Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Architecture Australia

In February, I was fortunate to attend the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects conference, “In Situ” – a day of eminent and highly engaging international speakers who presented a fascinating spectrum of work and typologies. Together with our CEO, Cameron Bruhn, and National President Elect, Jane Cassidy, I enjoyed valuable discussions with members of the NZIA. Knowledge sharing and open discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing our profession are vital for members in both our nations. The Institute’s Board has committed to travelling to each Chapter to hear about their initiatives and activities. In February, we had a very productive two days in Boorloo/Perth, where there is great momentum in advocacy. In March, National Council met in Canberra to induct new councillors and undertake robust discussions…

Making it into the pages of Architecture Australia has always been a major milestone – for architects and writers alike. Often, it happens only once in a career. More often, it doesn’t happen at all. Appearing in this magazine has meant, or at least has felt like, being written into Australian architectural history. I vividly remember the first time I wrote for AA. Back in 2000, then assistant-editor Justine Clark commissioned me to review a rooftop terrace extension in Balmain. I remember the architect, Sam Marshall, showing me through, hands shaking as I frantically scribbled notes – and I remember with gratitude his benevolence towards such a greenhorn writer. In the subsequent decades, I have written many articles for the magazine, my hands progressively less sweaty, but never entirely dry.…

The National President’s Prize recognises an individual’s contribution to the advancement of architecture in any significant way, other than through architectural design, practice or education. The 2024 recipient of the National President’s prize is Naomi Milgrom AC. Milgrom stands as one of our profession’s greatest supporters, advocating tirelessly for art, architecture and design excellence in the public realm. Her identification of the value of design for everyone, and her recognition that a work does not need to be understood to move us, is critical to furthering the discourse of architecture. The MPavilion commission, an initiative made possible by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation, continues to explore the highest levels of design philosophy through engagement with some of the world’s most eminent practitioners, and it shares this exploration with the public through…

Simon Anderson’s contribution to architectural education over a 34-year-long career is undeniable. His dedication to his students and their learning, alongside a substantial publication record, has made him one of Australia’s preeminent architectural educators. He has mentored countless emerging practitioners in the process. From 2010 to 2016, Anderson served as the dean of the faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts at the University of Western Australia, overseeing the transition of the faculty into the UWA School of Design. In this role, he pioneered the development of the practitioner–academic model of university tenure, reflecting his own substantial contribution across the domains of practice, teaching and research. An internationally cited academic, Anderson shows that his commitment to the profession extends to aiding work and advising the government of New South Wales.…

THE CITY AS ARCHITECTURAL LABORATORY (WRITER) Ken Maher Philip Thalis is a remarkable architect whose practice has been architecture as the art of city-making. In his momentous co-authored book Public Sydney: Drawing the City, he observed: “Making the city is one of humanity’s longest and most patient undertakings, and the public elements are the most stable within it.”1 It has been my great pleasure and privilege to have known Philip as a colleague and a friend for much of his professional life. He is rare in the comprehensive reach of his cultural and architectural interests, and the impacts these have had on the design of many Australian cities. Since he was a young graduate, he has shared his thoughtful insights and infectious optimism about architecture with me. He has always…

A question that has been percolating in my mind for several years now is: How can architecture in Australia respectfully engage with both Indigenous heritage and post-settlement non-Indigenous heritage? How can we create architecture that responds to multiple stories and histories, however difficult and tricky those relationships might be, and what might this look like? The First Nations community culture space at 119 Redfern Street is a terrific recent example of how the collision of multiple histories, stories and perspectives can greatly enrich our built environments, if it is embraced. The new facility, which is an addition to and upgrade of the former Redfern Post Office on Gadigal Country in Sydney, is the result of a collaboration between Aileen Sage Architects, Djinjama Indigenous Corporation, heritage architect Jean Rice and architectural…

A mid-career architect practising in Sydney with a tremendous portfolio of significant, awarded projects, Monica Edwards has demonstrated a commitment to gender equity based on a top-down and a bottom-up approach. She was an inaugural member of the New South Wales Chapter’s Gender Equity Taskforce (GET) in 2011 and has continued to contribute as a member of the National Committee for Gender Equity. Edwards’ top-down work includes her impactful collaboration with the Champions of Change Coalition. As an Implementation Leader and Specialist Advisor with the Champions of Change Architecture Group, she was central in developing toolkits for flexibility in practice; providing a generous, non-gendered parental leave scheme; developing programs for mentoring and sponsorship; addressing sexual discrimination; recognising domestic and family violence as a workplace issue; and building frameworks that ensure…

Hudson Smith has demonstrated an outstanding capacity for leadership through his involvement in specific, highly effective student initiatives such as Occupy, the 2022 Australasian Student Architecture Congress. Further, his ability to bring his fellow students together for meaningful and productive exchange suggests a strong understanding of the importance of collaboration within the architectural profession. Smith’s impressive application across a wide spectrum of activities demonstrates a rarely matched commitment to the student membership and the broader profession, and a breadth and depth of intelligence. His relaxed, friendly character brings people together while his articulateness enables him to communicate the task at hand. Excellent organisational abilities enable Smith to bring a potency and effectiveness to initiatives such as the BRUCE student architecture society. His grit and drive create momentum on issues that…

Naomi Stead Naomi Stead is an architectural academic, scholar and critic, based in Melbourne. She is the director of the Design and Creative Practice Enabling Capability Platform at RMIT University. (WRITER, PAGE 14) Katherine Lu Katherine Lu is an architectural photographer based in Sydney. Her interest lies in documenting how the built environment can shape and influence us. (PHOTOGRAPHER, PAGE 38) Hamish McIntosh Hamish McIntosh is a photographer based in Sydney. A co-author of Regional Bureaucracy (Perimeter Books, 2022), his work explores architecture and urbanism. (PHOTOGRAPHER, PAGE 18) Michael Keniger Michael Keniger is an honorary professor of architecture at Bond University, Queensland. He was the University of Queensland’s head of architecture from 1990 to 2000. (WRITER, PAGE 46) Tom Blachford Tom Blachford is a Melbourne-based photographer whose obsession with the…

For many rugby devotees, Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium was the indomitable heart of Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) until 2006, when the Queensland Reds transferred their home games to the Lang Park stadium at Milton, the traditional home of the competing format of Rugby League. The change enabled far larger crowds, but many felt that it also led to a loss of sporting camaraderie and a weakening of Ballymore’s invigorating community spirit. In the wake of the transfer, Ballymore continued to serve as a subsidiary training and administration satellite within its parkland precinct, bordered by Enoggera Creek, in the inner suburb of Herston. Over time, and despite its bucolic environment, the stadium and its ancillary buildings began to suffer from neglect, and the attraction and value of the venue withered. Ultimately, of…

The Gold Medal is the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour. It recognises distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture, or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner. The Gold Medal for 2024 has been awarded to Philip Thalis, founding principal of Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects. A graduate of Sydney University, Thalis was awarded a scholarship to the Paris Belleville Architecture School to complete his Urban Design Masters in 1988. With more than 30 years of experience across a broad spectrum of architecture and urban projects, his contributions include public lectures, conference papers, and teaching on a wide range of environmental and design issues. His book Public Sydney: Drawing…

The Government Architect NSW team, led by Abbie Galvin and Paulo Macchia, has showcased exceptional leadership in all aspects of sustainability. Their display of courage and leadership in implementing sustainable practices and policies aligns with the broader governmental principles. This achievement not only demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship but also serves as an inspiration for others striving for sustainable development and progressive urban strategy. This team has worked closely with the NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System) team to establish a bold and elegant method of standardising the measurement of embodied carbon – the foundational step to solving the carbon problem. By exercising judicious soft power with wisdom and perseverance, Abbie Galvin, Paulo Macchia and team – especially Jillian Hopkins and Lucy Rimmer – have ensured that leading…

(DULUX STUDY TOUR) Simona Falvo In her influential role as a design educator, Simona Falvo imparts not only technical skills but also a comprehensive understanding of the prospects and challenges awaiting her students as they enter the architectural profession. Her dedication to nurturing intellectual rigour in her practice and among her students reflects her commitment to cultivating a mindset that values critical thinking, creativity and attention to detail. Falvo’s ability to bridge the gap between architectural practice and education, facilitated by her involvement in the Study Tour, will contribute to the holistic development of future architects. It will inspire students, allowing them to witness the dynamic interplay between theory and practice, empowering them to become well-rounded professionals poised to tackle the challenges and shape the future of the architectural landscape.…

(2022) Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk (with McGregor Westlake Architecture, JILA and Tonkin)Powerhouse Design Award, Australian Good Design Awards Award for Urban Design, Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) (2020) The Wedge Studios, Dulwich HillFrederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, Australian Institute of Architects (National) Campbell Section 5 and Hassett Park – for Land Development Agency (with JILA and Cardno)Award for Urban Design, Australian Institute of Architects (National) Sir John Overall Award for Urban Design, Australian Institute of Architects (ACT Chapter) Verve Towers, Newcastle (with CKDS)Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) Level 5 Ballarat HouseAward for Heritage, Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) (2017) Constitution Avenue redesign, ACT – preliminary sketch plans, final sketch plans, documentation (with JILA and SMEC)Sir…