Architecture

Australia’s exhibition for the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale will be shown in Australia for the first time due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The work titled Inbetween presents a series of architectural projects and processes that curators Jefa Greenaway and Tristan Wong selected for their representations of Indigenous and First Nations peoples and cultures.
“What we’re looking at through the exhibition is how architects, both non-Indigenous and Indigenous, are working with First Nations peoples – traditional owners, knowledge keepers and elders – as a way of embedding cultural authenticity into our built environment,” said Jefa Greenaway.
Originally conceived for exhibition in Australia’s pavilion at the Giardini in Venice, the work has been reimagined as an immersive, large-scale video.
“The film creates an immersive experience that engages the senses so it’s not simply about the visuals but also the connection to soundscapes and the hearing of language, creating a visceral connection to Country,” said Jefa Greenaway.
“In the international realm there are still stereotypes around how people understand Australia so we wanted to demonstrate richness and diversity – the different contexts and landscapes that exist in Australia, and more broadly in our region, and how architecture responds to that.”
“The film choreographs the journey that people go on when creating architecture that is informed by Country. At the moment everyone is going through their own learning journey and there are different levels of cultural intelligence but ultimately it’s when you work in partnership with First Nations voices that you start to have meaningful conversations and the outcome is richer as a result.”

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Inbetween, Australia’s exhibition for the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale curated by Jefa Greenaway and Tristan Wong. Image:

Aaron Puls

The film includes 20 projects in remote, regional and metropolitan locations across all states and territories in Australia as well as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
It presents insights into how architects are creating new protocols for better design outcomes through meaningful co-design processes.
Tristan Wong said, “This project isn’t a collection of artefacts; it’s forward looking and presents the innovative potential in learning from Indigenous methods and ideas. Embedding practices and knowledge that has been around for more than 60000 years into the way we design buildings creates opportunities for a new kind of architecture that is better for people, cities and the environment.”

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Inbetween, Australia’s exhibition for the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale curated by Jefa Greenaway and Tristan Wong. Image:

Aaron Puls

Inbetween premieres in Melbourne at Housemuseum Galleries on 20 May and will be exhibited at satellite events across Australia and also made available for exhibition across the region.
Over in Venice at the main exhibition curated by Hashim Sarkis, 114 participants from 46 countries have been invited to respond to the theme of How will we live together.
The works are organized into five scales which are exhibited at various locations including the Arsenale, Giardini and Central Pavilion.
Australian architects Guillermo Fernández-Abascal and Urtzi Grau are exhibiting as part of the “As Emerging Communities” collection of exterior interventions at the Giardini. Their installation explores forms of air pollution the use of the mask as a “portable form of architecture.”
Australian artist and self-described “body architect” Lucy McRae is participating in the “Among Diverse Beings” collection of installations and landscape architect Richard Weller is exhibiting in “As One Planet.” More

A 16-storey “Health Translation Hub” will be built in Sydney’s east, aiming to encourage greater connection between healthcare delivery and research.­
Architectus and Aspect Studios have designed the facility, for which a development application has been submitted to the NSW planning department.
The Health Translation Hub, to be located at the nexus of the University New South Wales’ Kensington Campus meets the Randwick Hospitals Campus, will bring tother centralized teaching and learning facilities, event and exhibition Space, publicly accessible clinical services, clinical schools, research and innovation facilities ­­­and workplaces accommodating health-related administrative functions and research.
It will be physically connected with the new Sydney Children’s Hospital via a skybridge.

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Narrative Graphics

“As well as improving health services to our local communities, the seamless physical and working integration between the hospitals and this new Health Translation Hub will enable us to compete at the forefront of health research and education internationally,” said UNSW vice chancellor Ian Jacobs. “That in turn will attract more outstanding clinicians, health professionals and academics to the precinct, drive better healthcare, research and outcomes for patients and generate economic benefits for the community.”
In planning documents, Architectus and Aspect Studios describe how the activated and permeable ground plane responds to the specific site conditions by integrating an Indigenous interpretation of history and culture of the site into a multi-layered landscape design.

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Health Translation Hub by Architectus. Image:

Narrative Graphics

“The proposed endemic local plant species gives expression to the medicinal qualities of native flora, while creating a landscape experience of discovery and education,” the design statement reads.
“Through-site links connect the perimeter street and public transportation network with the activities of the UNSW campus and Randwick Health Precinct.
“A slender vertical building core is positioned to optimise permeability with Botany and High streets while respecting visual adjacency to the proposed Sydney Children’s Hospital.”
The building will be designed to be flexible in terms of future use, with strategically placed columns allowing for the strategic organization of floorplates on the ground levels.
“Above ground, the tower form provides a highly flexible floorplate, that can cater to a diversity of tenancy options and most importantly adapt to the multiple programs inclusive of education, workplace, and dry research laboratories.”

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Health Translation Hub by Architectus. Image:

Narrative Graphics

The tower form itself has been designed with a distinctive envelope addresses solar exposure while optimising views.
The façade system includes projecting shading hoods, double-glazed units and insulated panels which are scaled and position to “visually de-materialize” the building form.
“The collective composition of these shading elements gives architectural interpretation to a landscape characterised by its wind driven sands – evocatively identified as ‘the barren sands of Sydney’,” the design statement reads.
The state-significant development application is on public exhibit until 15 June. More

A military asset reimagined as a community space, a park that brings together Aboriginal and natural heritage and the conservation of a variety of buildings and landscapes have been recognized in the 27th National Trust Heritage Awards for NSW.
Presented at the heritage-listed Doltone House in Pyrmont on 14 May, the awards recognize projects, initiatives and individuals that demonstrate excellence in the conservation, protection, and interpretation of Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage.
Debbie Mills, CEO of the National Trust (NSW) said, “COVID-19 brought a challenge to everyone working in heritage for 2020 and the early months of 2021, and what the National Trust Heritage Awards has revealed is that heritage has endured, emerged resilient and continues to demonstrate its importance to the people of New South Wales.”
Winning the Adaptive Re-use category was Sub Base Platypus by Lahznimmo Architects, the large-scale revitalization of the former submarine base that incorporates new urban parkland and the adaptive re-use of buildings, for commercial and public uses.
Leagues Club Park, a nature-inspired regional play space in central Gosford delivered by the Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation won the Aboriginal Heritage and Judges’ choice award. The judges said it “demonstrates the positive impact of co-design and brings Aboriginal heritage, natural heritage, community, play and joy together in a landmark site for the Central Coast in New South Wales.”
Architect Matthew Devine was chair of the jury, which comprised Phil Bennett, Noni Boyd, David Burdon, Miranda Firman, Siobhan Lavelle, Lisa Newell and Saneia Norton.
Aboriginal Heritage
Leagues Club Park, Gosford – entered by Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation
Adaptive Re-use
Sub Base Platypus – entered by Lahznimmo Architects
Advocacy
The Conservation of the Mulgoa Valley as a cultural landscape – entered by the Friends of Fernhill and Mulgoa Valley Incorporated
Conservation: Built Heritage
The Restoration of Cathedral of St Michael and St John, Bathurst – entered by the Cathedral of St Michael and St John, Bathurst
Shell House, Sydney – entered by Adriel Consultancy
The Greenway Window Conservation and Upgrade Product at the Greenway Building in Milsons Point – entered by Land and Housing Corporation and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Conservation: Interiors and Objects
The Restoration of the Historic 1890 William Hill and Son Organ in the Hunter Baille Memorial Presbyterian Church in Annandale – entered by Ralph Lane
Conservation: Landscape
Spains Wharf, Kurraba Point – entered by Aspire Stone Masonry
Continuing Tradition
The George Proudman Fellowship Program – entered by Ministers Stonework Program
Education and Interpretation
Fairbridge Children’s Park, Molong – entered by Clouston Associates
Heritage Events, Exhibitions and Tours
Fragile Beauty, Rich and Rare – entered by Pamela Pauline Photography
Carrington Road Industrial Marrickville – entered by Louisa King and Ali Wright
Heritage Resources and Publications
Designing a Legacy – entered by Tim Ross, Modernister Films and Production Group
The Judges’ Choice Award
Leagues Club Park, Gosford – entered by Hunter Central Coast Development More

Next Level Elevators are early adopters when it comes to fully electric lifts in the residential space, having imported Italian electric lifts purpose-built for the Australian market for almost 10 years now. Directors Daniel Mawson and Damien Boyle say their aim is to provide a superior and more sustainable option than hydraulic elevators, which have […] More

A $208 million office tower in Melbourne’s Southbank, designed by Fender Katsalidis, has been recommended for approval by the planning officers of City of Melbourne. The proposed building at 3 Southgate Avenue would reach 26 storeys and include podium-level food and beverage tenancies, pedestrian links to the Melbourne Arts Precinct and a 2,000-sqaure-metre privately owned, […] More

The University of Tasmania will consolidate its Hobart campus in the heart of the city over the next decade, moving away from Sandy Bay, according to a preliminary urban design framework published this week.
Envisioning a “vibrant, contemporary campus which blends university and city life,” the Southern Campus Transformation framework was developed by the university with Gensler and Realm, with contributions from Leigh Woolley. It organizes the campus into five interconnected precincts.
The West End precinct, between Brisbane and Melville streets, will be home to engineering and technology. Straddling Elizabeth Street, Midtown will be the largest precinct, with the faculties of sciences, humanities, law, business, economics and the Riawunna Centre for Aboriginal Education, along with the library, student centre, university club and college and administration buildings.
Domain, next to the Queens Domain Parklands, was the original home of the university, and it will once again become the “the soul of the campus” with shared spaces for the university and Hobart communities along with nursing, psychology and pharmacy facilities.
The existing Medical Precinct will be strengthened with a new allied health clinic to be established in the former Theatre Royal Hotel and in the Wapping precinct the Hunter Street Creative Arts building will be retained and refurbished as the home of Creative Arts and Education.

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The Domain is the historic home of the university.

Vice chancellor Rufus Black told The Mercury the move would make the university more accessible for the community.
“For the average person in Hobart, this produces a city with a whole new set of civic spaces, of parks they can access, of community facilities they can access, from libraries to facilities the community can access,” he said.
The university is also hopeful that the plans could be a catalyst for improved transport options in the city, potentially reigniting calls for a light rail link to the northern suburbs.
“We’d like to see a dedicated, high-frequency, high-capacity transport corridor and we really need to get going with it,” he said.
“The university alone has more than 1, 500 students who live in that corridor.
“There are many others who would benefit from that kind of transport link.”
The University of Tasmania has been busy expanding and redeveloping its campus assets in recent years, with two new buildings being built at its Inveresk campus in Launceston as part of a wider $344 million redevelopment, as well as a new building at the Cradle Coast campus, all designed by John Wardle Architects led teams.
The university has not revealed the architect behind the Southern Campus urban framework, and did not respond to enquiries in time for publication. More

The first concept images of the new Sydney Children’s Hospital and Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Randwick have been released. Billard Leece Partnership prepared the concept plans for the $608 million hospital, which will be built in the University of New South Wales’ Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct and will include medical research and education facilities. State […] More

A 29-storey hotel and apartment tower designed by Elenberg Fraser would “complete the southern entrance to Fortitude Valley,” according to a planning proposal before Brisbane council. The 388 Brunswick Street tower would house 156 hotel rooms from level one through 11 and 120 one-to-two-bedroom apartments from levels 13 to 24. The upper two levels would […] More