Architecture

The ACT government has announced the shortlisted design teams vying to design the redevelopment of the Canberra Theatre Centre. From 21 submissions, three teams of Australian and international architects have been named preferred tenderers: Architectus with Henning Larsen and Arup Designinc with Zaha Hadid Architects Hassell with Snøhetta “The redeveloped CTC will provide a world-class […] More

The Australian Institute of Architects has issued a statement calling for greater climate action following the “disappointing” outcome for decarbonization at the COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. Despite calls for greater action in response to growing climate concern, the COP27 decision has not implemented strategies for phasing out the use of fossil […] More

Kelvin Tsang and Adam Newman’s Temple of Boom has opened to the public in the garden of the National Gallery of Victoria.
The seventh architecture commission for the NGV, the installation reinterprets a 2,500-year-old temple that has come to represent an enduring symbol of democracy and western civilization as one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
NWMN director Adam Newman said 1:3 scale recreation the original structure, Temple of Boom, is “not a replica” but a reinterpretation of the structure with some key differences.
“It is intended to be an abstraction, a reimagining that evokes the resonant form of the temple,” he said. “The key distinctions lie in the urban art aspect of the scheme and its translocation to the Melbourne skyline.” The installation also doubles as a canvas for street art and a live performance venue, reimagining the Classical Greek icon with bold murals, a contemporary Athena, and an injection of new life.
Built as a modular structure, the installation can be decommissioned and rebuilt with ease, and Newman hopes this will enable the structure to be redeployed to another location after its time at the NGV is complete.

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Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman sculpture has been reinstated at the centre of the commission, like the goddess Athena, to whom the Greek temple was dedicated. Image:

Sean Fennessy

The entablature and pediments are made from structural timber box beams, while the columns, each weighing 350 kilograms, are made from glass-reinforced concrete. The architects faced significant structural challenges building above the NGV’s loading dock, requiring they spread the load of the structure evenly across the surface of the Grollo Equiset Garden.
Temple of Boom has been built over the top of the previous commission, using the base of the pink pool from Pond[e]r as a plinth for the temple. Newman said the installation can be seen as commentary for how architecture is constantly evolving and forever building upon its predecessors.
“Conceptually, it’s about the notion of transformation over time of all built form, particularly through the forces of degeneration, regeneration and accretion,” said Newman. “But the utilization of existing form, and by extension, the minimization of demolition, is a key part of our approach to architectural practice.”

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2022 NGV Architecture Commission: Temple of Boom, designed by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang. Image:

Sean Fennessy

The roof of the Parthenon was destroyed in 1687. For Newman, it was important to represent the temple in its existing state, so to represent the complete history of the temple to date.
“The Parthenon is a highly symbolic and culturally, historically, and politically loaded structure, with many stories to tell. We have endeavoured to promote conversations through the commission, about what lessons it may hold for our future.”
The installation has been painted with overlapping large-scale artworks by three local artists, Drez, Manda Lane and David Lee Pereira. A second and third round of artists will also add their flourishes in early 2023.
“The original form of the Parthenon was a highly embellished and colourfully painted edifice, and the artists are working with that notion in mind,” said Newman.

The themes explored by the first three artists include the interactions of the natural and man-made worlds, while gender and sexual identity have been depicted in the potent, yonic symbols of fruit and floral motifs.
Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman sculpture has been reinstated at the centre of the commission, like the goddess Athena, to whom the Greek temple had been dedicated in the fifth century BC.
The installation will also host full program of public events, including music gigs, fashion shows, artistic performances, and more.
Temple of Boom is on display at the NGV International now until August 2023. More

The New South Wales government has launched the state’s newest cultural institution, the Museum of History NSW. The new entity combines NSW State Archives Collection, with the 12 historical properties and collections currently held by Sydney Living Museums. In September 2022, a bill was passed in the NSW parliament for the creation of the Museum […] More

The Australian Institute of Architects’ Victorian Chapter has called for a commitment to higher design standards for apartments ahead of the November state election. Victorian chapter president David Wagner said the Institute is seeking endorsement from both parties on key recommendations from a recent Legislative Assembly inquiry into apartment design standards. “The apartment design decisions […] More

Welsh and Major has won a design excellence competition for a multi-storey industrial warehouse and commercial complex in Sydney’s St Peters.
The site, at Burrows Industrial Estate at 1-3 Burrows Road, is located close to to Port Botany and Sydney Airport. With a 260-metre-long facade, the scale celebrates the “heavy transport and logistics nature of the development,” the architect said.
The competition panel commended the proposal’s “singular curved, sweeping built form and facade” and its “strong contextual response”. The facade will create a “crisp, curved silhouette against the sky” that will also transform into an “illuminated artwork at night”, the design statement read.

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Welsh and Major has designed a commercial and industrial facility in Sydney’s St Peters. Image:

Renders courtesy of Doug and Wolf

Three-storey circular truck ramps will bookend the facility, each topped with a rooftop garden to break up the bulk and scale of the building.
Welsh and Major said the proposal is an emerging typology in Australia, with three levels of warehouse, a seven-storey office building, a cafe, conference rooms, end-of-trip facilities, rooftop gardens and wellness facilities.
“The office building is raised over the truck access and carved away at the rear to create a second curved facade that wraps around the northern ramp,” the design statement read.
“These are large buildings that are an essential part of contemporary life,” said principals Chris Major and David Welsh. “Design excellence, acknowledging and designing for Country, and best practice sustainable initiatives make this an important project for our city.”
The facility for property group Goodman would be powered by a two-megawatt photovoltaic array, enabling a development with net zero embodied carbon. It will target a 5-star Green Star rating and a 5.5 NABERS rating. More

The Architeam annual awards program showcases the best in architecture from Australia’s small, medium and emerging architects. On 18 November, the 2022 award winners were announced as part of the program’s 15th year, coinciding with Architeam’s 30th birthday celebrations.
Spring Bay Mill by Gilby and Brewin Architecture received the program’s top honour with the receipt of the Architeam Medal. The project was also recognized with the Sustainability Medal and as the winner of the awards for Commercial, Community and Public architecture.
Wowowa was also acknowledged in two categories as the winner of the Brickworks Materiality Award for Ponds, and received a commendation in the Commercial, Community and Public category for Hampton Park Secondary College Senior Learning Centre.
The Architeam 2022 awards jury comprised Adam Newman of NWMN (chair), Fiona Dunin of FMD, Will Fung of Coap, Rory Hyde from the Melbourne School of Design, Jennie Officer from Officer Woods, Anthony Gill of Anthony Gill Architects and Amy Muir of Muir.
The winners are:
Architeam Medal
Spring Bay Mill– Gilby and Brewin Architecture
Sustainability Medal
Spring Bay Mill – Gilby and Brewin Architecture
Small Project Medal
Butcher Shop Convert – Tsai Design
People’s Choice Award
Burnley – Sonelo Architects in collaboration with Ample Architecture
Brickworks Materiality Award
Ponds – Wowowa Architecture

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Ponds by Wowowa. Image:

Martina Gemmola

Passive House Scholarship
Passive House Surprise – IOA Studio
Residential New – up to $1 million
Winner
Jan Juc Studio – Eldridge Anderson Architects

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Jan Juc Studio by Eldridge Anderson Architects. Image:

Benjamin Hosking

Commendation
Light Scoop House – Molecule Studio
Burnley – Sonelo Architects, in collaboration with Ample Architecture
Residential New – over $1 million
Winner
West Bend House – MRTN Architects

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West Bend House by MRTN Architects. Image:

Peter Bennetts

Commendations
Bermagui Beach House – Winter Architecture
Bellbird House– Bower Architecture and Interiors
Residential Alts and Adds up to $500,000
Winner
Hawthorn I – Agius Scorpo Architects

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Hawthorn I by Agius Scorpo Architects. Image:

Asa Elgin

Commendation
Arthur – Oscar Sainsbury Architects
Residential Alts and Adds $500,000 to $1 million
Winner
Periscope – Architecture Architecture

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Periscope by Architecture Architecture. Image:

Tom Ross

Commendation
Weather House – Mihaly Slocombe Architects
Residential Alts and Adds over $1 million
Winner
Higham Road House – Philip Stejskal Architecture

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Higham Road House by Philip Stejskal Architecture. Image:

Bo Wong

Commendation
Wakanui Trail House – Ben Callery Architects
Carlton North Residence – Project 12 Architecture
Commercial, Community and Public Award
Winner
Spring Bay Mill– Gilby and Brewin Architecture
Commendation
Cowes Primary School, New Gymnasium – Project 12 Architecture
Hampton Park Secondary College Senior Learning Centre – WOWOWA
Unbuilt Award
M1_The Deck: The Infrastructure Open-Air Museum Park – Fairbank and Lau
Innovation and Contribution Award
Winner
Black Diasporas – Culture as Creative
Commendation
Lost Lands Found Fence – Public Realm Lab More