Architecture

Australian architects and designers are invited to submit expressions of interest to design a new home for Western Sydney University’s Indigenous Centre of Excellence.
The new centre, to be located on Darug land at the Paramatta South campus, will serve as an important gathering place for the community to connect, learn from and celebrate the region’s Indigenous people.
The purpose-built facility will be accessible to everyone regardless of age, ability, or interests. Informal learning spaces will be incorporated into the design, providing opportunities for engagement, education and collaboration. Visitors will be able to explore the rich Indigenous culture and heritage of Western Sydney through arts, cultural collections, performances, talks and screenings.
Professor Michelle Trudgett, deputy vice-chancellor Indigenous leadership, said the facility will support the preservation of culture and history while also solidifying the university as a leader in Indigenous education, employment and research.
“This landmark building will serve many generations. Every aspect of the Indigenous Centre of Excellence will be informed by Indigenous knowledge and cultures. It will be one of the most prominent and impactful First Nations spaces in the world while being a place where the local community can come together and connect,” Trudgett said.
Vice-chancellor and president Professor Barney Glover AO said the Centre for Indigenous Excellence is a fundamental component of the university’s Indigenous Futures Decadal Strategy, 2023-2032.
“The building will be a beacon of education, Indigenous leadership and cultural exchange. We look forward to working with our Elders and Indigenous communities to create a truly transformational space where we can foster, develop and support the next generation of Indigenous leaders,” Glover said.
Registrations for stage one Expressions of Interest close on September 12, 2023. The winner will be announced before the end of this year after stage two of the design response is completed.
For more information about the national competition or to submit an Expression of Interest, visit Western Sydney University’s website. More

Plans to transform Brisbane’s former Taubmans paint factory into a fully integrated arts village have been set in motion after Montague Developments lodged a Change of Use application for the site.
The former paint manufacturing plant at 115 Hyde Road in Yeronga ceased operations in 2015 and later evolved into a temporary hub for local and international artists seeking space for their creative mediums. Now with the submission of a Change of Use application to Brisbane City Council, Montague Developments is seeking to re-zone the site from industrial to mixed-use zoning for the purpose of creating a consolidated, multi-purpose space for the arts community.
The application was prepared by Wolter Consulting with landscape architecture by Dunn and Moran and 3D visualization by Mode Design.
“They brought an incredible amount of experience in town planning, urban design, landscape architecture, placemaking, community engagement and development to this project,” development director Paul Hey said of the project team.

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Brisbane’s old Taubmans paint factory to become Australia’s first fully integrated arts village. Image:

Courtesy of the The Paint Factory.

The proposed redevelopment takes inspiration from other local and international re-imagined projects such as the Brisbane Powerhouse, Carriageworks in Sydney, the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, Alte-Spinnerei in Germany and Kanaal in Belgium, and goes beyond that vision by incorporating a residential element.
The precinct will house architecturally designed residences and communal zones alongside green spaces, street art and outdoor performance areas, providing creative professionals with facilities to run events or live and work alongside artists-in-residence and retail tenancies.
The Paint Factory development director Paul Hey said the first-of-its-kind Australian arts village would place Brisbane on the map as an innovative and unique place to visit.

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Brisbane’s old Taubmans paint factory to become Australia’s first fully integrated arts village. Image:

Courtesy of the The Paint Factory.

“We […] spent considerable time consulting with the local arts community across all mediums, as well as our neighbours and the extended national and international art scene, to ensure the project is perfect for this space.” Hey said.
“It was about hearing from them directly about what the site needs to be successful for years to come. More

The City of Parramatta has opened expressions of interest for the Riverside Theatres Redevelopment Design Competition.
The council invites Australian-led design teams, which may include international expertise, to register for a two-stage competition for a project that will catalyse the further transformation of the city’s cultural precinct, along with the under-construction Parramatta Powerhouse.
The $135 million redevelopment will double the capacity of the existing Riverside Theatres complex, with a 1,350–1,400-seat lyric theatre, a newly refurbished 760-seat Riverside playhouse theatre, a new 430-seat black-box drama theatre and a state-of-the-art 80–90-seat digital studio and cinema.
The City of Parramatta approved the business case for the redevelopment in Janurary 2023.
“The design competition process marks a significant step towards realising our vision of a world-class performing arts venue in Western Sydney as we transform the iconic Riverside Theatres into the anchor of a vibrant arts and cultural precinct,” said Parramatta lord mayor Sameer Pandey.
“The Riverside Theatres redevelopment will be a major piece of the growing Parramatta night-time economy, encouraging more to visit and take in some of the best stage shows in Australia.
“Through this transformative project, we envision creating a space that celebrates diversity, artistic brilliance, and the rich tapestry of our cultural heritage.”
Riverside Theatres director Craig McMaster added, “Our goal is to establish an all-new world-class arts and cultural centre that serves as a nurturing home for artists and performers, where they can thrive and connect with the community on a profound level.
“The new Riverside will also enable us to welcome the very best in mainstage musicals, theatre and concert productions from around the world to play here in the geographical heart of Sydney.
“As we embark on this exhilarating journey, the City of Parramatta is inviting the leaders in Australian and international creative architecture and design to join us in creating an enduring legacy that will inspire generations to come.”
A minimum of five eligible respondents will be shortlisted in September 2023 and invited to proceed to stage two of the competition. A winning scheme is expected to be selected in November 2023.
The 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).
Works will begin on the redevelopment in 2024. Register for the competition the Riverside Theatres website. More

Laminex and Melbourne-based Studio Doherty have unveiled two new kitchens, Scoop and Nest, showcasing an abundance of colour in the heart of the home. General manager of sales and marketing at Laminex, Sacha Leagh-Murray said they tasked Studio Doherty with putting their distinctive spin on the kitchens, using products from the Laminex range.
“Our brief for Studio Doherty was to explore new applications and design possibilities when working with Laminex products, as well as using colour and texture in exciting and innovative ways,” she said.
“Studio Doherty are known for their vibrant style and fearlessness when it comes to incorporating bold colour and texture, and so with their unique design approach and our incredible range of laminates, we knew it would make for a perfect match. The kitchens are an inspiring example of Laminex’s constant pursuit of high-quality products and aesthetic appeal.”
Scoop was designed with ample space for families. The kitchen seamlessly blends the functionality of ample storage with the playfulness of a characterful palette of warm, earthy and refreshing tones, while also demonstrating the versatility of texture and form in the Laminex range.
A muted blue kitchen island serves as the focal point with its rectilinear profile at one end and a sinuous curve at the opposing end. Textured stone, terracotta and off-white shades complement the cooking bench.
Mardi Doherty of Studio Doherty said she strived to create a unique and inviting space.
“We wanted to push the playfulness of the kitchens while maintaining the necessary functionality of a modern kitchen. Our main goal was to showcase how Laminex cabinetry can be used in exciting, new ways,” she said.
The Laminex portfolio features a selection of Australian-made laminate finishes, such as AbsoluteMatte, which are available in a range of shades from the Laminex Colour Collection. The collaboration demonstrates how the colourful product range can be used in small or spacious environments to give personality to a space.
To read more about the Laminex x Studio Doherty collaboration, visit www.laminex.com.au More

Ligne Roset is celebrating Togo’s 50th anniversary with style and colour. To mark the occasion, the French furniture company has introduced a striking limited edition Togo fabric, La Toile du Peintre by Pierre Frey, available only until the end of 2023.The painterly design puts a playful spin on the classic Togo design by interpreting the colourful work of artist Heather Chontos.For half a century, the Togo sofa has been the epitome of relaxation with its recognizable slouchy, low-slung lines and quilted exterior.Designer Michel Duceroy said he was inspired by “a tube of toothpaste folded back on itself… and closed at both ends.”Moulded from three different types of polyurethane foam, Togo eliminated the need for springs, base, feet and armrests and instead sat low to the ground while hugging the body. It was a revolutionary and breathtaking concept that shook the design world and even led to Ducaroy receiving the René-Gabriel Prize, France’s most prestigious design award, in 1973.Originally designed to meet the practical need of providing a comfortable spot for afternoon siestas and lazy evenings, the sofa quickly evolved beyond that to become an iconic piece, synonymous with having style.Togo remains one of Ligne Roset’s best-selling lines to this day.Every individual piece in the Togo collection is still crafted by hand in the original factories in Briord, a village in the Bugey region of France.Togo adapts to its environment, blending effortlessly with a traditional or contemporary interior, depending on the quilted cover chosen, whether its leather for an earthy look, glamorous velvets for an elegant feel, retro-inspired corduroy pastels for a splash of colour and hardy neutral-coloured materials for everyday living.The seating collection comprises the Togo Fireside chair, Togo Footstool, Togo Corner Seat, Togo Small Settee, Togo Medium Settee and Togo Large Settee Without Arms, all of which are exclusively available to order in Australia at DOMO.To find out more, visit www.domo.com.au More

A “kinetic portal,” big verandah, tent and “bronze veil” were just some of the design concepts that could have become the next installation of the National Gallery of Victoria’s 2023 Architecture Commission.
In a year when the gallery is exhibiting its landmark Triennial exhibition, the gallery opted to take a different route in procuring its annual architecture commissions. Instead of the usual open and anonymous competition, the gallery chose 10 emerging architecture practices, some of which had previously participated in the competitions, to submit designs that respond to themes of the 2023 Triennial: magic, matter and memory.
“We wanted practices that had the capacity to engage with something more critical or cultural,” explained Ewan McEoin, the NGV’s senior curator of contemporary art, design and architecture, “so people who have a research element to their practice or have illustrated the potential to do something that was beyond just a commercial project. And we were looking for a diverse group of people.
“And we were looking for a global perspective on something – that might be more of a local perspective on something that’s a global issue or something that’s more broadly resonant.”

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“Simply Irresistible” by Studiobird/Simona. Image:

Courtesy of Studiobird/Simona

A number of the submissions responded to the theme of memory: Taylor and Hinds, with Dr Lois Peeler’s scheme “What We Know, Is What We Remember,” proposes a circular field of murnongs that is “memory materialised” and enveloped by a bronze mesh; Supermanoeuvre’s “YIMBY (Yes! In My (Our) Backyard)” aims to build active and collective urban memories through a “shared” backyard; Studiobird/Simona’s “Simply Irresistible” is conceived as “a portal to another realm enmeshed in our memory of architecture.”
With Zena Cumpston’s scheme “Everpresent,” Youssofzay Hart reimagines the tents that once occupied the site of the NGV in the 1850s.
Similarly, Office Mi—Ji’s “Temporary Memory” also reimagines part of the NGV through its reinterpretation of the gallery’s first permanent exhibition space: the McArthur Gallery at the State Library of Victoria.
Spresser and Peter Besley’s “Remembrance of Things Past” responds to both memory and matter with its grid of charred staves that reference colonialism, climate crisis, consumerism and burning practices of First Nations peoples.

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“Remembrance of Things Past” by Spresser and Peter Besley. Image:

Courtesy of Spresser and Peter Besley

Office of Culture, Technology and Architecture’s scheme “Natural Settings” proposes to employ ancient techniques of heating and cooling to support an environment in a constant state of flux.
Another two schemes proposed to create sheltering structures: “Garden with Orange and Green Shade” by GFA2, Supercontext and Dean Cross is conceived as an overscaled domestic verandah affixed to the rear exit of the NGV’s Great Hall, while Five Mile Radius and Julia Watson’s “A Chance to Feel Alive” proposes a linear shelter structure that protects from the evolving climate and draws on Indigenous technologies from around the world.
The ultimate winner was a concept that responds to “matter” by Perth architect Nic Brunsdon in collaboration with Eness: “This is Air,” which captures the ubiquitous eponymous element.
“Air is a universal common link that is [among] the defining features of life,” Brunsdon said. “The air we breathe, this thing that connects us. It can give us life, but it can also harm us.”
Conceived at the tail-end of a pandemic respiratory virus, the concept is, in part, a distillation of the collective anxiety about invisible dangers in the air.
“In a very broad sense, it was trying to find something [that] spoke of the human condition and made the invisible visible,” Brunsdon said.
McEwan said the scheme “unanimously captured everybody’s attention in the jury process.”
“We’re talking about a global realisation that we are all breathing the same air,” he continued. “It was quite philosophical, but also, from my point of view, when we start talking about the air we breathe, we’re talking about our relationship with each other, with ecology, and other species. I think the jury found that quite interesting.
“There was also a lot of dialogue about what do we mean by, ‘Do we breathe the same air?’ Because […] the quality of air the people breathe around the world is significantly different, and mostly different around socio-economic factors.”
“This is Air” will be on display at the National Gallery of Victoria from 3 December 2023.
The competition for the 2024 Architecture Commission will return to an open and anonymous model. The competition will be judged by Cassandra Chilton (associate studio director of Aspect Studios), Ewan McEoin (senior curator of contemporary art, design and architecture at NGV), Georgia Birks (associate editor at Architecture Media, which publishes ArchitectureAU.com), Monique Woodward (director of Wowowa) and Tai Ropiha (director of Chrofi). Register for the competition here. More

The University of Melbourne has released a new estate masterplan for its Parkville campus in central Melbourne.
Principal design consultant Hassell created a long-term vision for the campus that would deliver more than 22,000 square metres of green space, for students, staff and the wider community.
“This landmark initiative represents a pivotal milestone in enhancing the University’s commitment to learning experience and research outcomes,” said Hassell principal Mark Roehrs. “It’s a comprehensive and strategic approach to the estate that balances the re-lifing of its valuable heritage estate with new infrastructure. The University will also enhance its contribution to the city with easier ways to navigate through the University precinct and exciting new green space.”

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A new central park in the heart of University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Image:

Hassell and Studio Lux

Hassell’s masterplan is the third in the university’s history. The first was produced by Brian Lewis in 1948 and the second was by Daryl Jackson in 2008.
A key move in the masterplan is to transform Grattan Street, which bisects the historic campus to the north and urban campus to the south, into a green corridor and in turn create a shared central park that would join together South Lawn and University Square.
The university will work in collaboration with the City of Melbourne to create expanded shared spaces, improved shading, bike paths and planting.
Grattan Street would become a major new entry point with proximity to the under-construction Parkville metro station, designed by Hassell, Western Williamson and Partners, and RSHP, as part of the Cross Yarra Partnership joint venture.
“At the heart of this vision is an aspiration to open up the University’s campuses, to make them more accessible for our staff and students and to transform them into shared places that are more welcoming for all communities,” said vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell.
The masterplanning process identified 70 needs across the campus.
It will also create opportunities for the university’s Indigenous staff, students and partners to co-create projects that promote cultural awareness and recognition of cultural heritage.
The south-west corner of the historic campus will also be redeveloped to create an expanded biomedical precinct.

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An expanded biomedical precinct at University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. Image:

Hassell and Studio Lux

The university’s Medical Building, Old Microbiology Building, and Old Howard Florey Building will make way for an expanded Parkville Biomedical Precinct.
Several historic buildings will be refurbished, including the Old Engineering Building, Electrical and Electronic Building, and Maths and Stats Building, which will also have an extension to house a new multi-disciplinary learning hub and a science discovery centre.
Melba Hall will be rejuvenated, and the Baldwin Spencer Building will be refurbished to create work spaces for staff from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.
“The reimagination of our campus buildings and outdoor areas will make them more accessible, more connected to the environment, and they will be designed with energy efficiency in mind,” Maskell said. More

Melbourne’s Southbank will soon have a new green recreational space, following the announcement of a new park near the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA).
Member for Albert Park Nina Taylor announced a $1.5 million investment for the design and delivery of the park, which will complement new urban gardens in the surrounding area, as well as serve as an accompaniment to the future works to be delivered as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
“Today is just the first step in delivering what will be a fantastic open space for Southbank locals to enjoy,” Taylor said. The space, delivered in partnership with the City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria, and ACCA, will serve as a gathering place for locals and visitors to connect with nature. The park is one of 11 open space projects across Victoria, as part of the state government’s $7.4 million Better Parks and Playgrounds program.
Minister for environment Ingrid Stitt said the introduction of green spaces in metropolitan areas ensures communities still have unique and inclusive open spaces to take pleasure in.

“We’re ensuring Melburnians in urban areas have easy access to quality open space to exercise, relax or just enjoy the outdoors,” she said.

Through the Suburban Parks Program, 87 new and improved public spaces, including parks and dog parks, have been delivered.

Once complete the Suburban Parks Program will create up to 6,500 hectares of new parkland, walking and cycling trails, pocket parks and dog parks – the equivalent of more than 170 Royal Botanic Gardens. More