Architecture

The Victorian government has announced the locations of the next 25 “train and tram” activity centres across Melbourne. With the aim of easing the current housing crisis, the centres are intended to deliver more than 300,000 additional homes close to jobs, services and transport by 2051.
The news follows last year’s announcement to expand the government’s ten Activity Centres with an additional 50 locations – 25 of which have been named so far. The locations of train and tram zones were chosen based on an analysis of transport capacity, access to jobs and services, and environmental considerations.

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Five stations along the Cranbourne/Pakenham Line add to the seven Metro Tunnel line destinations already slated for densification. These include Caulfield, Springvale, Noble Park, Yarraman and Dandenong Stations, along with Carnegie, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham Stations.
Along the Frankston Line, the four additional stations announced are Glen Huntly, Ormond, Bentleigh and Mentone. These join Toorak, Hawksburn, Armadale and Malvern Stations.
The four locations newly announced along the Sandringham Line include South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor and Elsternwick Stations, adding to North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham Stations.
On the Alamein Line, two new centres include Ashburton Station, and a combined Activity Centre for Riversdale and Willison stations.
The Glen Waverley Line also includes two new centres at East Malvern and Holmesglen Stations, adding to the three locations already announced, which include Tooronga Station, Darling Station, plus a combined location covering both Gardiner and Glen Iris Stations.
In the north, Coburg and Brunswick stations have been targeted along the Upfield Line, and Heidelberg Station added on the Hurstbridge Line.
Along key tram corridors, three newly slated Activity Centres include two centres in Darebin along High Street and St Georges Road, and one in Boroondara at Kew Junction.
Finally, the state government will work collaboratively with councils on two “city-wide” activity centres in the Inner City (Yarra) and Inner City (City of Melbourne).
At each of the Activity Centre locations, new planning controls are designed to encourage higher-density housing. According to a release from Premier Jacinta Allan, “The vision for train and tram zones is gentle density, with more multi-storey residential buildings in the immediate ‘core’ at the station or tram corridor, with gentler, scaled height limits and more low-rise apartments and townhouses alongside existing houses in the walkable catchments surrounding.”
In order to roll out the Activity Centres, the government plans to work with councils to progressively introduce planning controls. “Lengthy structure planning processes – which can take up to five years – will be reduced to around 12 months through this program […] The process for all 50 new centres is likely to be complete by early 2026,” the release reads.
According to the state government website, the first 25 centres will be delivered in 2 tranches over the next 12 months. Consultation with community on the first tranche of train and tram zones will open in April, with local residents soon provided with information on how to have their say.
The plans for the 10 initial activity centres are currently being finalised and are scheduled to be implemented by the end of March. More

Kangan Institute has opened the doors to its new Health and Community Centre of Excellence – a vocational education facility located in Broadmeadows, in Melbourne’s north. According to Architectus, who designed the project, the facility is designed “to tackle Australia’s urgent shortage of skilled professionals in the care and support sectors.”
The new centre is situated opposite parkland within a mixed-use precinct. Visibility and accessibility have been key drivers in the architectural approach, with the aim of opening the centre’s learning environment to the broader community. Drawing inspiration from the nearby waterway, Architectus has created a facade with brick patterning that touches on themes of life and recalls the cellular patterns of an ultrasound image.

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Inside, interactive education spaces spanning three levels have been designed to support Kangan Institute’s blended learning model – in Architectus’s words, “fostering collaboration and real-world application.”
The centre includes simulation labs for practical skills-based training in nursing, pathology, aged care, childcare and disability support; an adaptable theatre, where students can experience augmented and virtual reality scenarios or engage in traditional theatre-style learning; and light-filled atria and informal study areas, offering flexibility in accessing learning resources.

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Within the three-storey entry foyer, a sculpture by First Nations artists Aunty Kim Wandin and Christine Joy titled Three Bilangs incorporates “the colours of ochre on Wurundjeri Country […] reinforcing the centre’s deep cultural connections and commitment to inclusivity,” the architect’s statement notes. Elsewhere, the building’s materials include natural wood and inlaid bricks.
Digital technologies have been essential in enhancing learning experiences throughout, with the building “integrating hands-on learning with tech-enabled simulation spaces to inspire and equip the next generation of healthcare and community service professionals,” Architectus’s statement reads.

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The immersive theatre allows students, teachers and industry professionals to be surrounded by projection screens in order to simulate complex care environments. According to the architect, similar “virtual and augmented reality applications extend to various learning spaces, equipping students with cutting-edge tools to prepare for real-world challenges.”
Architectus principal Ruth Wilson said, “We want to show people with vocations in the caring professions that they are valued, by giving them a state-of-the-art environment in which to study, build their skills and build the collegiate relationships and friendships that will follow them in their careers.”

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According to a statement from Kangan Institute and TAFE Victoria, over 1,000 students will train at the facility in 2025, with that number set to double from 2026. These students will have access to placements and pathways available through Kangan Institute’s collaboration with universities, industry and community partners.
The Health and Community Centre of Excellence is intended to revitalise Broadmeadows and connect Kangan Institute with the surrounding Broadmeadows Town Park and civic centre. Architectus notes that “this investment in education not only enhances workforce development but also contributes to a more thriving and connected northern corridor.” More

The City of Sydney is seeking nominations from built environment professionals to join their Design Advisory Panel, Design Advisory Panel Residential Subcommittee and Pubic Art Advisory Panel.
The panels have been established to provide the City of Sydney with independent expert advice about planning, urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, heritage, public art and sustainability, with the aim of achieving design excellence. Advice from these panels informs design, planning and development applications, as well as the city’s strategies, policies, plans and projects.
Panel members must be highly recognised in their respective professions and possess the relevant skills and experience to provide strategic and independent expert advice, insights and guidance on relevant issues. For the Design Advisory Panel Residential Subcommittee, this includes deep knowledge of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP) and the Apartment Design Guide; for Public Art, a background in curating, public art, art education or architecture, or expertise in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art; and for the Design Advisory Panel, experience in urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, sustainable design and the arts.
If successful, candidates will enter a pool from which future members will be appointed. Terms last for up to three years and typically include a 3–4 hour in-person meeting during business hours every 4–6 weeks.
The City of Sydney encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Australian South Sea Islander people, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ and culturally diverse communities to nominate for these panels.
Applications are open online and close 21 March 2025. More

Northern Territory planning minister Joshua Burgoyne has approved a development application for five residential buildings, up to six storeys in height, and a single-storey office building in Alice Springs’ city centre. The complex is designed to accommodate a mix of public and private housing to accommodate transient workers.
Located on Todd Street, the vacant site was once home to public housing, and later a backpackers hostel known as Melanka, but has remained vacant since 2009. Proposals to redevelop the land have been approved twice before – in 2010 and in 2015.
In a social media post, Burgoyne stated, “We need big investment in our town to get things moving again. I remember seeing the old Malankas [sic] being torn down. After more than 15 years of nothing but talk. We now have a government taking action to rebuild our economy.”

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The approved development has been designed by DKJ, whose director David King Jones has been based in Alice Springs for a decade and in the NT for more than 45 years. The practice’s initial scheme for the site, submitted in mid-2024, proposed 174 apartments. A petition to oppose the project was initiated by councillor Marli Banks in October 2024 due to height and community impact concerns around accommodating fly-in-fly-out workers.
The approved complex includes 144 apartments, 50 percent of which will be acquired by the NT government. According to the architect, “The design specifically rejects an institutional solution and provides a sculptural piece of domestic scale urban art, integrated with the landscape.”
“The design of the Melanka Accelerated Accommodation recognises its contribution to establishing a sense of arrival, acknowledging the existing built form, landscape, and precinct, while concurrently respecting and enhancing the unique visual avenue characteristics of Gap Road and Todd Street,” the architect’s statement reads.
The statement further notes that the scale of the six-building development relates to the adjacent hospital precinct and is united “with a common architectural scale and design language. The finishes, colours and details are restrained to reduce visual bulk and combined with the screens provide modelling, depth and interest to the built form.”
A collection of existing trees, including a boab tree, have been retained with the intention to create urban landscaped spaces that enhance these trees.
According to the architect, “Melanka Accelerated Accommodation Development is conceived as a significant urban and carefully crafted architectural statement that assists with wayfinding, but also acknowledges and enhances the unique qualities of its locality. By contributing to the visual appeal of the streetscape, fostering a sense of community, and serving as a wayfinding landmark, Melanka makes a major contribution to the fabric of Alice Springs.” More

American-born practice Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) has opened a new studio in Melbourne’s Union Bank Chambers building in the CBD.
The business employs architects, designers, engineers and planners to undertake projects. Designed to accommodate up to 24 employees, the 234-square-metre studio is led by partners Scott Duncan, Adam Semel and Doug Voigt; structural engineer Aaron Mazeika; urban designer Michael Powell; and architects Jorge Ortega, Jarrad Morgan, Ariana Rodriguez, Justin Chen and Chris Whelan.

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Located on the third floor of the almost century-old bank chambers building, the studio retains the original architectural framework while incorporating contemporary, low-carbon materials such as Tasmanian oak, marble and polished concrete. According to a communique by SOM, the office is designed with the intention to accommodate different working styles and “encourage staff to work beyond their desks.” As such, the studio comprises quiet rooms, open workstations, a conference room, lounge areas, a wellness room and an outdoor terrace.

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The release adds that the project “has achieved improvements in embodied carbon emissions of 57 percent. This was possible by integrating Circular Economy concepts into the design strategy, such as ‘build nothing’, in-situ retention, and maximising bio-based products such as internal partitions made in Tasmanian oak veneer with MDF [Micro Density Fibreboard] backing in lieu of conventional building materials.”
SOM’s recent Australian commissions include the Melbourne Jam Factory redevelopment and a new tech hub called Central Place Sydney, both of which are under construction.
“This studio marks a significant milestone in our commitment to Australia, after more than 50 years of working here,” said SOM partner Adam Semel. More

Nine individuals have been shortlisted for the Walls Around Us Student Competition, which invites architectural students to reimagine the site of Boyd’s Walsh Street House in Melbourne.
The successful candidate will be awarded a trip to Venice, Italy, to experience the Vernissage of the 2025 Architecture Biennale.
The competition was open to students enrolled in an architectural course at an Australian university during 2024. Entrants were required to conceptualise a contemporary design that engages with themes of circularity and reuse, yet also draws inspiration from Boyd: his ideas, interests and approaches to design. The jury responsible for reviewing the submissions comprises Christine Phillips, Eve Castle and Gerard Reinmuth.
The shortlist includes:

Agnes Leonardi
Alice Stewart
Andy Wilson
Charlie Eastwood
Connor Harris
Felix Tie
Je Yen Tan
Ming Hin Chung
Yu Qin Tan.

The winner of the competition will be revealed on 13 March. An accompanying exhibition of shortlisted designs by Agnes Leonardi, Alice Stewart, Andy Wilson, Charlie Eastwood, Connor Harris, Felix Tie, Je Yen Tan, Ming Hin Chung and Yu Qin Tan will also be presented in 2025. More

The Central Barangaroo precinct has received approval to move into the detailed design phase, with the NSW government calling the development “the final piece of the Barangaroo puzzle.”
The NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, has approved a modification request for the precinct, which was submitted by the NSW government’s development partner, Aqualand. This approval effectively permits the detailed design phase and community consultation to commence, subject to conditions.
Designed by SJB, the proposed 5.2-hectare precinct comprises a total of seven buildings –ranging in height from seven to ten storeys – to be established above the new Barangaroo Metro. The buildings will accommodate a mix of residential apartments, a hotel, retail and hospitality offerings, commercial offices and community facilities.
According to a communique from the NSW government, “at least 50 percent of public open space” will be maintained and two new public plazas will be introduced under the plans.

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The project has undergone several design iterations, including a proposal that featured a 20-storey tower, which sparked public outcry and a legal dispute due to concerns over building heights.
In their statement, the NSW government mentioned that the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure had “carefully assessed the historic view impacts of the proposal, particularly between Observatory Hill and Sydney Harbour.”
Among the conditions that the project must meet is a requirement for the “height of the northern part of the block facing Nawi Cove to be reduced from eight storeys down to five storeys,” as a means to preserve views of the harbour from Observatory Hill.
NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper stated that the project has been stuck in “planning purgatory for over a decade.”
“Now that planning approval has been granted, we can get on with the job of delivering the final piece of the Barangaroo puzzle,” he added.
On the nearby Central Barangaroo foreshore there are also separate plans for the Harbour Park, a new 1.8-hectare waterfront public park, for which designs were unveiled in July 2023. Harbour Park was the subject of an open design competition, which led to a consortium named Akin – comprising Yerrabingin, Architectus, Jacob Nash Studio, Studio Chris Fox and Flying Fish Blue, and Arup – being awarded the project. A formal planning and consultation process is now in progress to determine the final design of the park.
Construction on the mixed-use hub is anticipated to begin in late 2025, with the first stage of the project expected to be completed in 2030. More

The City of Perth has appointed a new pool of members for its Design Review Panel. According to their media release, it comes “amidst a continued period of significant growth and development for the city.”
A total of 15 design, planning and architecture experts have been selected to sit on the panel for a two-year period. They are supported by continuing panel member Emma Williamson, the government architect of Western Australia.
During the applications period at the end of last year, panel members were sought from a range of disciplines, including architecture, town planning and urban design, heritage, landscape architecture, sustainability and environmental design and land tenure and strata titling.
The appointed panellists will provide independent design advice on significant projects and development applications in the areas of Central Perth, West Perth, Nedlands and Crawley, Northbridge, East Perth and Claisebrook.
The appointments are as follows:

Dominic Snellgrove
Fred Chaney
Philip Gresley
Peter Lee
Chris Maher
Rebecca Moore
Denise Morgan
Peter Ciemitis
Marc Beattie
Michael Memeo
Tony Blackwell
Oliver Grimaldi
Prasanna Suraweera
Scott Bellerby

This pool of members will sit on the panel until 31 December 2026. More