Architecture

A survey of the Australian Institute of Architects members has found the majority of architects consider climate change and emissions reduction a crucial issue in the upcoming federal election. “This is our decisive decade when our choices will determine the fate of future societies. Australia has to act with future generations in mind,” said the […] More

A 49-storey twisting office tower designed by Danish practice 3XN and executive architect BVN has been completed in Sydney’s Circular Quay. Described as “jenga-like” by the architects, the tower design comprise five volumes, each stacked slightly askew on top of each other, which seeks to break down the scale of the building into five more […] More

The NSW government has opened a new flagship campus for plant science at the Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan, south west of Sydney.
Designed by Architectus in collaboration with Richard Leplastrier and landscape architect Craig Burton, the $60 million National Herbarium of New South Wales has been built for the preservation of more than one million plant species, previously held in the Robert Brown Building at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.

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The six rammed earth vaults of the Herbarium protect the collection from extreme weather events, including bushfires. Image: Architectus

The design concept for the building is inspired by the protective casings that surround seed pods. Just as s pod’s hard shell protects the seeds inside, the six rammed earth vaults of the Herbarium protect the collection from extreme weather events, including bushfires. It also has multiple layers of protection with an internal insulated box that provides precisely controlled climate and quarantine conditions to safeguard the specimens from insects and degradation.
Above the vaults, a 36-metre long “fly roof” shades the facility and external terraces for visitors. It also supports an array of solar panels that generate energy for the facility and collects rain water for irrigation.

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A 36-metre long “fly roof” shades the facility and external terraces for visitors. It also supports solar energy generation and rain water collection. Image: Architectus

“The Herbarium is an environmentally remarkable project as plants are central to our planet’s habitability and sustainability.” said Luke Johnson, principal of Architectus. “The research and visitor interaction with the facility’s extensive botanical collection will open the door for positive environmental and societal outcomes well into the future.”
Architectus collaboratively designed the work spaces with the staff at the Australian Institute of Botanical Science to create a well-lit, open plan office that connects to the surrounding gardens. The opening of the Herbarium also coincided with first anniversary of the institute.

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Architectus collaboratively designed the work spaces with the staff at the Australian Institute of Botanical Science to create a well-lit, open plan office. Image:

Brett Boardman

The Herbarium joins the Australian Plant Bank at Mount Annan, designed by BVN, as part of the Australian Institute of Botanical Science and its extensive Living Collection of native plants specimens.
“Herbarium specimens are essential for informing decisions about the conservation of our natural environment and the new state-of-the-art facilities will help our world-class experts better utilise the collection to lead vital plant science and research on a local, national and global scale,” said Denise Ora, chief executive of Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. More

Entries are now open for Australia’s longest running competition for emerging designers. For 19 years, the Vivid Design Awards has endeavoured to unearth the newest talents across furniture, lighting and object design. The award has helped to kickstart the careers of many prominent Australian designers, including Nicole Monks, Edward Linacre, Adam Markowitz and Dale Hardiman. […] More

Since James Walsh won the 2020 Australian Furniture Design Award, the spotlight has been shining brightly on his studio practice. The Sydney-based furniture and industrial designer, who graduated from RMIT University in 2017, is daring in his materials-focused approach and commitment to process-driven outcomes. “It’s about finding a clean balance between natural materials and old and new processes to produce original, exciting objects,” he says. “And while testing ideas and learning by doing is often the most unpredictable part of the design process, it’s also the most thrilling.”

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For the legs of the Anthropic Bench, James modified the raw materials used in rammed earth to incorporate recycled glass. Image:

Courtesy James Walsh

His award-winning Anthropic Bench not only blew the judges away with its intelligent assembly, it also stands as testament to his mastery. Using a combination of rammed earth and recycled glass filings, James handmade the robust form’s legs and finished it off with a solid timber top that sits in place without fasteners or adhesive. It’s an exquisite study in refined detailing and perfectly highlights his rigorous approach, which in this case reimagines an ancient technique with sustainability front of mind.
The bench may be one of his more ambitious pieces, but his smaller objects are no less adventurous. Spaghetti Bowl, for example, is handmade using a grout-based caulking gun, lending each finished vessel a unique appearance, while the Igneous Wall Light (in collaboration with designer Ash Allen) was developed through the re-forming of volcanic rock. James didn’t even do an initial sketch, let alone try to predict how the light would turn out. Rather, he allowed the material to guide the outcome: a slim, circular form with striking natural patterning.

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The Igneous Wall Light, designed in collaboration with Ash Allen, is made from waste material generated in bluestone re-forming. Image:

Courtesy James Walsh

Every one of James’s designs, regardless of scale, has a distinct architectural sensibility to it. Strong angles, curves and lines characterize his portfolio and imbue his pieces with a conceptual resolve that acknowledges past traditions, while revelling in a very contemporary aesthetic. Unsurprisingly, James finds inspiration in nature too. As he explains, “So much can be learnt and so much enjoyment can be felt from simply sitting in a natural environment and reflecting.” In regard to other designers, he’s inspired by those with an arts-based approach, such as Max Lamb, Formafantasma and Maarten De Ceulaer, and admires the work of studios like Form Us With Love.
As part of his Australian Furniture Design Award win, James is currently developing a new design for production and distribution. He continues to work as an industrial designer at Vert Design and is participating in upcoming group exhibitions as well. If his recent success is any indication of what the next year holds, then James is in for quite a ride and all expectations surrounding his new work are entirely justified. More

Bates Smart has won a design excellence competition for a 57-storey commercial tower in Parramatta. To be named Burramatta Place, the proposed tower at 87-91 George Street will take its cues from designing with Country principles as well as the colonial architecture of a neighbouring building. “Our design for Burramatta Place carefully considers its place […] More

The Ballarat Base Hospital will be getting two new entrances as part of its $541.6 million redevelopment, with the main entryway relocating from its former Drummond Street position. State MP Jaala Pulford just released designs for a new main entry on 13 April, which will relocate from Drummond Street to a new Sturt Street location. […] More