Subterms
The City of Melbourne has released a new set of safeguards that will protect the city’s historic laneways against “inappropriate” future development. The new policy involves changes to planning controls, introducing tougher regulations and stricter setback requirements that will prevent bulky developments and preserve the laneways’ heritage materiality. Melbourne’s matrix of laneways is an important […] More
The transformation of a semi-detached house in North Bondi was named the top residential alteration and addition project in NSW for 2022 at the state’s architecture awards. Home to architect Anthony Gill, the house challenges conventions, particularly notions of privacy, with its multi-modal spaces and exposure to street life. The communal areas designed with the […] More
City of Nedlands councillors have voted to oppose a hospice for terminally ill children, contravening the recommendations of its own council staff.
In September 2021, the Western Australian government released concept designs by Hassell for the facility, which would occupy the site of the former Swanbourne Bowling Club.
Nedlands acting mayor Leo McManus told the ABC councillors rejected the proposal due to its location at an “A-class reserve.”
“A-class reserves are mainly bushland or sporting ovals, those kinds of things that are set aside for community use,” he said. “Bushland in city limits is protected pretty strongly. No-one ever thought they would be [taking] land out for other commercial-type purposes. Although this is a hospice, a different commercial-type business.”
Nedlands councillor Andrew Mangano also spoken out against the proposal at a meeting of the council on 28 June. He told the meeting he did not support the hospice purportedly because of its proximity to the army base at Swanbourne, making it a threat-risk to hostile foreign power, PerthNow reported.
“From the air, how much different does it look (from the barracks)? It’s a target,” Mangano said.
Mangano’s rationale had state government ministers scratching their heads, with local government minister John Carey stating he was “shocked” and “deeply saddened” by the objection. Carey added the dissident comments were not a legitimate planning argument against the project.
View gallery
Concept design of the proposed WA children’s hospice project by Hassell. Image:
Courtesy Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation
The proposal is for seven patient beds for children and teenagers diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses, three family suites and shared play rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, therapy rooms and a community garden.
The hospice would be delivered in partnership with the WA Government, Child and Adolescent Health Services and the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Premier Mark McGowan said in September 2021 that the former Swanbourne Bowling Club location was ideal for the facility for its situation in nature and its close proximity to the ocean.
“Its intimate design will provide a home away from home for families that will need this support,” said he said.
The proposed facility has been based on research from hospices around the world, including the design of a Sydney hospice, located in Manly. There is currently no children’s hospice in Western Australia.
Nedlands councillors have made its recommendation to the State Development Assessment Unit, which will have the final say on whether the project moves forward. More
Entries are open for the 2023 AA Prize for Unbuilt Work which recognize compelling works in its conceptual stages that exhibits the qualities of experimentation, speculation and invention. Entries may be for works of any scale or typology, and may exist as proposals that are intended to be built or merely theoretical explorations on paper. […] More
Children’s charity Royal Far West have called on two esteemed architects to help redevelop its premise to help fund its services into the future. A development application for a new beachfront “neighbourhood” designed by Pritzker Prize laurate Glenn Murcutt and two-time Sulman Medal recipient Angelo Candalepas, has submitted to the Northern Beaches Council in Sydney. […] More
The Queensland government has released flood resilience design guidelines to help safeguard homes against the impact of floods in the wake of severe recent flooding events. The guidelines were developed in collaboration the Queensland government architect Leah Lang and James Davidson Architects, a practice that specialises in designing in extreme climates. “This guidance aims to […] More
A development application has been submitted to the City of Sydney for a Bates Smart-designed building on Sydney’s Liverpool Street. The proposal is for the demolition of an existing commercial building at 175 Liverpool Street and for the construction of two 36-storey mixed-use towers separated by a through-site link and a new public open space. […] More
The Victorian chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects and the Association of Consulting Architects have voiced their alarm regarding a proposed amendment to the Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV).
Under the proposed change making its way through parliament, the ARBV would require only three board members to have an architectural qualification, and none will be required to be registered architects, out of the board’s total nine members.
The proposed changes will put Victoria out of step with architects registration boards in other states where the majority of board members are architects. For example, in New South Wales, six of 11 board members are architects, four of seven board members are architects in Queensland, and six of 10 members are architects in Western Australia.
Currently, the ARBV has 10 members, five of whom must be registered architects, alongside important consumer and construction industry representatives.
The Victorian chapter president David Wagner said the proposed changes to the board regulations will place consumers at risk.
“The current composition has ensured a robust base of direct professional insights into the high standards required for architectural professional conduct and practice competency alongside the important perspectives of the consumer and construction industry stakeholders,” he said.
Architectural registration ensures that practising individuals satisfy a range of competency requirements and can demonstrate a range of experience and industry expertise to safely and suitably carry out complex processes.
The Institute has argued that the shift to no registered members on the ARBV board is “markedly out of step” with other professional registration and regulation boards. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, for example, and the Medical Board of Australia each have eight members from their professions on their respective 11 and 12-member boards.
Victorian president of the Association of Consulting Architects Paul Viney added that proposed changes “do not equip the board to adequately undertake its role with the required experience, expertise and balance.”
Both industry bodies have called on the Planning Minister to amend the proposed change under the Building, Planning and Heritage Legislation Amendment Bill to retain five registered architects on the new nine-member board. More
