Architecture

Five architectural teams have been shortlisted as finalists in a Design Excellence Competition for the $180-million redevelopment of Riverside Theatres on the banks of Sydney’s Parramatta River.
The City of Parramatta approved the business case for the redevelopment in January 2023 and, in August, launched a design competition that permitted international architects and designers to be part of an Australian-led design team.

The redevelopment will feature a new 1,350 to 1,400-seat lyric theatre, a refurbished 760-seat riverside playhouse theatre, a new 430-seat multi-mode drama theatre, and an 80 to 90-seat digital studio and cinema. The venue will have more than double the capacity of the existing theatre.

The five shortlisted design teams are:

ARM Architecture (lead architect and urban design) with UN Studio (architecture and urban design), Aspect (landscape architecture), FCAD (designing with Country and emerging practice), Supermanoeuvre (architecture) and Second Edition (architecture and emerging practice)
Cox (lead architect and urban design) with 3XN Studio (architecture), Turf (landscape architecture), Bangawarra (designing with Country) and Aileen Sage (architecture and emerging practice)
Durbach Block Jaggers Architects (lead architect) with Openwork (urban design and landscape architecture), Jiwah (landscape architecture and designing with Country), Retallack Thompson Architects (architecture and emerging practice), Schuler Shook (theatre planning/venue design), Finding Infinity (sustainability) and Suzie Miller (advisor)
Wardle (lead architect and urban design) with REX (architecture), Billy Maynard (architecture and emerging practice), Sue Barnsley Design (landscape architecture), WSP (designing with Country), Charcoalblue (theatre planning/venue design) and Eckersley O’Callaghan (structural engineering)
Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (lead architect) with Spackman Mossop Michaels (landscape architecture and urban design), Sibling Architecture (architecture and emerging practice), Djinjama (designing with Country), and Atelier Ten (sustainability).

City of Parramatta lord mayor Pierre Esber said each of the five finalists had presented the council with the kind of “ingenuity, innovation, imagination, creativity and design talent” they were hoping to see.

“This is more than another performing arts centre – this will be the heart of arts and culture of Greater Sydney, so we want to find the best,” Esber said.

“Our city is committed to the development of Parramatta as a destination and thriving cultural precinct. Through major cultural projects like this, we are pushing the boundaries to make the reimagined Riverside Theatres the next great stage Australian and international performers will be lining up to perform on.

“The Riverside Theatres redevelopment will be a major piece of the growing Parramatta’s night-time economy – helping to further boost our local economy by encouraging more to visit and take in some of the best stage shows in Australia.”

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Indicative render of the redevelopment of Parramatta Riverside Theatres. Image:

City of Parramatta

The design competition jury comprises Abbie Galvin (New South Wales government architect and chair), Jefa Greenaway (director of Greenaway Architects), Craig McMaster (theatre director of Riverside Theatres), Kerry Clare (director of Clare Design) and Oi Choong (founding director of Context Landscape Design).
“Design competitions provide us the privilege of hearing from the deep and diverse talent in the design industry,” jury chair Abbie Galvin said. “The selected teams are clever, thoughtful and highly creative – and we anticipate some delightful responses for this important community facility.”

A concept reference design was approved by the City of Parramatta in May 2022. The project is expected to commence in 2024. More

With every new year comes the delivery of new projects. Here are the major projects we are eager to see in completed condition this 2024:
Australian Opal Centre by Glenn Murcutt, Wendy Lewin, and Dunn and Hillam

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Australian Opal Centre by Glenn Murcutt, Wendy Lewin, and Dunn and Hillam. Image:

Dunn and Hillam

Stage one of the Australian Opal Centre – a $34-million museum that will house a comprehensive collection of gems and other buried treasures found in Australia’s opal fields – is set to open in late 2024. Designed by Wendy Lewin in collaboration with Dunn and Hillam, and based on an initial concept by Wendy Lewin and Pritzker Prize laureate Glenn Murcutt, the building will be sited adjacent to a former opal-mining site in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales. It will feature subterranean volumes that will lead visitors deep into the earth, presenting stories of miners, machinery, fossils, and of course the opals themselves.
Queensland Performing Arts Centre by Blight Rayner and Snøhetta

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New Queensland performing arts venue by Blight Rayner and Snøhetta. Image:

Blight Rayner and Snøhetta

This new $150-million theatre in Brisbane’s Southbank is set to become the largest performing arts centre in Australia. The competition winners, Norwegian practice Snøhetta and Brisbane firm Blight Rayner Architecture, vied against 23 other outfits to be crowned design team for the significant cultural project. Their winning design features a glass facade, two new studio spaces and glazed foyer spaces, as well as interwoven references to the region’s First Nations people. The project has taken considerably longer than was first forecast, with initial predictions that it would be completed in 2022.
Barangaroo Pavilion by Spresser and Peter Besley

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Barangaroo Pavilion by Spresser and Peter Besley and Arup. Image:

Spresser and Peter Besley

The result of another design competition, the Barangaroo Pavilion at Watermans Cove is an eagerly awaited project – especially given that one of the primary materials in the composition is local oyster shells. The shells, found locally in Sydney, will be transformed into white “oyster concrete” and used as an essential constituent in 123 columns. The pavilion will also feature a landscaped rooftop garden to provide shade over the meeting place and events space. Architect Jessica Spresser, of the eponymous Brisbane studio Spresser, designed the project in conjunction with fellow architect Peter Besley and Arup.
Sydney Metro by Foster and Partners, and Architectus

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Proposed Sydney Metro station at Pitt Street to be designed by Foster and Partners and Architectus. Image:

Courtesy Transport for NSW

Sydney commuters will rejoice when six new metro train stations, including Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, commence services in 2024. Latest government communiques have revealed that station works are expected to be completed early in 2024, with Victoria Cross slated as the first station to open. Each station has been designed to be more accessible and inclusive than existing stations by integrating level access between platforms and trains. The 15.5-kilometre Sydney Metro City section of the project received planning approval in January 2017.
Powerhouse Museum Building J by Lahznimmo Architects

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Building J at Museums Discovery Centre, designed by Lahznimmo Architects. Image:

Lahznimmo Architects

The $30-million dollar expansion of Powerhouse Museum’s storage facility and discovery centre in north-west Sydney is complete, but has yet to meet fire regulations – resulting in a delayed opening. Lahznimmo Architects was engaged to bring Building J to life, enabling the Powerhouse Museum to expand its public education programs, workshops, exhibitions and events. According to the design statement, the overall form of the structure is simple and industrial in nature, with a facade that tilts, folds and peels to create openings. More

Oyster Sconce Made in Australia, this ceramic wall light by Robert Gordon Interiors features a delicate fluted shell and is available in five glaze colours. Carved and crafted by skilled hands, each piece is unique in colour, shade and size because of the natural characteristics of clay. Visit website Hay Colour Crate Hay Colour Crates […] More

A $400-million, 37-storey skyscraper has been proposed for Adelaide’s CBD – in what could become the city’s tallest tower at 183 metres.
A development application was submitted on 30 October by the Freemasons Hall Trust for the site behind the heritage-listed 1927 Freemasons Grand Lodge at 254 North Terrace. Project plans were listed on the public developments register this December. According to planning documents, the historic lodge will remain on the site, with more than 80 percent of the building to be retained. The Great Hall, at the rear, is proposed for demolition.

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A development application was submitted by the Freemasons Hall Trust for the site behind the heritage-listed 1927 Freemasons Grand Lodge at 254 North Terrace. Image:

Walter Brooke

Designed by Walter Brooke, the proposed tower features a 240-room hotel, office spaces, a business lounge, a function area, a pool, an observatory with 360-degree views of the city, and a wellness centre. The tower has also been proposed as the site of a new museum of South Australian history, with reports that plans for the museum will be submitted later this year.

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If constructed, Freemasons would retain partial ownership of the building, with the objective being to increase their annual donations to not-for-profit organizations. Image:

Walter Brooke

If constructed, Freemasons would retain partial ownership of the building, with the objective being to increase their annual donations to not-for-profit organizations from $2.9 million to $5 million.
According to the Keystone Adelaide website, the project has involved contributions from not only Walter Brooke, but Arup, Future Urban, Hosking Willis Architecture, the History Trust of South Australia, Adelaide City Council, and Michael Baragwanath.
To find out more about the plans, visit the website. More

A $300 million seniors’ housing development has been approved for the site of the former TAFE in Charlestown, New South Wales.
Located at 27 Tiral Street, the seniors’ living complex will deliver one and two-bedroom independent living units, residential apartments, and assisted living options – with services provided by a non-profit organization, Uniting. Designed by Plus Architecture and Arcadia, the seniors’ compound will feature four individual buildings, with varying heights ranging from 5-14 storeys.
The complex will feature a suite of amenities to encourage interaction, enhance quality of life and improve physical and mental wellbeing. A hair salon, public open spaces, a pool, a clubhouse with function space, a landscaped rooftop with BBQ area, outdoor seating and dining, a cafe, walking trails, landscaped gardens, multi-faith spaces, a wellness centre and visiting rooms for general practitioners and allied health professionals have been included in the plans.

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View of the complex from James Street. Image:

Plus Architecture and Arcadia

On the facade, a combination of glazed and brick features will be integrated in a variety of brick configurations and shades. To ensure the structure harmonizes with the local context, a warm, white and terracotta colour palette has been selected for the exterior faces. Changes in the expression of each building will be evident across the site. The mass breakup and stepped form of the buildings has been designed to maximize exposure to sunlight.
Biophilic design principles have been integrated to improve resident well-being through the establishment of private and public open spaces, a dedicated and secure dementia garden, and a consistent visual connection to the outdoors through glazed openings.
Planning documents state residences have been designed to enable “aging in place,” meaning that the “dwelling can be gradually adapted and retrofitted to suit the needs of the residents as they age.”
The development marks the first time the NSW Government has granted State Significant Development Approval (SSDA) for a seniors’ living proposal under its recently amended – in November 2023 – Housing State Environmental Planning Policy, which enables certain developments to be fast-tracked through the planning process.
Uniting director of property and housing, Simon Furness said the demand for senior housing options is increasing rapidly in the Charlestown and Lake Macquarie region. “Almost one in three people in Lake Macquarie is aged over 55, and the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to increase by almost 30 per cent over the next 20 years,” Furness said.
The development is located streets away from the forthcoming $30 million, four-storey health hub currently being constructed on Smith Street, which developer GPV Property announced will contain a GP clinic, pharmacy, private hospital beds, and other medical services.
The tender process for the seniors living precinct is anticipated to begin in early 2024, with the aim to appoint a construction company by late 2024. Construction is expected to commence in early 2025. More

The Green Building Council of Australia is in the process of updating its interiors rating tool, with Green Star Fitouts expected to replace the current Green Star – Interiors tool in 2025. The redevelopment process commenced in early 2023 with a consultation stage, which concentrated on establishing a clear vision and objectives for the revised […] More

Melbourne’s Brimbank Council has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vietnamese Museum Australia (VMA), potentially leading to the establishment of its museum in the suburb of Sunshine. The MoU announcement comes after the museum rescinded its contract with Maribyrnong City Council.
In 2020, plans for the VMA to be established at 222 Barkly Street in Melbourne’s Footscray, Maribyrnong City Council, were unveiled. A four-storey building designed by Konzepte Melbourne had been proposed to house the museum, with plans revealing a lobby, exhibition space, multi-purpose events space, a shrine and memorial garden, and the creation of a pedestrian link connecting Donald Street to Hugh Street.
A planning permit was issued by the Maribyrnong City Council in mid-2022, before a subsequent amendment application was lodged by the VMA to remove a condition that required the VMA and the adjoining landowner to the south to reach agreement regarding the relocation of loading facilities. The amendment application was refused by council in mid-2023, which resulted in the VMA lodging an appeal with Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against council’s refusal.
Plans for the museum to be sited at 222 Barkly Street were later abandoned. Today, the VMA is looking at Sunshine as the new destination for the cultural museum, with Brimbank Council now having entered a MOU with the museum.
In a communique released by the Brimbank Council, it stated the new museum “could potentially be located on part of the council-owned Durham Road car park site,” however, any decision to sell part of the land would be “subject to community engagement and a subsequent decision at a future council meeting.”

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The building’s design incorporates elements to reference both Vietnamese and Australian culture. Image:

Konzepte Melbourne

If the land is approved for sale, Konzepte Melbourne’s original plans will once again be proposed. The building’s design incorporates elements from both Vietnamese and Australian culture, with a wave-like facade representing the journey overseas, and bamboo exterior details symbolizing the use of bamboo as a main construction material in Vietnam. A warm and earthy colour palette has been proposed to reference Australia’s red-coloured soil.
The VMA is anticipated to be Australia’s first museum dedicated to preserving and telling the story of the Vietnamese refugee settlement in Australia.
Brimbank Mayor Ranka Rasic said Sunshine has strong ties to Vietnamese community and history, with about 32,000 of Brimbank’s residents or about 17 per cent of the total population being of Vietnamese descent.
“The longstanding and vibrant Vietnamese community that makes up the Sunshine CBD of today has helped make it a regional destination to experience authentic Vietnamese food, street life and culture,” Rasic said.
The VMA has acquired a total of $18 million in funding, including $10 million in federal funding, $7 million in state funding, and $1 million in community funding.
Council will be seeking community feedback on the proposed sale of council land between Monday 22 January and Monday 19 February 2024. More

Plans to transform Sydney’s Bank Street Park in Pyrmont, beneath the ANZAC Bridge, into a green, harbourside public domain have been unveiled.
Designed by landscape architect Oculus with Collins and Turner, Greenshoot Consulting and Greenaway Architects, a highlight of the park’s design is better access to Blackwattle Bay through the establishment of a new public pontoon and several other water ingress points.

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Kayak launch, paddle craft storage and ramp. Image:

Oculus with Collins and Turner, Greenshoot Consulting and Greenaway Architects

A 15-kilometre harbourside walk between Woolloomooloo and Rozelle Bay has been proposed for the 1-hectare site, along with a new cycleway, a playground, a multipurpose sporting court, fitness equipment, a storage area for personal paddle craft, a new community building with a cafe and marina office, a viewing deck, and public art displays to honour the First Nations custodians of the land.

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The intepretation garden in adaptively reused building ruins. Image:

Oculus with Collins and Turner, Greenshoot Consulting and Greenaway Architects

Plans state that the planting strategy will involve “species that would once have occurred naturally on the Pyrmont peninsula,” with plants of a self-sustaining nature selected for minimum maintenance. A green roof has been proposed for the community building, as well as the adaptive reuse of existing building ruins to form an “intepretation garden.”
The proposed park is part of a wider mixed-use precinct to be developed in Blackwattle Bay, which will see the construction of more than 1,200 new homes and the relocation of the Sydney Fish Market, designed by Danish practice 3XN and its innovation arm GXN, in partnership with BVN and Aspect Studios. The precinct was rezoned in December 2022 to facilitate the new mixed-use community.
The NSW minister for lands and property, Steve Kamper, said that the waterfront park will be a wonderful asset to the community. “I am proud to reveal the design of Bank Street Park today, which involved close collaboration with First Nations representatives, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, and Black Diggers, which is of special significance given its connection to the ANZAC Bridge,” Kamper said.

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Facing toward the playground and lookout deck. Image:

Oculus with Collins and Turner, Greenshoot Consulting and Greenaway Architects

Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said the Bank Street Park will ensure that Sydney Harbour is more accessible for leisure activities, including private paddle craft, walking and cycling.
“The community will be able to kayak or paddleboard right up to the park, where they can enjoy a coffee from the cafe and walk along the foreshore before visiting the new Sydney Fish Market,” Greenwich said.
The Bank Street Park development application is on exhibition until 1 February 2024. More