Architecture

Major works on the new $38.9 million, 200-metre-long Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway ramp are commencing this December.
The cycleway will link the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Milsons Point, with the new ramp eliminating the need for cyclists to climb 55 stairs and improving the accessibility of the bike route for riders of all ages.
Aspect Studios are lead consultant for the design team, comprising Collins and Turner, Eckersley O’Callaghan, Design 5, Electrolight and Yerrabingin. Global design director of Aspect Studios Sacha Coles said the cycleway is the “culmination of over 40 years of advocacy by cycling groups and Sydneysiders, championing an equitable and inclusive connection between Sydney City (Gadigal Country) and North Sydney (Cammeraygal Country).”
He added, “Our design respects the heritage fabric of the bridge by minimising the connection point to the bridge itself and reusing a piece of the removed parapet in the park’s design. The ramp’s gentle 1:25 grade ensures accessibility for all abilities and bike types.

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“The serpentine sweep of the ramp has been carefully designed to provide adequate clearance around the Milsons Point station entrance while aligning closely with the existing bridge viaduct.”
The ramp paving design by Aspect Studios is inspired by an artwork from Aboriginal artists Maddison Gibbs and Jason Wing, which depicts interconnecting eels. “Their design of intersecting ribbons of movement symbolises the journey from south to north, celebrating the theme of connection,” Coles said.
Another notable feature of the cycleway is the use of Moruya granite, which the landscape architects mentioned is the same granite used for the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons.
The NSW Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said, “Around 2,000 trips are taken across the cycleway each weekday, making it not just our only cross-harbour bike link, but one of Sydney’s most heavily used – and we’re expecting those numbers to rise once the ramp is complete.”
“Every cyclist deserves to have safe and easy access to what is undoubtedly one of Australia’s most famed bike routes. Whether you’re eight or 80 – this ramp has been designed with riders of all ages and abilities in mind,” added the minister.
An updated collection of design renders have also been released, since the unveiling of an earlier iteration in August 2023. The project is anticipated to be complete by 2026. More

On the site of an existing carpark, a nine-storey commercial office tower has been greenlit for approval from the City of Hobart. Authored by Hanging Garden Group – a company partly owned by founder of the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) David Walsh – the development includes a mix of retail and office spaces designed by Fender Katsalidis.
The project is the first stage of a broader masterplan, which seeks to transform an entire city block bordered by Bathurst, Watchorn, Liverpool and Murray Streets into a hospitality precinct with a hotel, apartments, co-working and performance spaces, and retail.
Melbourne-based property development group Riverlee and local creative agency Darklab (the studio behind the iconic Dark Mofo festival), worked together with Fender Katsalidis and Six Degrees Architects to develop the vision for the 9,000-square-metre site, which has been slowly amassed by the developer over a twenty-year period. It currently houses the creative team’s earlier project for a series of green spaces and hospitality venues, which are united under the banner “In The Hanging Garden.”

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According to the Riverlee’s website, “The ongoing evolution of The Hanging Garden precinct will see it expanded to create a place that will serve the community now and into the future. Once completed, the precinct will retain the original site’s rich history while establishing one of Australia’s most intriguing cultural destinations and setting a new benchmark for Hobart’s ongoing cultural development.”
Several culturally-significant buildings, including the historic Odeon Theatre, completed in 1916, are located within the precinct. The office proposal itself is located adjacent to the modernist Construction House by Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon Architects in 1956, and opposite The Commons, designed by Core Collective Architects and completed in 2020.
Residents of the latter expressed concerns with the massing and visual bulk of the development – which exceeds the permitted height standards – while the plans were on exhibition from late October until early November. According to the minutes of council’s Planning Authority Committee Meeting on 4 December, these sentiments were echoed by the city’s Urban Design Advisory Panel. “The panel had some concerns particularly in regard to the public amenity for the surrounding streets, especially the fine-grained Watchorn Street, however the panel was generally agreeable to the height and bulk in its townscape context,” the minutes read.
The approved tower includes close to 9,500 square metres of office space over eight storeys, and approximately 330 square metres of retail space located on the ground floor. Similar to the Mondrian-inspired, mosaic-tiled facade of the neighbouring Construction House, the new building’s concrete facade is intended as a random and playful ordering of solid and void, and will be treated with a palette of warm tones and textures.
As design lead for the project, Fender Katsalidis partner James Pearce commented that the building’s massing was envisioned as being “composed of two parts: a solid, textured part that would be more of the human scale […] to break the building up along the long length of the site, to the rhythm of the street […] and then a lighter, glassier, smoother form, recessed behind that street wall […] that blends a bit into the sky and is more recessive.”
In the proposal, existing trees on Watchorn Street are complemented by new planting to the side of the entry at 116 Bathurst Street. Pearce notes, “By being set back from Bathurst Street, it [the entry] reveals more of Construction House, so you still see the side of that building that has the actual name of the building on it.” The building’s landscaping also extends onto several upper level terraces.
Having recently acquired Construction House, Hanging Garden Group are in the process of upgrading and renaming this building to “Max Angus House,” in honour of the mosaic artist behind its heritage-listed facade. Elsewhere in the precinct, Hanging Garden Group is working with Six Degrees Architects to develop the hotel, residential and other commercial components of the masterplan.

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On the masterplan’s website, creative director at Darklab Leigh Carmichael noted, “We want In The Hanging Garden to provide space for creativity to emerge, for joy and laughter and celebration to continue, for friendships to grow, and we want the precinct to be a symbol for the new Tasmania, one of inclusion, hope and tolerance.” More

The Victorian government has unveiled designs for a $900 million hospital project in Melton, 50 kilometres west of Melbourne. Designed by Designinc and Architectus Conrad Gargett, the project is touted by the government as Victoria’s first all-electric hospital.
Located close to Cobblebank Station, the hospital is situated to cater for the growing communities in Melton, Caroline Springs, Rockbank, Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne. Minister for the Department of Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas noted, “Melbourne’s west is one of the fastest growing regions in the country and it is critical that families moving to the area can rely on 24-hour […] health care right on their doorstep.”

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Along with a forthcoming public hospital in Footscray, designed by Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership, and an existing hospital in Sunshine, by Lyons, the new Melton Hospital is expected to relieve pressure from Melbourne’s busier hospitals.
In partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health, a consortium comprising investors, facilities managers and Lendlease as builder are set to deliver the project. In a combined statement, Designinc director Darryl Suttie and Architectus Conrad Gargett principal Sannah McColl commented, “The new Melton Hospital is officially underway, and once completed, will have the capacity to treat 130,000 patients each year and see almost 60,000 patients in the emergency department.”
According to the government’s media release, the new hospital “will include a 24-hour emergency department, at least 274 beds, an intensive care unit, maternity and neonatal services, mental health services, radiology services, outpatient care, and teaching, training and research spaces.”

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Architectus’ website notes that the design draws inspiration from local landscape and ecosystems, encompassing themes of healing, learning and living. Natural light, access to nature and outdoor spaces are key aspects of the project, according to the government’s release.
The project is on track for completion in 2029. Suttie and McColl said, “We’re looking forward to working alongside all project partners to deliver this brand new hospital for the people of Melbourne’s west.” More

The Victorian government has announced revisions to the Small Lot Housing Code, enabling new homes on lots less than 100 square metres to be built without a planning permit if they adhere to specific design standards.
The pre-existing 2019 amendment to the code allowed homes on blocks less than 300 square metres to be built without a permit if design standards were met. In a communique, the state government noted that the decision to revise the code with a new set of standards for smaller lots was influenced by industry feedback that indicated increasing demand for greater housing diversity.
Victorian minister for planning Sonya Kilkenny said, “While the large, detached family home continues to be popular in Melbourne’s new suburbs, we’re seeing more demand for smaller homes and these changes will give Victorians more choice.”
The Small Lot Housing Code applies to residential and mixed-use Precinct Structure Plans in Melbourne’s Urban Growth Zone, as well as special purpose zones in Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Whittlesea, and Wyndham, Geelong, Ballarat, Baw Baw, Cardinia and Knox.
Other modifications to the code include updated design standards for homes situated on lots under 300 square metres. These new standards target larger balconies, more street-facing windows, more tree plantings and the removal of the requirement for a double garage.
According to the state government communique, “The updated code allows for more greenspace, smarter housing designs and homes up to four-storeys. […] These updates aim to increase housing diversity and affordability, making it easier for smaller families and single-person households to find homes that meet their needs.”
Developers can begin using the new code immediately, while the existing code will remain in effect until the end of 2026. More

Sydney Opera House is accepting expressions of interest for a First Nations heritage expert to join its Conservation Council.
The ten-member Conservation Council – established in 1996 – provides specialist conservation and heritage advice to the Opera House Trust. The prescribed advice is guided by the Opera House’s Conservation Management Plan, Utzon Design Principles, Heritage Action Plan and other relevant principles. The council also monitors implementation of heritage and conservation matters, including policies, plans and heritage values.
According to the position advertisement, the council’s organisational strategy for 2024–2026 highlights an objective that “First Nations voices and culture play a vital role in shaping the opera house and its future – being at the forefront of the continuation of the cultural care, truth telling and storytelling about this place.”
Sydney Opera House acting CEO Kya Blondin said the council “is committed to First Nations voices and culture being central to our [the Sydney Opera House’s] identity and future.”
To be eligible for the position, candidates must have experience in First Nations heritage management and conservation, demonstrated knowledge of NSW and Commonwealth heritage frameworks, and a proven track record of providing advice on a similar committee or panel.
The council has a maximum of 10 members, consisting of an Opera House trustee, who is chair of the council; three members of the Opera House executive team; a representative of NSW government heritage; a representative of NSW government planning; the NSW Government Architect or their nominee; an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person with suitable experience in First Nations heritage or conservation issues; and other specialists with recognised expertise in some or all of the following areas: architecture, heritage and conservation, design, engineering or performing arts.
The membership term is three years, with extensions for further terms at the discretion of the Sydney Opera House Trust. The council holds at least three formal meetings per year, however members may be asked to attend additional sessions to review time-sensitive matters.
A typical council meeting may cover planning and heritage approvals, Design Advisory Panel activities, Conservation Management implementation, interpretation strategies, collections management, building and maintenance projects, as well as precinct events and activations.
The expression of interest portal closes on 6 January 2025. To find out more, visit the NSW government website. More

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Planning consultancy firm Urbis have released the findings of their biennial City Leaders Survey, which gathers sentiment key issues from city-shaping bodies across the country.
Now in its second iteration, the survey collected data from over 200 senior executives working within government, business, academia and community-based organisations. Urbis surveyed and conducted interviews with Jen Williams, CEO of Committee for Brisbane; Dale Connor, CEO of Lendlease; Eamon Waterford, CEO of Committee for Sydney; and Matt Collins, CEO of Planning Institute of Australia; among others.
The survey’s insights build upon the 2022 post-pandemic release, which foreshadowed growing concerns around the escalating housing crisis. This year’s survey demonstrates growing pessimism around the ability to rectify the systemic issues that produce cities’ ongoing vulnerabilities.
According to the survey, “In 2024, city leaders are calling for course correction, as declining net sentiment across economic, environmental and social outcomes over the next two years is heightened by pervasive concerns about decreasing housing affordability, rising cost-of-living and sluggish economic growth.”
In comparison with the 2022 survey, housing and population challenges overtook respondents’ concerns for maintaining economic growth and competitiveness, with nine in ten city leaders identifying housing affordability and access as the biggest challenge to overcome. This sentiment was consistent across private and public sectors, however private organisations expressed 50 percent more concern about economic growth and competitiveness, and with it, declining productivity and investment in innovation.

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Leaders also expressed less concern about tackling climate change and sustainable development, showing a shift in priorities towards issues – such as rapid population growth and rising interest rates – that have exacerbated housing supply issues. “Navigating technological disruption” held its position at the bottom of the pile of challenges.
“Despite these exposed vulnerabilities, cities remain where people want to live and where future opportunity lies. Cities globally are at the frontline of navigating disruptions and serve as incubators for new solutions that improve living standards for all – Australia is no different,” the release reads.
James Tuma, managing partner at Urbis, commented, “Our cities are resilient and full of potential. By leveraging data-driven insights, fostering collaboration, and embracing forward-thinking strategies, we can create vibrant, inclusive urban environments. The commitment of city leaders, businesses, and communities gives us confidence that we can build a prosperous future for all.”
The survey can be viewed in full online. More

Powerhouse Parramatta and the Cité Internationale des Arts have jointly announced that entries can now be submitted for the 2025 galang residency, a program that supports Australian-based First Nations creatives to undertake two intensive three-month residencies in Paris.
The galang residency program was established to provide creative practitioners with greater access to connections across industry and individual creative practice through research and the development of new work. Examples of eligible applicants include architects, designers, visual artists, musicians, weavers, poets, dancers and performers, or other creative discipline.
The 2024 program attracted entries from a diverse range of professionals, with Sydney-based Worimi and Biripi guri architect Jack Gillmer, and Yuggera and Biri multidisciplinary artist from Brisbane Jody Rallah both offered residencies.
During his residency, Gillmer investigated the display and treatment of Indigenous artefacts and collections, reckoning with the colonial history of museology and the future of acquiring and exhibiting cultural materials. He also studied a concept of “Global off-Country Keeping Place” for cultural materials undergoing repatriation or lacking an on-Country Keeping Place.
Reflecting on the residency, Gillmer said, “The galang residency provided the rare commodity of time with little distractions, while being supported and surrounded by creativity and space to discover the innovative mindset potential we all have. The opportunity is of endless possibilities that enable residents to realise their superpower to influence their discipline and interests to create change.”
Rallah’s research focused on the application of braille and other tactile language systems in haptic artmaking. She noted, “The residency gifted me access to institutions, industry professionals, different cultures, a broader understanding of systems outside of the Australian continent, and global connections unlike anywhere else. Most of all, the residency gave me the opportunity to learn, experience and connect, and to see what it means to create bridges of language cross-culturally.”
The 2025 galang residency selection panel will comprise head of the Residency Department at Cité Internationale Des Arts Vincent Gonzalvez, Powerhouse adjunct curator Brook Garru Andrew and Powerhouse acting director First Nations Beau James.
Applications are open until 31 January 2025, with successful applicants to be announced in March 2025. For information on application requirements and how to submit, visit the Powerhouse website. More