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ARM Architecture has been appointed to prepare schematic designs for a new civic precinct, to be located adjacent to the Monash Civic Centre, originally designed by Harry Seidler and Associates. ARM completed a feasibility study for the project in 2021, which evaluated the conditions of the site and presented a number of issues to council, […] More
Final concept plans have been released for the a new cycling precinct in Brisbane, ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games. The Murarrie Recreation Reserve International Cycle Park project will include an international-standard cycling track designed by Bligh Tanner, as well as a 500-metre speed skating track and a multi-purpose clubhouse by Cox Architecture. Proposed future […] More
The Milan Furniture Fair celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2022, and after years of border closures, there was a plethora of new designs for the Australians who ventured across the globe for the week-long event. We asked Kirsten Stanisich of Richards Stanisich to scope out the top finds.
Lava and Tambor by Habitación 116 for Unno Gallery
Latin American contemporary art and design gallery Unno presented an evocative exhibition in the Brera Design District of Milan. Titled ‘Volume, The Land, and The Maker,’ the exhibition was inspired by a painting by Josef Albers from his Homage to the Square series.
Mexican interior architecture studio Habitación 116 and Chilean artist Abel Cárcaco were invited to create pieces that synthesised the colour, materials and form of Albers’s painting. The Lava chair and Tambor side table are both inspired by El Pedregal neighbourhood of Mexico City and the volcanic landscape that it sits on. The chair takes its colour theory from the five colours of the volcanic rocksm while Tambor is a monolithic piece of volcanic stone that also doubles as a stool.
“I connected with these pieces, which have an incredible elegance with their references to tradition and use of craftsmanship contrasted against a rich contemporary colour palette,” Stanisich said.
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Simoon console table by Patricia Urquiola for Glas Italia.
Simoon by Patricia Urquiola for Glas Italia
Described as “miniature architectures” by its designer Patricia Urquiola, Simoon is a collection of low, high and console tables and a writing desk that take the form of “deliberately simplified geometrics.”
The collection is made from 12mm thick UV bonded glass slabs and has a pleasing, tactile surface thanks to its coat of grounded Murano glass, created from recycled production waste. The tables are available in amethyst, light blue and topaz.
“Glas Italia has always been close to my heart and this year my love for the brand continued,” Stanisich said. “The use of soft colour, texture and geometric shapes is contrasted against Glas Italia’s awe-inspiring technical precision. These pieces are beautiful.”
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Koushi by Kengo Kuma for Salvatori.
Koushi by Kengo Kuma for Salvatori
Koushi is a modular furniture concept based on a series of cubes made from batons and joints that can be assembled in infinite ways.
“This bathroom vanity from Salvatori has taken the clarity of simple concept and combined it with incredibly detailed precision,” Stanisich said.
As well as vanity units, Koushi can also be made up into shelving, cupboard solutions and coffee tables.
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Ottavia by Antonio Citterio for Flexform. Image:
Kirsten Stanisich
Ottavia by Antonio Citterio for Flexform
Ottavia is an elegant outdoor armchair designed by Antonio Citterio that combines a powder coated stainless steel structure with hand woven cord. “The rough texture of the cord contrasts so beautifully against the minimal silhouette of the chair,” Stanisich said. Also available in a small armchair size, the design is versatile for a range of outdoor spaces.
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Signature Kitchen by Nicolas Schuybroek Architects for Obumex
Signature Kitchen by Nicolas Schuybroek Architects for Obumex
“Everyone was obsessing over this pewter kitchen and I’ve joined the queue,” Stanisich said. This monolithic kitchen island designed by Belgian architect Nicolas Schuybroek is made entirely of tin – a unique material in contemporary kitchen designs.
“Nicolas Schuybroek rethought the block-like typology of a kitchen island and transformed it into a dynamic shape, resulting in carefully proportioned shifts between the sculptural blocks,” the designer said. “As tin gains a unique patina, the aesthetics of the kitchen will beautifully evolve over the course of time, resulting in each and every kitchen to be unique.”
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Port Light by Tom Fereday for Rakumba Image:
Kirsten Stanisich
Port Light by Tom Fereday for Rakumba
Created by Australian designer Tom Fereday in collaboration with lighting manufacturer Rakumba, the Port Light is a uniquely reversible table lamp that celebrates the properties of cast crystal glass. Stanisich was drawn to the light’s “soft shapes and internal stepped layers”. The light is reversible simply by flipping the glass body over to create different moods and light interactions. It is housed in a brass base.
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Und Messing by Volker Haug Image:
Pier Carthew
Und Messing by Volker Haug
Australian lighting studio Volker Haug presented a new series of light fitting that explore the various properties of brass in its exhibition Und Messing (and brass).
Each piece is hand made by local craftspeople and explores various ideas from the past two years. Stanisich found the “brass wall fitting from Volker Haug beautifully expresses its handmade origins,” she said. More
The Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours have been announced and it includes eight architects among the 992 Australians recognized for “meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous services.”
They include Kerstin Thompson, principal at Kerstin Thompson Architects; Phyllis Murphy, who practiced in Melbourne from 1949 until her retirement in the early 1980s; public administrator and architect Joseph Lewit; husband-and-wife duo Garry and Susan Rothwell; Hassell principal and board director Peter Lee; and project architect Donald Mason.
The following architects were appointed a Member of the Order (AM):
Kerstin Thompson, VIC
For significant service to architecture, and to tertiary education. Thompson has been a principal at her practice since 1994 and was made a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2017. Most recently, in 2021 she received the Victorian Premiers Design Award for her renovation of the Broadmeadows Town Hall, and the Victorian Architecture Medal for the same project in 2020. She is adjunct professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and Monash University, and has been a professor of design at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand.
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Broadmeadows Town Hall. Image:
Kerstin Thompson Architects
Phyllis Constance Murphy, VIC
For significant service to architecture, and to built heritage conservation. Murphy was awarded a Life Fellowship by the Australian Institute of Architects in 1970 and has been a member since 1952. Murphy was one of only two female graduates of architecture in 1949 from the University of Melbourne, after which she launched her practice with husband John Murphy, creating their most notable design works in the 1950s. Murphy has authored a number of books on design and decoration and was recognised with the Enduring Architecture Award for the Melbourne Olympic Swimming Stadium at the National Architecture Awards in 2021. John and Phyllis Murphy lend their names to the highest award for Residential Architecture – Houses (A;terations and Additions) in the Victorian Architecture Awards.
Joseph George Lewit, VIC
For significant service to architecture, and to public administration. Lewit has been recognized for his contribution to public administration, serving as president of the Temple Beth Israel in Melbourne, a volunteer for Jewish Care Victoria, councillor for the City of Malvern, project consultant for the Victorian Department of Health and more. Previously, he has worked as a project leader for architectural firm Bates Smart and was also the director of the architectural team on the Royal Women’s Hospital redevelopment project.
Garry Winten Rothwell and Susan Elizabeth Rothwell, NSW
For significant service to the not-for-profit sector, and to architecture. Garry and Susan Rothwell co-founded the Garry and Susan Rothwell Chair in Architectural Design Leadership in 2018. As architects, property developers and philanthropists, the pair has donated heavily to the University of New South Wales to promote the careers of design PhD students. Both founded the Rothwell Family Foundation in 2018 and are benefactors to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and donors to the Sydney Modern Project. Susan is the current director of Susan Rothwell Architects, while Garry is the founder of Winten Property Group, established 1972, and the designer of Sydney Botanic Gardens’ glass pyramid.
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The Glass Pyramid, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, 1986, designed by Garry Rothwell. Image:
Courtesy of City of Sydney archives
The following architects were awarded a Medal of the Order (OAM):
Soo-Tee Cheong, NSW
For service to architecture, to urban planning, and to the community. Cheong has contributed to many public boards, including the Design Review Panel, the NSW state government, and Lane Cove Council. He is an architect and urban planner with a Green Star acreditation since 2007. He has also been an executive committee member for the Australian Chinese Community of Assocation of NSW.
Peter Hugh Lee, WA
For service to community housing initiatives, and to architecture. Lee has been a director at Hassel since 2004 and also maintains board roles with Form, Foundation Housing, Open House Perth and Rottnest Island Authority. Lee was elevated to Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects in 2019 and is also an adjunct professor at Curtin University.
Donald Ross Mason, NSW
For service to architecture. Mason has had a career in architecture spanning 40 years. He is the former chair of the NSW Chapter of the Australian INstitute of Architects and remains a fellow today. He has been dominated architect for Dwell Designs Australia since 2018 and is a former judge for for the Building Designers of Australia, National Building Design Awards, from 2014 to 2019.
In the 2022 Queens Birthday Honours, more than 45 percent of awards in the general division of the Order of Australia were awarded to women, including Australia’s first female state premier, Carmen Lawrence (WA). Click here to view a complete list of the 2022 Queens Birthday Honours recognitions. More
BVN’s Campus to Country – a masterplan for Queensland University of Technology developed in reference to local First Nations knowledge and culture – has taken out the top honour at the 2022 Queensland Minister’s Award for Urban Design.
The awards were announced by the minister for public works Mick de Brenni on 9 June, recognizing excellence in contemporary urban design. The awards are intended to underline the critical role of good urban design in shaping Queensland, and highlight how collaboration can lead to successful outcomes in the built environment.
The judging panel said the Campus to Country project set an important benchmark in quality, vision and clarity, translating Aboriginal culture and knowledge into a tangible design strategy.
“The QUT Campus to Country project was recognised for its connection to, and engagement with, Aboriginal culture and knowledge, and how this can be embedded in the daily campus experience,” said de Brenni.
The Queensland Government Architect Leah Lang agreed the project exhibited great merit in its clarity, quality, innovation and originality.
“By bringing these essential elements of Aboriginal culture onto campus, the Campus to Country project is not just engaging with Aboriginal people and places but telling their story in a much wider space,” she said.
“It’s also helping preserve and honour it in an environment where the leaders of tomorrow are actively engaged on a daily level, ensuring a greater understanding, appreciation and knowledge of our First Nations people.”
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Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) and Public Realm received commendation for the built category award. Image:
Scott Burrows
Two other projects received special commendations under the Minister’s Award for Urban Design for the built category: the Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) and Public Realm by Hassell BESIX Watpac with Australian Unity and Metro North Health; and the Fish Lane Town Square by RPS with Richards and Spence, Bland 2 Brilliant, Greenstock, Michael Bale and Associates, Shape Australia and FPOV with Aria Property Group.
The Fish Lane Town Square project was also awarded the Movement and Place Award for its novel and courageous approach to addressing walkability and open space network in South Brisbane.
Loganlea Healthy Street, by a team comprising Logan City Council and PMP Urbanists, received commendation for its ability to balance the priorities of commuters and local residents along major arterial networks.
The Malcolm Middleton Award for Outstanding Liveable Design was awarded to Alondra Residences by BVN, which delivered a series of public, private and communal spaces for the Lutheran Church of Australia. Commendations were awarded to Anne St Garden Villa by Anna O’Gorman Architect, and Bokarina Terrace by Hollindale Mainwaring Architecture.
“Each one of the 26 entries challenges the status quo, demonstrating leadership and design excellence, and leaving lasting, sustainable legacies for the broader community,” the minister said. More
Facade materials play a critical role in optimizing a building’s energy efficiency and functional characteristics. Cladding is a key component as it protects the building from weather elements, provides noise control and thermal insulation, and add visual appeal to the structure.
Over the years there has been an increase in the types of materials used for cladding, including aluminium, glass, timber, bricks, fibre cement, autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) and steel. Architects and designers need to give sufficient weight to the process of evaluating cladding materials that are fit-for-purpose.
“The material choice depends on the purpose of the cladding, the environmental conditions of the site, the material’s architectural properties and project limitations,” says John Lorente, executive general manager of construction at Big River Group.
Two of the most commonly used materials in residential construction are brick and AAC due to their exceptional architectural properties, longevity and ease of manufacturing. While both are designed to perform as external cladding and have common features, each offers unique advantages for residential construction.
A new and informative guide for specifiers has been released, identifying the differentiating factors of brick and AAC for cladding applications.
Bricks are among the most commonly used materials for residential construction due to their high strength, excellent fire resistance, durability and aesthetic versatility.
Invented in the 1920s, AAC is a lightweight concrete product that has been manufactured to contain closed air pockets. “Due to the material’s closed aerated structure, AAC panels are highly effective insulators, which helps reduce a building’s air-conditioning load in comparison to conventional construction. AAC has up to four times greater thermal resistance than standard house bricks. When incorporated into an energy-efficient design, this superior thermal performance reduces the amount of energy required to heat or cool the building, resulting in significant cost savings for homeowners,” says Lorente.
All the benefits of building with AAC can be found in Big River Group’s MaxiWall, a strong yet lightweight walling panel made from AAC and reinforced with corrosion-protected steel mesh. Designed for buildings with standard timber or steel framing, MaxiWall’s thermal performance, acoustic insulation and fire resistance offers an ideal option for all types of residential projects, from detached dwellings to multi-residential housing. Its rendered finish offers a stylish and sustainable alternative to traditional brick and concrete.
“Installing one panel of MaxiWall is equivalent to installing about 75 bricks, that creates a huge saving for builders and homeowners on site in relation to cost,” says Lorente. “Labour costs are reduced and so too is material wastage on site.”
While both AAC and brick are strong options to consider using in a project, and each material brings unique advantages for residential construction, AAC offers the added benefits of cost and time savings, and sustainability. Ultimately, the decision to use either AAC or brick depends on the specific requirements of the project, including the desired aesthetic.
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The president of La Biennale di Venezia Roberto Cicutto and exhibition curator Lesley Lokko have jointly announced the theme for the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
“The Laboratory of the Future” will be the theme for the 18th edition of the exhibition, and for the first time in the biennale’s history, the African experience will take centre stage, with a focus on the dual imperatives of decolonization and decarbonization.
“In Europe we speak of minorities and diversity, but the truth is that the West’s minorities are the global majority,” said Lokko. “There is one place on this planet where all these questions of equity, race, hope, and fear converge and coalesce: Africa.”
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President of La Biennale di Venezia Roberto Cicutto and exhibition curator Lesley Lokko Image:
Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
Lokko is the founder and director of the African Futures Institute – a postgraduate architecture school and centre for research. She uses her unique expertise to create the workshop at the intersection of creative disciplines and cultural and racial identity.
The biennale will be an invitation, she said, to draw out examples from contemporary practices that “chart a path for the audience – participants and visitors alike – to weave through, imagining for themselves what the future can hold.”
The Australian Institute of Architects is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) for the role of creative director for the Australian exhibition at the Biennale.
The creative director will assist with the curation of the exhibition from the formal to operational management. Involvement provides the opportunity for Institute members to exhibit on a world stage among a cohort of international colleagues.
“This is a highly coveted professional development opportunity and I encourage you to consider your application to participate as the 2023 La Biennale Di Venezia Creative Director,” said Tony Giannone, the Institute’s immediate past national president.
The 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale will take place across various sites around the floating city, including in the Giardini and at the Arsenale, from 20 May until 26 November. More
When James Howe stumbled across Børge Mogensen’s iconic J39 Shaker-style chair online in 2015, it was the catalyst for his interest in furniture. He left his career as a magazine writer to become a furniture designer and, a year later, joined the associate program at South Australian craft and design organization, Jam Factory. Today, the Adelaide-based designer and maker is based in a workshop in Edwardstown. It’s here that he has honed his craft, creating exquisitely finished pieces that are cerebral in concept and elegant in aesthetic.
James is a thinker, but he also believes in keeping things playful and light. “There’s never been so much stuff smashing you in the eyeballs, and social pressures are high. Your unique ‘creation pond’ – the part of you that is capable of generating high-quality, original ideas – is a fragile ecosystem,” he reflects. “My own creativity-killers are perfectionism, trying to impress other people, attempting to satisfy a fashion demand or absorbing too many images of other people’s stuff. But when I manage these pollutants, ideas come easier and they’re far more interesting and original.”
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Handwoven Danish paper cord elevates the minimalist design of Rushcutters Bench. Image:
Peter Ryle, styled by Nat Turnbull.
With all of these distractions under control, James’s minimalist sensibilities prevail and his reductionist approach ultimately champions sophisticated materiality and craftsmanship. His J7 day bed is the best expression of what he does, with its simple raw timber base topped by a powder-coated steel frame wrapped in handwoven Danish cord.
James uses the same weaving technique in the Rushcutters Bench, painstakingly handweaving every single one himself. This piece, in particular, pays homage to Mogensen’s J39 chair, while offering a contemporary exploration of woven seating. In stark contrast, his J4 tables and J5 credenza are a study in the dynamics of light and shade via delicate fluting in the solid timber. The addition of semi-translucent acrylic on the tables pushes the interplay by simultaneously absorbing and reflecting the light.
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The J7 day bed combines a chunky base with steel frame and tactile cord. Image:
Courtesy James Howe
All of James’s designs possess this same sensuality and it’s little wonder he prefers using timbers with a coarse grain. He approaches colour in the same way and will only use hues capable of generating strong emotions, either in the end user or himself. The inspiration for using teal on the J7 day bed’s steel frame, for example, comes from a memory of a school excursion where the vision of a stack of teal-coloured wooden crates in the middle of a sparse setting made a lasting impression.
Currently designing a dining table, chairs for a hairdressing salon and a new woven product, James is committed to developing his own signature style. “As I mature as a designer, I increasingly find myself prioritizing having fun and expressing my authentic voice over pursuing conventional success or commercial objectives,” he says. “So my work is possibly going to start getting a bit weird. Stay tuned.” More
