Subterms
BVN has won the City of Sydney Council’s Design Excellence Competition for Buildings G and H of the Erskineville Village project. The buildings form part of a wider proposal for a $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct with 1,000 build-to-rent residences at 155 Mitchell Road, Erskineville. The announcement follows Bate Smart being awarded the design of Buildings […] More
The National Capital Authority has approved designs to transform the Lake Burley Griffin waterfront at Acton into a people-focused urban park by a consortium led by Aspect Studios. To be named Ngamawari after the Ngunnawal word meaning “cave place,” the park’s design will raise the visibility of the territory’s First Nations history. The name was […] More
The Australian Institute of Architects has urged the federal government to accelerate the progress of First Nations housing development by investing more funds into social housing. In a pre-budget submission to the federal government regarding the 2024 Australian Government Budget, the Institute proposed an additional $4 billion should be allocated to the Housing Australia Future […] More
Restoration and reconstruction works on the state heritage-listed White Bay Power Station (WBPS) in Sydney’s Rozelle are now complete, with the former industrial station set to reopen to the public for the first time in 40 years as an arts and culture hub.
Constructed in 1917, WBPS holds the distinction of being Sydney’s longest serving metropolitan power station. Originally established to power the city’s tram network, the station later transitioned to powering the train system followed by the electricity grid in 1958. Forty years ago, in 1984, the site was decommissioned and has laid dormant ever since. The station earned a state heritage listing in 1999.
The restoration project was carried out jointly by heritage architecture firm Design 5 and FDC Construction and Fitout. Design 5 has been involved with the project for almost 16 years, demonstrating the rich, historical significance of the site.
During the project’s early stages, several historical findings were unearthed and discovered that had not been documented, such as rooms and spaces untouched for decades. The basement had collected 40 years worth of rainwater – equivalent to 1.2 million litres of contaminated water – that needed to be pumped out.
One of the key spaces preserved was the Boilerhouse, the largest structure on the WBPS site, standing 45 metres tall. As part of the preservation works, the building underwent extensive steel and metalwork repairs. 100-year-old bricks were retained where possible and reinforced with new bricks.
The conservation efforts undertaken included storing and cataloguing heritage items uncovered on site, reinstating heritage items, preserving machinery and structures from when the power station was operational, and providing urgent structural and conservation support to existing heritage protected fabrics.
View gallery
The restoration project was carried out jointly by heritage architecture firm Design 5 and FDC Construction and Fitout. Image:
Toby Peet
FDC operations manager, Ben Dircks, said the construction team required more than 3,600 tonnes of scaffolding to ensure the heritage-listed station was secure prior to commencing works. Furthermore, the scaffolding enabled the team to access areas that were not documented on plans.
“Every day was different. And we would discover new things about the building, adapt and have to be extremely innovative about how we would deal with many unforeseen structural challenges. It really gave us a sense of the people who built it 100 years ago – just admiration for their craftsmanship and ability to create such an impressive structure without modern day construction tools,” Dircks said.
The WBPS will house events for the upcoming 24th Biennale of Sydney starting on 9 March. More
The SA Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) is calling on students to submit applications for a grant of up to $15,000 as part of the Jack Hobbs McConnell Travelling Fellowship. The successful applicant must use the fellowship grant to undertake an independent program of research or course of further study in architecture […] More
Construction has begun on a $55 million medical research facility in Western Sydney.
Designed by a BVN-led team, the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur will consist of a “series of twisted boxes” that break down the mass of the five-storey building to create an “undulating form”.
The facility will be home to the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research – Macarthur, focusing on the research areas of diabetes, mental health, Indigenous health, paediatrics and child wellbeing, and addiction medicine.
The building will be adjacent to the redeveloped Campbelltown Hospital, designed by Billard Leece Partnership, within the broader Campbelltown Health and Education Precinct. The design aims to achieve a five-star certification from the Green Building Council of Australia.
The facility will feature the latest research technologies, laboratories, and collaboration spaces, and give the community access to clinical trials, serve local health needs and lead research of national significance and global impact.
View gallery
The structure will consist of a “series of twisted boxes” that break down the mass of the five-storey building. Image: BVN
“This is an incredible facility which will promote greater scientific, clinical and industry collaboration, deliver leading-edge diagnostics and bring the best in medical research to south western Sydney,” said David Harris, NSW Minister for Medical Research and Aboriginal Affairs.
“Researchers in this facility will focus on complex health challenges, including mental illness, diabetes, paediatrics, and addiction medicine, as well as helping close the gap in health outcomes for our of our Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.”
NSW premier Chris Minns added, “I am proud that medical research done in NSW can help improve people’s lives in areas such as diabetes and paediatrics.
“This will not only translate into improved patient outcomes in NSW, but also across Australia and globally.”
The facility is a partnership between UNSW Sydney, Western Sydney University, South West Sydney Local Health District and the Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research with support of Walker Corporation.
The Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur is due to open in 2025. More
A new $23.6-million social housing complex with 53 all-electric apartments has been established on the site of a former three-bedroom home in Melbourne.
Known as Women’s Housing Limited – West, the building provides stable, long-term homes for up to 100 individuals including First Nations women and women fleeing family violence. The complex is the latest in a series of projects designed by Clarke Hopkins Clarke for Women’s Housing Limited (WHL) in partnership with Urbanxchange.
The five-storey residential block comprises 53 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, each of which has been designed to meet the Livable Housing Design Guidelines.
The facade of the interconnected townhouses has been designed to be inconspicuous, helping to destigmatize social housing by blending into the residential landscape.
According to the design statement: “A robust podium provides strong presence at ground level, utilizing low-profile blockwork to invoke a residential home feel. Upper levels use lighter forms of low-profile aluminium cladding and warm, timber-look cladding to visually deconstruct the apartment form into a refined town-home typology from the street.”
View gallery
The facade of the interconnected townhouses has been designed to be inconspicuous, helping to destigmatize social housing by blending into the residential landscape. Image:
Peter Marko
Controlled access systems, passive surveillance areas and considered lighting, glazing and screening were carefully integrated throughout the building to establish safe and secure accommodation. A communal courtyard enables passive surveillance of children while they play.
The building’s entrance area incorporates bike storage zones, a shaded communal lawn and an on-site housing manager’s office. A playful entrance artwork by Yorta Yorta and Taungurung designer Tahnee Edwards seeks to create a welcoming, warm and pleasant atmosphere. “Distinctive colourways assist with wayfinding and imbue each level with its own distinct personality. The addition of vinyl prints will celebrate Woi-wurrung language and uplifting imagery such as local birds in flight,” the design statement says.
Passive environmental design principles were prioritized to minimize manual requirements for heating and cooling. Apartments are well insulated and naturally lit with windows that have been carefully positioned for cross-ventilation and visual access to communal spaces.
The rear courtyard by John Patrick Landscape Architects has been designed to be “flexible” and to provide residents with options for nature immersion, play, rest, leisure and group or social activities. Generous planters, timber seating, ambient lighting and native plantings have been introduced in the shared courtyard.
WHL, which funded the project in partnership with Homes Victoria, owns the building and will manage the site. More
Five early-career architects from across Australia have been selected winners of the 16th Australian Institute of Architects’ Dulux Study Tour. Founded in 2008, the tour celebrates the importance of first-hand experiences of architecture around the world.
Emma Chrisp, Flynn Carr, Jamileh Jahangiri, Mike Sneyd and Simona Falvo will embark on a 10-day tour of Tokyo, Berlin and Madrid in June 2024.
Jury chair and Australian Institute of Architects’ national president, Stuart Tanner, commended each applicant who submitted. “We saw a profound level of expertise, talent, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to the architectural profession demonstrated by each submission,” he said.
Jury citations
Emma Chrisp, Hayball (Vic)
View gallery
Emma Chrisp Image: supplied
Emma Chrisp’s awareness of the potential for connection and wellbeing through spatial design and architecture is a pivotal attribute. Her understanding of the potency of thoughtful and considered environments demonstrates an intellectual awareness of how people are moved by architecture.
Her strong people-focused approach is a key component of her commitment to quality, enriching outcomes. Her willingness to impart knowledge via the observation and assessment process was evident in her role as a juror for the Victorian Architecture Awards in 2023.
Emma’s involvement with practice in predominantly educational projects has given her an excellent understanding of what makes good space for people. Her burgeoning thinking around how cities might become more community-focused is highly relevant in societies grappling with exponential growth and climate change.
Flynn Carr, Susan Dugdale and Associates (NT)
View gallery
Flynn Carr Image: Supplied
As a generalist architect based out of Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Flynn Carr has put into practice his passion for addressing inequality, cultural issues and climate change in remote communities. Carr studied architecture at the University of South Australia, achieving a bachelor and a master’s degree. He completed a student internship at Foster and Partners, London before relocating to Alice Springs in 2016 to work with Susan Dugdale and Associates. While progressing from graduate architect to project architect and now associate at the practice, Carr has made significant contributions to several projects in Central Australia, including the Akeyulerre Healing Centre, the Northern Territory government’s Room to Breathe remote housing program, and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation (Congress) Health Hub. As an active member of the Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects and NT EmAGN, and an elected NT Chapter Councillor advocating for Alice Springs, Carr promotes conversations regarding regional and remote architecture through his practice and continuing professional development.
Jamileh Jahangiri, Studio Orsi (NSW)
View gallery
Jamileh Jahangiri. Image: Supplied
As the founder of Studio Orsi, a research- and design-focused architectural studio based in Seaforth, New South Wales, and a sessional academic at the University of Sydney, Jamileh Jahangiri has made significant contributions to the architectural profession in Sydney and beyond. Having completed her bachelor degree at the University College of Omran and Toseeh (UCOT) in Iran, and her master’s of architecture at the University of Sydney, she has practised in Iran with Maher and Associates, and in Australia with Gran Associates, TKD Architects and Cox, where she was project lead.
In 2023, Jahangiri was appointed as the Australian Institute of Architects’ Alternative Council Member to the International Union of Architects – Region IV. She has also been an active member on the Institute’s National Climate Action and Sustainability Committee, Sustainability Working Group, NSW Cities Committee, and EmAGN NSW, as well as the Northern Beaches Council – Strategic Reference Group. Through her teaching and numerous published works, Jahangiri supports and nurtures future built-environment professionals.
Mike Sneyd, EKD Architects (WA)
View gallery
Mike Sneyd. Image: Supplied
Working in the remote, hot and highly sensitive environment of the Kimberley, Mike Sneyd has shown resourcefulness and inventiveness to arrive at solutions that create social uplift in regional communities. He understands that the primary responsibility of architecture is to people.
Sneyd’s recognition of the vital intersection between architecture in the Kimberley and First Nations cultural exchange is clear in his healthcare project work and his involvement on regional advisory groups. His dedication to the profession is evident in his commitment to resourceful and people-centred development, despite the challenges of tight budgets and a volatile climate.
Although Sneyd’s work occurs in an isolated context, its broader impetus is instructive for the entire profession: observing the absence of community amenity and then initiating a solution is both generous and courageous.
Simona Falvo, Trower Falvo Architects (Vic)
View gallery
Simona Falvo. Image: Supplied
In her influential role as a design educator, Simona Falvo imparts not only technical skills but also a comprehensive understanding of the prospects and challenges awaiting her students as they enter the architectural profession. Her dedication to nurturing intellectual rigour in her practice and among her students reflects her commitment to cultivating a mindset that values critical thinking, creativity and attention to detail.
Falvo’s ability to bridge the gap between architectural practice and education, facilitated by her involvement in the Study Tour, will contribute to the holistic development of future architects. It will inspire students, allowing them to witness the dynamic interplay between theory and practice, empowering them to become well-rounded professionals poised to tackle the challenges and shape the future of the architectural landscape.
Jury
Stuart Tanner, national president, Australian Institute of ArchitectsAnna Svensdotter, Australian Institute of Architects representativePete Wood, national commercial business manager, DuluxChristina Earls, colour and commercial marketing manager, DuluxEdwina Brisbane, national EmAGN president representativeKaty Moir, previous Dulux Study Tour recipient More
