Author: acato

Institute wants more from apartment standards debate

Vanessa Bird, Victorian Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects, today welcomed the release of the long awaited draft Apartment Standards by the state government over the weekend.

‘We welcome the latest version of the Better Apartments Draft Design Standards and some of the liveability initiatives contained within it, but we don’t believe they go far enough to protect the public interest.

‘We are disappointed that no guidelines or recommendations have been included in relation to apartment sizes and that the Institute’s focus on mechanisms for ensuring design excellence, such as a parallel Design Review Panel process, has not been included. While we agree with Minister Wynne that size is not the only determiner of good design, design excellence and innovation must be demonstrated before deviating from minimum metric standards.

‘It’s clear that change is required. Minimum sizes protect the public from the worst of the worst while the design review process enables innovation and flexibility,’ Ms Bird said.

The Institute is also disappointed with the absence of design professionals in assessing compliance and appropriate alternative solutions at a local government level. Specific design skills and knowledge are required to undertake this work. In the current draft, this responsibility rests with the Responsible Planning Authority, whose traditional role is to ensure compliance with the Planning Provisions, not assess design.

The application of design expertise is the most reliable means of achieving design quality and amenity in projects, over and above regulation. The process must allow for design expertise to be assessed in a variety of ways at key stages of the development process.

‘Certainty is a key component of good legislation and decision making. Certainty in the planning process, that makes referral to VCAT the exception rather than the rule, reduces the cost of housing. We are keen that affordability is not confused with profitability when we are setting the agenda for the future liveability of our city. Through innovation and design, architects are addressing issues related to affordability every day.

‘While we are pleased to see that the process will accommodate some scope for design innovation and flexibility and also resource the education of assessors we feel the government could have gone further. We are heartened by the fact that this is not a final document, and will continue to engage with the government to raise the quality of the standards,’ Ms Bird added.

Architects support apartment standards

The Australian Institute of Architects is looking forward to the upcoming release of the Victorian apartment design guidelines and fully supports the introduction of minimum standards in the interest of public amenity.

Professor Ken Maher, spokesperson and National President of the Institute congratulates the Minister for Planning, the Hon Richard Wynne on this initiative.

‘The Institute has a long standing position of supporting the implementation of apartment design guidelines and similar planning legislation in all jurisdictions. The guidelines will enable Melbourne to continue to be one of the world’s most liveable cities,’ Prof Maher said.

The Institute believes that Victoria should not only have design guidelines, but should also introduce design review panels to consider proposals that don’t adhere to the guidelines including smaller apartments. Small apartments need high levels of amenity and high quality design to avoid contributing to sub-standard housing stock. If Victorians are to experience a quality built environment there must also be ongoing checking to ensure the approved design intent is being maintained through project procurement and construction. There must also be a requirement to use registered architects to design multi-storey apartment buildings as is the case in NSW to ensure quality and provide consumer protection.

This approach is not novel according to Prof Maher. ‘NSW has had something similar for 10 years, and the recent review of the NSW system confirmed that the legislative package has resulted in improved living standards in NSW. It has received broad support from the industry and local authorities.’

The Institute welcomes the opportunity to further consider the metrics to ensure appropriate minimum standards while maintaining flexibility for design innovation, and to ensure the controls can work in practice, possibly through design testing on selected sites.

‘We look forward to working closely with the OVGA, the Department of Planning and key industry and community stakeholders to develop and deliver a sound policy and regulatory framework that provides performance based design quality guidelines.

‘We see this current initiative in Victoria as the beginning of a new framework aimed at encouraging innovative design solutions that lead to improved affordability, housing diversity, and improved living standards – now and into the future,’ Prof Maher said.

Architects applaud Smart Cities Plan

The Australian Institute of Architects welcomes the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Smart Cities Plan released at the Cities Summit in Melbourne on Friday 29 April.

Professor Ken Maher, President Elect of the Institute congratulates the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP and Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, the Hon Angus Taylor MP on an ambitious and timely plan for Australian cities.

‘The Institute is passionate about improving the quality of our built environment and addressing the urban challenges Australia is facing. Cities have been the orphan of public policy in the past and architects have long advocated that the Federal government focus on Australia’s future towns and cities. This plan places cities firmly on the agenda.

‘Architects are firm believers in strategic capital city planning to promote globally competitive, productive, sustainable and socially inclusive cities’ Prof Maher said.

The initiative was warmly received by the profession when it was discussed at the National Architecture Conference held in Adelaide on April 30.

A year in planning, the conference heard from international and national speakers about the critical role architects provide in creating quality for our cities, infrastructure and places.

In the ‘Transforming Populations’ session of the conference, chaired by Prof Maher, the panel discussed the bold ambition to create 30 minute cities. Strong support was voiced for the creation of a vision for Australian cities of the future where density is done well, where infrastructure planning follows strategic urban planning, where there is less reliance on cars and better transport connections, and where communities are brought together in a way that supports liveability and sustainability.

‘Collaboration between all levels of government and industry is the key to making City Deals a success,’ according to Prof Maher.

‘One area that has not been addressed is the critical importance of design in building the cities of tomorrow. While the plan includes an examination of housing supply and planning changes, it is essential that architecture and design skills are used early to test possibilities and to produce social and equitable cities. Design quality should be a mandatory requirement for all project funding.’

‘We will be looking closely at the Smart Cities Plan over the coming weeks to provide further input. I encourage the Federal government to engage with the Australian Institute of Architects and the Government Architects Network of Australia in refining and implementing the Plan.’

ARM Architecture has won Australia’s architecture Gold Medal

The Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour, the Gold Medal, has been awarded to the founding directors of ARM Architecture at the Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards.

ARM, based in Melbourne and Perth, are known for their contemporary, often daring, sometimes controversial designs.

As Australian Institute of Architects National President Jon Clements said, ‘This is a practice that has been a genuine leader, influencer, provocateur, culture builder and disseminator of ideas for nearly three decades, and at the core of the practice are three outstanding architects who have created some of the most extraordinary buildings in the short post-colonial history of this country.’

Established in 1988, ARM’s directors Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall have built a successful large-scale practice which has had a profound impact across the national design landscape.

ARM Architecture has been the recipient of 63 Institute awards including the coveted Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture at both the 2013 and 2015 National Architecture Awards. They have won the Victorian Architecture Medal a record five times.

Among their most notable works are Perth Arena in Western Australia, Storey Hall at RMIT University, the refurbishment of Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Hall and the practice’s decade-long reconfiguration of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

In addition to their built works all three have played significant roles as national ‘culture builders’ participating in exhibitions, lectures and national conferences along with educational roles with a deep commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of design thinkers. Both Ashton and McDougall have been Presidents of the Victorian Chapter of the Institute.

On receiving the honour Ian McDougall said ‘We’ve always been interested in architecture that tells stories about our lives, about our cities. It is humbling to have our ideas acknowledged in this way.’

Institute National President Jon Clements presented Ashton, Raggatt and McDougall the award at a special ceremony held at the Adelaide Oval on Friday 29 April following the first day of the National Architecture Conference.

The Gold Medal Jury was composed of Clements, Immediate Past President David Karotkin, Alice Hampson, Annabel Lahz and Professor Carey Lyon.

It is only the second time the accolade has been presented to a trio in its 56-year history.

Previous recipients of the Gold Medal include Glenn Murcutt, Jørn Utzon, Brit Andresen, Harry Seidler and Robin Boyd.

Architecture’s influencers honoured at Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards

Leaders of the profession have been honoured at the 2016 Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards announced at a special ceremony at the Adelaide Oval on Friday 29 April.

The recipients, from students to stalwarts, were rewarded for their ongoing dedication to architecture across a range of activities including education, sustainability and international endeavours.

ARM Architecture founders – Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall – received the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour, the Gold Medal.

Architect Peter Maddison, best known as host of Grand Designs Australia, was awarded the National President’s Prize by Jon Clements ‘in recognition of his significant service to architecture outside practice’.

The Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize was presented to Professor Michael Ostwald, the Dean of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle. In awarding the honour the jury highlighted ‘his outstanding contributions in all areas of architectural education, the national and international impacts of which resonate beyond the university system’.

In recognition of exceptional contributions to sustainability above and beyond environmental factors to powerful social and economic models, Jeremy McLeod of Breathe Architecture in Melbourne received the Leadership in Sustainability Prize. Breathe Architecture continues to make headlines with their multi-housing projects The Commons and Nightingale.

New York-based renderer, Brian Burr was honoured with the William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize. Burr has worked in New York for 40 years and has ‘established himself as a highly respected and sought-after architectural renderer for a significant and diverse group of international practitioners – all unified by their respect for his artistic ability and his personal camaraderie’.

Amy Muir, of Melbourne practice Muir Architecture, was the recipient of the National Emerging Architect Prize in recognition of her significant contributions to the profession through design excellence, education and industry leadership.

A strong advocate for Australian students of architecture, Peter Nguyen from the University of Sydney was the recipient of the 2016 Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture.
Five emerging architects from around the country were selected for the Dulux Study Tour. Chris Gilbert, Hannah Slater, Qianyi Lim, Matthew van Kooy and Katy Moir will visit practices in Copenhagen, London and Madrid during the two week tour in May.

Full list of winners:

Gold Medal
Stephen Ashton, Howard Raggatt and Ian McDougall – ARM Architecture (Vic)

National President’s Prize
Peter Maddison – Grand Designs Australia, Maddison Architects (Vic)

Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize
Professor Michael Ostwald – University of Newcastle (NSW)

Leadership in Sustainability Prize
Jeremy McLeod – Breathe Architecture (Vic)

William J Mitchell International Chapter Prize
Brian Burr – Architectural Renderer (New York)

National Emerging Architect Prize
Amy Muir – Muir Architecture (Vic)

Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture
Peter Nguyen (NSW)

Dulux Study Tour
Chris Gilbert – Archier (Tas)
Katy Moir – Troppo Architects (NT)
Hannah Slater – Architectus Brisbane (Qld)
Qianyi Lim – Sibling (Vic)
Mathew van Kooy – John Wardle Architects (Vic)

A new era as Australian Institute of Architects welcomes new CEO

The Australian Institute of Architects is pleased to announce Jennifer Cunich as the new Chief Executive Officer of the member organisation.

Ms Cunich joins the Institute from the Property Council of Australia, where she has worked for 20 years, first as the ACT Executive Director and since 2002 as the Executive Director of the Victorian Division.

In these roles Cunich has led ambitious advocacy agendas with considerable success including the establishment of the Metropolitan Planning Authority, and more recently Infrastructure Victoria – agencies which are critical in ensuring a coordinated and strategic approach to managing population and maintaining liveability for decades to come.

Cunich sits on a number of boards and committees including the Property Council Executive Committee, Women’s Property Initiatives Board, the Building Advisory Council and the Building Industry Consultative Council advising the Government on industry related matters.

Cunich is also a champion of promoting women in the industry. In 2015 the Victorian Division of the Property Council of Australia established the Women and Diversity Committee, charged with identifying leaders in the sector and promoting their contribution to the industry.

‘I am thrilled to be appointed to this important role. My time spent in the Australian property sector has shown me the enormous value of design in terms of buildings, precincts, communities and cities. CEO of the Australian Institute of Architects provides me an opportunity to place the inspirational designs of our architects at the centre of a national conversation about innovation, creativity and problem-solving,’ Cunich said.

On the appointment, Institute National President Jon Clements said:

‘The Institute is excited to welcome Jennifer to the role of CEO at this important time for the organisation during a period of reflection and renewal. Jennifer has extensive industry knowledge and an interest in design as an agent for change in delivering a better built world. She is an exceptional and proven leader with the strength and vision to take the Institute and our profession into a new era.’

Cunich will commence on 16 May 2016 and be based in Melbourne.

The Pool – ready to make waves at the Biennale Architettura 2016

The Creative Directors of Australia’s exhibition at the Biennale Architettura 2016 have offered Australians a first look at The Pool ahead of the international event in Venice, Italy, which runs from 28 May to 27 November.

The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity in Australia is the companion publication for Australia’s highly anticipated contribution to the Biennale Architettura 2016, curated by Aileen Sage Architects (Isabelle Toland and Amelia Holliday) with Michelle Tabet.

The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity in Australia by Aileen Sage Architects with Michelle Tabet

The book explores the Australian affinity with the pool, and was unveiled at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Sydney on Wednesday 30 March by the Creative Directors, who were joined by Olympian Ian Thorpe, author Anna Funder and Indigenous art curator Hetti Perkins, who all feature in the book.

Designed to offer a richer experience of the exhibition, the book explores the relationship between architecture and Australian cultural identity through personal anecdotes about one of our country’s most significant public spaces.

Eight prominent Australians have shared their pool stories: Thorpe, Funder and Perkins were joined by Olympian Shane Gould, environmentalist Tim Flannery, fashion designers Romance was Born, author Christos Tsiolkas and musician Paul Kelly.

‘This publication is a compendium of our research and the stories our process revealed. We designed it to be accessible, visually appealing but also intimate in tone. While it should work as a standalone publication, we also wanted it to give visitors to the exhibition a deeper and more meaningful engagement with the themes we’re exploring,’ the Creative Directors said.

‘The pool is revealed through the featured accounts as a vital force in Australian life, not only as the setting for childhood memories, but also as the stage for impressive sporting feats that fuel the nation’s pride. A backdrop to many significant events in our communities, the pool is also a deeply contested space in the history of Australia, that has highlighted racial discrimination and social disadvantage,’ they added.

Speaking at the launch, Ian Thorpe, who contributed to the book and is also a supporter of the project, noted ‘Australians have a very particular relationship with water, which is shown in many different ways through the pool as an important social space in our country. The Creative Team has done an amazing job at capturing that essence in this book’.

The Pool: Architecture, Culture and Identity in Australia retails at $39.95 and is available through Books at Manic, www.manic.com.au

Inventive home wins big at Newcastle Architecture Awards

The 2016 winners of the Australian Institute of Architects’ Newcastle Architecture Awards have been revealed at a special ceremony at the Merewether Surfhouse on Thursday 17 March.

Sixteen projects from across the region received honours on the night with The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture the overall winner, taking home the Award for Excellence.

The jury praised the ‘creative and inventive’ project which also won in the Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) category and received the COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture – Commendation making it the most awarded project of the night.

‘Alterations can be a challenge when dealing with new and old, and so too collaborations between large and small architectural practices. The Axis House has executed these challenges perfectly; the result is a rewarding piece of architecture,’ the jury said.

A ‘meticulously crafted jewellery box’, Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design, won both the Public Architecture and Small Project Architecture categories.

In awarding the gallery, the jury noted the project ‘is a successful example of clever planning and detailing within a constrained budget resulting in an intelligent, beautiful and light filled space that is not only a joy to be in but also harmoniously blends new and old’.

Other winning projects include The Gateway Commercial Development by CKDS Architecture for Commercial Architecture; Damascus Centre, St Paul’s High School by QOH Architecture for Educational Architecture; SDA Workplace by SDA Space Design Architecture for Interior Architecture; Urban Eclectic House by SDA Space Design Architecture for Residential Architecture – Houses (New); and Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture for Sustainable Architecture.

The jury awarded a total of eight Awards and thirteen commendations on the night. Projects that received an Award are now eligible for the NSW Architecture Awards which will be announced on Friday 1 July.
Full list of winning projects:

Award for Excellence

Winner – The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture (Toronto)

Commercial Architecture

Award – The Gateway Commercial Development by CKDS Architecture (Newcastle)
Commendation – Club Maitland City by Terroir (Rutherford)

Educational Architecture

Award – Damascus Centre, St Paul’s High School by QOH Architects (Booragul)
Commendation – Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture (Shortland)

Heritage

Commendation – Masonic Hall Refurbishment by EJE Architecture (Speers Point)

Interior Architecture

Award – SDA Workplace by SDA Space Design Architecture (The Junction)
Commendation – The Gateway Fitout by CKDS Architecture (Newcastle)
Commendation – Mingara Leisure Group Corporate Offices by Graphite Architects (Tumbi Umbi)

Public Architecture

Award – Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design (Newcastle)
Commendation – ANZAC Bridge Memorial Walk by EJE Architecture (Bar Beach)
Commendation – Newcastle Airport by SHAC (Williamtown)
Commendation – Newcastle Courthouse by Cox Richardson Architects (Newcastle)

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

Award – The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in collaboration with EJE Architecture (Toronto)
Commendation – Power House by SDA Space Design Architecture (Islington)

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

Award – Urban Eclectic House by SDA Space Design Architecture (Hamilton East)
Commendation – Grasemere Way by Webber Architects (Warners Bay)

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Commendation – Eclipse Residential Development by CKDS Architecture (Cook’s Hill)

Small Project Architecture

Award – Watt Space Gallery by Andrew Donaldson Architecture and Design (Newcastle)
Commendation – University of Newcastle Entry Canopies by CKDS Architecture (Callaghan)

Sustainable Architecture

Award – Institute of Energy and Resources by EJE Architecture (Shortland)

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Award – University of Newcastle Entry Canopies by CKDS Architecture (Callaghan)
Commendation – The Axis House by Jonathan Dawes in conjunction with EJE Architecture (Toronto)

The best architecture from the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers celebrated at Regional Awards

Eleven projects from across the region have been honoured at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Regional Architecture Awards held Friday 26 February in the Gold Coast.

The Building of the Year was awarded to Griffith University Student Guild Uni Bar & Link Refurbishment by Push. The jury praised the project for the way it ‘links the main street and the heart of the campus in a well resolved correlation of uses and space’.

Two residential projects received special honours with Shaun Lockyer Architects’ Hinterland House winning the Gold Coast/Northern Rivers House of the Year. This project was celebrated by the jury because a ‘sense of place is achieved through the capturing of views, passive solar design, simplicity of section, spatial treatments and quality of detailing’. Regional Project of the Year was awarded to Shane Denman Architects for 2A Concrete.

In addition to the above accolades the three projects join eight others who were awarded Regional Commendations (listed below) by the jury with these projects now progressing to the Queensland State Architecture Awards to be announced on Friday 24 June in Brisbane.

Regional Commendations:

Architectural Project	Architectural Practice	Location
Casino Aboriginal Medical Service	Kevin O’Brien Architects in association with AECOM	Casino
Hinterland House	Shaun Lockyer Architects	Canungra
2A Concrete	Shane Denman Architects	Palm Beach
60s Modern	Jamison Architects	Burleigh Heads
Griffith University Student Guild Bar & Link refurbishment	Push	Southport
Monaco Renovation	Paul Uhlmann Architects	Broadbeach Waters
Stella Maris Church	Straw & Dunne with PMG Architect	Broadbeach
Dryandras Residence	Paul Uhlmann Architects	Casuarina Beach
Griffith University Red Zone, Gold Coast Campus	Cox Rayner Architects	Southport
ALTA Main Beach	Willemsen Architecture	Main Beach
Margaret Olley Art Centre	Bud Brannigan Architects	Murwillumbah

Spanish influencers join speaker line-up for 2016 National Conference

Two influential Spanish architects have joined the speaker line-up for the 2016 National Architecture Conference, How Soon is Now, taking place in Adelaide, 28-30 April.

Co-creative Directors Cameron Bruhn, Sam Spurr and Ben Hewett, have named ‘guerrilla architect’ Santiago Cirugeda of Seville and self-sufficiency advocate Vicente Guallart from Barcelona as additions to the comprehensive two-day program.

‘We’re very excited to announce two speakers from Spain, who come from opposing ends of architectural practice, but both show how architecture can impact on the creation of our urban environments,’ Sam Spurr said.

‘Vincent Guallart’s engagement across government, academia and commercial practice shows how working within establishments can generate fundamental and ambitious change at the scale of the city. He brought an ambitious and innovative approach to working as Chief Architect of Barcelona and also has a long interest in supporting architectural experimentation.

‘On the other hand, Cirugeda is passionately anti-institutions, whose “bottom–up” practice is formed to empower and support citizens in the construction of their public spaces. Aptly dubbed a “guerilla architect” by Al Jazeera, he utilises the skills and knowledge of architects to provocatively bypass and even harness the bureaucratic laws and regulations that control the city.’

The Spaniards join an already impressive list of local and international architects, educators and influencers who will deliver keynote addresses, panel conversations and project presentations as part of the conference.

Speaker line-up to date:

Santiago Cirugeda – Recetas Urbanas (Spain)
Vicente Guallart – Guallart Architects (Spain)
Amica Dall – Assemble (UK)
Sadie Morgan – dRMM Architects (UK)
Astrid Klein – Klein Dytham architecture (Japan)
Thomas Fisher – University of Minnesota (USA)
Julie Eizenberg – Koning Eizenberg Architecture (USA)
Nasrine Seraji – Atelier Seraji Architects and Associates (France)
Kevin Low – smallprojects (Kuala Lumpur)
John Wardle – John Wardle Architects (Aus)
Sandra Kaji-O’Grady – University of Queensland (Aus)
Tim Williams – Committee for Sydney (Aus)
Greg Mackie OAM – Ideas Wrangler (Aus)
Kerstin Thompson – Kerstin Thompson Architects (Aus)

Early bird registrations close on Thursday 10 March. More details available at wp.architecture.com.au/howsoonisnow