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Acoufelt has released four new colour variations in their acoustic felt panel range Filasorb, with each new shade inspired by a season. The FilaSorb felt range has been designed to absorb noise within an interior space. The panels work well when integrated into settings where sound travels and reverberates around the space in a way […] More
Arup, Breathe and TCL landscape architects have been selected as the design consortium responsible for delivering the masterplan for a new, mixed-use community comprising 1000 homes in Thebarton, Adelaide.
Under the billion dollar plans, an 8.4-hectare site on Port Road will be redeveloped to include a mixed-use community of 1,000 new homes (20 percent affordable), public green space, as well as commercial, retail, hospitality and government tenancies.
The masterplan will expand on the preliminary vision set out by Renewal SA following its purchase of the former West End Brewery site from Lion Beer Wine and Spirits in September.
The proposed redevelopment will feature biophilic spaces that evoke feelings of tranquillity through the integration of natural materials, visual connections to nature, natural light, vegetation, and other elements inspired by the natural world. The objective of these spaces will be to improve well being, productivity and quality of life.
Arup – the principal urban design consultant on the master plan – and its consortium was selected from a shortlist of local, national and international contenders during an open market tender process.
“We are delighted to be appointed as urban design team to lead this exciting masterplan together with Renewal SA for the rejuvenation of the former West End Brewery site. Collectively, we bring a culture of innovation forged internationally and locally and rising to the challenges of complex urban environments through a collaborative design-led process,” Arup design director Malcolm Smith said.
“Our team will look at the formation of this mixed-use residential community through a triple bottom-line lens, exploring how each element can work in harmony to achieve environmental, financial and social sustainability.
“Our design team is committed to regenerative practices, instilling vitality in urban spaces through sustainable, restorative, and community-centric approaches. We look forward to engaging with the community to inform this masterplan, harnessing local insights for co-creating urban spaces that resonate culturally and respond to community need.”
Renewal SA stated the project will aim to achieve positive community outcomes, such as introducing welcoming public spaces and activated streets that can accommodate a diverse mix of events, supplying increased housing diversity, engaging with the Kaurna community to interweave Culture and Country into the project, raising awareness about the site’s historical buildings and stories, and delivering ecological and community benefits by connecting the site to the Karrawirra Parri/River Torrens.
Work will begin immediately on the development of a master plan for the site. Construction is expected to commence in 2025, with the first residents anticipated to move in in 2027. More
Hobart’s Macquarie Point Stadium proposal faces an uncertain future, following the Tasmanian Heritage Council’s decision to permanently include the Hobart Railway Goods Shed, situated at the stadium’s intended location, on the state heritage register.
The Goods Shed, constructed in 1915 to store items for transportation via the state’s former railway network, was deemed by the heritage council to be “rare.” The shed, located on Evans Street, served the railway system until the 1970s, after which it was transformed into a transit warehouse for road transport. In recent years, the structure has been used to accommodate temporary entertainment and cultural events.
The Tasmanian Heritage Council determined on 17 April to permanently include the structure on the state heritage register, therefore ensuring its protection from demolition.
In its report, the council highlighted that the Goods Shed satisfied two heritage criteria: firstly, the site is important to the course or pattern of Tasmania’s history, and secondly, the site possesses uncommon or rare aspects of Tasmania’s history.
“As a building associated with the state’s former rail transport network, the Hobart Railway Goods Shed is rare in the Tasmanian context. Within its class of place it is an unusually extensive building,” the report states.
“The Goods Shed illustrates a historical function which is no longer practised. It is one of very few comparable places across Tasmania that still demonstrates evidence of the operations of the Tasmanian Government Railways during the 20th century,” the council adds. “The … shed is a notable example of the development of rail transport, and of the development of Sullivans Cove and Hobart as a centre for trade, including the export of fruit, from World War I onwards.”
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In its report, the heritage council highlighted that the goods shed satisfied two heritage criteria. Image:
Hobart Goods Shed website
The single-storey shed is timber-framed and rectangular in shape, with majority of its facade covered in painted corrugated steel sheeting. It measures at approximately 115 metres in length and 24 metres in width.
The shed roof, a pair of side-by-side gabled volumes; interior timber framing and trusses; original openings formerly occupied by timber sliding goods doors, and narrow, textured glass panels within white-painted timber frames were all considered of high heritage significance.
A draft precinct plan for the redevelopment of Macquarie Point, including the introduction of a multi-purpose stadium was released by the Tasmanian government in October 2023. The plans, produced by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation with Cox Architecture, now seemingly hang in the balance.
The shed is currently owned by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation. More
An innovative social housing project has been opened in Sydney’s Marrickville by the New South Wales housing minister Rose Jackson.
Designed by SJB and Dangar Barin Smith, Nightingale Marrickville is a unique partnership between Fresh Hope Communities, an arm of the churches of Christ in NSW and ACT, and not-for-profit housing provider Nightingale Housing.
The project utilises church-owned land to provide 54 small-footprint apartments to eligible residents at 80 percent of the market rate for rent. The project is Nightingale Housing’s first rental development.
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Nightingale Marrickville designed by SJB and Dangar Barin Smith consists of 54 “Teilhaus”-style studio apartments. Image:
Tom Roe
The studio apartments, which range between 22 and 31 square metres, are designed in a “Teilhaus”-style, or German for “part of house.” They are complemented by a range of shared spaces, such as a large kitchen, dining area, laundry and a garden terrace, aimed at fostering community, as well as two commercial spaces on ground floor earmarked for a hospitality venue and a gallery.
“We can all agree that we’re living in a housing crisis. The potential for quality, intelligent and community-centred design to address it has been under-appreciated for far too long. Nightingale Marrickville is an example of how mid-rise developments can be a potential solution, by providing high density, comfortable, affordable, and beautiful homes for the community,” said SJB director, Adam Haddow.
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Nightingale Marrickville designed by SJB and Dangar Barin Smith includes a range of shared spaces such as communal kitchen and dining area. Image:
Tom Roe
Residents of Nightingale Marrickville were chosen through a ballot system, and were subject to income caps of $97,000 for individuals and $126,125 for couples and $145,500 for single-parent families. In addition, First Nations people, single women over 55, and people living with disabilities were given to the ballot. In all, 177 people applied and successful residents began moving in early April.
The development is also fossil fuel free and car free, thanks to its close proximity to Marrickville railway station. It also uses a range of sustainable materials that reduce waste, including kitchen surfaces and robes that are made from a recycled paper product, flooring made from raw cocoa husks and natural binder, and a wall system made from proprietary materials set out using original dimensions avoid construction waste.
“It’s been great to team up with Fresh Hope Communities on a shared vision to address the pressing need for affordable housing in Sydney’s Inner West. We hope this is the first of many projects like it,” said Nightingale Housing CEO Dan McKenna.
The proponents hope that the project would inspire other church and charity organisations, that own land, to initiate similar projects. “This project embodies our collective vision of creating affordable communities that lower barriers so that people doing it tough can find ‘home’ and a sense of belonging,” said Fresh Hope Communities CEO Dan Dwyer. More
The National Gallery of Victoria 2024 Melbourne Design Week will include more than 300 talks, tours, exhibitions, installations and workshops throughout an 11-day festival.
The program will see the return of a number of festival regulars, including the Melbourne Art Book Fair and the announcement of the Melbourne Design Week Award. Here, we’ve rounded up seven festival highlights for Melbourne’s architectural community.
23 to 31 May
The Australian Institute of Architects exhibition held at the Brickworks Showroom features archival drawings shared by Victorian architecture firms and depict some of the state’s most iconic buildings in their embryonic states. The drawings showcase the evolution of architectural documentation practices and techniques from 1947 to the present day, including drawings produced by Robin Boyd for the Small Homes Service.
24 May, 6–7 pm
The roundtable discussion explores personal experiences of migration and architecture, shedding light in the opportunities, barriers and inequities faced by women from cultural diverse backgrounds who work in the architecture, design and built environment professions. The conversation builds on issues raised in an edition of Architect Victoria, guest edited by Marika Neustupny, Mirjana Lozanovska and Maryam Gusheh with Helen Duong and Sonia Sarangi that emphasised the importance of inclusion and cultural diversity in architecture.
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Urban Landscape Cake Competition Image:
Emily Wong
25 May
Presented by Second Place, this event explores issues of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and built environment practice through the edible medium of cake. The competition challenges a selection of Melbourne-based landscape architecture studios to reimagine an under-developed site in Melbourne’s CBD as parkland, and present that vision in the form of an edible cake. The event includes live judging of the cake designs by a panel of experts as well as panel discussion on designing for biodiversity and non-human ecologies.
Melbourne Design Week Film Festival
Various dates
Always a popular feature of Melbourne Design Week, the film festival features a number of documentaries that explore the impact of design and architecture in shaping communities, cities and the environment. This year’s festival includes films on the work of mid-century architect and designer Eliot Noyes, Le Corbusier and his work in the Indian city of Chandigarh, the life and work of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, and a “cinematic meditation” of a modernist glass skyscraper in São Paulo.
Tosin Oshinowo Keynote
26 May, 4–5 pm
Nigerian architect Tosin Oshinowo will present a keynote lecture on architecture and urbanism in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and diverse design approaches to meet cultural and climatic needs. Oshinowo founded Lagos-based Oshinowo Studio in 2013 and has completed projects throughout Nigeria. She is known for her socially responsive approaches to architecture, design and urbanism. She was co-curator of the Lagos Biennial in 2019 and in 2023 she curated the second Sharjah Architecture Triennial.
Maggie Edmond A. S. Hook Address
28 May, 6–8 pm
Retroactively awarded the 2003 Gold Medal, Maggie Edmond will present her A. S. Hook address, as is customary for all Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medallists, at the 2024 Melbourne Design Week. The 2003 Gold Medal was originally only awarded to Edmond’s business and life partner Peter Corrigan. In 2023, the Australian Institute of Architects amended the accolade to rightfully reflect the partnership.
Designed by Women
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The Lyceum Club. Image by Ellison Harvie, 1957, Architect, Stephenson & Turner, principal designer, Ellison Harvie. Image:
RMIT Design Archives
28 May
This special collection of archival drawings depicts the architectural evolution of an elite women’s club in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. Located in Ridgeway Place, the Lyceum Club was originally designed by modernist architect (Edythe) Ellison Harvie, and further developed by Berenice Harris with its most recent addition by Kerstin Thompson Architects. This event also includes a panel discusson between Eli Giannini, Kerstin Thompson and Julie Willis on the club’s various transformations over the past 70 years.
Design and Death, Time Immemorial
1 June, 9:30 am – 4 pm
The satellite program presented by Open House Melbourne that explores the relationship between design and death and how spaces of burial can provide insights on how we live. Held at Bunurong Memorial Park, the event includes a panel discussion on designing the park’s new Miscarriage Memorial, a discussion on designing inclusive spaces to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of mourners, as well as a tour of the park’s memorial landscapes. Open House Melbourne will also host a Design and Death Symposium.
A number of architecture practices will also be presenting events, including Gray Puksand, Cox Architecture, McBride Charles Ryan, Bates Smart, Snøhetta, Woods Bagot, Nic Brunsdon, Wardle, Architectus, BVN, Clarke Hopkins Clark, Baracco and Wright, Plus Architecture, ARM Architecture and Techne Architecture and Interior Design.
See the full festival program on the Melbourne Design Week website. More
International design teams have been invited to take part in an open design competition for a new museum in Helsinki’s South Harbour, anticipated to open in 2030.
The 10,000 square metre building will house a national museum of architecture and design, following the amalgamation of the Design Museum Helsinki and the Museum of Finnish Architecture in January 2024.
The museum’s collection will exceed 900,000 artefacts, comprising objects, correspondence, models and photographs documenting the work of internationally renowned design practitioners such as Aino and Alvar Aalto, Eero Aarnio, Maija Isola, Eliel and Eero Saarinen, Paavo Tynell, alongside design brands such as Marimekko, Nokia and Fiskars.
The Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design has secured €120 million (AU$197 million) in public funding for the building, half from the City of Helsinki and the other half from the State of Finland. This is supplemented by €30 million (AU$50 million) to be raised from private donors, with a €20 million (AU$33 million) donation secured from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.
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The museum’s collection will exceed 900,000 artefacts, comprising objects, correspondence, models and photographs documenting the work of internationally renowned design practitioners. Image:
Sami Saastamoinen
The first phase of the two-stage competition has commenced with the deadline for stage one submissions scheduled for 29 August 2024. Three to five designs from stage one will then be selected to progress through to stage two of the competition. Each of the shortlisted teams will be notified in December 2024 and will receive an award of €50,000 (AU$83,000) each.
Stage two will be held over February to May 2025. An international jury comprised of architects, cultural experts and policymakers will judge the competition. The winner to be revealed in September 2025. At the end of the competition, the judging panel will award three prize positions and two purchases totalling €150,000 (AU$248,000).
The jury includes Gus Casely-Hayford (director of V&A East); Beatrice Galilee (co-founder of The World Around); Kaarina Gould (chief executive of the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design); Salla Hoppu (leading architect, City of Helsinki); Riitta Kaivosoja (director general, Ministry of Education and Culture); Beate Hølmebakk (partner, Manthey Kula Architects); Matti Kuittinen (Aalto University); Miklu Silvanto (AD Museum); Anni Sinnemäki (City of Helsinki); Sari Nieminen (Architectural Office Sari Nieminen), and Hannu Tikka (APRT Architects). Architect and vice chair of the board of Real Estate Company ADM Mikko Aho will chair the jury, with assistance from vice chair Juha Lemström (chair of Real Estate Company ADM board).
“Helsinki has an international reputation for architecture and design that reflects the strong belief in good design as a means for living well that is present in all Nordic societies. We’re delighted to launch this international open competition to find an architect for the new museum of architecture and design,” said jury chair Mikko Aho.
“The open competition is a strong component of the tradition of architecture in Finland that opens the commission up to exciting concepts from designers at any stage in their career – from undiscovered talent to established names.
“This new museum will enhance Helsinki’s global profile as a capital of design by placing the subject at the heart of the urban renewal of the South Harbour, one of the city’s most significant waterfront sites. We’re delighted to bring this project forward to create social benefits, provide new employment, attract international visitors and generate commerce in Helsinki.”
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The 10,000 square metre building is anticipated to open in 2030. Image:
Sami Saastamoinen
The competition has been arranged by the Real Estate Company ADM, owned by the City of Helsinki and the State of Finland and the Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design, in collaboration with the City of Helsinki and the Finnish Association of Architects (SAFA).
An online seminar outlining the project brief will be held on 24 April 2024. To find out more about the competition, visit the website. More
Construction has begun on a new public waterfront park on the north bank of Birrarung/Yarra river, designed by Oculus.
The park is located between the Mission to Seafarers heritage building and Seafarers bridge, which connects to South Wharf. When complete, it will form part of the Maritime precinct of the City of Melbourne’s Greenline project.
“We cannot underestimate the value of access to high-quality public space to connect people to each other and their environment, particularly in dense urban areas,” said Oculus associate director Claire Martin. “Birrarung is a place of great importance and connection and it carries a lifetime of maritime stories too. We are thrilled to see this brought to life through this truly considered park design.”
The design acknowledges both the Indigenous cultural heritage and maritime history of the area. It will include expansive lawn areas that will connect the river promenade to new pathways, with dog-friendly access, an events deck, seating for various activities, as well as rope swings, and a curated collection of local maritime artefacts.
The design also prioritises biodiversity, habitat, urban resilience with intelligent landscaping, green infrastructure and water management.
The park is a collaboration between developer Riverlee, City of Melbourne, 1 Hotel and Oculus.
It is part of Riverlee’s Seafarers precinct redevelopment which transforms the heritage-listed Goods Shed No. 5 into a mixed-use precinct with a hotel and hotel-branded residences, designed by Fender Katsalidis.
The waterfront park, to be known as Seafarers Rest, is due to be complete in late 2024 and upon completion, it will be transferred back to the City of Melbourne.
“Seafarers Rest and the broader precinct marks a transformative milestone in the rejuvenation of Melbourne’s Northbank,” said Riverlee development director David Lee. “Together with the City of Melbourne, we’re revitalising this underutilised and forgotten urban space, reclaiming it as a safe and vibrant green haven for all Melbournians and visitors to enjoy.” More
A development application has been filed for the Wiradjuri Tourism Centre in Dubbo, New South Wales, with plans featuring a Yarning Circle building, a bush food garden and an outdoor performance space.
The $14 million proposal has been lodged with Dubbo Regional Council. The Wiradjuri Tourism Centre would be sited at 2 Coronation Drive, within Elizabeth Park. The main architectural feature of the proposal is a central building called the Yarning Circle, which comprises a museum, and educational and event spaces.
As the name suggests, the Yarning Circle building is circular in form. Designed by Peter Stutchbury Architecture with Yerrabingin, the facility aims to provide a space for healing, storytelling, communication, visitation and respect. The circularity of the building symbolises “occupation and infinity” in reference to First Nations culture and history.
“The budget drives our elemental approach to the architecture – the desire to create a place to celebrate establishes our methodology,” said Peter Stutchbury Architecture in a design statement. “We consider the building as a collection of rooms, subdivided by occupations. The room is a place on the land, it protects and allows culture to regroup, to rekindle what is real.
“Communication around the room is efficient, branching off the central veranda. The opening to the sky is like a sundial, shifting light and shade around the internal face of the building. Planning is direct and coherent, accessible to external servicing as required or orientated to courtyards; weather is considered as a partner to the building’s energy. This project goes beyond a brief, it is a story of culture, respect and healing. An ancient footprint with a beating heart.”
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A courtyard called the Hearth lies at the centre of the ring-shaped Yarning Circle building. Features of the Hearth include a fire pit and seating. Image:
Peter Stutchbury Architecture
In its current condition, the site consists of turf with some exotic tree species. A recently completed adventure play space and upgraded landscape space with yarning circle is located adjacent. Under the plans, endemic plant species will be re-introduced to encompass and weave throughout the building, including a central courtyard. Where possible, natural stone materials sourced locally will be used for the outdoor environment.
A courtyard called the Hearth will lie at the centre of the ring-shaped Yarning Circle building. Features of the Hearth include a fire pit, a reflective water feature, a rock crossing and seating.
External to the Yarning Circle building, outdoor rooms have been proposed to serve as performance, reflection and ceremonial spaces. Among these outdoor rooms is the Holding Place building, a shaded building with seating for private contemplation and cultural gatherings. Another of these rooms, the Outdoor Gallery and Performance space, is open to the elements and less formal than the Holding Place.
A bush food garden accommodating edible and medicinal plants would also be established within the landscape.
Peter Stutchbury Architecture was awarded the project in 2021. The development application is on exhibition until 9 May 2024. More
