Architecture

The 2024 Open House Melbourne Weekend encourages Victorians to rediscover their city – all the places they never knew existed and all the homes they’ve always been curious to step inside.
This year’s program will host more than 170 experiences between 27 and 28 July. As always the weekend will include visits to spaces not normally open to the general public and captivating buildings, both new and old.

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The Koorie Heritage Trust by Lyons, Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates. Image: Supplied

Some program highlights include Naarm Ngarrgu Library by Six Degrees Architects; the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art by Wood Marsh; the Koorie Heritage Trust by Lyons, Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates; a forest land artwork by Agnes Denes at a water treatment facility not open to the public; 116 Rokeby, an 11-storey commercial tower designed by Carr; the Melbourne Holocaust Museum by Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA), and a walk-through of the forthcoming Greenline project with the design team: TCL and Aspect Studios.
In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the beloved Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, designed by Silver Thomas Hanley, Design Inc and McBride Charles Ryan, a special behind-the-scenes tour of the building will be held.

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The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, designed by Silver Thomas Hanley, DesignInc and McBride Charles Ryan. Image: Supplied

The doors to well-designed homes of all typologies and ages will also be unlocked. Some residences set to throw open their doors include Wildwood House by Robin Boyd, which has never before been open to the public; Armadale House by Neeson Murcutt Neille; Living Around a Courtyard by Rush Wright Associates; Nightingale Preston by Nightingale Housing, and four multi-residential projects in Fitzroy, designed by KTA.
Tania Davidge, the executive director and chief curator of Open House Melbourne, said that this year’s theme, Rediscover your City, is designed to prompt Victorians to see Melbourne in a new light.
“Open House Melbourne Weekend is a chance for the curious at heart and lovers of architecture to discover new places and spaces in their city, to re-examine what they have perhaps overlooked and reconnect with beloved favourites. This year, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Victorian Heritage Register, an important milestone for the many significant places and objects protected by the register, many of which are in this year’s program,” said Davidge.
“Open House Melbourne’s 2024 program of events, talks and tours underscore the importance of good design in shaping our community, with some of the country’s most celebrated designers and architects, photographers and artists generously sharing their knowledge.”
Other experiences on the bill include a Designing with a Country panel presented by Yulendj Weelam Design Research Lab from RMIT’s School of Architecture and Urban Design, a documentary screening about the life and career of Australian architecture Gold Medalist Maggie Edmond, and a heritage address by esteemed architectural photographer John Gollings.
Approximately 60,000 people are anticipated to attend the weekend. The full program is now on the Open House Melbourne website. Tickets will be released on 3 and 6 July. More

The winning consortium for the design of the new Suttons Beach Public Space on Queensland’s Redcliffe Peninsula has been announced, following a national two-stage competition.
After its launch in October 2023, the competition – commissioned by City of Moreton Bay and overseen by Citylab – received more than 116 expressions of interest. Twenty five of those nominations progressed to stage one, with three shortlisted.
A proposal by Lahznimmo Architects with Plummer and Smith was unanimously selected by a jury comprising Amy Degenhart (the Australian Institute of Architects Queensland chapter president), Graham Burrows (director of Jackson Clements Burrows), Leah Lang (Queensland Government Architect), Nathalie Ward (director of Lat Studios), and Paul Cunningham (client project director at Moreton Bay City Council).
Lahznimmo Architects director Annabel Lahz said they wanted to create a contemporary pavilion that was not only responsive to its context but acknowledged the history of Suttons Beach, as well as the social and cultural significance of the site for the community.

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A key design driver was to create a diverse range of spaces for the public to gather in. Image:

Lahznimmo Architects with Plummer and Smith

“Our response has been to use the new pavilion to stitch together a legible pedestrian network with enhanced accessible paths around the site and up to Marine Parade. The architecture of the pavilion through the use of a two storey colonnade, reinforces these new pathway connections, drawing park users through and around the building,” Lahz said.
“Another key design driver was to create a diverse range of spaces for the public to gather in: from the upper rooftop deck with views over the park and bay to covered seating in the colonnade and landscape as well as in the new rotunda.
“Whilst we appreciated the significance that the original art deco pavilion had for the community, we didn’t want to just replicate what was already there. Instead our design takes some clues from the original pavilion’s expression such as its curved corners, strong horizontal lines and concrete roof deck and integrates these into a contemporary beach pavilion.”
The winning proposal is designed to be versatile with options for sheltered seating, seating open to the elements and public areas that could accommodate events or temporary art installations. Plans show the heritage stairs located on the site have been transformed into a prominent feature, with the introduction of a vibrant flower bed and connections to a new public deck on the upper level of the pavilion that offers views of the bay and surrounding parklands.

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Queensland Government Architect Leah Lang said the winning design features “a joyful interpretation of the much-loved existing rotunda.” Image:

Lahznimmo Architects with Plummer and Smith

Queensland Government Architect Leah Lang said the winning design demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the historical and cultural significance of the site, which was integrated in both the architectural and landscape design. “They sought to revitalise the space by bolstering commercial viability, accessibility, social connections, and a versatile landscape design for everyday activities and events,” she said.
“The reverse rotunda concept was inspiring and is a joyful interpretation of the much-loved existing rotunda providing a valuable space within the landscape that is welcoming and increases accessibility,” Lang said. More

Contemporary Scandinavian design brand Bolia has marked its Australian debut with the unveiling of its first store in Melbourne’s Richmond.
The new store features a creative space called the Design Atelier, where clients can receive personalised guidance on selecting materials, textures and colours for custom and bespoke furniture pieces. Curated mood boards, material samples and lookbooks stored within the Design Atelier provide clients with access to ideas and inspiration and enables them to visualise a space.
Bolia is a Danish design company with a global presence. The company operates 88 stores across 12 countries. Despite its prominent presence, the brand remains dedicated to positioning sustainability at the core of its values and operations. This commitment involves striving for a reduced environmental footprint and embodying the principles of a responsible business. Bolia is committed to creating quality products that last, with the design house offering a 10-year warranty on their pieces – a move they say encourages consumers to “buy less, but better.”

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The new store features a creative space called the Design Atelier, where clients can receive personalised guidance on selecting materials and colours for custom and bespoke furniture pieces. Image: Supplied

Beyond sustainability, the brand prioritises collaboration and designer diversity. “At Bolia, we believe that fresh perspectives pave the way for change, and that creativity thrives on diversity, curiosity, openness, and collaboration. This is why our design collective includes more than 60 talented designers, from 19 countries around the world – all with a shared passion for sustainable ideas and New Scandinavian Design,” said Bolia CEO Lars Lyse Hansen.
Although Bolia is new to the Australian market, the brand already has strong ties to Australian design. Emily Broom, an Australian designer based in Copenhagen, clinched the Bolia Design Award in 2020 for her design, the Zen rug. This successful outcome led to two collaborative design series being produced by Broom and Bolia – both series are now featured as part of the collection.
“We can’t wait to share our passion for timeless, long-lasting design with Australian customers, and to give them a warm welcome to our creative universe,” said Hansen.
Bolia’s collection comprises both indoor and outdoor settings and objects. Their first Australian store is now open at 620 Church St, Richmond. To find out more about the brand and its collection, visit the Bolia website. More

Concept designs for the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka have been unveiled. The pavilion, designed by Buchan, revolves around the theme Chasing the Sun. The pavilion is inspired by Australia’s many varieties of eucalyptus trees and their flowering blossoms. The design team envisioned the eucalyptus tree as a symbol of the diversity and dynamism […] More

An international ideas competition has launched, inviting emerging architects to reimagine ten blind walls across ten districts in Barcelona, Spain.
The competition, initiated by UNESCO and the International Union of Architects, is the first step in improving the quality of public spaces in Barcelona before the city hosts the World Capital of Architecture event in 2026.
Barcelona City Council, through the Municipal Institute of Urban Landscape and Quality of Life (IMPU), has counted some 6,000 walls with a strong presence in the city’s public spaces. Of these, 348 are permanent and have a surface area of more than 100 square metres.
The competition objective is to enhance the visual appeal of ten permanent blank walls (one from each district) by transforming them into engaging facades. The contest invites architectural proposals that give meaning to walls that stand within exposed public spaces, yet have no outstanding features. Ideas that propose improving urban quality, habitability, sustainability and biodiversity will be seen as favourable.
The outcome of the competition will see the winning proposals implemented on ten permanent walls from each district. Based on current planning regulations, these public-facing walls will not be removed or obscured by other buildings. An approximate budget of €4.5 million will be contributed by the Barcelona City Council for the implementation of proposals.
Submitted proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria:

Urban quality: improving the urban landscape by activating ground floors with new access points, and addressing neglected corners or areas prone to misuse.
Habitability: enhancing the quality of life of residents by opening windows and balconies.
Sustainability: incorporating thermal insulation or other energy efficient strategies to increase comfort and improve the energy performance of buildings.
Biodiversity: introducing more greenery or establishing new habitats to protect fauna.

The competition is aimed at emerging architects, applicants must be under 35 years of age to be eligible. Participants with an architecture degree from any country will be considered.
A winning proposal, a second place and a third place will be announced for each site. The competition has a total prize pool of €52,500 (A$84,547).
Entries can be submitted until 5 August 2024, with winners expected to be announced on 25 September. The aim is for the dividing walls to be unveiled in 2026, as part of the World Capital of Architecture festivities. More

As Australia’s design media hub for over a decade, ArchitectureAu is an essential website for industry news, insight, inspiration and education. But we all need a makeover from time to time – and we’re excited to soon be revealing our new-look website that more accurately reflects the freshness and unwavering quality of our content. The […] More

The National Gallery of Australia in Kamberri/Canberra has announced that five design consortia have been shortlisted in its National Sculpture Garden Design Competition, with each team now progressing to the competition’s final stage. The five shortlisted teams are: CO-AP (NSW): comprising First Nations consultant Bradley Mapiva Brown (Bagariin Ngunnawal Cultural Consulting), landscape architect Johnny Ellice-Flint […] More

Kaolin Porcelain Surfaces and award-winning Australian designer Greg Natale have launched a collaborative collection called Dimora, featuring three new tile ranges – Villa, Grotta and Casa. The Villa collection features four brass and black coloured geometric designs each of which are applied to porcelain marble-look slabs in Calacatta Viola, Nero Antico, Rosa Levanto and Pink […] More