Architecture

The Victorian government has pledged $20 million to rejuvenate Federation Square, with better connection to Birrarung (Yarra River) and Melbourne’s green spaces a key focus.
The funding announcement on 22 August coincided with the release of a review into Federation Square’s built environment, governance and operational arrangements launched in 2019.
Among the review’s recommendations, accepted by the government, are greater recognition of First Peoples culture and connection to the site and adoption of design principles that ensure future physical changes “must aspire to match the quality of the original,” with a design advisory board overseeing any changes.

Victorian government architect Jill Garner, who co-chaired the review, said the design principles “both acknowledge the heritage status on the place and inform future enhancement.”
Federation Square was added to the Victorian heritage register in 2019 following public outcry over a proposal to raze the Yarra Building to make way for a Foster and Partners-designed Apple shop.

The $20 million upgrade will go towards delivering a new immersive regional experience centre to showcase the state’s food and wine, music and culture, as well as new lighting to improve safety and highlight the architecture at night and new ramps and staircases leading to Birrarung. The Deakin Edge theatre will be upgraded to better support events and improvements will also be made to signage and accessibility at the site.

Donald Bates, whose practice Lab Architecture Studio originally designed Federation Square, told The Age that the ramps and staircases between the square and the river would be valuable but that there should be a more immediate focus on activating the riverfront.
“We designed Federation Square to be a place you can pass through or participate in, before or after your way to the MCG or to the tennis or the rectangular stadium, among many other things,” he told the paper.
“There’s this huge public domain on the south side of Federation Square but no place to stop and get a drink, a coffee or a sandwich, and I think it really needs it.”

Another key outcome of the review is that the management of the square will be transferred to the portfolio of the Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley.

Tania Davidge, the convener of the Our City, Our Square campaign, praised the move on social media, noting that the creative industries portfolio was “where it belongs — putting civic, cultural and community front and centre.”
Davidge has previously criticised the governance of the square by the public non-financial corporation Fed Square Pty ltd, writing that “ In recent years the square’s cultural and civic objectives have been marginalized as the focus at the square has shifted. Propelled by the narrative that the square is losing money, more and more “revenue-generating initiatives”3 and promotions have been taking place at the site…”
The review of Federation Square was co-chaired by Jill Garner and governance and financial expert Tim Eddy and including concultation with “community, cultural, tourism, design, planning, hospitality and government stakeholders,” as well as local, interstate and international visitors. More

The City of Sydney has released concept designs of a multi-purpose recreation centre in Alexandria by Collins and Turner Architects.
Sitting beside Sheas Creek, on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the project will see the adaptive reuse of an industrial warehouse, which consists of a large volume space which will be converted into indoor courts, along with a low-rise two-storey showroom space to the street frontage.
The wareshouse will be transformed to house four indoor multi-purpose courts, fitness, recreation and community spaces. The project will also include public domain upgrades and increased green space.

Council bought the building in 2018, having identified a need for more sporting facilities in the area, and engaged Collins and Turner Architects to design the warehouse’s transformation in December through a competitive tender process.

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Huntley Street Recreation Centre concept design by Collins and Turner Architects.

The design will prioritize transparency, with strong visual and spatial connection between internal and external spaces and increased access to natural ventilation and light.
Early concept renders show a sculptural frontage and verandah formed of multi-coloured battens, creating a “vibrant and welcoming” facility that will promote active recreation.
The concept design was presented to the Design Advisory Panel in April and received positive endorsement. The concept design goes before the council on 24 August, with the council report recommending that councillors endorse the proposed works for the purpose of proceeding with design development and the lodgement of a development application.

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Western Australia has appointed Rebecca Moore as the state’s new government architect.
The state’s planning minister Rita Saffioti announced the appointment on 19 August, noting that Moore was a highly qualified architect and a nationally accredited mediator with experience working in architectural practices in both Perth and London.
“I am very pleased to appoint Rebecca Moore as the new government architect, and chair of the State Design Review Panel, for Western Australia,” said Saffioti.

“With qualifications in architecture, planning and cultural heritage, and construction of the built environment, Ms Moore will bring a wealth of knowledge to guide delivery of the pipeline of projects that will support Western Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
“Ms Moore’s experience as a mediator and member of the State Administrative Tribunal will also enable her to provide clear guidance and design advice, early in the planning of major projects to ensure a high quality of built outcomes.”

In her role as government architect and chair of the State Design Review Panel, she will play a key role in the design review and assessment of the state’s Metronet plans, along with a number of other significant development proposals in the pipelines.
She will also provide expert and independent advice to the planning minister and premier on key projects and strategic planning and development matters.
“We anticipate over the next 18-months up to 90 development proposals will require design review as part of the new approvals pathway for significant developments in addition to the continued rollout of Metronet and major transport infrastructure projects,” said Saffioti.
“I welcome Moore to the role and look forward to working with her to ensure good design remains at the forefront of all planning and development.”

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A major Aboriginal cultural centre planned for the Darwin waterfront is a step closer, with an EOI call put out for architects to complete the detailed design.
The centre is the result of a 20-year vision for the Larrakia, the Traditional Owners of Darwin to have their own place to showcase their art, history and culture.
“The location and footprint of the Cultural Centre is found in a Native Title related agreement, dating back to 1998,” said Nigel Browne, CEO of Larrakia Development Corporation. “That agreement related to the extinguishment of some of our rights.This development will allow us to protect our future, preserve our past and help build our Territory economy.”

The centre will operate near Stokes Hill Wharf and will include a variety of educational facilities, a museum and art gallery, an outdoor auditorium, a café/restaurant, art studios, artefact storage, retail shops and dedicated interpretive centre.

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A concept image for Larrakia cultural centre.
Image: LDC
As part of the Darwin City Deal, the federal government has committed $2 million over two years for the Larrakia Development Corporation to undertake detailed design and planning for centre
“The Larrakia Cultural Centre will protect and promote Larrakia language and history and will be a key element in the Darwin City Deal to revitalize the city centre and to make it an attractive place to live, work, study and do business,” said Indigenous minister Ken Wyatt.

“Schools and tourists will have the opportunity to learn and interact with the Traditional Owners and the Centre will serve as hub for Indigenous businesses such as tourist operators.”
Architecture and engineering design teams from the Northern Territory, Australia and internationally can submit expressions of interest before 30 August. The successful EOI applicants will progress to a formal request for tender, with the detailed design to commence before December 2020. More

Sydney’s Waverley Council has released concept designs for the redevelopment of the home of the world’s first surf lifesaving club.
Bondi Surf Bathers and Life Saving Club was formed in 1907. Its clubhouse was originally built in 1934 and designed by Ross and Rowe, who also designed the Government Savings Bank of NSW building at 50 Martin Place, now headquarters of Macquarie Bank. The clubhouse is located on the land of the Bidjigal and Gadigal people.
The redevelopment project, designed by Lockhart-Krause Architects, will address functional deficiencies of the existing building, by increasing spaces for training and educational programs, and storage spaces for contemporary life saving equipment, as well as facilities for the club’s female members, who now make up 40 percent. The women’s facilities will double in size and be equal to the men’s.

The concept design proposes to remove “mock heritage” and intrusive additions to the original building, while simultaneous preserving and restoring the original club house. New lightweight additions are intended to highlight the building’s heritage.

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A new publicly accessible courtyard will be created in the proposed redevelopment of the Bondi Surf Bathers and Life Saving Club by Lockhart-Krause Architects.
Image: Courtesy Lockhart-Krause Architects
The addition to the north (rear) of the original building will be removed and replaced with a new addition connected via a courtyard space. The architects say the courtyard references “Bondi’s unique pattern of courtyard buildings including the Bondi Beach Public School, and the Bondi Pavilion” immediately adjacent to the club building.
The courtyard space will create visual separation between the clubhouse and historic Bondi Pavilion, which will allow each to be experienced in the round, and improve access to the beach. Bondi Pavilion itself is also undergoing restoration and redevelopment to a design by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer.

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The existing hall of the Bondi Surf Bathers and Life Saving Club will be transformed into a surf museum dedicated to the birthplace of surf life saving.
Image: Courtesy Lockhart-Krause Architects
The main hall of the clubhouse will become a publicly accessible surf history museum dedicated to the birthplace of the surf lifesaving movement.
The design will also open up the clubhouse to the public, encouraging greater interaction and allowing the club to expand its community programs.
Waverley Council is seeking feedback on the concept designs until 17 September. More

Italian furniture maker Pedrali introduces its New Ideas 2020 collections, which includes collaborations with designers Sebastian Herkner and Robin Rizzini.
Sebastian Herkner was named Maison et Objet’s 2019 Designer of the Year. He has created the Blume collection for Pedrali, inspired by concepts of elegance and sophistication. The collection includes a chair, lounge chair and a set of coffee tables, which feature flower-shaped extruded aluminium profiles.
The chairs are characterised by their soft, rounded shapes with the steel structural element placed under the seat to strengthen the chair and secure removable legs.

The coffee table set is avilable in a range three different heights and various sizes, table tops and finishes.
Robin Rizzini’s design for Pedrali, the Toa table, is a lightweight and minimalist, made from a solid die-cast aluminium frame. The legs are tapered towards the base and the table’s stability is achieved through two steel ars connecting the legs to the top. The table is available in a range of widths and depths and a variety of finishes.

The New Ideas 2020 collections also include designs by Patrick Jouin, CMP Design, Eugeni Quitllet, and Pedrali’s own R&D team.
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Victoria’s Koorie Heritage Trust has launched a four-year program aimed at fostering First Nations design talent and establishing Indigenous-led-and-operated design businesses.
Participants will be mentored in design, production, and small business skills to lay the groundwork for long-term, sustainable design practices.
“We want to work with artists, craftspeople and designers living in Victoria to support their long-term sustainable design practice,” said Tom Mosby, CEO of Koorie Heritage Trust. “This program is an important step in this process by bringing together mentors and industry leaders to work with and nurture talented Indigenous makers.”

The Blak Design program is underpinned by the Indigenous Design Charter and has been developed in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria and RMIT University and is supported by the Ian Potter Foundation.
Each year the program will focus on a different discipline, kicking off in 2020 with jewellery. A spokesperson for Koorie Heritage Trust told ArchitectureAU that the design disciplines to be focused on in the following years will be decided shortly.

The jewellery program will take place over four months, with participants taking part in a series of free hands-on jewellery design and making workshops, as well as small business skills tutorials and visits to jewellery design studios, galleries and stores across Melbourne. Guidance will be provided by cultural mentors, design professionals, jewellers and industry practitioners and experts throughout, and at the end of the program, an additional opportunity will be awarded to up to three participants to be mentored and work towards realizing a jewellery collection for production, launch and sale in 2021.
Applications open on 1 September close on 13 October, 5pm.

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A “colossal” 81-storey tower approved for central Brisbane has been cut down to size, with the original architect Blight Rayner preparing new designs for a much smaller 34-storey office building.
The updated scheme for the development at the corner of George and Queen streets removes the 534 residential units planned for the original tower, approved by Brisbane council in 2017, and instead all levels above the podium will be given over to office space.
Facing outward towards Queen Street Mall and the Brisbane River, the tower will still be visually prominent within the inner-city skyline, with green “sky terraces” set into the building giving it a distinctive look. The site is located on the land of the Yugara/YUgarapul people and Turrbal people.

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60 Queen Street Brisbane by Blight Rayner.

In addition to the office space, the development will include a new arcade connecting Burnett Lane and Queen Street, an active ground level including hospitality and retail tenancies along Queen Steet and through the arcade and an open podium terrace garden for the building’s workers.

“The proposed density and scale of the development capitalises on its unique location, orientating itself toward to the river to take advantage of key views and vistas and linear nature of Queen Street,” Urbis states in planning documents, currently before council. “The location of the site is ideal for a signature piece of sub-tropical architecture and a high-quality commercial office building.”
“The location of the building will act as an arrival marker to the Queen Street Mall. At the ground level, the articulated building facade reflects the surrounding nature of adjacent buildings and forms, whilst still being a prominent and welcoming entrance to the Queen Street Mall.”
The development is a project of Charter Hall and Investa. Plans are on public exhibit here.

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