Architecture

As Melbourne begins to open up after lockdown, a kaleidoscopic structure reflecting on thousands of years of Jewish tradition has appeared on the lawns of Birrarung Marr.
Known as Sukkah, the colourful installation is a collaboration between architect Zahava Elenberg and the Jewish Museum of Australia. It was originally to be unveiled for the week-long Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot in early October, but the city’s lockdown delayed its opening.
The proponents hope the installation will now act as a new outdoor meeting place for locals venturing into the city once again, as a representation of “community, connection and reflection.”

Elenberg said the design of the installation reflects the long-held Jewish tradition of constructing temporary booths or huts in which to rejoice with family, friends and neighbours.

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Sukkah by Zahava Elenberg and the Jewish Museum of Australia.

“Sukkah is a temporary shelter in memory of the huts used by the Israelites as they wandered the Sinai Desert during their exodus from Egypt. It is a place of memory and empathy for those who are homeless and displaced,” she said.

Each of its components is embedded with symbolic meaning, the colours referencing the four species mentioned in the Torah that are of particular significance to the Sukkot festival: the etrog, hadas, aravah and lulav.
“The walls are the colours of the earth, desert and etrog (the fruit of the citron tree),” said Elenberg. “The blue eaves remind us of the limitless sky and encourage us to look beyond adversity. The roof is clear to allow the stars to be seen at night, and is connected with shades of the hadas (the myrtle tree), aravah (the willow tree) and lulav (the palm frond). In this time of uncertainty and isolation, the Sukkah brings us together to reflect on humanity and what it means to be part of a community.”

Available to visit now as an outdoor-only meeting place, Sukkah will open up further as restrictions ease, with visitors be able to enter and view the internal structure. It will remain on Birrarung Marr until 13 December.
“This beautiful site-specific installation reflects the long-held Jewish tradition of constructing temporary booths or huts in which to rejoice with family, friends and neighbours while giving thanks to the earth for its bounty,” said Jewish Museum of Australia director Jess Bram. “As Melbourne comes out of its long and challenging lockdown, Zahava’s inspiring sculpture feels like the perfect symbol of unity and hope that we’re proud to be offering our city.” More

The Australian Institute of Architects has called on governments to act urgently following the public release of the bushfire royal commission report.
The Institute says that while many of the royal commission’s recommendations are long term reforms, the recommendations regarding upgrades to building standards and the use of shelters and water spray systems must be implemented as soon as possible.
“The Royal Commission has noted key evidence that will save lives and deliver a more resilient built environment that is better equipped to face future challenges,” said Institute CEO Julia Cambage.

“They identified the need to evaluate the National Construction Code to include making buildings more resilient to natural hazards as a specific objective, as well as revisiting the effectiveness of the Australian Standard AS3959-2018: Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.

“The Royal Commission recognized this standard is out of date and based on 2009 Forest Fire Danger Index data rather than responding to the much higher danger levels being experienced a decade later.”

The Institute says the recommendations need to go further and faster.
“With some 5,900 buildings destroyed and communities anxious to rebuild, governments have a limited window of time to effect reforms that will ensure a higher standard of more resilient construction,” Cambage continued.

“We can’t have people rebuilding to a standard that demonstrably is not fit-for-purpose.
“Nor can we fail to address the huge legacy issue and clearly identified risk presented by the 380,000 properties currently exposed to ‘high natural hazard risk’ which the Royal Commission’s report says ‘may grow to 735,000 by 2100…in the absence of any new houses being built, due to an increasing frequency and severity of hazards.’

“Supporting homeowners to install water spray systems or accredited bushfire bunkers where appropriate are relatively simple measures that are proven to enhance bushfire safety.”
Architect Nigel Bell, who gave evidence to the royal commission on behalf of the Institute, said, “The experience of the 2019-20 bushfire season suggests that there is no such thing as a bushfire proof house, and the legacy of our existing built environment suggests we are unable to guarantee the safety of occupants in buildings during bushfire.”

The Institute’s submission to the royal commission highlighted research that suggests up to a million existing houses in bushfire prone areas across Australia have little or no bushfire protection, with 2.2 million people living in high or extreme bushfire risk areas.
“This means we need to consider other approaches like the use of private and public shelters, such as they have done for decades in the United States as protection from hazards like wildfires and tornadoes,” Bell said.

The Institute also reiterated a call on the government to commit to net zero carbon emissions by 2030, with the royal commission report highlighting that “Extreme weather has already become more frequent and intense because of climate change; further global warming over the next 20 to 30 years is inevitable.”

Cambage said, “Resilience must include a commitment to net zero emissions in our buildings and responsiveness to our new climate reality because it is critically important to ensure that all rebuilding projects following natural disasters look to enhance the standard of our built environment.
“This has the added benefit of helping to mitigate the emerging issue of energy poverty and while also reducing vulnerability to future disasters.
“Built environment professionals have a critical role to play in improving the resilience and adaptation of Australian society to changing climatic conditions and we look forward to supporting a timely response from government to this landmark report.” More

A mushroom coral has inspired the design of a building that will house the world’s first coral conservation facility, to be located in Port Douglas in North Queensland.
Living Coral Biobank, designed by Contreras Earl Architecture, will be a “living ark,” conserving 800 species of hard coral in order to secure the biodiversity and long-term future of the organisms worldwide.
The sculptural building will be made from a series of undulating concrete fins, clustered together at the lower levels to provide protection from severe weather events such as floods. The fins fan out as the building rises, creating gaps for light and ventilation at the upper levels.

The building will accommodate a 6,830-square-metre multi-function centre to host exhibition areas, auditorium, classrooms, advanced research and laboratory facilities over four levels, and a 200-person function space.
A terraced forum space which forms the entry plaza will be a transitional space between the humid tropical heat of the external environment and the interior of the building. The stairs will continue to a viewing platform on level two, where visitors can observe the specimen tanks below. The public spaces of the building will be visually connected through a central atrium.

“A childhood spent growing up in Cairns and exploring the beauty of our oceans and marvels of the Great Barrier Reef has had a profound impact on me as an architect,” said Monica Earl of Contreras Earl Architecture. “It was a formative part of founding a practice with the ambition to create architecture that interacts with nature in symbiotic and complimentary ways without detriment to the environment.”

The building will aim to be self-sufficient and carbon neutral. “This project brings with it a profound responsibility to consider the impact of architecture and the construction industry on the natural world,” said Rafael Contreras. “As one of the world’s major contributors of CO2 emissions and associated climate change, it is essential that the construction industry be encouraged by architects towards carbon neutrality. The Living Coral Biobank is an opportunity to set a global benchmark for sustainable outcomes and zero-carbon goals as well as creating a world-leading conservation and education facility. The ambition for this project is to create a beacon for environmental awareness – a centre of hope.”

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Living Coral Biobank by Contreras Earl Architecture.
Image: SAN
Contreras Earl Architecture will collaborate with Arup and Werner Sobek to integrate a holistic sustainable strategy that reduces energy consumption while also providing the building with six compatible climate zones over four levels.
The Living Coral Biobank is a project of Great Barrier Reef Legacy, a not-for-profit marine conservation charity, which is looking for investors to fund the construction of the Biobank.
Michael Kerr, mayor of Douglas Shire, said, “This iconic design will be a recognisable structure which people will automatically relate back to Port Douglas. The unique architecture has the right feel for a globally significant and cutting-edge coral reef conservation facility to be based right here in Port Douglas.”
Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, added: “The Biobank building will be of immense importance for coral conservation and the community of Port Douglas. As an education, research and design experience, it will contribute to the town’s resilience, development and enhance its worldwide recognition as the gateway to the world’s ever-more precious resource that is the Great Barrier Reef. The Climate Council applauds this wonderful initiative.” More

New renders of the Subiaco Pavilion Markets redevelopment have been released as construction begins, with the developer promising the project will bring back the “old village atmosphere” of the abandoned markets.
Designed by Hames Sharley, the project will comprise three residential buildings: the “Roberts” and “Rokeby” buildings, both six storeys, and a 24-storey “Seddon” building, which will become the tallest building in Subiaco.
The proposal was given the green light by the City of Subiaco and the Metro West Joint Development Assessment Panel in February 2019, with conditions.

Developer Blackburne Property told WA Today that the designs for the ground-floor markets had been finalized and that the first tenants were being secured.

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One Subiaco development at the old Pavilion Markets, designed by Hames Sharley.

“The entire ground level will become a new destination in itself,” managing director Paul Blackburne told the website.
“[On] weekends we will also have pop-up markets and we expect 5,000 people a weekend to visit the new Subiaco Pavilion Markets.”

As well as the redeveloped market floor, the proposal includes a range of food, beverage and retail offerings focused around a market laneway.
“The redevelopment will become a sustainable, community oriented, mixed-use urban village and will form the gateway to Subiaco, linking the historic heart with its contemporary north,” reads a vision statement from Hames Sharley.
Project completion is scheduled for 2022.

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