Architecture

Homes Victoria has announced the approval of the Bell-Bardia stage one development in Melbourne’s Heidelberg West, which will transform an existing public housing site at 322–328 Bell Street with new social and affordable housing.
Designed by Architectus with landscape architecture by Site Office, the proposed Bell-Bardia development is located near the recently completed Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing by NH Architecture and Bird de la Coeur Architects with Openwork and Tract. Both sites were originally slated for redevelopment as part of Victoria’s Public Housing Renewal Program back in 2017.
Stage one of the Bell-Bardia development will transform the eastern end of the site with 53 social and 51 affordable homes, replacing the 94 previous homes that Architectus claims “were no longer fit for purpose” and achieving a 10 percent net increasing in housing at the site.
Homes Victoria noted on their website that tenants who lived in the site’s previous housing will be the first invited to return to the new homes, with the remaining social housing allocated through the Victorian Housing Register. Affordable homes will be allocated through Homes Victoria’s Affordable Program, which is designed to give low to moderate income renters access to high quality and secure housing.
Associate principal at Architectus Liz Seuseu commented that the project’s design was led by a landscape approach “that aims to seamlessly blend the precinct with the surrounding neighbourhood.” Site Office’s landscape design for the site aims to integrate natural elements of the nearby Darebin Creek and create community connections through cross-links between Bell and Bardia Streets.

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The proposed one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments are spread across two L-shaped buildings. “By incorporating 4–7 storey buildings and using contextual colour palettes, it [the project] aspires to foster a village-like atmosphere within the suburb,” Seuseu said.
According to Architectus’s website, “The layout emphasises functional and inviting spaces, including a community garden, covered outdoor seating area and quality landscaped spaces. Thoughtful placement of entrances, windows, glazed louvres and breezeways optimises natural light and ventilation throughout living and shared spaces.”
The homes are designed to meet Livable Housing Design Guidelines Silver Level standards, and achieve a 5-Star Green Star and a 7-Star NatHERS rating. Architectus observes, “This means that every home will be easier to keep warm in winter and cool in summer, allowing renters to save money and stay comfortable.”
Their website notes that the proposed buildings feature robust materials that reflect Heidelberg West’s local character. Anchored by brickwork on the lower levels, the upper levels are articulated in muted tones, including green hues inspired by the foliage of wattles, with sloped roofs “creating a village-like silhouette.”
Construction will begin in mid-2025 and is expected to be completed by 2027. Homes Victoria noted on their website that “there are currently no confirmed plans for any other stages of development at the site.” More

The Premier of South Australia has unveiled updated designs for a new tower within Adelaide’s Festival Plaza, which will soon be lodged for development approval. The office of the South Australian Premier claims that, if approved, the tower will be the largest commercial building in the city.
Developed by Walker Corporation in partnership with architecture practice Johnson Pilton Walker, the updated proposal iterates the team’s previous tower proposal for the site, which is itself a revision of an earlier scheme for a three-storey retail building. The newly updated tower scheme comes after South Australian Minister for Planning Nick Champion approved a planning code amendment at Festival Plaza in January this year, enabling a maximum building height of 40 storeys.

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According to a media communique from the premier’s office, the code amendment also specified a minimum setback of nine metres from the new building to Parliament House’s heritage facade. As such, the new proposal creates a new laneway between the two buildings, which Walker Corporation envision as an activated hospitality and retail place.
Champion noted that regular design reviews between the state government and Walker Corporation have ensured that public space is maintained in Festival Plaza and that heritage protections are in place to complement Parliament House and surrounding areas.
“The code amendment stipulated strict development guidelines, with the independent State Commission Assessment Panel to have the final say over the development application,” he said.
Immediately to the west of the proposal, Festival Tower, also by Walker in partnership with Johnson Pilton Walker, opened in August 2024 and reaches 29 storeys in height. At 160 metres high, the 38-storey second Festival Plaza tower proposal includes nearly 50,000 square metres of floor space, with thirty levels dedicated to commercial offices.

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In their release, the premier’s office notes that “a major drawcard of the new building will be a rooftop bar and restaurant to take in panoramic views of the riverbank, Adelaide Oval and the Adelaide Hills.” At its base, the tower design features a podium with a raised outdoor space, lower-floor restaurants, cafes and bars, and access to end-of-trip facilities and parking within the multi-storey basement.
CEO of Walker Corporation David Gallant commented, “The building will set a new benchmark for sustainable commercial development in South Australia. Its world-class diamond-shaped facade will create a striking visual identity, while a signature rooftop bar and restaurant will offer unparalleled views of the Riverbank, Adelaide Oval, and the Adelaide Hills.”
The premier’s office claims that, once complete, the tower “will be one of the most sustainable office buildings in Australia and will be Adelaide’s largest all-electric commercial building, with the largest solar array on a commercial building in the city.”

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A development application for the early works stage of the project was approved in 2024. The preparatory works have already commenced at the site, with the new development to be constructed by Built, who was also the major construction partner for Festival Tower.
Walker Corporation noted that the development application consent process will soon be finalised with their submission of the updated design to the independent State Commission Assessment Panel. The Premier’s office anticipates that a decision will be made in the coming months. More

A state significant development application proposing the establishment of the new two-hectare Bradfield Central Park in Sydney has been approved.
Located adjacent to the upcoming Bradfield Metro Station, the park is intended to be the welcoming point for visitors to the forthcoming Bradfield City Centre and the main civic space for future residents and workers of the new city.
A design consortium led by Aspect Studios and comprising architect Collins and Turner, cultural consultant Jayne Christian (Baramadagal woman of the Dharug Nation), curatorial collaborator Emily McDaniel (Wiradjuri), artist Janet Laurence, structural engineer Eckersley O’Callaghan, and lighting designer Steensen Varming, won a two-stage design competition for their conceptualisation of the park in December 2023.
Final designs were later unveiled to the public in July 2024.
The standout feature of the design is a “Sky Ring,” which will frame the sky while simultaneously providing shelter, directing rainwater and supporting misting water technology systems.

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According to a NSW government communique, more than 550 mature trees and 70,000 species of native plants will be contained within the park, and there will be 65 percent tree canopy cover across the park. The statement noted that the park will additionally feature public art, as well as “active learning and gathering spaces, […] a multigenerational interwoven play area and a gathering green for major community events.”
With the design now approved, a construction partner will be appointed to deliver the park.
The approval of the new Bradfield Central Park follows the completion of the first building in the new Bradfield City Centre, the filing of a development application for a second building and the approval of the Bradfield City Centre masterplan. Bradfield City Centre will develop in tandem with the new Western Sydney International Airport. More

Construction has commenced on a forthcoming museum dedicated to celebrating Vietnamese culture and preserving stories of Vietnamese migration.
Located in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, the three-storey building, designed by Konzepte Melbourne, will accommodate a resource centre for educational purposes, a hospitality offering and a function centre with the capacity to host events with up to 450 guests. Additionally, the museum will house a collection of more than 280 cultural artefacts.
According to a design concept statement, the precast concrete facade features curved, wave-like forms that symbolise the journeys embarked on by many during the Vietnamese diaspora. The statement added that the curved tops and repetitive rhythm of the facade are inspired by the shape of bamboo, while the earthy red colour chosen for the exterior references the Australian landscape.

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In 2022, the Department of Home Affairs reported that 281,810 people born in Vietnam were living in Australia. This makes the Vietnamese-born population the sixth largest migrant community in the country.
Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman stated that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia. “What better way to acknowledge the important contribution of our Vietnamese community than by investing in Australia’s first Vietnamese museum,” said Suleyman.
The proposed project has encountered significant delays and a change of location since its unveiling in 2020. Original plans listed 222 Barkly Street in Melbourne’s Footscray as the nominated site for the development. In mid-2022, the Maribyrnong City Council granted a planning permit for the Footscray site with the condition that the museum and an adjacent landowner to the south come to an agreement regarding the location of loading facilities. The Vietnamese Museum of Australia (VMA) committee subsequently lodged an amendment application to remove the condition, which was refused by the council in 2023. Plans for the museum to be sited at 222 Barkly Street were later abandoned by the museum.
In December 2023, the Brimbank City Council entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the VMA to investigate a possible new site for the cultural building in Sunshine, Melbourne. After a phase of community consultation, the Brimbank City Council announced in early 2024 that a council-owned parking lot had been sold to the VMA for the development of the museum.
The Victorian government has contributed $8.7 million to the project. The expected completion date for the project has not yet been confirmed. More

The City of Sydney is advocating for the inclusion of three new heritage places on the state’s heritage register. According to a study undertaken by the council, each of the Oxford Street venues are historically significant places for LGBTIQA+ communities.
The three sites in the City of Sydney’s proposal include the Oxford Hotel at 134 Oxford Street, Palms at 124 Oxford Street and the Universal nightclub at 85–91 Oxford Street. The council believes that these additions will grow the collection of LGBTIQA+ sites already recognised for their significance, including the Darlinghurst Police Station, Stonewall Hotel and the Mardi Gras parade route.

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Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore noted that these places constitute a significant part of the social and physical fabric of Oxford Street.
“We know how important it is to our LGBTIQA+ communities to protect, preserve and recognise the rich cultural history along Oxford Street,” the Lord Mayor said. Speaking of the three proposed sites, she commented, “Each of these venues has been strongly associated with the community since the late 1970s and early 1980s.”
In a media communique, the City of Sydney noted that the Oxford Hotel has been associated with liquor trade since the 1850s. After several iterations as a pub and hotel, it officially opened as a gay venue on 16 July 1982, when it was promoted as “the latest gay pub on the Strip, restaurant, the Oxford Café upstairs.”
As one of the city’s oldest continually operating LGBTIQA+ venues, the hotel has been site of significant community events. These have included the annual fundraiser from the Australia’s longest running HIV charity, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, titled the “Boys Own Bake-off.”

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Next door, on a site with buildings dating back to 1855, the gay venue of Palms opened as an underground cabaret venue around 1977. According to the City of Sydney, “it became known as a safe and supportive environment for those rejecting the gender and sexual norms of the period.” Trading as Scooters Bar and Diner from the late 1980s, the site readopted the Palms moniker when it reopened in 2000, aiming to be inclusive of women as well as gay men.
Further down the street, a two-storey inter-war building from the 1920s, now known as Universal, first opened as a licensed restaurant and gay disco in 1978. Originally trading as Tropicana, it reopened as Club 85 two years later, advertising itself as a “man’s disco.” After being damaged by fire just a few months later, the site reopened once more as a “disco for guys” called Midnight Shift in 1980, which remained operational until 2017. A result of declining trade associated with new lockout laws led to the bar’s closure and ultimately to new ownership under Universal Hotels in 2018.

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The proposal to nominate the three venues for individual heritage status was unanimously endorsed by council members at the end of 2024. The council further requested investigations into heritage listings for three other venues: 273 Crown Street, Surry Hills, which was designed in the 1920s and opened as Ruby Reds – allegedly Sydney’s first lesbian bar – in 1979; 40–42 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, a popular late-night venue from the mid-1950s known as the Taxi Club; and 207 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, which opened as a bookshop for LGBTIQA+ communities in the 1980s and still operates today.
Once submitted, the council’s nominations for the three venues will be reviewed by the NSW government, after which they will be open for public feedback. More

The City of Sydney is advocating for the inclusion of three new heritage places on the local heritage register. According to a study undertaken by the council, each of the Oxford Street venues are historically significant places for LGBTIQA+ communities.
The three sites in the City of Sydney’s proposal include the Oxford Hotel at 134 Oxford Street, Palms at 124 Oxford Street and the Universal nightclub at 85–91 Oxford Street. The council believes that these additions will grow the collection of LGBTIQA+ sites already recognised for their significance, including the Darlinghurst Police Station, Stonewall Hotel and the Mardi Gras parade route.

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Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore noted that these places constitute a significant part of the social and physical fabric of Oxford Street.
“We know how important it is to our LGBTIQA+ communities to protect, preserve and recognise the rich cultural history along Oxford Street,” the Lord Mayor said. Speaking of the three proposed sites, she commented, “Each of these venues has been strongly associated with the community since the late 1970s and early 1980s.”
In a media communique, the City of Sydney noted that the Oxford Hotel has been associated with liquor trade since the 1850s. After several iterations as a pub and hotel, it officially opened as a gay venue on 16 July 1982, when it was promoted as “the latest gay pub on the Strip, restaurant, the Oxford Café upstairs.”
As one of the city’s oldest continually operating LGBTIQA+ venues, the hotel has been site of significant community events. These have included the annual fundraiser from the Australia’s longest running HIV charity, the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, titled the “Boys Own Bake-off.”

View gallery

Next door, on a site with buildings dating back to 1855, the gay venue of Palms opened as an underground cabaret venue around 1977. According to the City of Sydney, “it became known as a safe and supportive environment for those rejecting the gender and sexual norms of the period.” Trading as Scooters Bar and Diner from the late 1980s, the site readopted the Palms moniker when it reopened in 2000, aiming to be inclusive of women as well as gay men.
Further down the street, a two-storey inter-war building from the 1920s, now known as Universal, first opened as a licensed restaurant and gay disco in 1978. Originally trading as Tropicana, it reopened as Club 85 two years later, advertising itself as a “man’s disco.” After being damaged by fire just a few months later, the site reopened once more as a “disco for guys” called Midnight Shift in 1980, which remained operational until 2017. A result of declining trade associated with new lockout laws led to the bar’s closure and ultimately to new ownership under Universal Hotels in 2018.

View gallery

The proposal to nominate the three venues for individual heritage status was unanimously endorsed by council members at the end of 2024. The council further requested investigations into heritage listings for three other venues: 273 Crown Street, Surry Hills, which was designed in the 1920s and opened as Ruby Reds – allegedly Sydney’s first lesbian bar – in 1979; 40–42 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, a popular late-night venue from the mid-1950s known as the Taxi Club; and 207 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, which opened as a bookshop for LGBTIQA+ communities in the 1980s and still operates today.
Once submitted, the council’s nominations for the three venues will be reviewed by the NSW government, after which they will be open for public feedback. More

From sustainably-sourced timber to furniture crafted from salvaged materials, here’s a collection of eco-conscious yet elegant products for the home.
Woodsmith flooring from Tasmanian Timber
Tasmanian Timber has launched a new engineered hardwood range, Woodsmith, available in six contemporary colours. The flooring is made from sustainably sourced regrowth Tasmanian oak and is milled with a focus on minimising waste, making it a responsible choice. Visit website.

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Iceberg Table from Zeoform

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Zeoform’s Iceberg Table is a tempered glass coffee table featuring sculptural legs crafted from cellulose fibres and water – without the use of glues, resins or petrochemicals. The design evokes the imagery of an iceberg floating in water, with glacial-toned legs intersecting the glass surface. Visit website.
Cork flooring from Kustom Timber

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Harvested from the renewable bark of the cork oak tree, Kustom Timber’s cork flooring is a 100 percent natural, carbon-negative product. Traditional techniques are used to harvest cyclically without causing damage to the tree, producing a sustainable and beautiful flooring finish. Visit website.
Altair IGLU Louvre from Breezway

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Natural ventilation is key to a healthy, thermally efficient home. Breezway’s double-glazed IGLU louvres open twice as wide as standard glazing – a design innovation that has earned multiple accolades, including a gold award at the 2023 Australian Good Design Awards. Visit website.
River Stone from Eco Surfaces Australia

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Comprising recycled glass, River Stone benchtops blend industrial aesthetics with sustainability at their core. Their durability makes them an ideal surface for kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor entertaining areas, with an elegant, matt grey finish evoking a modern look. Visit website.
Cycle Chair from Tait

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The Cycle Chair, made from 70 percent salvaged aluminium, is lightweight, stackable and endlessly recyclable. Created by Adam Goodrum and Tait Design Studio, its minimal frame is easy to transport and stabilised with custom glides for a sleek, contemporary look. Visit website. More

The University of Sydney has lodged a state significant development application to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure that proposes the establishment of a new teaching and learning hub at its Camperdown campus in Sydney.
Conceptualised by BVN, the envisioned Ross Street Teaching and Learning Hub is a five-storey structure designed to accommodate general teaching spaces for all faculties of the university. Featuring both formal and informal learning areas, the building is proposed to support up to 1,500 students and 30 staff.
The proposed building would be situated near the northwestern entrance of the campus, which is currently occupied by a demountable village. BVN states in its design report that this location “presents an opportunity to consider the character and identity of this entrance as a ‘gateway.’” Consequently, they have aimed to create a contemporary facade that complements the existing building facades while incorporating activated street frontages to welcome people.

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According to the submitted application, the building features “a modular facade design, which allows multiple opportunities for off-site construction.” Each of the facades are expressed differently yet united by a cohesive material palette. The eastern facade, positioned along Parramatta Road, primarily features large prefabricated panels clad in light-coloured bricks of various patterns. On the north facade, windows are kept to a minimum to decrease heat gain, whereas the western facade is predominantly glazed to highlight views of the internal learning spaces. The south elevation features a brick and glazed concertina facade.
The design report indicates that a colour scheme of red and sandy shades was selected for each of the external faces to promote a harmonious dialogue among these varied expressions.

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Under the plans, the ground floor of the building is set back at the edges, providing shelter and additional space to gather around the building. Active functions are designated to the ground level of the building to ensure convenient access to frequently required services. These ground floor amenities include a student help desk and welcome point, a food and beverage outlet and an informal learning area.
BVN’s design was chosen from a design excellence competition that took place in 2023.
The development application is on exhibition until 7 April 2025. More