Architecture

James Hardie has partnered with architecture practice Retallack Thompson to reimagine the Australian home using a new innovation – Hardie Fine Texture Cladding and its supporting range of corner and junction accessories.
Sydney architects Jemima Retallack and Mitchell Thompson were challenged to explore the material and spatial possibilities of Hardie Fine Texture Cladding. The result is Corner House, a conceptual extension of a traditional Federation-era brick bungalow in a typical inner-city Sydney suburb, and a vision that underscores the brand’s ambition to create exceptional cladding solutions for design savvy homeowners.
Embracing distinctive textures, sweeping scale and every inch of space available, Corner House showcases the design potential and impact of using a singular cladding material across the entirety of the extension, creating a new perimeter for the site, reclaiming the edges and underutilized areas of the property as part of the home. With an L-shaped backyard extension paired with a central courtyard garden, Hardie Fine Texture Cladding is proposed to wrap the contemporary living room and galley kitchen as well as establish the perimeter fence. The concept gives a unified expression to both the house and garden wall, suggesting that the interior and exterior realms both contribute to making meaningful living spaces.
“Our ambition was to create something distinctive that suggests a way we could live in a casual way with an intimate connection to the garden,” says Jemima. “The idea of a perimeter wall containing the whole site allows the building and fence to merge, so it suggests the garden might be a place you can spend time in, as much as inside.”
Retallack Thompson treat the garden as a “room” rather than an outdoor space. The scale and privacy of the courtyard garden encourages lively activity and its nature-focused view creates a casual outdoor gathering area.
“The arrival courtyard would act as a cloistered informal garden space that you arrive into via a pathway down the side of the house,” adds Jemima. “We imagine that there’s a park around the corner and people are coming and going and there’s an engagement via the fence with the street and neighbourhood.”
The idea of living in a garden influenced the colour choice for Hardie Fine Texture Cladding on Corner House, with a matt paint in soft grey-green proposed. The natural colour evokes an Australian setting, even in an inner-city suburb. The use of grey-green is also a nod to the vestige eucalypts that characterize many Australian backyards. The singular use of the pre-textured fibre cement cladding showcases its texture and clean lines, while highlighting one of the key design concepts – a bigger awareness of the natural world.
“The cladding has a transcendent quality. It is receptive to changing light across its surface. It darkens with shadows cast by foliage and lightens towards the sky,” explains Jemima.
At close range, the pre-textured finish of Hardie Fine Texture Cladding invites touch, while not visually overwhelming adjacent building materials such as brick.
To minimize waste, Corner House was designed to utilize whole cladding panels. The dimensions of the panels enabled Retallack Thompson to work on a grander scale and also determined the sizes of windows and openings. The large exterior of the extension doubles as a garden wall and features an operable screen, which was enabled by the larger 3600 mm panel size. The living room is sized at two panels high with a monumental corner window, proposed at two panels wide. Labour costs are minimized during construction with only two tradespeople required to lift the cladding panels into place.
“We know it is important to consider how to manage the efficiency and cost of construction. Anything that can expedite that process is good for everyone,” adds Mitchell.
The subtle expression of vertical joints in Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding is designed to bring a legibility of scale and visual rhythm to the architectural form.
“In the past, we have adopted a board-and-batten strategy because we knew it produced a neat detail. In this case, the shiplap joint would give a clean shadow line and there’s no PVC filler,” says Jemima.
The new and architecturally designed slimline corner accessories were created to achieve a mitred corner and create a crisp edge where two panels meet at 90 degrees. The innovation and robust nature of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding means an architectural level of detail and finish can be achieved on any Australian home or backyard extension.
“The product creates an honest outcome with a material that Australian builders are really familiar with. In our experience when construction is made simple, and when care is taken with the material, it is possible to create something really beautiful,” says Mitchell. More

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect has updated its procurement guidelines for state government agencies with the aim of improving design outcomes.
The Government as ‘Smart Client’ guidelines were first released in 2013. The update comes in response to recent changes observed by the OVGA in the procurement of design services, buildings and infrastructure, and the emergence of new models such as program alliances. They are informed by recent projects, including the State Library Victoria Redevelopment and the Level Crossing Removal Project.
The OVGA notes that, since their inception, the guidelines have proved to be beneficial across government, industry and universities in explaining the various procurement methods and the actions required to protect design quality.
The guidelines are not mandatory and do not represent a new layer of process; rather, “they integrate essential design quality measures within the existing planning and delivery framework of government.”
Victorian government architect Jill Garner said the strategies can assist government to be a “smart, informed client” and deliver projects that leave a design legacy.
“Good design does not just happen; it needs processes that support a quality outcome and it needs to be protected throughout all stages of delivery of a project,” she states in the new edition of the document. “The process of procurement of a well-designed building includes starting with a good brief, a design vision that defines performance/outcomes-based principles and the appointment of a skilled, capable, design team.”
The new edition provides updated advice on intellectual property, contracts, probity, post-occupancy evaluation and public–private partnerships.
David Islip, OVGA principal adviser – architecture and urban design, said the updated guidelines provide practical steps to improve procurement capabilities.
“In procuring design services, government needs to recognize that architects’ skills do not rely on how low they can bid; rather they are found in the scope and expertise of their design services,” he said.
“In procuring buildings and infrastructure, government needs to prioritize design quality regardless of the procurement method chosen. If the risks to design quality are understood, all procurement methods can be effective. These guidelines support that intent.”
See the document here. More

Brisbane City Council has granted planning approval to the Archdiocese of Brisbane to build an eight-storey office block next to the historic St Patrick’s Church on Morgan Street, Fortitude Valley. BVN’s design for the office building aims to create a contemporary, flexible and sustainable building with interwoven community, workplace and landscaped realms. “The building has […] More

The state heritage-listed Urrbrae Gatehouse at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Campus will be relocated and rebuilt “brick by brick” to make way for an expanded intersection.
Under plans before South Australia’s State Commission Assessment Panel, the historic building on the outskirts of Adelaide will be moved around 800 metres from its current position to a site near Urrbrae House, the stately home for which it served as the gatehouse. A modern extension, designed by local firm Dash Architects, will also be grafted on to the building.
Having originally proposed to compulsorily acquire and demolish the gatehouse, the state government settled on the plan to rebuild it after a backlash from the community and heritage advocates. The University of Adelaide, which owns the land, was also supportive of retaining the building in the new location.

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Urrbrae Gatehouse redevelopment by Dash Architects.

The planning application notes that the “high heritage value aspects” of the existing gatehouse will be retained as part of the relocation, while a new Welsh slate roof will match the appearance of the original. Stonework and brickwork is to be dismantled by hand to ensure no damage is done. At the rear of the building, the single-storey flat roof rear extension will feature full-height glazing, textured rendered walls and a verandah.
The final internal design layout is to be confirmed, following discussions by the University of Adelaide with the intended users of this facility – the volunteers associated with Urrbrae House and the Waite Arboretum. But at this stage, the proposed floor plan indicates offices and a meeting room in the rebuilt original section and a multi-use space with associated kitchen and toilet facilities.
Heritage SA and the local council support the proposed relocation, but some say the move will diminish the structure’s heritage value. Robert Stone, an associate lecturer in archaeology at Flinders University, told the ABC in February that any relocation would obscure the original purpose of the building. “The gatehouse was the first barrier to going into one of these stately homes, and then the driveway was second because they were never straight,” he said.
“Some are saying it should be shifted near the main house, but then it loses all its significance because the stables and carriage house are near the main house as well and you’ll get the impression this is just a worker’s cottage.”
Pastoralist Peter Waite bequeathed the Urrbrae estate, including the gatehouse, to the University of Adelaide in 1914. More

The most significant update to the National Construction Code in more than a decade will increase the required thermal performance of homes from the current level 6-stars NatHERS to the equivalent of 7 stars, according to a draft update released for public comment.
The National Construction Code (NCC) is updated every three years based on industry research, public feedback and policy directions from government.
The federal and state building ministers directed the Australian Building Codes Board to develop enhanced residential energy efficiency provisions in order to meet commitments made under the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As well as the stringency increase to 7-stars, the proposed changes introduce a “whole-of-home approach,” with an annual energy use budget for the regulated equipment in the home, such as air conditioning, heated water, lighting, swimming pool and spa pumps.
This approach enables trading between the efficiency of the equipment to achieve the annual energy use budget. On-site renewables may also be installed to offset the energy consumption of the equipment, but not the building fabric.
Responding to the proposed changes, Trivess Moore, a senior lecturer at RMIT University’s Sustainable Building Innovation Lab, said the likely increase from 6 to 7 stars was a critical step on the path towards “near zero carbon/energy housing.”
“An increase from 6 to 7 stars would result in an average reduction in energy for heating and cooling of 24 percent across Australia,” he said.
“The performance of new Australian housing is at least 40 percent worse than many other developed countries in similar climate zones. While the move to 7 star will close this gap, there is much more that we could be doing right now.”
“Research undertaken at RMIT University found that more than 80 percent of new housing in Australia is only built to the minimum 6 star standard, with less than 1.5 percent built to the optimal environmental and economic performance of 7.5 stars demonstrating the need to improve minimum regulatory requirements.
“Increasing the minimum star rating alone will not be enough. There is an issue across the industry with performance not matching design outcomes. Any changes to minimum performance requirements must be accompanied by greater accountability in the building industry to deliver improved outcomes.”
The Australian Building Codes Board is conducting consultation in two stages on the proposed changes. The first stage was held between 10 May and 11 July 2021 and the second is open until 17 October. This final stage of consultation seeks feedback on the energy efficiency and condensation technical provisions. More

Submissions are open for the 2022 Melbourne Design Week satellite program, with curators looking for ideas for exhibitions, launches, talks and workshops.
Running over 11 days in March, the 2022 program will further explore the 2021 theme, asking participants to “Design the world you want.”
Under the main theme are two sub-themes – civic good and making good – to provide further inspiration for applicants.
The civic good theme “encourages participants to think beyond the individual, and look to the objects, buildings, designs and services that make people feel part of a community, and importantly, serve the common interest.”
The making good theme, meanwhile, is all about the environmental and social impact of design on the planet. “Whether digital or physical, handmade or manufactured, service, system or object, making good considers the many ways in which ideas and experiments are realized through the lens of ethical and sustainable practices that rethink design processes, production and materials.”
Curation of the Melbourne Design Week program is led by the National Gallery of Victoria’s Department of Contemporary Design and Architecture team, comprising Ewan McEoin, Simone LeAmon and Myf Doughty alongside Timothy Moore, director of Sibling Architecture.
The program is split into two streams: a program of local and international exhibitions and presentations organized by the NGV, and the satellite program of events and exhibitions organized by the design community.
Events already confirmed include the Melbourne Design Week and exhibitions of collectible and limited-edition design by Sydney-based Adam Goodrum and Arthur Seigneur at Tolarno Galleries, and by Adelaide duo Daniel Emma at Sophie Gannon Gallery. The week will also include programming by Open House Melbourne and the NGV Architecture Commission by Taylor Knights with James Carey.
The satellite program includes 90 percent of all events, taking over ateliers, studios, retail spaces, universities, galleries and public spaces throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Event submissions close on 23 September. The NGV is also calling for inviting designers, architects and makers to enter the $20,000, biennial Australian Furniture Design Award 2022, which will be presented as part of Melbourne Design Week. More

A 140-year-old boab tree will become the focal point of a new education and community precinct in Darwin designed by Mode.
The government unveiled the final design for the $250 million project to create a new campus precinct for Charles Darwin University after it received development approval.
The campus will occupy the site of the former Darwin Primary School and Darwin Adult Education Centre, where the heritage-listed tree, believed to have been planted in the 1880s, was a significant landmark.
“We know how special this tree is to the Darwin community – that’s why we’re ensuring it’s front and centre in the next chapter of learning on this historic site,” said professor Scott Bowman, vice-chancellor of Charles Darwin University.

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The proposed Charles Darwin University Education and Community Precinct by Mode.

The form of the campus building responds to the boab tree with a sloping facade that ensures the tree is not overshadowed and has access to the sun.
The layered facade will include louvre screens and external terrace spaces which will protect the building from the tropical heat in Darwin.
The large covered spaces will blur boundaries between inside and outside, as well as integrating the building with community spaces and providing protection from heat and storms.
“Our focus has been on developing a design that delivers a landmark building for Darwin which is climatically responsive, aesthetically appealing, and will be accessible and inviting to both students and the wider community,” said Mode principal and project director Robert McCray.
The building will accommodate a variety of innovative and flexible learning spaces and will house the university’s Asia Pacific College of Business and Law, the College of Indigenous Futures, Education and the Arts, IT teaching and the International College and Art Gallery.
“This new campus will be the jewel in the revitalized Education and Community Precinct,” Bowman said. “Being at the centre of this new precinct will help Charles Darwin University train and educate more Territorians – helping them get the skills and experiences they need to thrive in their local communities.”
The project is the centrepiece of the 10-year, $320 million Darwin City Deal, which is jointly funded by the federal and Northern Territory governments, and Charles Darwin University. Early works have begun and the project is due to be complete at the end of 2023. More

A tapestry design that depicts the geologically “youngest part of Australia” has won the $10,000 international Tapestry Design Prize for Architects. The prize, an initiative of the Australian Tapestry Workshop, invited architects from around the world to design a hypothetical tapestry for one of three sites within Phoenix Central Park, the arts venue designed by […] More