Architecture

The New South Wales Productivity Commission has thrown its weight behind affordable, higher density housing in inner-Sydney suburbs, after it identified a mass exodus of younger residents due to high housing costs.
A new paper published by the commission, “What we gain by building more homes in the right places,” found that 70,000 people aged between 30 and 40 left Sydney in the period between 2016 and 2021, and only gained 35,000 people.
The report blames restrictive planning and heritage rules in the inner city “are freezing young people out.”
“45,000 extra dwellings could have been built between 2017 and 2022, with no extra land, by allowing higher buildings,” said productivity commissioner, Peter Achterstraat.
“High housing costs work like a regressive tax, with the burden falling disproportionately on low-income earners.
“New apartments and townhouses in inner suburbs will let young families live near their parents and their children’s grandparents. The social benefits of abundant well-located homes are major.”
The report found that large swathes of inner city Sydney, including North Sydney Newtown, Edgecliff and Redfern are covered by Heritage Conservation Areas, which reduces the amount of land available for new housing near the city.
Achterstraat urged planning authorities to rein in NIMBYism and considered the long-term benefits of density near the city.
“We know from overseas that density done well provides benefits for households, communities, and the economy,” Achterstraat said.
“The key to progress from here is to listen to the opponents to change but also give due weight to the benefits of density and the views of the broader community.”
“High housing costs work like a regressive tax, with the burden falling disproportionately on low-income earners,” he continued. “Sydney is losing its 30–40-year-olds; if we don’t act, we could become known as the city with no grandchildren.”
Read the full report here. More

The ACT government has initiated a six-week consultation period to collate input on how to transform Canberra’s City Hill park – dubbed the “roundabout rabbit warren” – into a more inviting public space. The five-hectare landscaped hill, known as City Hill, was a key component of Marion Mahony and Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Canberra […] More

The establishment of a 71-storey, mixed-use building has been proposed in Brisbane, following the filing of a development application with Brisbane City Council.
The proposed building would be erected at 25 Mary Street and bordered by Margaret Street. The site previously obtained development approval for a 46-storey office tower, designed by BVN. Reworked plans by Koichi Takada Architects have led to a 25-storey height increase, a greater setback distance, modifications to the building’s form and a change in use from commercial to mixed-use, predominantly residential.
“The design draws inspiration from nature – the height of the proposal naturally invokes the impression of a tree trunk extending up into the sky, with the recreation levels as ‘nests’ that are inserted vertically throughout the height of the building,” said the architects in a design statement. “The materiality of the building seeks to emphasize this connection by making use of warm timber tones to the slab soffits.”
If constructed, the building would comprise one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, wellness amenities such as a gym, yoga rooms, basketball court and sauna, barbeque area, a lobby, and retail tenancy.
The tower features elevated urban parks that are visible from the street. These curved recreational areas have greenery spilling out from within and cascading down the building’s facade, breaking up and softening the hard, robust appearance of a conventional tower.

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A “timber waterfall” feature reveals itself on the podium, with greenery cascading down. Image:

Koichi Takada Architects

The building stands on a podium and is set back from the surrounding structures up to the 42nd level, as beyond this point, the skyline remains relatively unobstructed. The building is shaded on every floor with slab projections that provide protection from harsh weather.
Planning documents state the podium design “references the horizontality of the tower above at a more fine-grained scale.” A “timber waterfall” feature reveals itself on the podium, with greenery once again cascading down. Green walls are located on both sides of the podium to “soften the edges of the building.”
A retail tenancy on the ground level provides street-level activation. The lobby, also located on the ground floor, is a double height volume with a glazed entrance, creating “the opportunity for passive surveillance of the street,” plans state.

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Elevated urban parks are visible from the street. Image:

Koichi Takada Architects

The design team has integrated passive design strategies to maximize the flow of breeze and optimize natural light within the building through the incorporation of balconies, a primarily glazed facade, postioning of windows and the curved profile of the urban parks, which provide wind breaks for wind to pass through the tower rather than flowing straight up or down the building.
The tower has been design in accordance with Brisbane City Council’s Buildings that Breathe design guide. The upper level provides occupants with the ability to adjust and control ventilation intensity on their balconies through “highly engineered” ledge detail. These “breathable” balconies are sheltered and have been inspired by verandahs typically associated with traditional Queenslander houses. Natural ventilation slots have also been integrated into every floor, with wind sensors providing control over operation.
A synagogue that currently exists on the site would be retained.
Planning documents can be viewed on the Brisbane City Council development portal. More

Construction will soon be underway on the fit out of the Cutaway at Barangaroo in central Sydney.
The project, designed by FJC Studio, will create a new cultural facility over three levels and a new facade adjacent to Nawi Cove.
The Cutaway is located at the south end of Barangaroo Reserve, and has been a large concrete shell, partially open to the elements, since it first opened in 2015.
It had always been intended that it would be fit out to improve function, operations and visitor experience and reduce the noise impacts on neighbours.
In August 2022, FJMT (now FJC Studio) was appointed project architect for the fit out.

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Wound and healing are central to the design concept for the fitout for the Cutaway at Barangaroo by FJC Studio. Image:

FJC Studio

The project will enclose the open ceiling void with sound-proof glass skylights, create new event and gallery spaces, a dedicated First Nations education centre, an improved entry, as well as offices, on site amenities and back-of-house facilities, including a commercial kitchen.
FJC’s design is inspired by the concept of wound and healing – the wound being the damaging cut made in the headland to create a dock for container ships on the site in the 1970s, which has since been transformed into Barangaroo. The architects worked with a number of Aboriginal designers, including Dharawal Knowledge Keeper Shannon Foster; Bangawarra head of design Jake Nash, master of architecture graduate Matte McConnell (Wiradjuri), and Juliette Guadalupe-Foster (Guanani, Dharawal, Dharug, Gadi, Eora, Worimi), who participated in conversations with the Elders.
The design embraces the Aboriginal culture that was erased from the site, through a series of elements that will soften the harsh concrete shell.

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The improved entry to the Cutaway at Barangaroo by FJC Studio. Image:

FJC Studio

A Gibbagunya (stone cave shelter) will create a protective form within the space; Damun (Angophora and Fig tree-like structures) will rise from the rocky base; and Gunya (tree branches) will create protective canopies over the space and a focal point for gatherings. Patterns and markings on the Gunya will also reflect the skeletons of fish, a sign of Dharawal Salt Water ceremonies.
The Damun will also reach high above the Cutaway to mark the entrance to the space.
The development application for the project was approved in December 2023. FDC Construction has since been awarded the contract for the fit out. The works are expected to be complete in 2025. More

The Hawthorn Hawks Australian Football League (AFL) team will soon flock to a new home ground, with construction now underway at Kennedy Community Centre in south-east Melbourne’s Dingley Village.
Named in honour of Hawthorn icon, John Kennedy, the centre, designed by Peddle Thorp Architects, will house facilities for both the mens and womens teams. The new facility will serve as a permanent home base for Hawthorn, who have played majority of their home matches in Frankston with additional games in Box Hill and Cairns.

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The new facility will serve as a permanent home base for Hawthorn, who have played majority of their home matches in Frankston with additional games in Box Hill and Cairns. Image:

Peddle Thorp Architects

The 28-hectare site will comprise a AFLW home ground oval with a dedicated match day pavilion with a 500-seat grandstand, team change rooms, umpire change rooms, media facilities, coaches’ boxes and a function space. The centre will also include the Harris Elite Training and Administration Facility for all Hawthorn players, as well as an additional MCG-sized oval, a gymnasium, an indoor training facility and wet and dry recovery facilities.
The Kennedy Community Centre will not just be for present players, but for past players, members, fans and local community members. Hawthorn Football Club president, Andy Gowers, said the new sporting facility would “not only safeguard our football club’s future, but also create a long-term home for the entire Hawthorn family and local community.”

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The Kennedy Community Centre will not just be for current players, but for past players, members, fans and local community members. Image:

Peddle Thorp Architects

Hawthorn will be the only club in the league to own its own facility and the land on which it is situated.
The project was allocated $30 million by the Victorian and federal governments, with additional funding received by Hawthorn Football Club, Kingston City Council and the Australian Football League.
With construction now in progress, the project is expected to be completed in 2025. More

The Western Australian government has announced it will develop a new Urban Green Strategy for Perth and Peel to enhance greening and cooling of backyards, streets, open spaces and neighbourhoods.
The proposed strategy will complement the Western Australian Climate Policy and Climate Adaptation Strategy, as well as a $3.75 million urban greening grants program for local governments in the Perth and Peel areas.
“There are many benefits of green spaces for liveability, health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, and we are creating a strategy that will encourage, facilitate and enhance our urban green environment across all areas of government,” said environment and climate action minister Reece Whitby.
“Not only do trees improve our neighbourhoods, they can help with the cost of living – a tree that provides shade to your home can help to reduce your electricity bills.”
The strategy will explore elements such as measuring and reporting on tree canopy coverage, education and awareness, identifying and mitigating urban heat, and green linkages.
The strategy will also build upon existing policies to incentivize tree retention in the Design WA guidelines and the newly reintroduced medium density code.
The state government will work with local governments and other stakeholders to create urban greening projects.
“Urban greening is part of our strategy to create liveable, healthy communities while attracting viable infill development that balances the need for housing with quality of life and amenity,” said WA planning minister John Carey.
“We understand the impacts of climate change and the importance of green neighbourhoods, however, our ‘Urban Greening Strategy’ must be implemented without compromising the critical delivery of new housing supply that we desperately need.
“The strategy will focus on an incentive-based approach, rather than a punitive approach.”
The state government is inviting community input on the strategy until 7 June 2024. More

Rockhampton Regional Council has announced construction on a new visitor hub at the city’s zoo will soon get underway.
The $7.5 million project, designed by Cox Architecture, will create a new visitor entrance and public amenities block, that will be accessible from within the zoo as well as the broader Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.
Rockhampton Region Parks, Sport and Public Places Councillor Cherie Rutherford said, “The driver behind this project was to formalize the entrance to the zoo and create a central visitor hub that serves not only the zoo, but also the Botanic Gardens, as well as the need for additional restrooms within the zoo precinct, which we know has been very long overdue.”
The new entry will be relocated to the southern end of the zoo. A shared pedestrian and slow vehicle zone will replace some of the existing on-street car parking.
“The design of the new building and its surrounds have been carefully curated to minimize the impact of the well established landscape and to maximize the future opportunities of the zoo,” said Cox Architecture in a design statement.
“The hub is arranged as a simple extruded form on the edge of the zoo and the gardens culminating in a more dramatic entry building.
“The entry establishes a new circulation route through the zoo that supports development of new exhibits, equitable grade pathways, and shade and pause points.”
The new building will also accommodate a series of enclosures for the zoo’s native and exotic reptiles, as well as a gathering space, plaza, and a wildlife viewing verandah, thanks to the deep overhang in the building’s design.
The building will also feature a screen that takes inspiration from the nearby Hugo Lassern Fernery in the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.
Diversified Building Service was awarded the construction tender in January 2024 and the project is expected to be complete in June. More

HVG Facades has released a new high-density, fibre cement, exterior and interior cladding product called Vetérro. An alternative to paint, the panels feature a concrete-like appearance that subtly evolves in colour and tone with age to add character. Coloured panels have also been introduced as part of the exterior Vetérro range to enable the creation […] More