Architecture

Concept designs for the new $715 million home ground of the Tasmanian Devils football team have been unveiled, with plans indicating the multipurpose stadium in nipaluna/Hobart’s Macquarie Point is slated to become the world’s “largest timber-roofed stadium.”
Cox Architecture was announced in May 2024 as the lead design consultant for the project alongside Tasmanian architecture practice Cumulus Studio, specialist engineers and technicians AECOM, Cova, Aldanmark, and Pitt and Sherry, and international partner Schlaich Bergermann Partners (SBP).
The stadium form, with its low profile and woven-style facade, was inspired by the historic character and formation of the roundhouse structures that once served the state’s railway network on site. Within the venue, a seating bowl design has been adopted, in a move that seeks to bring crowds closer to the field. The facility will house approximately 23,000 seats.

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A defining feature will be a fixed and transparent, dome-shaped roof, which will be supported by an internal frame made from steel and Tasmanian timber. The transparency of the roof will allow natural light to penetrate, assisting with natural turf growth and eliminating the need for sizeable light towers. The see-through roof portion will be composed of a fluorine-based plastic material called ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) that is resistant to corrosion and temperature fluctuation.
Minister for Sport and Events, Nic Street, said the stadium design is “welcoming, functional and uniquely Tasmanian.
“When completed, the stadium will be the largest timber roofed stadium in the world,” Street said. “While developing this stadium is an important step in realising our dream of seeing our own AFL and AFLW teams running out on our own field, this facility will offer so much more.
“The maritime heritage of the broader area has also been taken into account, and culturally informed under the guidance of Aboriginal community members.”
The renders indicate a stage pocket in the northern stand will host entertainment and performance events, while simultaneously minimising impact to the field. The facility will also include a 1,500-person function room with views of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, and separated catering and back of house facilities with a below-ground service road.
Accessibility, inclusivity and pedestrian flow has been prioritised through the inclusion of a single continuous concourse that will service the whole stadium.
Under the plans, an existing 1915 goods shed that was granted heritage listing in early 2024 will be relocated to a different area on the site.
A State Significant Development Application is being prepared for submission this July 2024. More

Brisbane Open House returns this July for a memorable weekend, offering behind-the-scenes access to the city’s most beloved and intriguing residences.
Across the weekend there are more than 50 experiences and activities planned, including house tours, talks and workshops. Some of the homes and adapted residences set to welcome people in include Wolston Farmhouse; Newstead House by James Cowlishaw; Miegunyah House Museum, and The Moreton Club by Andrea Stombuco.
Non-residential spaces such as the Annex by BVN; the Thomas Dixon Centre, renovated by Conrad Gargett, UQ Brisbane City, refurbished by BVN with heritage consultant Conrad Gargett and builder FDC, and Fish Lane Town Square by Richards and Spence, will also be welcoming visitors across the weekend.

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A new addition to the 2024 program is a one-day Speaker Series, which will be presented at Brisbane Powerhouse on 14 July. Among the sessions is a presentation by the deputy head of school at the UQ School of Architecture, Antony Moulis, titled, Housing: We know how to design good and economic housing – What stops us?
Brisbane Open House executive director, Melissa Hoedel said, this year’s program has been curated with inclusion, sustainability and wellbeing front of mind. This year, in “2024 is where we will be introducing aspects to our program to encompass inclusivity, with dedicated activities and access; sustainability, by creating a walkable and easily accessible program; and wellbeing through supporting active transport and the introduction of specific activities for our valued volunteers and visitors.”
The Brisbane Open House weekend will take place across 13 and 14 July. The 2024 program will be geo-focused, meaning that tours, experiences and house inspections will be predominantly located in inner Brisbane. More

The Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia is inviting submissions for its Education Prize for 2024 – open to architectural academics at all levels who have made positive contributions to education and wellbeing.
The prize, which launched in 2019, was formerly concentrated on rewarding early career architects. In 2024, to coincide with the release of key discoveries from a major research project, the Wellbeing of Architects: Culture, Identity and Practice, the prize will be awarded to architectural academics who have “demonstrated leadership in fostering a positive culture in architectural education and support for student wellbeing.”
The Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA) has contributed $5,000 toward the prize pool. The jury will comprise one member of the Wellbeing of Architects research project team and two members of AASA.
Academic staff who are full-time, fractional or sessional are all eligible to apply, however submissions must be endorsed and supported by the head of school.
Those planning to enter will be required to include a written statement detailing the context in which the staff member is operating, including a description of the specific challenges that have been identified, and a step-by-step account of the measures that the academic has taken in response to the situation. They will also need to provide a reflection on the outcome of this approach, including measures, evaluation and evidence of the benefits to students and staff.
The submissions portal will close on the evening of 15 July, with winners expected to be notified on 5 August. To find out more about the prize and the specific submission requirements, visit the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia website. More

From an exhibition showcasing the work of esteemed architectural photographers to a lecture exploring the relationship between residential and fashion design, we’ve rounded up a series of events to broaden your perspective this month.
Image Makers Association Australia 1 Shot 24 exhibition
1 Shot 24 presents images from 42 captivating photographers from across Australia, each presenting their interpretation of the curatorial theme: Seeing and Knowing. 1 Shot is an annual, national exhibition that showcases works from members of the Image Makers Association Australia, including Richard Glover, Dianna Snape, Dean Bradley and Tom Blachford. The theme for 2024 prompts photographers to explore how the simple act of seeing is often the primary tool for knowing. This exhibition will take place on 10 July in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Homes of the Couturiers

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In this double lecture, the link between fashion and interior design will be explored, with particular focus on twentieth-century couturiers who dedicated substantial effort to the arrangement and presentation of not just their designs, but also their salons and homes. Many of these early fashion designers even included the term “the house of” in their brand titles, suggesting that fashion and interior design have long been intertwined. The two-part lecture will be presented by distinguished professor Peter McNeil, an award-winning fashion historian from the University of Technology Sydney.
Feng Shui Design for the Modern Home: DIA Online Sessions

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Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice for arranging living and working spaces to promote health, harmony and balance. Join the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) online to hear from Jane Langof on the history and modern application of Feng Shui. Langof is an award-winning Feng Shui designer, whose practice specialises in infusing traditional Feng Shui principles with modern design aesthetics. Since founding Feng Shui Concepts in 2008, she has transformed houses and commercial spaces into environments that foster health, wealth, and wellbeing.
Open House Melbourne

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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, including visits to recently completed projects, such as Naarm Ngarrgu Library by Six Degrees Architects and the Koorie Heritage Trust by Lyons, Greenaway Architects and Architecture Associates. Homes of all ages and typologies will also be open, including Armadale House by Neeson Murcutt Neille and Wildwood House by Robin Boyd.
Brisbane Open House

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Brisbane Open House returns this 13 and 14 July for a memorable weekend, offering behind-the-scenes access to the city’s most beloved and intriguing residences. Across the weekend there are more than 50 experiences and activities planned, including tours, talks and workshops. Some of the residences and adapted residences set to welcome people in include Wolston Farmhouse; Newstead House by James Cowlishaw; Miegunyah House Museum, and The Moreton Club by Andrea Stombuco. Other venues open for visitation include The Annex by BVN; Cox Architecture Studio by Cox Architecture, and the Thomas Dixon Centre, renovated by Conrad Gargett.
Paul Pholeros Foundation Fundraiser

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The Paul Pholeros Foundation is hosting a fundraising event to showcase the foundation’s efforts in improving the living environments of remote and impoverished communities. The PPF, a not-for-profit organisation, continues the humanitarian work carried out by the late architect, Paul Pholeros, who devoted much of his career to designing and advocating for better housing and sanitation within communities. During the event, renowned architect Richard Leplastrier will deliver a speech, scholarship recipients will give presentations, and the designer of a portable hand washing unit used in Nepal will demonstrate their design. Funds raised will be contributed to the foundation to support its projects. More

A one-day conference featuring talks from esteemed international and Australian architects will present a hopeful vision for the future of the planet, the architecture profession and the built environment through the sharing of global examples of responsible architecture.
Stories of Earth: Echoes in Architecture, to be held in Sydney on 14 September 2024, will feature international speakers Niall McLaughlin (UK), Marusa Zorec (Slovenia), Rick Joy (US) and Maria Tabassum (Bangladesh) alongside Australian architects, who will each present their perspectives on the human connection to Earth.
The stories the speakers share will not just revolve around built architecture, but will also explore solutions for building a common future for humanity; for those with and without land; those in poverty or with privilege, and those living within different environmental and built contexts.
The conference topic has been partially informed by professor Daniel Barber’s 2024 essay, “Enough? Architecture and the Sufficiency Imperative,”which asks: In its quest for efficiency and performance, sustainable architecture has only made us want more – more buildings, more extraction, more stuff. What if architects crafted new desires, within planetary limits?
As we hurtle towards exceeding those planetary limits, the conference will project an optimistic outlook on leading a purpose-driven profession – one that is rooted in a return to people, place and planet, over profit alone.
To find out more about the event, visit the Stories of Earth: Echoes in Architecture website. More

The Town of Cottesloe in Western Australia has resolved not to proceed with a proposal to redevelop the heritage-listed Indiana Teahouse, designed by Woods Bagot, and a business plan put forward by Tattarang and Fiveight.
The council rejected the proposal, which was first unveiled in 2021, due to its failure to align with the council’s Foreshore Masterplan by Aspect Studios, a lack of clarity around the financial impacts and risks, and uncertainly regarding the level of community benefit.
“Commercialisation and privatisation of beaches is not a part of our culture and shouldn’t be contemplated unless backed up by very considerable community benefit,” said Cottesloe mayor Lorraine Young. “On balance, we didn’t feel the existing proposal delivered enough in that respect.”
“[The masterplan] was endorsed by Council in 2019, and is a shovel-ready and much-needed project. Any redevelopment of Indiana should fully integrate with the approved Masterplan – the current proposal does not.”

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Instead, the council has endorsed a set of development parameters to guide the redevelopment of the teahouse, which address the use of the site, expected community benefits, financial considerations, and environmental and heritage considerations.
The redevelopment of Indiana Teahouse was first proposed in 2019, when the site’s proponent, Minderoo Group (now Tattarang) held a design competition for a new pavilion on the site.
Durbach Block Jaggers, Ohlo Studio and Aspect Studios won the competition, but a public vote revealed that only 10 percent of respondents preferred the jury’s choice and the site’s proponents decided not to proceed with the winning design.
The existing Indiana Teahouse was added to the state’s heritage register in June 2021.
A new proposal designed by Woods Bagot was unveiled in December 2021, which comprised two separate but interconnected structures stepping down towards the ocean, with the existing teahouse building retained. The proposal included restaurants, cafes, a rooftop pool, an underground spa, a promenade and public plaza, a 31-room hotel and a new boat storage shed for the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club.

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The council’s development parameters state: “tavern, hotel and short stay accommodation uses are not supported [and that] redevelopment must sit within current lease boundaries.”
It also expressed a strong preference for a new fit-for-purpose boatshed to be located within the existing footprint.
The council believes the development parameters could guide a revised proposal.
“To be very clear, the Town of Cottesloe fully supports the redevelopment of the Indiana Tea House – and we would welcome a revised vision for the site that works within the parameters set out by Council,” Young said.
“We continue to welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively with Tattarang and Fiveight towards a proposal that enhances this landmark site and delivers a great outcome for all.” More

A pattern book design competition has launched, inviting Australian and international architects and architecture students to submit simple-to-build proposals for terrace houses and mid-rise apartment buildings for sites across Sydney and New South Wales.
The competition objective is to increase the supply of quality and diverse housing through designs that can easily be replicated. The outcome of competition will lead to the creation of a pattern book containing endorsed low- and mid-rise housing designs for guiding development.
The winning designs will be eligible for an accelarated development approval pathway, enabling homes to be built faster. The successful proposals will additionally be approved for construction on five sites supplied by Homes NSW, Landcom and Sydney Olympic Park.
Abbie Galvin, the New South Wales government architect, will lead the panel responsible for evaluating the proposals, with other jury members yet to be appointed. The jury will be seeking designs that are liveable, straightforward to build, replicable, cost effective, sustainable and that meet the needs of industry and local communities.
The competition, first announced in 2023, was officially initiated on 2 July 2024. The first phase will require participants to express their interest in designing a scheme for a terrace house or mid-rise apartment building. Shortlisted nominees will be announced in September 2024, progressing through to the next stage, which involves submitting a detailed design proposal.
The expression of interest portal will close on 9 August. Competition winners are anticipated to be revealed in November 2024, supplemented by the winning designs which will simultaneously be released to the public.
The final pattern book is expected to launch in 2025. More

A Robin Boyd-designed house never before been seen by the public is among the many exceptional homes scheduled to welcome visitors during the 2024 Open House Melbourne Weekend on 27 and 28 July. Wildwood House, completed in 1966, is one of the few remaining houses designed by Robin Boyd during his partnership with Frederick Romberg. […] More