Architecture

Newly opened at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, the Australia Pavilion is now welcoming visitors. Designed by global architecture practice Buchan, this year’s pavilion responds to the exposition’s banner of “Designing Future Society for our Lives” with a design themed “Chasing the Sun.”
The practice noted in a media release that the design draws inspiration from the eucalyptus tree and gumnut, whose bloom is “a powerful symbol of new life and the boundless potential of future generations.”
According to Buchan, the pavilion’s colourful facade represents the gumnut bursting into flower. It is made from a soft, tensile fabric that the practice envisions as “a canvas for sharing Australia’s stories, innovation and creativity.” In addition, the light-permeable fabric is intended to capture changing shadows across the day to connect visitors with nature as part of the pavilion experience.
Underneath the fabric shell, the pavilion’s structure reuses a steel framework that was previously used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Buchan noted that the pavilion’s use of minimal construction materials and light-permeable building envelope together minimise the pavilion’s waste and energy use. For lead architect architect on the pavilion Nataly Ernst, these moves “showcase our nation’s design ingenuity” in the World Expo context, which she noted is “a great opportunity for architects to experiment and exchange ideas.”

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A cultural forecourt precinct outside the pavilion’s entry, designed with landscape architecture practice McGregor Coxall, is intended as a welcoming gathering point with music, theatre, dance and screen programming situated alongside a yarning circle for gathering.
The landscape idea continues as a “bush walk” within the pavilion’s exhibition. According to Buchan, this format “captures the experience of walking on Country” and was developed alongside Indigenous advisors Karrda as a way to amplify Indigenous culture and ways of knowing.
Buchan creative lead on the pavilion Dong Uong commented that the exhibition is an interactive journey that engages all the senses. “The experience ‘chases the sun’ across land, sky and sea Country, based on the structure and flow of the song lines that traverse the land and have shared knowledge between Indigenous people for millennia.”

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Throughout the exhibition, visitors are invited to engage with Australia’s natural environment and society. The exhibition aims to spotlight First Nations Australians’ connection to Country over tens of thousands of years, and how this ancient knowledge can help build a future society.
Alongside the exhibition, a special event zone features four function spaces, whose “colour and materials reflect Australian landscapes, and Australian design, art and craft features,” Buchan noted. The design of these spaces is intended to support the economic, cultural and social imperatives of Australia’s Expo participation, which include deepening Australia’s relationship with Japan, creating new opportunities for Australian businesses and showcasing contemporary Australia to the world.
“Our team is immensely proud of the Australia Pavilion, which showcases our unique country on the world stage and supports the enduring friendship between Australia and Japan,” Ernst said.
World Expo 2025 Osaka runs for six months from 13 April to 13 October 2025. More

A proposal for a mixed-use residential development is currently on exhibition on the NSW government’s state significant applications portal. Designed by A+ Design Group, the project involves the demolition of existing low-density, detached housing across 18 individual lots, and the construction of two new residential towers and two mid-rise apartment buildings in its place.
A total of 615 residential units are proposed on the site with 169 apartments (15 percent floor area) allocated as affordable housing, making the project eligible for increased height and floor space ratio bonuses under the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) (Housing). At its tallest point, the development is approximately six storeys above local council’s Development Control Plan (DCP).

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The proposal’s stepped architectural form ranges from 5 to 25 storeys in height and is situated above a landscaped podium. At the site’s centre, a terraced through-site link intended to enhance the site’s connectivity to its surrounds is also envisioned as a green corridor.
According to the design report authored by A+, this link “emphasises the immersive experience of nature […] with water playing a vital role in activating the garden space. As water flows through the site, it introduces dynamic changes in elevation, guiding movement and enriching the visitor’s connection with the landscape.”
Narratives around water have also informed the architectural articulation of the proposal. A+ notes that the interplay of vertical tower forms with the podium’s “rhythmic arrangement of vertical brick blades … reflects both the land’s movement and the fluidity of water, seamlessly merging architectural form with the natural world.”

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Developed in collaboration with Dharug artist Leanne Redpath, the proposal’s Connecting with Country strategy is, according to A+, “embedded in the development” through a visual language of “patterns and textures inspired by Dharug cultural motifs.”
Commercial and retail tenancies are proposed along the site’s north-eastern and north-western edges, totalling just over 8,000 square metres of floor area. Beneath the buildings, four levels of basement car parking are proposed.
The project is envisioned as a staged development, with the eastern tower and through-site link to be completed first, followed by the second tower and the communal open space on the west of the site.
The proposal is on exhibition and open to public comment until 22 April. More

Entries are now open for the Tapestry Design Prize 2025, a competition that challenges architects and interior designers to conceptualise a site-specific tapestry.
The competition, presented by the Australian Tapestry Workshop, invites architects and interior designers, either as individuals or as part of a team, to design a tapestry for a given site. This year’s chosen site is Boyd House II in Melbourne, designed by Robin Boyd for his family in 1957. Applicants will have the opportunity to create designs for five distinct spaces within the residence, with one finalist selected for each space.
The competition is open to architects and interior designers who live and work in Australia. The 2025 jury comprises director of design and product development at Nexus Designs Sally Evans; principal of Kennedy Nolan Patrick Kennedy, and the editor of InteriorsAu Cassie Hansen.

The most recent Tapestry Design Prize competition in 2023 was awarded to Beth George and Emerald Wise for their tapestry proposal titled Solstice, a design that was conceptualised for the hypothetical site of Bundanon Art Museum by Kerstin Thompson Architects. Other past sites include the National Gallery of Australia by Col Madigan, and Phoenix Central Park by John Wardle Architects and Durbach Block Jaggers.

Entries close 19 May 2025, followed by an announcement of five finalists in July. The finalist designs will be woven into tapestry and exhibited at the Boyd House II in November 2025. All five finalists will receive an artist fee of $1,000, while the people’s choice winner will earn an additional $1,000. The overall winner, announced on 13 November, will be awarded $5,000.
To find out more about the competition, visit the Tapestry Design Prize website. More

Gold Coast Open House (GCOH) will return on 27 and 28 September 2025. The free, annual program opens the doors to some of the Gold Coast’s most iconic buildings, inviting locals to discover the city’s architectural heritage alongside newly-complete projects.
Last year’s lineup included the Warehouses by J.AR Office, which won an Award for Commercial Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects 2024 National Architecture Awards. Winner of the Institute’s 2022 Queensland Architecture Awards, HOTA Gallery by ARM, and winner of the 2024 Gold Coast and Northern Rivers Chapter Regional Project of the Year Prize, Tallowwood Cabin by Fouché Architects, were also among the 2024 highlights.
Ahead of the September weekend, GCOH invites submissions from organisations and individuals, including building owners and custodians, architecture and design practices, urban and landscape designers and community groups who wish to communicate the importance of good design.
GCOH notes that community input helps them to curate a program that showcases the most intriguing and inspiring aspects of the Gold Coast’s built environment. Nominations can take the form of building submissions, or guided tour suggestions and pitches for panel discussions.
Expressions of interest can be made via the GCOH website until Monday 28 April. More

The Victorian government has launched the Great Design Fast Track – in their words, “a streamlined planning process for apartments and townhouses that demonstrate great design” – along with a nominations process for exemplar developments to be included in a State Design Book of “future homes.”
Both initiatives are part of a plan to support townhouses and apartments that, according to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny, “stand the test of time in quality, design, aesthetics, sustainability and cost.”
On their website, the state government notes that Great Design Fast Track (GDFT) is a new planning pathway intended to improve the approvals process for “well-designed apartment and townhouse developments that include eight or more homes between two and eight storeys, depending on the zone.”
Projects must meet seven distinct design criteria to qualify, “ensuring they are high-quality, long-lasting and good value for residents,” a communique from Premier Jacinta Allan’s office reads. According to the premier, “the Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) will review applications to confirm they meet these high standards.”
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate that their designs are good value – “this could be through innovative delivery models, modern methods of construction, or considering ways to minimise operational costs for the long-term,” the communique reads.
The designs must also target above-standard sustainability credentials, with apartments meeting an average 8-star rating on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) and townhouses achieving 7.5 stars.
According to the premier, applying projects “also need to accommodate well thought-out community spaces, consider green space and landscaping, and cater to the needs of different kinds of households.”
The premier’s release states that locals will retain their right to have their say on advertised developments under the new pathway, but the fast-tracked process means there will be no third-party appeals. Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny will be the authority responsible for approvals.
Kilkenny commented, “We know we need more homes, and we need them now – that’s why we’re making sure high-quality and well-designed townhouses and apartments get the green light sooner.”
Coinciding with the GDFT, the government has announced a State Design Book initiative to showcase exemplary housing projects across the state.
The first part of this book, which is published on the state government’s website, includes the seven principles of the GDFT and gives guidance about how they can be applied. In consultation with the public, the next part of the guide will comprise a collection of completed housing projects that the government deems “great designs” according to the criteria.
Eligible developments for inclusion in the State Design Book fall into three categories:

Townhouses (two to three storeys)
Low-rise apartments (up to five storeys)
Mid-rise apartments (up to eight storeys)

Victorians can nominate outstanding examples of well-designed homes through the Engage Victoria website. Applications close on 8 June, with the complete State Design Book expected to be published late this year. More

Construction is underway on a 50-storey tower that will soon rise above Sydney’s 127-year-old former City Tattersalls Club building on Pitt Street.
The $800 million project involves refurbishing three existing state heritage-listed buildings designed by Sheerin and Hennessy – including the former Tattersalls Club building (1891) – and establishing a contemporary tower above. The development, named Sydney House, will accommodate 241 residential units in the tower, as well as a 135-room hotel, commercial spaces, retail tenancies and “high-end” dining offerings in the podium.
BVN and FJC Studio have collaboratively handled the project design. BVN was engaged to design the new 50-storey tower after winning a design competition for the project in August 2020, while FJC Studio was appointed before the competition began to oversee all heritage design aspects of the redevelopment.

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As highlighted in a communique detailing BVN and FJC Studio’s design vision, the new tower is intended to have a distinct yet complementary identity to the three heritage buildings. The statement notes that the cantilevered form of the residential tower creates the impression that the tower is “hovering effortlessly above the hotel podium.” According to the designers, the decision to position the new structure with an offset to the existing buildings allows each new volume to develop its own character while ensuring that the heritage facades remain the primary focus at street level.
The tower features a scalloped fenestration inspired by the arched windows on the existing heritage facades. Principal of BVN Phillip Rossington said the contemporary reinterpretation of these arched details “subtly links the forms while also delineating new from old.”
“This complementary approach enriches the reading of the heritage buildings, so they’re appreciated in a new light.”

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As part of the project, FJC Studio will restore and adapt the interiors and facades of the three heritage buildings. Additionally, they have designed a new contemporary infill building, which will sit between the existing buildings and “complete the Pitt Street composition,” according to the communique.
Design director of FJC Studio Richard Francis-Jones said, “The new infill facade is distinctly modern with a depth, compositional character and material richness that complements the exceptional detail and beauty of the three [Victorian and Interwar Palazzo style] heritage facades.
“New entrances, awnings, and shopfronts are refined contemporary designs inspired by the geometry and grandeur of the restored Art Deco rooms within. This integrated architectural approach extends to the interiors where the restored late Victorian and Art Deco spaces are complemented by a new grand staircase and public artworks, creating a cohesive and enriched experience for occupants and visitors in a unique multi-era, mixed-use Sydney House.”
The development application for Sydney House received approval in November 2021. The excavation and demolition process is complete, with the structural form works now set to proceed. Construction is anticipated to be complete in late 2027. More

Construction on regional Victoria’s Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre is now underway, following the recent completion of the new Twelve Apostles viewing platform.
The new visitor centre, designed by Grimshaw Architects and Aspect Studios, will include an exhibition space, retail and hospitality offerings, office spaces, and a rooftop lookout with views of the Shipwreck Coast, as well as additional car and bus parking and new and upgraded road infrastructure. A new welcome garden will also be established.
The facility will serve as a space for educating visitors about the history of coast and the shipwrecks it has become renowned for.
The new centre forms part of the $126 million Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment, funded by the Geelong City Deal – a 10-year plan between all three levels of government aimed at revitalising and encouraging greater visitation to Geelong and the Great Ocean Road.

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The Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) has been involved throughout the design process. EMAC CEO Marcus Clarke said “the design is one that reflects Kirrae Whurrong culture and our shared history, while harmonising with the natural landscape.”
“It’s about sharing Land, Sky and Sea Country stories and giving everyone the opportunity to learn and experience these,” he said.
The Twelve Apostles is one of the most visited natural attractions in Australia.
Federal Minister for Regional Development and Local Government Kristy McBain said the site attracts almost two million visitors per year.
“It’s an exciting time for the Shipwreck Coast as we work together with the Victorian Government and local councils to continue making the region an amazing place to live, work and visit,” McBain commented.
The Twelve Apostles precinct projects are part of the wider Shipwreck Coast masterplan by McGregor Coxall and Denton Corker Marshall. The masterplan covers a 28-kilometre stretch of Great Ocean Road between Princetown and the Bay of Islands with a total of 72 projects. The Twelve Apostles viewing platform, also designed by McGregor Coxall and Denton Corker Marshall, was completed in early 2024.
Grimshaw Architects and Aspect Studios were appointed to design the visitor centre in April 2023. Construction on the Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre is anticipated to be complete in 2026. More

A proposal from the City of Darwin to develop a new Civic Centre has recently been approved by the Northern Territory Development Consent Authority (DCA), with the council having announced that works will commence shortly. Designs for the project by CA Architects were unveiled in November last year.
City of Darwin CEO Simone Saunders said the newly developed Civic Centre would transform the precinct with a community plaza and enhanced connection to Civic Park, while creating more community amenities.
“The new Civic Centre will be accessible and inclusive, featuring a larger library with an expanded footprint as well as meeting rooms and function spaces that can be booked by the community,” Saunders said. The public program of the building will be accompanied by office space – a portion of which will be used by City of Darwin’s administration and technical services staff.

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The new building will be built on the site of a current car park adjacent to Darwin’s existing civic hub, which will be demolished upon completion of the new centre. In its place, a new plaza will be created.
According to their media release, the council envisions the plaza as “a space where people can visit, connect with others, and engage in community and business activities and events.” They note that “the new plaza will also respect and give prominence to Galamarrma, the Tree of Knowledge” – an existing Banyan tree within the existing entry courtyard that’s significant to the local community.
The City of Darwin has partnered with local construction company DCOH in order to build the $150 million building. In a media release, the council notes that they are investing $77 million into the project, including $41 million into the council’s portion of the new building, $30 million in public car parking and $6 million in landscaping and revitalisation of the current Civic Centre site.
The remainder of the construction costs will be covered by DCOH, who will own and operate the commercial space on floors 11 to 20 of the building. According to council, the partnership “creates efficiencies in the costs to build the new Civic Centre, however City of Darwin will retain majority ownership of the land and the building.”
Managing director and CEO of DCOH Shane Dignan said the development approval brings excitement for DCOH in their efforts to contribute to local industry.
“Growing Darwin and the territory is something DCOH prides itself upon, and we are thrilled to be taking the next step towards this with the new Civic Centre” he said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this architectural landmark project since its inception.”

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In their communique, the council notes that the “project has been in planning for over four years, and the final procurement process had probity oversight in place to ensure all requirements were met.”
The project has amassed mixed reactions. At the DCA meeting on 21 March when the project was granted approval, Australian Institute of Architects chapter president Miriam Wallace expressed to the authority that “the revised design did very little to address the concerns raised by the authority in its deferral” noting that it “provides bare minimum facility to the street and the public realm, and in no way addresses the request to provide an active street facade.” Other architects and Institute members present at the meeting also voiced concerns.
Construction is expected to begin early in this year’s dry season, which runs from May to October, and be complete in 2028. More