Architecture

Melbourne Design Week returns from 18 May with an 11-day program of talks, tours, exhibitions and workshops touching on all corners of design. Architecture Media associate editor Georgia Birks presents 10 events you won’t want to miss.

“From Country, materials are taken, transformed, and to Country, they ultimately return.” Presented by Wardle, this discussion will explore the stories that materials tell about the environment, the people who make them, and the transactional exchanges in their production and disposal. Practice partners John Wardle and Meaghan Dwyer will be joined by architectural graduate and researcher Michael McMahon, a descendant of the Bundjalung people. Rory Hyde of the University of Melbourne will moderate the discussion.

“We believe that AI has the potential to revolutionize the way we design and acquire architecturally designed homes,” says Kirby Roper, founder of digital architecture platform @home. This panel discussion features architecture and digital technologies experts, who will share their insights on the latest developments in AI and how they can be applied to the field of architecture. There are three panelists: Kirby Roper and Evan Harridge of @home, and Peter Raisbeck of Melbourne School of Design.

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Artists weaving on the beach at Numbulwar. Image:

Courtesy of Numbulwar Numburindi Arts.

Visiting Numbulwar Numburindi artists Rose Wilfred, Joy Wilfred and Janette Murrungun host this weaving circle – an educational conversation and making experience. Artists will share their skills and processes with participants, who will have the opportunity to talk with the artists about their material harvesting and traditional practices. Numbulwar Numburindi Arts is a collective of artists based on the east coast of the Northern Territory. The artists harvest ghost nets and reclaimed fishing nets from their shores to create sustainable woven works.

“How do we build and embrace community participation around civic renewal and urban transformation?” Featuring thinkers across culture, infrastructure and communications, this panel will discuss the concept of “deliberate development” and highlight the role of design in consultation strategies. Speakers include Mary Parker, communications director for the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation; Justine Dalla Riva, CEO of the Victorian Pride Centre; and Caroline Bommes of Acciona Energía Australia.

Women and people of colour lead the conversation in this exhibition, critiquing the hyper-individualism of capitalism and calling for a more collaborative approach grounded in the principles of collectivism. How can the knowledge systems and cultural practices of Indigenous and diverse communities shape a more sustainable and equitable society? Perspectives is presented by Collective Futures and The Australian Institute of Architects.

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The Victorian Pride Centre by Brearley Architects and Urbanists and Grant Amon Architects. Justine Dalla Riva, CEO of the Victorian Pride Centre, will be speaking on social licence. Image:

John Gollings

“Would you rather embrace deep-fake technology, or destroy it forever? Design single-mindedly for accessibility, or for aesthetics? Make design awards free, or ban them altogether?” At this event, designers engage in debate on issues big and small, from AI to the environment. Which way will you go? Would You Rather? is presented by Re.Design.

Presented by Australian tableware company The Good Plate, this unique evening is a celebration of dining and tableware design. After an interactive four-course meal, guests will receive keepsakes to take home: the bowls and plates they used.

“If I am more fortunate than others, I need to build a longer table, not a taller fence.” Flack Studio presents this curated exhibition, which responds to the idea of gathering around a table. Works of art and design will facilitate conversation and connection through creative responses to the table and the memories, rituals and habits we associate with it.

Presented by Jingwen (Jina) He, this event will examine the roles of public art, “placemaking” and “activation” in shaping cities. Speakers include Jo Muir, project lead of creative urban places at the City of Melbourne; Stacie Ng, design strategist at Relative Projects; Lynda Roberts, senior adviser of creative communities at RMIT University; and Simon Abrahams, creative director and CEO of Melbourne Fringe.

Set beside the Birrarung, this two-hour workshop will speculate on a near-future flooded world. Participants will engage in “play design” thinking to intimately reconnect with water. The workshop will begin with the launching of a zine that recollects stories of water care in Melbourne. The zine includes a game to be played along the Birrarung, in which participants are invited to reimagine their own relationships with water through interrelational and intergenerational play. More

A massive project is unfolding in Sydney’s Western Parkland region. The building of a new city from the ground up is central to an infrastructure-led restructuring of metropolitan Sydney. The catalysts are the Western Sydney City Deal and the Western Sydney Airport being built alongside the new Bradfield City.
Bradfield city is being developed on unceded Aboriginal land with complex ongoing settler-colonial legacies and high stakes for diverse First Nations communities – including the largest urban Indigenous population in Australia. Yet it is named after a colonial figure with no connection to the land.
Our case study research acknowledges what is happening in the Western Parkland development as being at the forefront of urban and infrastructure governance across Australia. It’s particularly notable how all three tiers of government – federal, state and local – have come together in this massive project.
Yet we have also identified a range of concerns, including public consultation, project funding, urban heat and water demand, the need for affordable and public housing, and other social equity issues.

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The proposed Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility by Hassell, which promises to be Bradfield’s first building. Image: Hassell

City’s name is not a good start
The case study is part of a three-year (2020-2023) research project, the Infrastructure Governance Incubator, across three universities – Sydney, Melbourne and Monash. Our study includes 55 interviews with key stakeholders from all tiers of government, as well as non-government and community voices.
Participants from across the board have seen the “Bradfield” naming as a shameful decision. It’s in stark contrast to the positive steps towards supporting Indigenous voices throughout the project. These steps include the award-winning Recognise Country guidelines, Indigenous-led design projects, a Koori Perspectives Circle, and new Indigenous roles within government authorities to support engagement efforts.
In Australian cities, it is critical we explore the role of infrastructure in perpetuating settler-coloniality and in making space for Indigenous-led futures. The complex challenges of a case like this can inform important discussions about how we might improve infrastructure planning to produce just and sustainable approaches.
Our research participants saw a need for governments to give meaningful attention to building relationships and developing cross-cultural understandings. This involves early conversations with Aboriginal groups and adequate resourcing for engagement. Too often, these groups are brought on late in processes after key decisions are already made.
Interviewees stressed the importance of governments “learning to listen”. This requires having the openness to hear what is being said even if inconvenient. Many participants wanted to see Indigenous voices empowered in decision-making, not simply advisory.
“Listening” also means “listening to Country”. Part of demonstrating commitment to relationship building involves sustainably protecting Country. Early and ongoing public scrutiny is essential to ensure the project’s short-term approaches align with long-term perspectives on sustainable outcomes. It may also mean taking steps more slowly and carefully to get it right.

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Bradfield city centre concept image by Hatch Roberts Day. Image:

Hatch Roberts Day

The state government could take some key actions. These include committing resources to advancing the many Indigenous land claims and applying exemptions to development barriers such as biodiversity offset obligations. These currently treat First Nation stakeholders like a developer, ignoring their long and ongoing care for Country.
Many participants also raised serious environmental concerns, including water management and extreme heat in the new city. Heatwaves can be 5-10℃ hotter there than the rest of Sydney.
Some fundamentally questioned a massive greenfield development in such a vulnerable environment. Others saw this as a chance to make much-needed transformational changes to our planning systems.
Focus on jobs overshadows other issues
The political focus is on creating jobs in Western Sydney. Participants generally agreed it’s important to rebalance the metropolitan job market and economy.
However, many were concerned this focus has come at the expense of attention to other aspects of inequity, including access to affordable and public housing, public health and social services.
In terms of metropolitan planning, the centralised way the new strategy was adopted is a problem. The concept came from the then Greater Sydney Commission and was supported by the region’s councils.
The communities of the wider Sydney region, however, were not given strategic alternatives to consider. In particular, the concept was not put to traditional Indigenous custodians before being adopted.
One of the alternatives might have acknowledged the outer west as the hottest part of Sydney. It could instead have considered development in cooler parts such as Dural or the Central Coast. These sites might have been better placed to manage global warming challenges.
Governance is still a work in progress
Our participants agreed the complexity of urban challenges requires a concerted effort to better integrate infrastructure decision-making. Part of the challenge is to overcome legacies of fragmented urban governance. It’s a result of divisions of responsibilities between tiers of government and siloed decision-making across and within these tiers.
The Western Sydney City Deal is generally seen as a major step towards better integration of all levels of government. Nevertheless, participants note important shortfalls.
City Deal funding committed to date is likely too little, given the major place-making ambitions. While it’s useful for short-term projects, local governments need solutions for their major long-term funding issues, especially in the face of new growth pressures. Lack of funding fuels existing cultures of competition between authorities.
The Western Sydney City Deal has had some welcome successes in improving collaboration between the three levels of government. Local governments have secured “seats at the table”, where they have been able to renegotiate the terms of collaboration and governance.
However, important questions remain about how governments collaborate with community infrastructure sectors, non-government organisations and community advocates. Many have raised concerns about lack of meaningful inclusion or being engaged too late for meaningful impact.
An example of these issues is the three-year review required under the Western Sydney City Deal signed in 2018. An independent university group completed the review in 2021. It has never been released to the public.
Interviewees told us the review was productive and made useful governance recommendations. However, some suggested it was not released due to state government discomfort with the findings.
We strongly urge the newly elected state government to make the review public and commit to a timely release of all similar documents in future. This will help build trust with the community.
Tooran Alizadeh, Associate Professor in Urbanism and Infrastructure, ARC Future Fellow, University of Sydney; Glen Searle, Honorary Associate Professor in Planning, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, and Rebecca Clements, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Sydney
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. More

The Hills Shire Council has proposed three high-density precincts that would see new offices, housing and public spaces built near train stations in Sydney’s north-west.
Draft precinct plans for Norwest, Castle Hill and Rouse Hill envision lively mixed-use developments that would bring more jobs to the area and provide housing close to public transit.
“By concentrating high-density developments within walking distance of a world-class train line, we can preserve our existing residential character whilst providing a mix of housing options for future generations and more places where people can set up a business, such as a retail outlet or café,” said The Hills Shire Council general manager Michael Edgar.
The Norwest plan calls for a commercial office development around Norwest Station, west of Cattai Creek and along Carrington Road that would accommodate 18,100 homes and a new park alongside Norwest Lake.

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Castle Hill Precinct concept image. Image:

Tome Visuals

The Castle Hill plan would create dedicated areas for commercial office development within and around Ring Road, including an education precinct with a new university, and would include up to 7,400 homes. It also proposes extending Main Street and Arthur Whitling Reserve and reimagining McDougall Lane as a restaurant strip with al fresco dining.
Finally, the Rouse Hill proposal would see offices built around the planned Rouse Hill Hospital, adding up to 2,750 homes and a new central open space and plaza in the undeveloped lands north of the town centre.
“This is our vision to create more opportunity for the people of the Hills, including jobs close to home, more housing, new public spaces and vital new infrastructure connections,” Edgar said.
“Under these plans, there is an estimated capacity for around 56,000 extra jobs by 2041, with a large share of this identified within the Norwest Strategic Centre. This means our residents can find jobs that match their skills, work closer to home, commute less, and spend more time with family and friends. It also improves access to a range of services these businesses will offer.”
“These plans build on the strategic corridor work done to date and aim to provide greater housing choices, including larger style apartments to accommodate families increasingly seeking alternative housing options close to the world-class Sydney Metro Northwest, our employment areas, and dining and entertainment precincts.”­
The precinct plans are on public exhibition until July 31. More

The future of Diller Scofidio and Renfro and Woods Bagot’s Aboriginal art centre in Adelaide appears uncertain, with South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas casting doubt on his government’s commitment to funding the project.
Known as Tarrkarri, which means “the future” in Kaurna, the North Terrace centre was meant to be Australia’s premier Aboriginal art and cultural centre. The previous Liberal government approved the $200 million project, but construction was put on hold last October when fears of a $50 million blowout caused the government to order a review.
The review panel, which was headed by former federal Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt, former New South Wales premier Bob Carr and Reserve Bank board member Carolyn Hewson, handed its report to state cabinet in April. Now, the premier suggests the project could cost up to three times more than the budgeted $200 million.
Malinauskas told ABC Radio he would seek money from the federal government and private philanthropists to meet the shortfall. Asked if the project would proceed without further outside funding, he said that any opportunity to mitigate state government spending would be “a good thing.”
The project’s managing contractor warned in October that building quality would be below standard for an internationally significant cultural destination if the budget wasn’t increased. ­­
“It’s got to be good enough to make someone get on a plane to come to Adelaide to see it,’’ Malinauskas told the ABC. “All I’m saying is that whatever we do has to be good enough to be able to meet that standard, because otherwise why do it at all?’’
Tarrkarri was to be built on North Terrace within the Lot 14 precinct, at the site of the old Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“Between Botanic Gardens and the Railway Station is our premier cultural precinct along North Terrace there, particularly on the northern side,” Malinauskas said.
“My firm view is whatever goes there has to be of a high enough standard to befit that precinct.”

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The proposed Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre by Diller Scofidio and Renfro and Woods Bagot. Image:

Diller Scofidio and Renfro and Woods Bagot

The National Gallery of Victoria received a $100 million donation from trucking magnate Lindsay Fox for the NGV Contemporary last year, and the NSW Art Gallery attracted the same amount of donations for its $344 million Sydney Modern.
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to the project but has not promised additional funding, according to The Advertiser.
Woods Bagot and Diller Scofidio and Renfro originally won a competition to design Adelaide a contemporary art gallery. The Marshall government subsequently changed the brief, requesting an Aboriginal art centre.
The architects developed their design for Tarrkarri in consultation with an Aboriginal Reference Group, while landscape architect Oculus collaborated with Aboriginal landscape architect and artist Paul Herzich.
The South Australian government has indicated that the review panel’s report to cabinet will be made public. More

A council-run community centre in Preston in Melbourne’s north has been named the Australian Grand Prix winner in the Dulux Colour Awards, while a theatre restoration project in Wellington has taken out the top New Zealand prize.
Darebin Intercultural Centre, designed by Sibling Architecture, pushes boundaries with its bold use of colour within an 1895 building. The jury said the project was an immediate stand out for its ambitious brief and contribution to its locale, with the colour contributing to a welcoming space for a diverse community.
“The deliberate avoidance of any recognizable cultural representation placed greater importance on the form and material palette, and we applaud the strong tie to the brief, achieved through the push and pull of colour and texture,” the judges said.

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Darebin Intercultural Centre by Sibling Architecture. Image:

Peter Bennetts

“Although the use of colour to define spaces is a tangible device, in this project, colour is also highly emotive, encouraging interaction and inclusion. The idea is brilliant, and the delivery is impressive, with contrasting colours representing the diverse community, balanced to achieve a cohesive, restrained result.”
The Grand Prix New Zealand winner is St James Theatre, by Shand Shelton, which recognized the restoration of what has been Wellington’s premier lyric theatre for 100 years. “The revitalization of the St James Theatre in Wellington is a celebration of craftsmanship and a gift to the community,” the judges said.

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St James Theatre by Shand Shelton. Image:

Paul McCredie

“The significance of the undertaking was potentially daunting and there were undoubtedly ‘safer’ strategies, but the architects have embraced the challenge, specifying a complex palette, inspired by early drawings of the heritage-listed building.
Prioritizing an investment in artisans to execute the intricate colour scheme has paid off, for this attention to detail has achieved optimal authenticity and light balance for theatre conditions.”
The winners were selected from 113 finalists across Australia and New Zealand. “Across the board, the high calibre of projects is to be celebrated for they represent a mastery in colour usage, which can only serve to improve our built environment, and ultimately our collective and individual experience of it,” said the judges.
Grand Prix Australia Winner
Darebin Intercultural Centre – Sibling Architecture
Grand Prix New Zealand Winner
St James Theatre – Shand Shelton
Single Residential Exterior
Winner
Nightlight – Fabric

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Nightlight by Fabric. Image:

Nancy Zhou

Residential Interior
Winner
Alma Road Residence – Studiofour
Commendations
Studio Elroy – Lintel Studio for Architecture
Mount Mac – Williams Burton Leopardi
Commercial Interior – Workplace and Retail
Winner
Postal Hall – Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini

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Postal Hall by Trower Falvo Architects with Alessio Fini Image:

Benjamin Hosking

Commendation
Insight Body and Mind – Biasol Studio
Commercial Interior – Public and Hospitality
Winner
Darebin Intercultural Centre – Sibling Architecture
Commendations
S’wich Bondi – Studio Shandi
St James Theatre – Shand Shelton
Commercial & Multi Residential Exterior
Winner
PHIVE Community, Cultural and Civic Hub – Designinc

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PHIVE Community, Cultural and Civic Hub by Designinc. Image:

Brett Boardman

Student Winner – Australia
Hues of Mount Kunanyi – Ruby Shields, RMIT University
Student Winner – New Zealand
The Canopy Bench – Augustina Binyamin, Victoria University More

With tones of mint, grey, cochineal red and deep green, these four homes have impressed the judges of the 2023 Dulux Colour Awards. In the Single Residential Interior category, Alma Road Residence by Studiofour came out on top with its “theatrical yet calm, moody interior [that] exudes timeless old-world sophistication,” said judge Lisa Lee, senior […] More

Does architecture have a diversity problem? That’s the question the Australian Institute of Architects is looking to answer with its national diversity and inclusion survey, which is open until 26 May. The aim of the survey is to collect anonymous diversity data, beyond the scope of the standard data collected in the Institute’s membership database. […] More

The 2023 MPavilion will be a “tranquil sanctuary” that houses a reflective pool and a large circular canopy within Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Gardens. Japanese Pritzker Prize laureate Tadao Ando was appointed to design the pavilion by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation in March 2023. The design reflects Ando’s signature use of concrete and geometric forms. Two […] More