Architecture

The Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) has announced the launch of a survey aimed at capturing the perspectives, aspirations and challenges of young architects and architecture students across the Commonwealth.
As the architectural profession faces unprecedented global challenges – ranging from climate change to rapid urbanisation – the survey hopes to capture the insights of young practitioners and students to drive positive change. The initiative is intended to serve as a platform for young voices to be heard, ensuring that their contributions inform policies and programs, and strengthen the profession across Commonwealth nations.
In the words of Sydney-based youth representative of the CAA Hugo Chan, “The future belongs to the next generation of professionals. By engaging young architects and students in meaningful dialogue, we can foster an inclusive, forward-thinking profession that responds effectively to the evolving needs of our communities and those we design for. This survey represents a key step in amplifying youth perspectives and integrating their insights into decision-making processes.”
The survey is open to all young architects, architecture students and emerging professionals aged 18–35 from Commonwealth countries. Findings from the survey will be compiled into a report that will be shared with industry leaders, policymakers and academic institutions in late 2025.
Access the survey online until 30 June 2025. More

Seven eminent Australian designers have become the latest inductees into the Design Institute of Australia’s (DIA) Hall of Fame. All inductees have produced exceptional work and made notable contributions to the Australian design industry within their respective fields. It is the highest form of recognition for design leaders across the profession, and this year it encompasses industrial, interior, and graphic design disciplines.
DIA president Ryan Russell said, “Today’s announcement is a testament to the enduring power of design. For over 25 years, the DIA Hall of Fame has showcased designers who shape our world. These inductees inspire us all and remind us of design’s transformative power.”
This year’s inductees, who join more than 130 other recipients since the program’s inception in 1996, will be inducted at a ceremony on 20 February in Melbourne.
The seven inductees are:
Kirsti Simpson, interior designer

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Simpson is the studio executive chair and global leader of workplace interiors at Woods Bagot, where she advocates for national and international clients. A specialist in workplace design, she has earned a place on numerous boards, reflecting her groundbreaking career. Simpson holds a bachelor of applied science in built environment from Queensland University of Technology and began her career at Bligh Voller Neild before spending 25 years at Hassell, where she became the first female partner, managing partner and board member. At Woods Bagot, she has led major projects across Australia and Asia. A passionate champion of interior design, Simpson is also an adjunct professor at The University of Queensland and serves on several advisory panels. She was made a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia in 2017.
Robyn Lindsey, interior designer

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Lindsey is an innovative and inspiring design leader known for challenging design thinking to create authentic, future-focused environments. After studying interior design at RMIT and earning an MBA from Swinburne University, Lindsey worked in architectural practices before joining Geyer Design in 1990, where she became a key partner and led the company’s expansion into Asia. She has mentored many designers and worked with clients across diverse sectors, including retail, corporate, and hospitality. Lindsey has served on industry panels, juries, and facilitated events. In 2020, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to design.
Les Mason, graphic designer

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Mason, a pioneering graphic designer and art director, played a key role in Melbourne’s design scene for over thirty years. Born in California in 1924, he studied painting and interior design before transitioning to commercial art. Mason moved to Melbourne in 1961 and joined the advertising agency USP Benson, where his innovative work earned him early recognition, including an award-winning campaign for Shell Australia. In 1962, he opened his own studio, becoming known for his conceptual and formal design approach. He designed the Epicurean magazine from 1966 to 1979 and worked with major Australian companies and government bodies on iconic campaigns. Mason was a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale and the Type Directors Club of New York. In 1981, he and his partner moved to Perth before relocating to South America, where they focused on fine art. Mason passed away in Istanbul in 2009. His work was included in Phaidon’s Graphic Classics in 2024.
Bruce Hall, industrial designer

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Hall graduated with an associate diploma in industrial design from RMIT in 1963 and was hired by Gordon Bremner at A G Healings in 1961 as a staff industrial designer. He worked on the design of televisions, transistors, and audio cabinets, eventually becoming senior industrial designer in 1967. His record player model 201G ‘Hit Parader’ won a Good Design Label and was featured at Montreal Expo 67. After leaving EMI in 1974, Hall taught at the Melbourne College of Decoration and later at the Hawthorn Institute of Education, where he also specialized in graphic communication and plastic technology.
Steve Martinuzzo, industrial designer

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Martinuzzo is a product design and development expert with over 30 years of experience, focused on creating socially responsible, user-centred products. After graduating from RMIT in 1985, Martinuzzo began his career at Boral Lifts and later joined PA Technology, which transitioned into Invetech. His overseas experience included working on the BP station rejuvenation project with Addisons in London. Martinuzzo co-founded Cobalt Design in 1996, aiming to create world-class product designs, including the iconic “Tarzan Handle” on Melbourne trams. He has lectured at Monash and RMIT, mentored future designers, and served on various industry boards and committees.
Ross Renwick, Graphic artist, writer and founder

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Renwick was a graphic artist, writer, and co-founder of Billy Blue Creative, Billy Blue magazine and the Billy Blue School of Creative Arts. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Renwick also ventured into advertising, journalism and publishing. In 1977, he co-founded Billy Blue Creative, using its magazine to promote Australian stories and sell T-shirts with provocative slogans. The magazine launched over 100 editions, giving many aspiring writers a platform. Renwick’s design talent earned him numerous national and international awards. In 1989, he launched a one-year diploma design course to address concerns over the quality of graduates from art schools.
Hugh Whisson, industrial designer

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Whisson was a pioneering figure in South Australian design, founding the state’s first industrial design consultancy in 1961. He played a key role in establishing the South Australian chapter of the DIA, serving as its first president, and later as National DIA President from 1971 to 1973. In the 1950s, Whisson led the Colour and Design Department at Chrysler Australia, contributing to the redesign of models like the Chrysler Desoto and Dodge to suit Australian market needs. In 1960, he established his own consultancy, Hugh J Whisson Design Associates, working with major clients such as Lightburn Industries, Simpson Pope, and David Shearer Pty Ltd. He contributed to the design of the Zeta micro-car and the XP88 self-propelled header, which won the Prince Philip Prize for Industrial Design in 1968. Whisson also patented the Constructa display system, which won an Australian Design Award in 1977. He retired in the late 1970s after more than 20 years of innovation. More

The Australian Institute of Architects, in partnership with Dulux, have announced the five winners who will embark on the 2025 Australian Institute of Architects Dulux Study Tour.
Gumji Kang, Jimmy Carter, Kate Shepherd, Marni Reti and Nicholas Souksamrane were awarded the coveted prize from a shortlist of 30 emerging architect entrants. They will embark on a tour of Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Barcelona this coming May.
Dulux’s general manager of trade Jevan Dickinson noted, “We couldn’t be more pleased to offer these five stellar individuals the chance to explore world-renowned architecture. The Dulux Study Tour is an enriching experience abound with opportunities for burgeoning professionals to be inspired by global practices and to then bring their newfound influences home.”
Jury citations
Gumji Kang, Snøhetta (Vic)

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Through her distinguished roles as creative practitioner in academia, studio director in practice and chapter councillor for the Australian Institute of Architects, Gumji Kang’s dedication, leadership and generosity have profoundly influenced the architectural landscape of Melbourne and beyond.
Since graduating from the Melbourne School of Design in 2015, Kang has participated in numerous guest lecturer roles and led her own design studios. Recently appointed as creative practitioner, the popularity of Kang’s studios are a testament to her generous knowledge sharing, mentoring capabilities and the positive influence she is instilling on the future generation of designers.
Kang possesses a keen awareness of her environment, cultivating a deep understanding of how the relationship between people and place contributes to exceptional architecture and design. She is continuously exploring the balance between innovation and heritage, and her involvement in Melbourne’s iconic Tea House project is a fantastic example of this. Kang’s design philosophy – “place for all, shaped by many” – has been integral to her practice, with relevance to her extensive civic portfolio in her role as studio director at Snøhetta’s Melbourne studio.
In addition to her professional and academic career, Kang is an active member of the Institute, currently serving as co-chair of the Gender Equity and Diversity Committee, having previously co-chaired EmAGN Victoria. Through these roles, Kang has spearheaded initiatives such as Common Ground and curated a variety of forums. Her passion for community involvement and design excellence makes her an ideal candidate to embark on the Dulux Study Tour.
Jimmy Carter, Office Mi–Ji (Vic)

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As co-founder of the emerging practice Office Mi–Ji, Jimmy Carter seeks to enhance architecture and the built environment through architectural discourse, public engagement and exceptional built outcomes. Carter’s shared practice aims to approach architecture in a highly specific manner, deeply engaging with place and clients, while concurrently striving to do “good work” for “good work” speaks for itself.
Office Mi–Ji are interested in fabrication and production as a way of revealing architectural language. Office Mi–Ji has positioned itself as a conceptually rigorous and materially innovative emerging practice. The studio has been widely awarded at state, national and international levels, most notably in 2023 when Office Mi–Ji were awarded the RAIA National Award for Colorbond Steel in Architecture and the Victorian Chapter EmAGN Project Award.
In addition to leading an emerging architectural practice, Carter is “dedicated to the dissemination of architecture via non–traditional formats.” Carter has contributed written works to Union, MAS Context, PLAT and Fresh Meat Journal. Carter’s self-initiated and published architectural zines/critique, engagement in speaking series, competition and events such as the Lisbon Architecture Triennale as well as the development of platforms such as DIS-cour.se highlight a tenacious appetite for dialogue and confirms Office Mi–Ji’s firmly held belief that architecture’s main function is the creation of ideas to serve public and social benefit.
Kate Shepherd, Cumulus (Tas)

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Kate Shepherd is a registered architect with Cumulus Studio in Hobart. She is a proud Canberran, having completed her Bachelor and Masters of Architecture at the University of Canberra. Her study included a stint at the University of Oulu in Finland in 2014, predating her more recent move to Hobart.
Shepherd has been recognised in both academic and professional settings. She received the Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn Graduates Prize in 2014, the RIBA South Design Excellence Award in 2021 for the Wolfson Building at the University of Oxford (FJMT Studio) and the Emerging Architect Prize at the Institute’s ACT Architecture Awards in 2022.
Education and community involvement are core values that significantly influence Shepherd’s architectural practice. She views architecture as a collaborative and interconnected discipline that thrives on creating social value. This philosophy is evident in her diverse projects, ranging from public infrastructure to housing.
Since relocating to Tasmania in 2022, Shepherd has remained highly active in shaping the architectural profession. As a committee member of the Institute’s Tasmanian Emerging Architects and Graduate Network (EmAGN), co-chair of EmAGN in 2024, chapter councillor and awards jury member, she has helped create opportunities for emerging architects by ensuring their voices are part of the broader architectural conversation.
Marni Reti, Kaunitz Yeung Architecture (NSW)

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As a proud Palawa and Ngātiwai woman born and raised on Gadigal and Dharawal land, Marni’s exceptional contribution to architecture and her dedication to integrating Indigenous knowledge into design has delivered richer and more culturally sensitive built outcomes.
As an associate at Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, Reti has led numerous significant projects, such as the Baaka Cultural and Art Centre, and the Utopia and Tjarlirli Art Centres, where her informed engagement has delivered excellent social and environmental outcomes that contribute positively to communities through a regenerative approach to healing Country.
Indicative of the esteem in which she is held in the architecture community, Reti has been recognised with the Emerging Sustainable Architect Award at the Sustainability Awards in 2022 and the NSW Architects Registration Board’s Architects Medallion for 2021. Reti’s commitment to education and mentorship is demonstrated through her roles as a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, her involvement in industry panels and workshops, as well as publications she contributes to.
Reti is a vocal advocate for Indigenous representation in architecture, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally aware industry. Her innovative approach and leadership make her a deserving candidate for the Dulux Study Tour, where she can further her professional development and continue to inspire positive change.
Nicholas Souksamrane, BVN (NSW)

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Nicholas Souksamrane is a visionary and socially conscious architect, deeply committed to addressing critical issues within the fields of housing and education through thoughtful design-led solutions. He is a committed advocate for nurturing emerging talent, offering both guidance and support to students and young architects navigating their careers.
In his role as practice director at BVN, Souksamrane actively shapes the direction of the firm, ensuring that social responsibility is embedded in both the practice’s philosophy and its projects. His passion for issues related to housing and education has led to BVN’s involvement in numerous projects that seek to address societal challenges through design. He has a remarkable ability to balance visionary ideals with practical, real-world solutions, driving projects that are not only architecturally prominent but also socially shaping the way people work, live and learn.
Souksamrane is particularly passionate about education projects where he can work with all parts of a community to design beautiful, purposeful spaces in which to learn and teach. Souksamrane has the capacity to translate visionary educational requests for learning spaces into realistic, achievable designs that are inspiring and exciting.
Jury
Stuart Tanner, national president, Australian Institute of ArchitectsAnna Svensdotter, Australian Institute of Architects representativePete Wood, national commercial business manager, DuluxChristina Earls, colour and commercial marketing manager, DuluxEdwina Brisbane, national EmAGN president representativeKaty Moir, previous Dulux Study Tour recipient More

The City of Fremantle in Western Australia is seeking input on a $110 million planning application submitted to the council that proposes the redevelopment of the former Elders Wool Stores site in Fremantle.
The Elders Wool Stores complex, located on Cantonment Street, is one of the four original wool stores built on the southern side of Fremantle Port. First constructed in 1927 for the wool production company Goldsbrough Mort and Co, the complex has undergone several expansions over the years, including an extension in the 1950s and another in 1967. Despite these additions, the complex fell into disuse in the early 1980s and has since deteriorated significantly.
Recent plans lodged by developer and landowner Human Urban propose the site be revitalised and converted into a mixed-use precinct that accommodates residences – including 174 co-living units, 33 build-to-sell apartments and six build-to-sell townhouses – food and beverage offerings, commercial office spaces, and communal areas for both residents and visitors.

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The proposed precinct is designed by a consortium comprising Spaceagency Architects, urban planning firm Urbis, landscape architecture practice See Design Studio and heritage architecture firm Griffiths Architects.

The application requests approval for the restoration and adaptation of the first and second floors of the 1927 state-heritage-listed Goldsbrough Mort Building into commercial office space. It also requests the removal of a 1967 top-floor extension, which would be replaced with a new third floor, also designated to commercial office space. Above this, three additional levels have been proposed to accommodate residences, resulting in a seven-storey building, including the ground floor. From an external perspective, the new levels are setback from the original facade, establishing a distinct contrast between the heritage fabric and the additions above.
A 1950s northern addition, which is listed on the local heritage register, would also be retained and adapted to accommodate residences and a landscaped internal street called the Mews.
According to the application, the proposal has been shaped by several design reviews, including an invited design competition that resulted in the developer selecting Spaceagency as the lead architect for bringing their vision to life. Furthermore, the proposal has undergone the City of Fremantle’s design review process.

The consultation portal for providing feedback on the proposal closes on 18 February. More

A new global design competition seeking creative solutions for sustainable and regenerative energy and water systems in Marou village, Fiji, has launched.
LAGI 2025 Fiji is a global design competition that has been co-created by the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) and the residents of Marou – a village comprising 67 households that is located on the southeast coast of Naviti Island in the Yasawa Group archipelago in the western Ba Province of Fiji.
The competition brief invites participants to design “a work of art in the landscape that will supply clean and reliable electricity and water, support sustainable tourism and help to build a resilient future for generations to come.” Coastal island communities are especially vulnerable to climate change. Stronger cyclones, rising sea levels, warming waters, biodiversity loss, prolonged droughts and major flood events threaten their existence. Marou village is one such community.
From the entries, two teams will be shortlisted to advance their design proposal, receiving a stipend of USD $100,000 to develop a functioning prototype of their concept in Fiji. Based on the success of these prototypes, one team’s design will then be chosen for implementation at full-scale as a pilot project. The objective of the competition is to develop a replicable model for implementing and operating renewable energy and water systems for island communities.
LAGI co-founders Elizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry said once constructed, the pilot program will give back to the community in many ways. “LAGI 2025 Fiji will help shift the paradigm of the energy-water nexus for island communities by creating innovative and aesthetic design solutions — with people and place at the center of the process,” they said.
The competition is free to enter and open to all disciplines. Entries can be submitted until 5 May 2025. Visit the LAGI 2025 Fiji website to find out more. More

The South Australian planning minister has approved a planning code amendment that will enable new towers in Adelaide’s Festival Plaza to reach up to 40 storeys, despite a majority of consultation respondents opposing the amendment.
The tallest tower currently in the plaza, One Festival Tower, reaches 29 stories. Following a consultation period launched by the state government in September 2024, the Minister for Planning Nick Champion has now approved the amended planning code, permitting new buildings in Festival Plaza to rise up to 40 storeys.
A total of 87 submissions were received during the consultation period, with the majority – 62 respondents – unsupportive of the code amendment. Elsewhere in the submissions, 16 were supportive, 5 were supportive with concerns, 3 were impartial and one didn’t specify whether it was for or against changes to the code.
One of the key issues highlighted during the consultation period was the potential impact of a 38-storey tower at the plaza site, which was proposed in early 2024. This tower proposal was submitted by Walker Corporation in lieu of an earlier approved proposal for a significantly smaller three-storey retail building on the site. Designed by Walker Corporation with architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker, it was proposed that the high-rise would accommodate 36 floors of commercial office space, two levels for food and beverage establishments and a glass foyer.
Additional concerns raised during the consultation period focused on the height increase potentially impacting the heritage values of the nearby heritage-listed Parliament House, Festival Theatre and Torrens Parade Ground, as well as obstructing views of linear park, the northern facade of Parliament House, Festival Theatre and the River Torrens.
The key areas of support raised during the consultation period included: “Adelaide needs more taller buildings to use space more efficiently” and a building of approximately 40 levels “could provide opportunities to benefit the community such as a public viewing deck or museum.”
In a published letter to the Department for Housing and Urban Development, Champion wrote that he had considered the issues raised during the consultation period and had decided to adopt the Festival Plaza Code Amendment. “In approving the Code Amendment, I am of the view that the approved Amendment provides clear guidance about the appropriate location of buildings within the Festival Plaza to ensure Festival Plaza remains a world-class hub for the arts, culture, tourism and entertainment.”
The adopted code amendment specifies that any new building must have a minimum setback of nine metres from Parliament House’s northern facade to preserve its visual integrity and heritage value. Efforts to preserve view lines to the Parliament House balcony and Aedicular Corner of classical columns and pilasters must also be made.
The proposal for a 38-storey tower is being assessed by the independent State Planning Commission. More

Bangladeshi architect and educator Marina Tabassum and her firm, Marina Tabassum Architects, have been revealed as the designers of the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion.
The 2025 pavilion, titled A Capsule in Time, will be unveiled at the Serpentine South Gallery in London on 6 June 2025. True to its name, the form of the pavilion resembles a capsule with its mass broken up into four portions that each take on a tunnel or semi-dome shape. A facade made of timber and a translucent material offers a dynamic experience for visitors, enabling shadow play from both exterior and interior angles. An open-air courtyard is positioned at the centre of these four elements, offering a reprieve from shelter.

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A standout aspect of the design is a kinetic feature: one of the portions can slide to connect and disconnect, effectively transforming the pavilion into a new space. This dynamic feature and the fabric facade are both inspired by the architectural language of Shamiyana tents and awnings commonly seen in South Asia, which are similarly kinetic in function and feature an external fabric that is supported by bamboo poles. These traditional South Asian structures are typically erected for outdoor gatherings and celebrations.
Reflecting on the design of the pavilion, Tabassum said, “The archaic volume of a half capsule, generated by geometry and wrapped in light semi-transparent material will create a play of filtered light that will pierce through the structure as if under a Shamiyana at a Bengali wedding. The Serpentine Pavilion offers a unique platform under the summer sun to unite as people rich in diversity. The stage is set, the seats are placed. We envision various events and encounters taking place in this versatile space that unifies people through conversations and connections.”

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This year’s pavilion was selected by a jury comprising Serpentine’s CEO Bettina Korek, artist director Hans Ulrich Obrist, director of construction and special projects Julie Burnell, exhibitions curator Chris Bayley, curator at large of architecture and site-specific projects, Natalia Grabowska and assistant exhibitions curator Alexa Chow, together with advisors Sou Fujimoto and David Glover.
Tabassum is an acclaimed architect and educator who has received numerous international recognitions in the field of architecture. Her practice Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA) was founded in Bangladesh in 2005. The studio prioritises the integration of research and education by conducting extensive studies on the effects of climate change in Bangladesh – working closely with geographers, landscape architects, planners and other related professionals.
The pavilion will be open to the public from 6 June 2025 until 26 October 2025. More

An online survey investigating the efficacy of the First Nations-focused performance criteria outlined in the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia’s 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects has been launched.
The online survey is part of a research project currently being conducted by Dr Michael Mossman and Professor Donald McNeill, titled Indigenising the Built Environment in Australia. The research project was awarded $1.4 million in Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous funding in October 2023.
The objective of the research is to examine the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects, which serves as the national guideline for performance criteria applicable to architecture schools and practitioners in Australia. The research will concentrate solely on the performance criteria related to Country and First Nations Communities and Cultures (FNPC).
The questionnaire is the first of two online surveys, accompanied by two rounds of yarning workshops scheduled for 2025 and 2026. The research project will then wrap up with a symposium that reveals the findings in June 2027.
For Mossman, this first survey exercise will be an opportunity to gauge broader understandings of architecture and built environment roles and relationships with Country and First Nations Communities and Cultures.
“This is an invitation for community, universities, industry and government agencies in architecture and allied disciplines to learn what architects are presenting in built environment learning and practices relative to Country,” said Mossman.
“It is critical to unpack the challenges industry is currently facing, along with the opportunities and aspirations that are driving curriculum and practice into the future.”
The first online survey will close in mid-March 2025. To complete the survey, visit here. More