Architecture

Coming up in Sydney on Friday 29 November, the Sydney rendition of The Architecture Symposium by Design Speaks will speculate on the architectural possibilities of a less centralised urban life.
Despite being one of the most urbanised countries in the world, Australia is undergoing a shift in its metropolitan areas. The pandemic, coupled with the increasing cost of living within Australia’s capitals, has boosted the appeal of a regional lifestyle and prompted a more decentralised workforce.
Curators Andrew Burges and Maryam Gusheh have coordinated a lineup of speakers who will investigate how works of architecture and infrastructure can galvanise and better support new urban environments, and what factors are informing the architectural project within these satellite cities.
Titled An/Other City, the symposium will feature speakers Thierry Lacoste of Lacoste Stevenson Architects; Steven Toia of Genton; Rhonda Itaoui of Centre for Western Sydney; Jared Webb of J.AR Office; Ian McDougall of ARM Architecture; Anna Maskiell of Public Realm Lab; Lee Hillam of Dunn Hillam; John Wardle of Wardle, and Dan Etheridge of Living Lab Northern Rivers.

The Architecture Symposium is a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media, supported by premium partners Planned Cover, Bondor and Deco, and hotel partner Ovolo.

To find more about The Architecture Symposium: An/Other City, visit here. More

A new on-estate Pullman hotel planned for Perth Airport has been greenlit for development and is slated for completion in 2027. Situated immediately adjacent to the airport’s terminals, the scheme by DKO incorporates a holistic architecture and landscape design intended to link the hotel together with the greater airport precinct.
The hotel development comprises 250 rooms spanning eight levels and is within walking distance of the airport’s arrivals and departure terminals, catering for the 15 million passengers that transit through Perth Airport on an annual basis. Amenities for guests include a pool, a gym, a lounge, a cafe, a restaurant, a bar, a conference room and a co-working space.
Director of DKO Perth Dennis Chew explained that the approach to the project was “guided by a vision to create a transformative space that exceeds the expectations of global travellers.”
“As we are designing a landmark that will serve as a gateway to Perth, the development needs to reflect the city’s vibrant spirit and its forward-looking ethos,” he said.

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According to a media communique, the firm’s intent has been to design a place “destined to become not merely a stay of convenience, but a destination unto itself with the textures and forms of the scheme all evoking the unique landscape and culture of West Australia.”
Chew added, “Our strength lies in delivering a hotel that is contextual to place.”
The project’s concept employs natural materials on the ground levels that are intended to mimic the earthy tones and rugged textures of Western Australia’s landscapes while warmly inviting travellers into the lobby. Above, a glass facade integrates active shading that aspires to the aesthetics of the modern age.
The landscaped gardens included in DKO’s scheme reference the state’s topography of sand dunes, geological formations and coastline forest. Inside the hotel, the practice has prioritised comfort and celebration of culture, collaborating with local indigenous communities to incorporate design elements that reflect their traditions, stories and art.
According to Chew, “The Airport Central Hotel is more than just a place to stay; it will be a catalyst of economic growth in the region, providing jobs, attracting more visitors and supporting Perth’s development as a major travel hub.” More

FJC Studio have made global architecture history, winning their second World Building of the Year award at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore.
The firm was awarded the prestigious accolade for the Darlington Public School in 2024 and for Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki in 2013. This makes FJC Studio the first practice in WAF history to win the top award twice.
On behalf of the jury, Paul Finch, the programme director of WAF, said the design team behind the winning project not only explored but also expanded the client’s formal programme to encompass the perspectives and experiences of the local community and various users.
“The result of the project is poetic, a building in which topography and landscape, inside and outside, form and materials flow seamlessly in an unexpectedly delightful way. It is also an inspirational proposition about the acknowledgement and reconciliation of historic difference – a pointer to brighter, better futures for all.”
The jury tasked with awarding the World Building of the Year was chaired by Sonali Rastogi and included Emre Arolat, Mario Cucinella and Ian Ritchie. 

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Upon receiving the accolade, FJC Studio associate Alessandro Rossi remarked, “It’s very humbling given the modest scale of the building – it’s a little school project, so to have won against all the other big projects at WAF is a testament to the client and the community engagement that helped drive the design process.”
Elsewhere in the awards, fourteen Australian projects won a category or received a high commendation across both day one and day two. Australian educational facilities accounted for the highest volume of awarded and commended projects. More

Fourteen Australian projects have either won a category or received a high commendation across both day one and two of the 2024 WAF/Inside Awards.
It was in the Future Buildings’ Education category that Australian projects fared best, with the University of Tasmania Forestry Building by Woods Bagot securing the top gong and the University of Technology Sydney – National First Nations College by Warren and Mahoney in association with Greenaway Architects, Oculus and Finding Infinity earning a high commendation. Another future building, the New Footscray Hospital by Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership was highly commended in the Health category.

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Of the completed buildings to win awards, the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre by Lyons won the Health category, while 88 Walker by Fitzpatrick and Partners received top honours in the Mixed-Use category.
Over to interiors projects, Bates Smart was crowned the winner of the Public Buildings category for the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C, while WSU Bankstown City Campus by HDR Pty Ltd was awarded top honours in the Education category. Additionally, Back to Front House by Ian Moore was highly commended in the Residential category.
Day one of the global awards program saw seven Australian projects awarded or highly commended. View the day one winners here. More

The 2024 National Architecture Awards, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, has shined a spotlight on Australia’s most prestigious and respected projects of the year, with this year’s ceremony reflecting themes of connectedness and community.
Forty-six distinguished projects have earned an award or commendation from a pool of 62 shortlisted entries. Common themes among the projects include championing a strong sense of social and economic responsibility, offering innovative material solutions, and celebrating the preservation and adaptive re-use of existing heritage.

Jury chair and immediate past national president of the Australian Institute of Architects Stuart Tanner said the award-winning projects are evidence of the broad typological spectrum the Institute’s members are engaged in, further substantiating how architecture elevates society and enhances lives.
“Flying over the seemingly endless red plains and river lines of far-northern Western Australia, one realises a land of vast power and profound narrative. It is an environ that our profession is priveleged to practice within, which presents challenges of climate, community and locale, urban and remote and which fosters the innovative thinking that places our members at the forefront of design excellence,” Tanner said.

The 2024 jury comprised Yun Nie Chong, Naomi Stead, Stuart Tanner, Jemima Retallack and Paul Owen. You can read the jury chair’s overview here.
The winners are:

Public Architecture
The Sir Zelman Cowen Award
Powerhouse Castle Hill – Lahznimmo Architects

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National Awards
Berninneit Cultural and Community Centre – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall
Spinifex Hill Project Space – Officer Woods Architects
National Commendation
Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club – Adriano Pupilli Architects
Educational Architecture
The Daryl Jackson Award
River’s Edge Building, University of Tasmania – Wardle

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National Awards
Clifton Hill Primary School – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects
The Cottage School – Taylor and Hinds Architects
National Commendation
St. Patrick’s College: Scientia Building – BVN
Commercial Architecture
The Harry Seidler Award
T3 Collingwood – Jackson Clements Burrows Architects

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National Awards
Sanders Place – NMBW, Openwork and Finding Infinity
The Porter House Hotel – Candalepas Associates
The Warehouses – J.AR Office
National Commendation
Campbell House Private Office – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
Interior Architecture
The Emil Sodersten Award
Burnt Earth Beach House – Wardle

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National Awards
Cox Architecture Adelaide Studio – Cox Architecture
Geelong Arts Centre (Stage 3) – ARM Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
The Robin Boyd Award
Naples Street House – Edition Office

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National Awards
Burnt Earth Beach House – Wardle
Six Ways House – Kennedy Nolan
National Commendation
Maitland Bay House – Studio Bright
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
The Eleanor Cullis-Hill Award
High Street – Lineburg Wang

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National Awards
Aru House – Curious Practice
Mansard House – Studio Bright
National Commendations
Lee House – Candalepas Associates
Six Chimney House – Vokes and Peters
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
The Frederick Romberg Award
Ferrars and York – Six Degrees Architects

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National Awards
Maggie Street – Curious Practice
Nungalinya – Incidental Architecture
National Commendation
Mari-Mari-Ba – Affordable Housing – Deicke Richards
Sustainable Architecture
The David Oppenheim Award
Campbell House Private Office – Tonkin Zulaikha Greer

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National Award
Powerhouse Place – Public Realm Lab
National Commendation
Ravensthorpe Cultural Precinct – Peter Hobbs Architects with Advanced Timber Concepts and Intensive Fields
Heritage Architecture
The Lachlan Macquarie Award
The Glass House – Cracknell and Lonergan Architects

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National Award
The Porter House Hotel – Candalepas Associates
National Commendation
St George’s Performing Arts Centre – Kneeler Design Architects
Urban Design
The Walter Burley Griffin Award
Parramatta Aquatic Centre – Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall

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National Award
Powerhouse Place – Public Realm Lab
National Commendation
Hope Street Housing – Officer Woods Architects and MDC Architects
International Architecture
The Jorn Utzon Award
The Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC – Bates Smart

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National Commendation
Acticity Centre for Dance and Movement-based Arts – Gall and Associates (Gall és Társai Építésziroda)
Small Project Architecture
The Nicholas Murcutt Award
North Head Viewing Platforms – Chrofi and Bangawarra with National Parks and Wildlife Service

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National Awards
Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge – Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects and ARUP
LESS – Pezo Von Ellrichshausen, Oculus and Molonglo
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture
Spinifex Hill Project Space – Officer Woods Architects
Enduring Architecture
C House – Donovan Hill
National Emerging Architect Prize
Jennifer McMaster More

From appliances and surfaces to finishing touches, these pieces will ensure you find the perfect balance of form and function in your kitchen and bathroom.
Enova cooktop from Fulgor Milano
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Corian solid surface

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This striking bathroom at La Casa Curvilínea by Dan Van Architects and Doherty Building Group showcases the versatility of Corian. A singular surface incorporates a curving benchtop and integrated washplane, ensuring a visually calm bathroom space. Photograph: Dave Kulesza. Visit website.
Santos vanity from Timberline

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The Santos vanity is an elegant, coastal-inspired piece from Timberline. With its curved ends, countertop basins and distinctive fluted profile, it offers a soft, sophisticated look – perfect for those in search of both aesthetics and practicality. Visit website.
Raster from Earp Bros

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Inspired by the Bauhaus, the Raster collection celebrates the visual appeal of simple, repeated geometric forms. Four tile profiles – grids and lines, small and large – in eight shades can be composed in ordered yet playful patterns. Contrasting grout accentuates the effect. Visit website.
Evaanna Handles

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Budapest-born designer Eva Anna Gulasci has turned her jeweller’s eye to the home, creating organic-shaped handles using traditional metalsmithing techniques. Her brand, Evaanna, produces brass hooks, knobs and handles that are as beautiful to look at as they are to hold. Visit website. More

From a pool of more than 40 shortlisted Australian projects, seven are among the winners and commendations from the first day of the World Architecture Festival and Inside World Festival of Interiors Awards.
Australian projects dominated the School category, with Darlington Public School by FJC Studio taking out top honours and St Patrick’s College: Scientia Building by BVN earning a high commendation.

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Elsewhere in the completed buildings awards, Nightingale Village by Architecture architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects, Hayball and Kennedy Nolan won the Housing supported by GROHE category. Parramatta Aquatic Centre by Grimshaw and Andrew Burges Architects with McGregor Coxall won the top gong in the Sport category.
As to future projects, the Greenline Project Master Plan by ASPECT Studios, TCL and City of Melbourne won the Masterplanning category, while Minerva by Woods Bagot located was highly commended in the Leisure-led Development category.

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CSL Global Headquarters and Centre for Research and Development by Cox Architecture was the only Australian project that was successful in an interiors category on day one, earning the top accolade for Workplace (Large).
Day two will see another set of category winners revealed at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Category winners will then compete against one another on the final day of the festival, 8 November, for the titles of World Building of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Interior of the Year. More

A new survey collecting anonymous data on the prevalence and impact of sexual harassment and bullying in the Australian architecture and built environment sector has launched.
The Stop Harassment and Bullying Survey was announced by Parlour on 5 November. The survey objective is to discern the extent to which occurrences of bullying and sexual harassment may be prevalent within built environment professions, as well as the types of proactive and reactive support available. It is the first industry-wide scholarly survey to examine harassment and bullying among built environment professions in Australia.
The launch of the survey comes after the Positive Duty legislation was introduced into Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act in December 2022. Under the legislation, every employer is obliged to prevent workplace sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation through proactive measures, rather than simply reactive actions.
Co-founder of Parlour Justine Clark stated that one incident of harassment or bullying was “one too many.” She added, “At the moment we have little data about the extent of the problem, but an increasing number of stories have been reported to Parlour over time, across many communication channels. These swell whenever there is a discussion of harassment or bullying on Parlour’s social media or editorial program.”
“Informal individual stories – while heard – are not enough to effect change and, understandably, few individuals are prepared to discuss these issues publicly. There is also plenty of evidence in other fields that those who make a complaint most often bear the cost. This is borne out by the experiences of those in the built environment professions who have spoken with us.”
Current or historical architectural and built environment professionals are eligible to take part in the survey, which comprises four sections: demographic questions; general enquiries about current prevalence of sexual harassment and bullying within the broader built environment profession; a section for sharing specific (current or historic) harrassment and bullying experiences, and lastly, questions concerning workplace and industry policies, procedures and the support available before and and after an event is reported.
“There is strong interest from key professional bodies to work together to develop industry-wide strategies to prevent sexual harassment and bullying and to support those experiencing it. This survey is an important start,” Clark said.
The anonymous survey will be conducted by both Parlour and Dr Gill Matthewson of Melbourne’s Monash University, with results to be collated and published.
The Stop Harassment and Bullying Survey will close on 22 November 2024. Visit here to access. More