Architecture

The Western Australian Planning Commission has unanimously approved plans to develop a $250 million, 14-storey building in West Perth for Hancock Prospecting, an Australian mining and agricultural company controlled by Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart.
Designed by Perth-based architecture practice Donaldson Boshard to be a “work meets wellness” business hub, the project comprises a single building with two towers – a northern office tower and a southern amenities tower – connected by a shared podium and gradually separating at higher levels.
The project will involve the demolition of several buildings on Outram Street, including a Federation-era home built in 1904, to clear the site for the new 14-storey development. The application sought the development of a “mixed-use building,” accommodating several levels of office space – set to include the new headquarters of Hancock’s Prospecting – along with gyms, swimming pools, childcare amenities, hospitality offerings and apartments.
The project was approved at a Statutory Planning Committee meeting on 8 October.
During the committee meeting, member Megan Adair raised questions about the project’s classification as “mixed-use,” noting that the proposed amenities – including pools and gyms – are intended for private use by Hancock Prospecting. It was also highlighted during the meeting that the residential component appears to consist of executive suites for the company’s use.
Adair queried whether this meets West Perth’s objective of being a mixed-use area.
Speaking on behalf of the client, Dan Lees of Element Advisory responded by saying, “I think West Perth is characterised as a mixed-used area. To my mind, that means that the area as a whole or the precinct as a whole has a mix of land uses, not necessarily that each individual building or development has to have a mix of uses within it.
“There are plenty of examples of entirely residential buildings in West Perth, in the same way there are plenty of buildings that are exclusively office or commercial,” said Lees. “This building does have a mix – albeit it’s a reasonably small one in terms of the proportions of office versus the executive suites.”
Other issues raised during the meeting by State Development Assessment Unit planner Jacky Jurmann related to the building’s height and the demolition of the existing Federation-era dwelling. It was noted in the committee that the dwelling was recently evaluated for heritage status by the City of Perth but was ultimately not listed. The building height was also considered less contentious given the built form features an open centre rather than a box-like mass.

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Aspect Studios were engaged for the landscape design.
The facade of the building incorporates a trellis system to support vertical landscaping, which, according to the architect’s website, is intended to soften the building’s appearance and promote wellbeing. The architect noted that building setbacks have allowed about 60 percent of the site to be allocated “to landscaping and publicly accessible open space at ground level.”

Adair commented, “I do think that the architecture is very welcome in Perth. It’s nice to see something that’s a bit different and will stand out for Perth as a building.”

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The architect’s website notes, “The campus is built around the evolving nature of work … If the workplace is no longer somewhere you have to be, it must become somewhere you want to be, and this project embraces that shift, prioritising comfort, flexibility and connection.”

The project will target a 5-star Green Star rating. More

Expressions of interest are now open for the milestone tenth edition of Melbourne Design Week, Australia’s largest annual design festival, set to return from 14–24 May 2026 with a statewide program celebrating the power of design.
Presented by the NGV, the festival has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, expanding from fewer than 100 events in its first year to more than 450 in 2025, with over 100,000 attendees.
Designers, studios, makers and collectives are now invited to propose bold and original ideas for talks, exhibitions, installations, workshops and more. Submissions are open until 13 November 2025. The 2026 program will again extend beyond Melbourne, activating venues across Victoria and including the Melbourne Art Book Fair, for which expressions of interest close on 1 December 2025.
Tony Ellwood AM, director of the NGV, said: “Since 2017, Melbourne Design Week has grown in strength and ambition – due in large part to the limitless imagination of our local design community. In 2026, we invite designers, architects, makers and collectives to help us shape the milestone tenth edition of the festival and to share their groundbreaking achievements with our ever-growing audience.”
For further information about Melbourne Design Week 2026, visit designweek.melbourne More

A new speaker series will reveal the stories behind the careers of Australia’s most respected designers. First and Last, launching this month in Melbourne, invites leading architects and interior designers to reflect on their earliest work and contrast it with a recent project — offering a rare glimpse into the creative evolution behind a career in design.
The inaugural event, taking place at King Living’s Southbank showroom in Melbourne on October 29, will feature presentations by Clare Cousins, director of Clare Cousins Architects, and Kirsten Stanisich, director of Richards Stanisich. Through candid storytelling and personal insights, the series explores how creative practices evolve over time, what influences remain constant, and how the design landscape itself continues to shift.

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For Clare Cousins, the journey begins with Page Street, one of the first houses she completed after founding her practice in 2005. The copper-clad home marked the start of her signature approach to contextually responsive design. Fast forward to today, Cousins will contrast this with Courtyard House, a refined reimagining of a 1885 corner store. The two projects, decades apart, demonstrate not only her evolving aesthetic but what has changed in residential architecture in Australia.

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Kirsten Stanisich will take the audience back to MG Garage and Fuel, a Sydney hospitality venue she designed in 1997 alongside Andrew Parr. The project was an iconic addition to the cultural fabric of Sydney. In contrast, Stanisich’s recent work on Motel Molly, a reinvention of a 1980s brick motel in Mollymook, showcases a more nuanced and place-sensitive approach, balancing nostalgia with contemporary comfort.
First and Last promises to be part design talk, part storytelling session — offering emerging designers, students, and industry professionals a refreshing and honest take on how careers in architecture and design unfold.
Tickets are now on sale at the Design Speaks website. More

Dezeen has released its architecture shortlist for the 2025 Dezeen Awards, featuring 92 projects, including twelve from Australia.
Australia has emerged as the most represented country on the shortlist. Out of 17 architecture categories, Australian entries particularly excelled in the residential divisions, with seven projects shortlisted.
Nine projects from the United States and China featured across the shortlist categories, followed by the UK with seven and Mexico with six.
The Australian projects shortlisted for the architecture categories include:
House (urban)
Clifton House – Anthony Gill Architects
Hedge and Arbour House – Studio Bright
House (rural)
Sawmill Treehouse – Robbie Walker

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Housing
Blok Three Sisters – Blok Modular
Sirius Redevelopment – BVN
House extension
Harvest House – Cera Stribley
Park Street House – Michael Ong Design Office
Civic project
Windale Hub – Adriano Pupilli Architects
Cultural project
South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) – Sibling Architecture
Workplace project (large)
First Building – Bradfield City Centre – Hassell
Education project
The Plant Futures Facility – The University of Queensland – M3 Architecture

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Infrastructure and transport project
Central Station – Woods Bagot and John McAslan and Partners More

Sydney Open 2025 has revealed its program, with over 60 buildings and spaces opening their doors to celebrate the festival’s 21st anniversary.
Hosted by Museums of History NSW, Sydney Open invites visitors to discover behind-the-scenes locations that are rarely accessible to the public. This year’s event, featuring a mix of contemporary and historic places, is scheduled to take place on 2 November.
Among the buildings and spaces scheduled to open are:

Bundarra, designed by Smart Design Studio and Those Architects, is a bold new building with a twisted form that contrasts with the restored Victorian terrace it adjoins
Parkline Place, designed by Foster and Partners, is a new 39-storey commercial tower that rises above Gadigal Station and forms part of the Pitt Street over-station development
The Rocks Former Police Station, designed by colonial architect James Barnet, with alterations by Welsh and Major in 2014, is one of only two surviving nineteenth-century police stations in the inner city
The award-winning Bangarra Dance Theatre building at Wharf 4/5, home to the acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance group Bangarra Dance Theatre, was revitalised in 2020 by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects with Tropman and Tropman Architects to support resident arts organisations in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
1 Elizabeth, designed by Johnson Pilton Walker, opened in 2024 as a new commercial building that integrates with the new Sydney Metro Martin Place Station beneath it.

Annette Pitman, CEO of the Museums of History NSW, described Sydney Open as a celebration of Sydney’s built environment, showcasing everything from treasured heritage sites to innovative contemporary architecture. “Together, these buildings tell the story of our past while shaping the way we live, work and imagine the city’s future,” said Pitman.
To view the full program, visit Sydney Open. More

Sunshine Coast Airport has appointed construction firm McNab and architecture practice Fentress Studios, a company owned by global design studio Populous, to deliver its $170 million domestic terminal redevelopment project. The newly appointed firms join project managers Planned Performance.
According to a statement released by the airport, the project will nearly double the footprint of the terminal, increase the number of departure gates from five to seven, and triple the size of the departure lounge. It will also incorporate expanded retail and food offerings, along with upgraded check-in and security technology.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the project has been shaped by community input.
“The terminal reflects local needs and expectations with their [community] insights directly influencing key design features, amenities and the overall experience. From the look and feel of the terminal to how we welcome and serve travellers, locals helped shape more than just a space, they helped shape a better journey for everyone,” said Mills.

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Asia Pacific head of aviation at Fentress Studios Matt Findlay said the terminal design will draw on “the unique character of the Sunshine Coast” while delivering a smooth passenger experience.
“Our vision for the terminal is to create a space that celebrates the Sunshine Coast’s natural beauty and lifestyle while providing travellers with a modern, efficient and welcoming gateway,” said Findlay.
“The design prioritises natural light with sweeping views of the runway, allowing passengers to experience the excitement of aircraft arrivals and departures from the comfort of the terminal.
“By seamlessly integrating security and check-in, enhancing the arrival experience, and reducing the distance between check-in and boarding gates, we’re reimagining the terminal journey to be more intuitive, efficient and welcoming for every passenger. Sustainability and accessibility remain at the heart of every design decision, alongside greater passenger seating and amenities.”

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The airport’s communique outlines a staged approach to delivery, intended to minimise passenger disruption. Stage one, now in progress, includes a new outbound baggage handling facility, slated for completion in early 2026. The full domestic terminal expansion is expected to be complete by 2027, with the airport forecasted to welcome 2.4 million passengers annually. More

The multi-award-winning Daylesford Longhouse by Partners Hill has been listed for sale.
Winner of the Australian Institute of Architects 2019 Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture at the National Architecture Awards, as well as Australian House of the Year and New House over 200 square metre categories at the 2019 Houses Awards, the longhouse is recognised as one of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary homes.
The property occupies a 20-acre parcel of land at 178 Mannings Road in Elevated Plains, within Victoria’s Hepburn Shire. From afar, the building presents as a 110-metre long shed. Within the single volume, however, a series of internal buildings are arranged around a greenhouse setting. These buildings include living quarters, a garden kitchen/cooking school, visitor accommodation and a working farm.
In her 2019 review of the project for Architecture Australia, Katelin Butler described entering the building as “magical and otherworldly,” noting that despite this atmosphere, every design decision is marked by masterful clarity and grounded in rational thinking.

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Owners Ronnen Goren and Trace Streeter acquired the property about 15 years ago, and worked closely with architect and Partners Hill director Timothy Hill to bring to life their vision – a place to live, farm, host and create, while also enabling a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Goren, co-owner of Daylesford Longhouse and co-owner and director of multidisciplinary design practice Studio Ongarato, described the longhouse as one that “redefines luxury: grounded in place, rich in experience, and connected to community with food and entertainment at the heart.”
He added, “We are now at a stage where the time is right to pass on the legacy of what we have created.”

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Timothy Hill was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 2025, with the Daylesford Longhouse praised in the jury citation. The longhouse was recognised by the jury as being emblematic of Hill’s broader approach to architecture, one that has “engendered an expectation that architecture can, and must, offer contiguous interior–exterior space through which inhabitants can feel place and climate – architecture that is sensual, tactile, crafted and joyful.”
The project has appeared on ABC television series Grand Designs Australia, as well as the Apple TV+ series Home.
Expressions of interest for the Daylesford Longhouse are now being accepted. For details, visit here. More

The final underground station in the Melbourne Metro Tunnel project is now complete, the Victorian government has announced.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams visited the newly completed State Library Station – the last of the five Metro Tunnel stations to be finished, following Arden, Parkville, Town Hall and Anzac stations.
Designed by Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners, and Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, the new stations will link Footscray and Malvern, connecting the Sunbury Line to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
According to the state government, State Library Station is the deepest and most complex station ever built beneath Melbourne’s CBD. Located 42 metres below Swanston Street – deeper than the height of Marvel Stadium – it features platforms that are 220 metres long and 18 metres wide, making them among the widest underground metro platforms in the world.
In a statement, the government highlighted the use of precision keyhole construction, with crews lowering materials and machinery through shafts while traffic continued to flow on streets above.
The station’s main entrance, located at the corner of La Trobe and Swanston streets, is framed by 12 columns that are topped with 70-tonne, 18-metre beams, which were lifted into place by a 400-tonne crane. A second entrance opens onto Franklin Street.
A major artwork by Australian artist Danie Mellor, titled Forever, is integrated into the glazing at the main entrance. The work incorporates historical portraits of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung women set within contemporary landscape imagery. The historical images were sourced from the archives of the neighbouring State Library Victoria, with support from the library’s curatorial team.

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The station features 27 escalators, including two at Melbourne Central Station, which it shares a concourse with. The longest escalator stretches 42 metres, making it the longest in Melbourne – 12 metres longer than those at Parliament Station.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the Metro Tunnel project is the biggest transformation of Melbourne’s rail network in more than 40 years. “Transferring between State Library and Melbourne Central is one small step for a commuter and one giant leap for Victoria,” said Allen.
“The end of major construction means the start of a new era for Melbourne, where you can get to uni, work and retail faster and easier.”
Opening dates for the stations are still to be announced. More