Architecture

Plans have been unveiled for a second Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility (AMRF) in the forthcoming Bradfield City Centre. The lodged development application proposes the establishment of a three-storey low-rise named Second Building. The facility would accommodate spaces for research and prototype development in manufactured products. Planning documents indicate the building would house a high-bay advanced […] More

After a successful launch in Melbourne in 2023, the ArchiBuild Expo now makes its debut in Sydney this June. The expo will shine a spotlight on the latest in architectural building products, materials, technology and systems. The event aims to equip architects, designers and specifiers with greater knowledge of the materials currently on the market. […] More

Australian architecture, engineering, urban design and planning projects can now be submitted for the 2024 Holdmark Innovation Award, with the winning entry receiving a $10,000 cash prize.
Now in its second year, the award is delivered by Powerhouse and supported by Sydney Design Week principal partner Holdmark Property Group, following Holdmark’s $10-million contribution to Powerhouse Parramatta in 2022.
The awarded project will be one that demonstrates both innovative excellence and solutions to industry challenges. This may include projects that have incorporated emerging technologies, adopted pioneering research, implemented strategies for decarbonisation or embraced regenerative practice. A “project” in this instance refers to an entire building, a built structure or a key component in a structure’s design or construction.
Phive in Parramatta Square by Design Inc with Lacoste and Stevenson, and Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, was the inaugural recipient of the award, in 2023. The project was selected for its “ingenious” rooftop design and passive climate strategies.

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Phive in Parramatta Square by Design Inc with Lacoste and Stevenson, and Manuelle Gautrand Architecture, was selected as the winner of the 2023 award for its “ingenious” rooftop design and passive climate strategies. Image:

Brett Boardman

Founder and managing director of Holdmark, Sarkis Nassif, said Australia is home to some of the world’s most innovative and dedicated designers, architects and engineers. He said that Holdmark is committed to promoting their achievements and raising their profile.
“We are honoured to serve as the principal partner for Sydney Design Week and look forward to seeing the applicants’ submissions.”
Applications for 2024 will be reviewed by a committee comprising Gerard Reinmuth, professor of practice in the School of Architecture at the University of Technology Sydney and director of Terroir; Keinton Butler, Powerhouse senior curator of design and architecture; and Kevin Nassif, chief operating officer at Holdmark Property Group.
To be eligible, projects must have been designed in Australia and completed between 1 January and 31 December 2023 .
Powerhouse chief executive, Lisa Havilah, said the award honours forward-thinking Australian architects, engineers, urban designers and planners who design and shape our environments.
“We welcome applications from innovative projects that exemplify excellence in the industry.”
The application portal will close on 1 July 2024. The award will be presented to the successful recipient during Sydney Design Week in September 2024. For information on how to apply, visit the Powerhouse website. More

Despite the cool weather June brings, the show must go on. This month, a variety of cultural events have emerged to keep you entertained indoors. From an exhibition showcasing design prototypes for reducing Sydney’s environmental impact to a weekend dedicated to sharing ideas among regional architects, we’ve got you covered.
A New Normal

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New Architecture: CLT timber table designed by Kennedy Nolan, exhibited at Melbourne Design Week 2021. Image:

Kristoffer Paulsen

This exhibition brings together more than fifty designers, architects and other industry leaders from across Australia to demonstrate real-world solutions for solving Sydney’s environmental sustainability challenges. The event aims to supply a blueprint for a more sustainable decade through real-world solutions assembled by well-established and pragmatic thinkers from the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, design, planning and technology. Displayed prototypes and concepts will draw on empirical evidence of Sydney’s consumption of resources, backed by case studies and scientific research. The exhibition follows on from a prior event at Melbourne Design Week (MDW) in 2021, led by Ross Harding, which saw eight of 15 prototypes adopted and three completed. A New Normal takes place in Sydney until 15 June.
Centred: Making Space for Community

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Yamba Surf Life Saving Club will host Centred: Making Space for Community. Image:

Resi Kling/Unsplash

While regional practices may be physically removed from each other, they often face shared challenges. Centred, presented by the Regional Architecture Association, aims to unite different firms from different locations for insightful discussions about how regional architects can impact, promote and shape essential spaces within communities. This three-day event will take place in Yamba, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The program includes a studio visit, walking tour, discussions, social meals and house visits.
Visnja Brdar: Design Exalted

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The Visnja Brdar: Design Exalted exhibition will reflect on Visnja’s career, achievements and important contributions to contemporary design communication. Image:

Micaela Rossato

Visnja Brdar: Design Exalted is a debut exhibition curated by Hannah Mathews that reflects on Visnja Brdar’s career, achievements and important contributions to contemporary design communication. The Australian-born, New York-based designer has built a remarkable portfolio featuring projects across an extensive range of design disciplines, including fashion, architecture, product design, real estate and beauty. At 22-years-old Visnja established her own creative practice and in the years ensuing she began being commissioned by prominent Australian enterprises including the Sydney Opera House and industrial designer Marc Newson. The exhibition will be presented in Melbourne until June 15.
Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Inner Sanctum

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Grayson Perry, artist, born Essex, England 1960, Morris, Gainsborough, Turner, Riley, 2021, London; Flanders, Belgium. Acrylic, cotton, merino wool, viscose, polyester, 274.0 x 360.0 cm. Image:

Courtesy Grayson Perry and Victoria Miro

The Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Inner Sanctum presents works by artists, poets and makers interested in the human condition. Here the idea of an inner sanctum illustrates the private or sacred spaces we create and the faculty of imagination that allows us to see culture and society differently. Curated by José Da Silva, the 2024 biennial provides a snapshot of contemporary Australia that is reflective and hopeful. Exhibitions, performances and talks will explore the complexities of human experience, as well as human engagement with the world and each other. This event is being held at the Art Gallery of South Australia until 2 June. More

An international ideas competition has launched, inviting tertiary students and graduates of urban planning, architecture and landscape architecture to propose a climate- sensitive urban design strategy for a particular site. The Future Climate Future Home Competition was initiated by the Australian Urban Design Research Centre, part of the School of Design at the University of […] More

A 16-storey hotel designed by BVN has been approved for development in Sydney’s Haymarket, following the submission of a revised application. The newly approved proposal for the 136 Hay Street site expands on an earlier approved application from 2017 that was modified and resubmitted to the City of Sydney in 2023. The $104-million highrise will […] More

The winners of a Design Excellence Competition for the $188 million redevelopment of Riverside Theatres in Western Sydney have been announced.
Cox Architecture is set to lead the design of the updated performing arts centre with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra. The consortium was selected unanimously by the jury from a pool of five international design teams.
Chair of the Design Excellence jury and NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin said all five submissions proposed “exciting, thoughtful and highly original designs.”
“Congratulations to the winning team for their sophisticated and expressive design which has cleverly combined the complex requirements of […] performance spaces with a dynamic form that twists, shapes and modulates to respond to the river and welcomes the community.”

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Facade from Parramatta River. Image:

Cox Architecture with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra

The venue will comprise a 1,500-seat Broadway-style theatre, a refurbished 760-seat Riverside Playhouse theatre, a new 420-seat black-box drama theatre, an 80-seat digital studio and cinema, as well as enhanced public spaces. It will accommodate more than double the current capacity of the existing theatre.
The project design objectives include updating facilities for contemporary use, improving accessibility and inclusivity around the site and fostering cultural diversity.

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Inside the Broadway-style theatre. Image:

Cox Architecture with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra

Design director of Cox Architecture Joe Agius said the reimagined Riverside Theatres will be a major uplift in the cultural capacity for Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney.
“Guided by a commitment to the location’s First Nations origin and sense of place, our goal was for a design that sensitively responds to both the natural beauty of the river and the site’s city context. Our team of creative collaborators are honoured to be part of this transformative project for the City of Parramatta and New South Wales.”
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber said the redevelopment is a monumental step in Parramatta’s journey to becoming a global city.
“Parramatta is already the geographical heart of Sydney and the redevelopment of Riverside Theatres will create an iconic architectural landmark that honours our First Nations heritage and connects deeply with the cultural fabric of our city,” Esber said.
“We are committed to providing a thriving cultural precinct in Parramatta and this new design for Riverside brings us one step closer to our end goal.”
The project is part of an envisaged Parramatta Cultural Precinct, which will also include the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) and Civic Link.
Construction will begin in late 2025, with the reimagined performing arts centre anticipated to open in 2028. More

The federal government has revealed the winners of its national Reimagining Where We Live design ideas competition, which challenged architects, landscape architects and designers to design aged care facilities that have potential to improve residents’ quality of life.
The competition called on design practitioners to conceptualise aged care homes that were welcoming, safe, accessible and dementia friendly, while simultaneously testing the draft National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines throughout the design process.
The jury comprised 2023 Gold Medallist Kerstin Thompson, architects John Choi, Allan Kong and Sophie Dyring, interior designer Erin McDonald, landscape architect Catherin Bull, media personality Tim Ross, as well as 2023 Senior Australian of the Year Tom Calma and dementia care expert Stephen Judd.
Two categories – Regional Town and Urban Metro – were judged as part of the competition, with participants able to submit designs for one or both categories. Fifty entries from all six Australian states were received, with no entries from any of the territories.
The jury stated it was “energised and impressed” by the quality of the submissions.
“Entrants were challenged by the need to balance lifestyle options, specific support needs (e.g. for people with a diagnosis of dementia) and potential resulting operational implications. Nevertheless, the jury is of the opinion that in a real-world codesign scenario, an outcome that positively balanced these could be achieved,” the jury commented.
“The jury considered that with design development some proposals – in whole or part – could become typology models for future design consideration.”
First place winners of each category have been awarded $50,000, while second place winners have been granted $20,000.
Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the entries demonstrate the value of good design in vastly improving a person’s quality of life.
“Good design can vastly improve the quality of life for older people living in aged care, and the working environments of the people who care for them,” Wells said.
“Through this design challenge, we’ve seen innovative ideas and accommodation solutions that will shape the future of aged care accommodation and support older people to live meaningful lives in safe, high quality residential care when it is needed.”
The winning competition projects include:
Urban Metro category
First place
Scales of Care – LM2A with Super Natural
“An exceptional proposition designed as a dynamic connection between the individual and the community to create a productive relationship … between the practice of care, and the environment in which it takes place … a positive feedback loop … fostered between the resident and the world around them,” commented the jury.
Second place
Connection, Community and Movement – Walter and Walter
Highly commended
Reflection Home – Cultivar and Wild Studio
Canopy – Jacqueline Bartholomeusz, David Sutherland, Lorraine Calder and Oculus
Commended
An Ordinary Life – T and Z Architects and Aspect Studios
Regional town category
First place
Manu Place – Monash Urban Lab with NMBW Architecture Studio, BoardGrove Architects, BLOXAS and Glas Landscape Architects
“This is an outstanding proposition which critically addressed the principles and guidelines with a strong and appropriately scaled low-rise spatial program sensitively and intelligently embedded within the site context and neighbourhood,” said the jury.
Second place
All Together Now – Other Architects, Openwork, Andy Fergus and Alicia Pozniak
Highly commended
The Connected Garden – Mark Boffa, Guruge Ruwani Dharmasiri, Pulasthi Wijekoon, Jana Osvald and Julie Ockerby More