Architecture Au Products February 2025

Following the release of our first ArchitectureAu Products issue in November last year, we were thrilled to hear from several readers who discovered new products from our featured suppliers. This is exactly what we hoped to achieve with this publication – facilitating connections that lead to collaboration. In fact, ‘collaboration’ has become a central theme of this issue. Timber expert Nick Hewson contributes a thought leadership piece on mass timber, highlighting the importance of knowledge sharing between consultants and the broader construction industry (p.12). JCB’s Chris Botterill discusses involving council in key decision making to gain DA approval for Australia’s eighth tallest mass timber tower (p.18). Woods Bagot’s John Prentice reflects on working with some of Australia’s top artists to incorporate public art into the design of Sydney Central Station…

Humans have been building with wood for thousands of years, but the last few decades have seen a renaissance in timber construction with the rise of mass timber. Products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (GLT) have exploded in popularity recently with ever larger and more elaborate buildings completed. Australia has been punching above its weight on a global stage with several landmark examples attracting worldwide acclaim, like T3 Collingwood by Jackson Clements Burrows and 55 Southbank Boulevard by Bates Smart in Melbourne; 25 King by Bates Smart in Brisbane; and International House by Tzannes in Sydney. Forte Apartments was built by Lendlease in Melbourne in 2012 and was the first example of the potential of mass timber construction in Australia. At nine storeys high and built of CLT,…

Melbourne has climbed another rung on the mass timber ladder with T3 Collingwood topping out at 15 storeys. Project director Chris Botterill delves into the cross-disciplinary collaboration, securing planning approval and his passion for timber. OLIVIA ROUND: Congratulations on T3’s many award wins! How did it feel stepping foot in the building post-construction? CHRIS BOTTERILL: There’s a great feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from achieving a building that is so unique in its construction, despite the challenges of COVID. There’s a sense of sheer joy and pride in being able to deliver something like it! OR: One of ArchitectureAu’s contributors described T3 as having an acoustic and tactile softness to it – what do you think it is about timber that evokes this feeling? CB: We usually take…

Train stations have long served as platforms for accessible public art. Over time, artwork has evolved from architectural decoration to immersive installations that transport viewers – a fitting metaphor given the context. Sydney Central’s new Metro station, designed by Woods Bagot in collaboration with John McAslan + Partners, exemplifies this shift. The station’s newly completed design incorporates commissioned artworks that not only honour its 118-year history but thoughtfully consider materiality, tactility, and community engagement. The success of these installations lies in the cross-disciplinary collaboration between architects, artists, consultants, suppliers and engineers, ensuring the artworks align with both artistic vision and the practical demands of a high-traffic environment. With more than 250,000 commuters passing through the station daily – a number projected to skyrocket to 450,000 within the next two decades…

PRODUCT Longreach Tapered Profile SUPPLIER Spantech EMAIL enquiries@spantech.com.au PHONE 07 5593 4449 MORE INFO spantech.com.au March Studio collaborated with Spantech and structural engineer Aldanmark on the design of the Outback Museum of Australia (OMOA) building, which features an impressive 72-metre circular roof that will shade a series of interconnected pavilions. The design was the winning entry in an international competition hosted by Griffith University and the Murweh Shire for a new public museum on the lands of the Bidjara People. Rodney Eggleston, director of March Studio, explains that the design brief was broad, though the structure had to respond sensitively to Charleville’s unique context. This small rural town in Western Queensland is characterised by a hot, semi-arid climate with extreme summer heat and variable rainfall and humidity. “The brief was…

① Molmic launches Abbotsford showroom Melbourne manufacturer of handcrafted upholstered furniture, Molmic, has opened its new showroom at 363 Johnston Street in Abbotsford. Family-owned and operated, Molmic has been producing made-to-order fine furniture since 1987. The manufacturing team comprises 60 highly-skilled craftspeople, many of whom have been with the company since its inception. ② Entries open for 2025 Gaggenau Kitchen of the Year Design Contest Now in its third iteration, the Gaggenau Kitchen of the Year Design Contest is back for 2025. The competition invites designers to showcase kitchen schemes that seamlessly blend cutting-edge technology with considered design. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the renowned Salone del Mobile in Milan in 2026. Entries close on 30 April 2025, with the shortlist announced late July. Projects completed after…