Architecture

Cox Architecture has made some adjustments to its design for the build-to-rent tower at 210 Brunswick Street, adding more apartments, removing car parks and changing the podium facade to brick to complement a neighbouring Art Deco building.
A development application to amend the approved tower design is before the City of Brisbane. The updated design retains the original 25-storeys but adds a rooftop communal recreation space and resort-style pool, bringing the amount of communal area per apartment from 2.4 square metres to 5.9 square metres. The number of apartments would go from 312 to 323, with 21 of the one-bedroom apartments to now include a multi-purpose room.

In planning documents, the architects describe how the design is informed by the Atkinson and McLay designed McWhirters Building across the street, with its sweeping curved awning, crafted brickwork expression and decorative ceramic detailing.

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210 Brunswick Street build-to-rent tower by Cox Architecture.

“The response is orchestrated through a contemporary, highly crafted, brickwork podium whereby the detailing and fine grain scale of the brick contributes to the creation of a humanised streetscape in keeping with the richness of the McWhirters building,” the architects state.
“Referencing the sweeping curved awning of the McWhirters building the proposal mirrors this curved geometry to celebrate the prominence and visibility of its corner position. The expression of the new awning moves away from the Art deco expression of the past to present a fine, streamlined, bronze coloured, metal soffit to the street to allow maximum visibility through to the double height glazed lobby spaces of the building.”

Above the podium, the tower has been designed in a “tripartite arrangement” of three volumes as a means of reducing the tower’s bulk.
Vertical apertures or recesses in the building facades run between the forms to separate them into three clearly legible masses.
“The smooth, glassy, curved midsection references the adjacent FV towers whilst the bookends seek to contrast by expressing the sunshading elements recognising the buildings orientation and solar aspect,” state the architects.
The 210 Brunswick tower is one of a number of build-to-rent towers in the works being supported by a Queensland government pilot program aimed at delivering suitable housing close to the CBD. Around a quarter of the units in the building will be classified as affordable housing, with the government subsiding rent.
Subject to approvals, developer Frasers Property expects construction to kick off in late 2021. More

The New Entrants category in the annual Think Brick Awards celebrates the work of up-and-coming architects.
Now in its 15th year, the Think Brick Awards program recognize architectural excellence in the use of brick, block, pavers and roof tiles.
The New Entrants award is open to architects who have never entered the Think Brick Awards before. The winner will take home a $10,000 cash prize – part of the $60,000 prize pool. Architects and architecture practices entering the for the first time in any of the five main categories will automatically be placed into the running for the New Entrant Award.

The five main award categories are:
Horbury Hunt Commercial Award – commercial built projects that exemplify outstanding craftsmanship and innovation through the use of clay face brick and pavers
Horbury Hunt Residential Award – residential built projects that exemplify outstanding craftsmanship and innovation through the use of clay face brick and pavers
Kevin Borland Masonry Award (in association with CMAA) – concrete masonry in commercial and residential architectural design.
Bruce Mackenzie Landscape Award (in association with CMAA) – clay brick and concrete masonry in landscape design
Robin Dods Roof Tile Excellence Award (in association with ARTA) – commercial and residential built projects that exemplify outstanding craftsmanship and innovation through the use of concrete and terracotta roof tiles
Think Brick CEO Elizabeth McIntyre says, “Every year I am delighted to see the way architects evolve their design concepts and work alongside manufacturers to push the limits of the raw materials and re-imagine the buildings that make up the tapestry of our unique country.”

Entries close Wednesday 31 March 2021. For further information, head here

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Sub-Zero and Wolf has launched a new design hub and showroom in Sydney’s Surry Hills designed by Adele Bates.
Showing off the design possibilities of the Sub-Zero and Wolf range, the space is intended to inspire architects and designers, as well as consumers.
“The location and the building itself were critical to the design of the showroom,” said Sub-Zero and Wolf’s Australian managing director, Andrew Mumford. “Heritage elements were so important to perfectly complement the heritage of the Sub-Zeroand Wolf story. Designer Adele Bates interpreted the brief so effectively, creating an inspirational space for consumers andthe design community that differentiates and highlights the diverse Sub-Zero and Wolf design styles.”

The showroom is zoned into two distinct spaces. Upon entry, visitors are welcomed into an open-plan retail space housing the extensive range of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.

An inconspicuous fluted glass door to the rear of the showroom provides a portal to the demonstration kitchen and dining area. The darker tone of this inviting, functional space creates a soothing, sophisticated atmosphere and marks a distinct shift from the bright retail showroom.
Brushed brass, timber and mirror give the space an identity more akin to restaurant and bar design. The dining area doubles as a meeting space for the showroom, with a custom designed long dining table and a concealed prep kitchen. The demonstration area is dominated by the extensive form of the kitchen island, overhung by custom rangehoods featuring bespoke brass metalwork.
For further information, head here. More

GHD Woodhead will design three new railway stations along the Gold Coast’s “glitter strip,” the Queensland government has announced.
The architecture firm, together with its parent engineering consultant company GHD, has been awarded the design contract for Pimpama, Merrimac and Helensvale North stations, which are being delivered in conjunction with Cross River Rail.
The state government allocated $120 million for the stations in 2019. As GHD Woodhead moves forward with detailed design, the government has released a concept image of the new Pimpama train station.

“GHD will refine the existing concept designs for each station, producing detailed designs, documentation and approvals ready for construction,” said transport minister Mark Bailey.
“As part of the detailed design phase, additional studies will be undertaken including construction methodology, noise modelling, flood modelling and flora and fauna studies.

“Community feedback and input is being considered as part of the detailed design phase and there will be another opportunity for public consultation on the updated designs later this year, with nearby communities to be notified well in advance.”
The stations are expected to be operational in time for Cross River Rail’s opening in 2025.

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Construction is underway for a 20-storey office tower designed by Woods Bagot that proponents say will help rejuvenate Adelaide’s Pirie Street.
Located on the corner of Pirie Street and Freemasons Lane, the tower will deliver around 30,000 square metres of commercial office space, along with outdoor terraces on the rooftop, a wellness centre, and end-of-trip facilities plus retail and hospitality tenancies on the ground floor.
Woods Bagot’s design sees the podium divided into three “blocks,” with each block’s scale and materiality informed by the streetscape and adjacent buildings. In particular, the design seeks to respond to the architectural language of the “People’s Palace” at 87–95 Pirie Street, a French Renaissance-style building designed by G. R. Johnson in 1878 for the local German Club, which served as Salvation Army accommodation until 1979.

“The building’s bold form has been broken down and articulated through close analysis of existing site conditions and analysis of adjacent buildings,” states the architect.

“A transparent facade, generous ground-level setback, outdoor dining and landscaping provides opportunities for public to dwell. Through transparency and continuity of finishes, [the] public are invited to enter the building via Pirie street and Freemasons lane.”
Aspect Studios is the project’s landscape architect.

Above the podium, the tower rises as a seamless glass block. According to the architect, “A purposeful and restrained approach has informed the design of the tower component, with repetition of angled glass panels creating an elegant and sophisticated design aesthetic.”
The site of the tower, at 83 Pirie Street, was once home to the Planet Nightclub, which stood empty for 16 years before its demolition. South Australia’s Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure is expected to lease 18,500 square metres of office space in the tower, taking up the majority of the floors. More

Houses magazine is excited to introduce the jury for the 2021 Houses Awards.
First up is Sydney architect Anita Panov, who established her practice Panov Scott Architects with partner Andrew Scott in 2012. The practice’s work is widely recognized locally and internationally, including winning several Houses Awards. Their work has been published a number of times in Houses.
Louise Wright hails from Melbourne and is director of Barraco and Wright Architects. She was a creative director of Australia’s exhibition at the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale and is also involved in teaching and research with a particular interest in historical, cultural and ecological relationship between the built and unbuilt environment.

Phil Harris is a founding director of Troppo. In 2014, he and fellow director Adrian Welke were awarded the Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal, the highest honour for individual architectural achievement. The practice has received more than 40 awards for residential architecture from the Institute.

Finally Sydney architect Will Fung cofounded Co-ap Architects with interior designer Tina Engelen in 2007. The practice has won a number of awards for its projects, including houses and apartments. The team particularly enjoy tackling tricky sites, complex briefs and negotiating strict planning controls.

These four jurors will join Katelin Butler, editorial director of Architecture Media (publisher of Houses and ArchitectureAu), who will act as jury chair. The jury will also be complemented by two advisors: Dominique Hes from the Melbourne School of Design, as sustainability advisor; and Helen Lardner, director of HLCD, as heritage advisor.
Entries to the Houses Awards have been extended until 12 March.
The 2021 Houses Awards is supported by Cult, Artedomus, Blum, Bosch, Brickworks, the Heritage Council of Victoria, Sussex, Taubmans, Latitude and the Australian Institute of Horticulture. More

The NSW government is planning to roll its two state environment planning policies into one in an effort to “reduce complexity without reducing rigour.”
The 20-year-old SEPP 65, which provides guidelines the design quality of apartment buildings, and 2004 SEPP BASIX (Building Sustainability Index), would be folded into a new Design and Place SEPP. The combined policy is now on exhibition for public comment.
A focus of the new policy, according to the government, will be to encourage good design across neighbourhoods and throughout public spaces, in comparison to the current policies that are more focused on outcomes for individual buildings.

“The proposed policy helps shift our thinking away from only designing beautiful buildings to designing beautiful neighbourhoods,” planning minister Rob Stokes said.
“Under the proposal, new developments will now have to show how they respond and contribute to the surrounding area. We want to create places that have beauty and character; that are green, liveable and bring people together with access to open space and active transport connections.”

The explanation of intended effect for the policy lays out a number of other aims behind the move, including facilitating ecologically sustainable development and establishing Country as a foundation for design and planning.

A number of specific proposals are put forward, including new targets to retain or increase the provision and diversity of public space across NSW and a baseline residential density target in urban areas.
The Design and Place SEPP also proposes that a registered architect would be required for all buildings with three or more storeys and for all multiresidential buildings with four or more dwellings. A registered landscape architect would be required for all open spaces of more than 1,000 square metres.

NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin is overseeing development of the policy.
“This will guide us all to design and prioritize healthy places for people, community and country,” she said.
“Design is about people, our shared history and our future. This policy will help integrate the things we value about the design of our local communities and our cities.
“It is about including considerations like character, heritage, quality public spaces, thriving local areas that we can access easily, tree-lined walkable streets, parks, environmentally sensitive buildings and spaces into policy that’s easily understood.”
The explanation of intended effect is on exhibition until 31 March. More

It’s been a pipe dream for more than 150 years, but a bridge linking Kangaroo Point and Brisbane CBD will finally be a reality.
Brisbane City Council has lodged a development application for the bridge, with Cox Architecture and Arup behind the design.
Expected to be completed as early as 2023, the single-mast cable-stay structure will run from the corner of Alice and Edward streets in the city to Scott Street at Kangaroo Point.
Measuring 470 metres long and 6.8 metres wide, the bridge will include dedicated cycle and pedestrian paths and “high-quality bridge landings, transitions and public realm.” There will be shading across the full length of the bridge, along with nodes and viewing platforms to engage with the river and green spaces.

In planning documents, Cox Architecture states, “The bridge landings touch lightly on the river’s edge and protect and integrate adjacent green spaces including the City Botanic Gardens as well as the rich history and heritage of the Gardens, Brisbane City Centre and Kangaroo Point.

“The bridge celebrates Brisbane’s identity; its sub-tropical environment, and river city image.”

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Kangaroo Point Green bridge by Cox Architects and Arup.

A bridge across this section of the Brisbane River was first proposed in the 1860s and a design was even developed by 1890. But economic recession and the devastation of the 1893 floods meant the idea stayed on the drawing board. Council announced it would progress with the project in March 2019 as part of its $550 million plan to build five new “green” bridges over 10 years.
A preliminary business case was released in September 2019 and a range of different structural forms and design options were developed for consideration before a draft reference design was put out for public consultation. The design was largely popular, with 71% of respondents registering their support.
Construction will begin on Kangaroo Point green bridge will begin this year, as will construction of a smaller green bridge at Breakfast Creek.
Community consultation will continue on the proposed bridges from West End to St Lucia and West End to Toowong. The council is looking for a new location for the fifth bridge after the initial plan to build it between Belbowrie and Wacol proved unpopular, according to the ABC. More