Architecture

A replica of an Ancient Greek temple that doubles as a canvas for street art and a performance venue has been selected as the National Gallery of Victoria’s architectural commission for 2022.
Temple of Boom, by Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang of Melbourne practice NWMN, is an “evocative reimagining of the Parthenon” on the Acropolis in Athens, a spokesperson for the gallery said.
The commission was selected from a shortlist of five submissions. Its reference to the Parthenon as the “apex symbol of Western civilisation, democracy and perfection” intends to transcend time, using the classical iconography of the 2,000-old structure in a new and surprising context, layered with contemporary significance.
The scale model of the Parthenon will be overlayed with artworks by Melbourne-based street artists.

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Designs for “Temple of Boom”, recipient of the 2022 NGV Architecture Commission. Image:

Adam Newman and Kelvin Tsang, NWMN

The purpose of the NGV’s architecture commission is to invite audiences to reflect on the impact of time on architecture, and consider the layers of geographical forces that shape and layer our cities.
Temple of Boom takes its name from vibrations generated from music and is envisioned to become a meeting place and outdoor venue for live performances, programs and music during the summer season.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos celebrated the design as a project “close to [his] heart”, as a platform offering a place to meet, connect, reflect and engage, while showcasing “Victorian design excellence”.
NGV director Tony Ellwood said Temple of Boom invites audiences “to consider how we create and imbue architecture with meaning, as well as how this meaning can shift across time periods and cultures.”
The 2022 NGV Architecture Commission will be on display from 16 November at the NGV International. Entry will be free. More

Powerhouse Museum has announced the program for Sydney Design Week 2022: a seven-day program of exhibitions, talks, films and workshops held across the city’s design hubs from 15 until 22 September. Curated by Stephen Todd, the 2022 program themed “Making Now” celebrates designers who are “defining the cultural moment in Sydney and around the world.” […] More

Plans have been submitted to the City of Yarra for a $350 million, 14 storey office project at 484-488 Swan Street, designed by Cox Architecture, in the Melbourne suburb of Burnley. According to the developer, the building will be carbon-neutral once operational, targeting a 5.5 Nabers rating and a 6-Star Greenstar energy rating. “484 Swan […] More

The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has announced the winners of the Designers Australia Awards and Graduates of the Year Awards for 2022.
The Designers Australia Awards recognized preeminent designers and studios, calling attention to the individuals and their distinguished design processes as much as the outcome. Entries were assessed across three interdisciplinary categories – “place”, “use” and “interact” – and broke away from traditional category distinctions.
The DIA said the awards are an “industry first” in emphasizing the designers and their process as much as the outcome, to recognize the “most nuanced design thinking” across the three categories.
Three national winners were selected from a shortlist of 82 designers along with a president’s award and 45 merit awards. The highest design accolades were awarded to Cobalt Design for the “use” category, Culture as Creative for “interact”, Kennedy Nolan for “place”, and Ros and John Moriarty received the the President’s Award.
Place – category winner
Always ­– Kennedy Nolan
The jury said that this project was identified for its “exemplary approach focusing on sensitive and holistic design methodology that combines the inside and outside seamlessly”. The architects were acknowledged for their “sensitive and reflective” material selection, connecting with landscape, architecture, surrounds and history.
Use – category winner
Cobalt Mag Assist VAD heat pump ­– Cobalt Design
The jury praised this project for its “rigorous, intelligent and valuable interdisciplinary design” and the designers’ exploration of the concept that translated into “life-saving outcomes”. The first of its kind, Cobalt’s device provides blood flow to supplement or replace heart function via surgically inserted inflow and outflow cannulas.
Interact – category winner
Say it Loud – Culture as Creative, Sandra Githinji Studio and Beyond the Built Environment
The Say it Loud exhibition, held in Naarm Melbourne 2022, was recognized for its “circular design approach” informed by investigation, understanding, assessment and interaction. The jury stated the exhibition represented strong cross-disciplinary collaboration through partnerships and society, encouraging design debate and access to vital information.
President’s Award recipient
Ros and John Moriarty, founders of Balarinji, were applauded for their unique approach toward collaboration and inclusivity, respectful design processes, and overall enduring commitment to the profession over the years.
To view the full list of winning recipients and the Awards of Merit, visit the DIA website.

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The DIA has announced its Graduates of the Year Awards. Image:

Courtesy of the Design Institute of Australia

The DIA also announced the winners for the Graduates of the Year Awards – its flagship program for recognizing emerging designers. From 181 ambitious nominations and 27 state winners, eight young designers have been awarded the prestigious prize, with one student also named the Madeleine Lester Award recipient.
The jury said this critical program brings together Australia’s best emergent designers and connects them to the most respected educators and designers from leading practices. DIA chief executive Jo-Ann Kellock said this years graduates proposed “human-centred design solutions with a focus on wellbeing”, incorporating natural materials with an emphasis on sustainability.
Madeline Lester Award
Kirsteen James, Queensland University of Technology
Australian Textile Design Graduate of the Year
Emma Daley, North Metropolitan TAFE
Australian Furniture Design Graduate of the Year
Alexei Todd, RMIT University
Australian Fashion Design Graduate of the Year
Maddison Robinson, University of Technology Sydney
Australian Interior Decoration Graduate of the Year
Lauren Coleman, TAFE NSW Design Centre Enmore
Australian Interior Design Graduate of the Year
Kirsteen James, Queensland University of Technology
Australian Jewellery Design Graduate of the Year
Lorissa Toweel, Queensland College of Art Griffith University
Australian Industrial / Product Design Graduate of the Year
Dorcas Chu, UNSW
Australian Visual Communication Design Graduate of the Year
Michael Smith, Swinburne University of Technology
To view the list of winners for state graduates of the year, visit the DIA website. More

The Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) is calling for entries to its 2022 AGDA Design Awards, which recognize the creative best work in Australia across a range of design disciplines. The program is aimed at furthering design discussion and stimulating creative progress across the industry and recognizes all talent, from students through to established leaders […] More

Popular international design blog Dezeen has announced the long list for the interiors category of its 2022 awards. More than 20 Australian entries are among the 280 long-listed projects across 11 categories. The long-listed projects will progress to the next stage of judging by esteemed international designers including Australians Kelvin Ho of Akin Atelier and […] More

A $1 billion development at 435 Bourke Street has been approved by the Victoria’s planning department.
Designed by Bates Smart, the 48-level building will feature a “solar skin” facade, from which it will generate energy for 20 percent of its base electrical requirements.
To be made from vertical glass photovoltaic panels, the solar skin is designed to capture sunlight and convert the energy into electricity. The innovative skin can also let natural light in, providing the same thermal and insulation capacities as architectural glass.
“People working in the building will be able to look out the window and see where their energy comes from,” said Bates Smart director Cian Davis. “This collected energy coupled with all-electric operations will help the tower save 430 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.”
The remainder of the building’s energy needs will be sourced from offsite renewable sources. Davis also said the building will reduce its embodied carbon by almost a third through the use of “finely tuned” materials.

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A $1 billion development at 435 Bourke Street has been given the green light by the Victorian Department of Planning. Image:

Bates Smart

A modified development application for the tower was submitted to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning late 2021, after updates were made to the design that was previously approved in January 2020.
The modified application was for 60,000 square metres of commercial office space across 48 levels, with 1,300 square metres of retail space, 116 car parks, a sky garden and several landscaped terraces. The design was purportedly altered to respond to the shifting workplace demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The structure has also been modified to support a “diverse ecology of workplaces” featuring greater outdoor connection, an enhanced focus on wellness and productivity, and more engagement with the community. According to the developer, the sky garden, ground plane and mixed-mode terraces were the “key focuses” of the new submission, providing diverse and naturally ventilated extensions to traditional workspaces. More

PTW Architects has designed a 61-storey tower for Parramatta in Western Sydney, inspired by the area’s Indigenous history.
Located at 12 Hassall Street, the 61-storey mixed-use building comprises five levels of basement car parking; a four-storey podium providing commercial floor space and residential amenities; and a residential tower from levels five to 59, accommodating 391 build-to-rent apartments.
“In contrast to most neighbouring buildings, this tower is intended to be both tall and narrow, contributing an elegant vertical tower to the city precinct,” the architect said in the design report.
“Its materiality reflects the natural tones of Parramatta’s rich Indigenous history and flora. It is intended to contrast with predominantly glazed/white buildings in the Parramatta CBD.”
The practice won a design excellence competition for the project with design concept for the tower evolved from references to kangaroo grass, eel traps and scar trees. “The scheme had a strong indigenous concept that was well executed,” said the jury.

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Plans for a 61-storey mixed-use building have been lodged with the NSW Planning Portal. Image:

PTW Architects

PTW Architects said the lower podium levels have been designed to maximise street activation and encourage pedestrian activity.
“The tower form is articulated into four quadrants with deep central indentations on all facades,” the report read. “The south facade consists of a strong weave like cladding with a vertical emphasis and an ochre colour scheme. The north facade is characterized by dominant horizontal elements, a uniform colour palette and a subtle transition from base to apex.”
Resident amenities would include flexible private dining rooms in the podium levels, and the rooftop will cater for entertainment spaces and a pool.
The developer acquired the 2,050-square-metre site for an estimated $70 million last year. According to the urban design report, the developer expects an additional 900,000 residents for Western Sydney within the next 20 years, making additional residential properties necessary investment.
The building, if realised, is estimated to have an end value of $450 million. More