal and independent consultants to assess competition entries. The jury deemed the winning practice’s proposal a “carefully considered design response.”
Salvo managing partner James Maitland commended DKO for demonstrating “a deep understanding of the site and surrounding precinct which has critical heritage, planning and design considerations and a distinct neighbourhood character.” “We’re delighted with their preliminary ideas that are responsive to the significance of the heritage assets in terms of their preservation and adaptive reuse, and ensuring highly liveable residential outcomes combined with activated, open public spaces,” he said.

View gallery

Design director at DKO Jesse Linardi said the project site is rich in heritage, strong in presence and unique in character. “Key principles underpinning our exploratory design response considered the heritage, program and liveability of the precinct, with activated, open spaces that are demographically and contextually driven and provides a diverse tapestry of urban experiences for residents, the community and visitors alike,” he said.
The precinct is currently occupied by multiple properties that are subject to different planning regulations. The Pentridge Village Masterplan 2008 allows for mixed-use development, including retail, community spaces and multi-residential buildings, with permits in place for approximately 650 apartments.
Adjoining the site on the northern part of the overall precinct is an established retail and residential hub including hotel, cinema, shopping mall, restaurants, cafes, apartments and townhouses.
“We see this site as a significant opportunity to provide additional housing in a well-serviced location within 7.5km of the CBD,” Maitland said.
If approved, the project is anticipated to span a period of more than five years, from initial consultation to completion. It will require extensive consultation with Merri-bek City Council, state government planning authorities, Heritage Victoria and the surrounding community. More

March Studio: Making Architecture, Material and Process
March Studio is a bit of a paradox in my mind. Firstly, you have this very serious studio which has, for the better part of two decades, outputted some of the best retail, residential and hospitality interiors this country has to offer – we’re talking Aesop stores here and overseas, Gazi and Press Club restaurants, the much-replicated Baker D Chirico fitout in Carlton, Hotel Hotel in Canberra, Jackalope Hotel and Sneakerboy stores.
But then ­– and here’s where the paradox comes in – you have Rodney Eggleston running the studio, one of the most unserious, playful and humorous architects I’ve ever had to put up with (and I did have to put up with him for two days and one night when we sat on the Eat Drink Design Awards jury together in 2022, and then hosted the awards together – it was a bloody slog). It’s a nice little footnote then to read Rodney’s thoughts on humour and humility in architecture on page 112 of March Studio: Making Architecture, Material and Process, a new book from Thames and Hudson – perhaps not a subject matter you or I consider often, but naturally Rodney does. Alongside partner Anne-Laure Cavigneaux (who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, hello Anne-Laure if you’re reading this), Rodney has built a studio which is not just prolific and ambitious, but dedicated to investigation, testing and prototyping – not an easy feat in the fast-paced, budget-conscious world we live in. It’s a great book, a real reminder of the breadth and excellence of March Studio’s work.
Sammy side table from Alor and James Walsh

View gallery

Alor Studio and Melbourne designer James Walsh have teamed up to create a chunky little side table called Sammy. Highlighting the beauty of solid American oak, walnut and ash, and with large, curved legs and sweeping details, Sammy showcases FSC-certified timber without the price tag that usually comes with it. I’d personally love this little number by my sofa, with a stack of good design books atop.
Puddle Table by Daniel Boddam

View gallery

I first met Daniel Boddam in 2016 when the architect had just finished his first furniture collection called Monument. I interviewed him for a story for Houses magazine and we gasbagged about the collection and his honeymoon in Rome and the Pantheon, which provided the inspiration for pieces in that collection.
Since then he’s released eight more collections, most recently Circular, a collaboration with artist Jessie French. My favourite of the collection is the Puddle Table, which encases algae artworks in glass and sets them within a curvilinear shroud of recycled aluminium, creating the illusion of water puddles. The pieces are designed to nest together, with an elliptical side table that cantilevers over the coffee table. From Pantheon to puddles, Boddam’s journey through furniture design continues to delight.
Colourscape lights by Hothaus

View gallery

Melbourne glassblowers Amanda Dziedzic and Laurel Kohut have teamed up to create Hothaus Glass and it’s crystal clear this debut lighting collection is hot (ahem, sorry). The Colourscape series of wall lights is an homage to the stunning, ever-changing hues of the Australian sky.
“With HausLights, we wanted to push the boundaries of traditional glassmaking while infusing our designs with a modern touch,” said Dziedzic. “Our lights are not just about functionality—they’re about creating an experience that transforms and enhances your surroundings.”
This new collection is a real glass act (okay, I’m done).
Lunetta collection by Sally Caroline

View gallery

Melbourne-based interior designer Sally Caroline has ventured into furniture design with the launch of SC Collection. The Lunetta collection of stools is described as “humble in silhouette but confident in colour” and draws inspiration from the charming hotel terraces of the Amalfi Coast which Sally names as her most cherished travel destination. Elegant arched motifs brace the stool’s steel frame, finished with a delicate link detail that adds subtle embellishment. It’s the perfect place to perch while sipping an Aperol Spritz (try saying that ten times fast). More

On 21 August 2024, leaders of the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA), USA National Council of Architect Registration Boards (NCARB) and New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB) agreed on a new Mutual Recognition Agreement at an event in Wellington, New Zealand.
The new agreement revises an existing Mutual Recognition Agreement with the United States, improving access to international practice by removing the requirement to hold one of the three national passports, expanding eligibility requirements and streamlining data laws.
One of the key benefits of the new agreement is that architects no longer need to work the previously mandated 6,000 hours (approximately three years) after registering to apply, meaning that newly registered architects are able to participate. As AACA president Dr Giorgio Marfella pointed out, “This new agreement further strengthens opportunities for sharing know-how and creativity, providing easier processes of exchange and recognition for architects at all levels of experience.”
In Australia, New Zealand and most US states there are no additional examinations beyond local registration and successful completion of the Mutual Recognition Agreement. While some US states may have additional requirements, it is expected that the new changes will boost the number of US states participating in the agreement.
Speaking of agreements already in place between Australia and the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand, AACA chief executive officer Kathlyn Loseby commented that the “mutual recognition programs are helping local architects to go global. We’ve already seen the success of our United Kingdom agreement, with more architects moving both ways across borders.”
Registered architects will be able to apply for fast-tracked recognition of their qualifications from 6 November 2024. More

Renewal SA has invited community consultation on indicative concept designs for transforming the former Adelaide Bus Station site on Franklin Street into a mixed-use precinct.
Under the draft plans, the former bus station site would be redeveloped into a 200-suite hotel, a build-to-rent development, market housing for sale, and commercial and retail tenancies. The plans indicate the mixed-use precinct, named Tapangka on Franklin, would supply accommodation to approximately 1,000 people and include 35 percent affordable housing.
Woods Bagot are the architects behind the redevelopment leading the design and masterplanning, with Hip V. Hype operating as the sustainability consultants.
The draft proposal highlights the ambition for the new hub to become Adelaide’s first carbon-neutral precinct. Tapangka on Franklin will target key sustainability objectives relating to energy efficiency, thermal performance, climate resilience and circular economy. The design will also prioritise alternative modes of transportation over driving, such as walking, cycling and public transport.
Key features of the indicative design include an activated public plaza and landscaped open spaces.

View gallery

Minister for Planning Nick Champion said the vision behind the project is to establish a “benchmark for sustainable development” in South Australia.
“This development will bring visitors and workers into the precinct and help more people secure housing through affordable sales and rental,” he said. “We are keen to hear from South Australians about what they think of the draft plans and in particular what elements could be incorporated to activate the public spaces.”
The SA government has allocated $1.2 million to upgrade existing public spaces within close proximity to the proposed precinct – on Bowen and Grote streets.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026 following the appointment of a project team.
Renewal SA is seeking design feedback on buildings, public spaces, transportation connectivity, and sustainability. Commentary is able to be submitted until 15 September. More