Category: breaking news

The Institute endorses Architects’ declaration of a climate emergency

A group of leading Australian architects have recently joined their international peers to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency. The 11-point declaration acknowledges the twin crises of climate breakdown and biodiversity loss as the most serious issue of our time.

Architects Declare Australia was launched on Thursday 25 July with 30 founding signatories, including 11 Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medalists. The global initiative was launched by leading architects in the UK in May 2019.

National President, Professor Helen Lochhead affirmed, ‘The climate crisis is the critical challenge of our times.

‘The Australian Institute of Architects endorses Architects Declare Australia. We know that buildings and construction play a huge part in our energy and resource consumption, environmental depletion and waste, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of Greenhouse Gas (CO2) emissions. We know that as architects, we can do something about this through the decisions we make on a daily basis.

‘Together with our clients, we can develop and design buildings, cities and infrastructure that reset the paradigm. We can strengthen our work practices to create architecture and urbanism that has a more positive impact on the world around us.

‘Importantly, as architects, we have a duty of care to the entire community, acknowledged in our code of conduct.

‘The Australian Institute of Architects commits to taking action to support our members to effect change,’ Professor Lochhead said.

‘This is a powerful show of collective action,’ says Australian Institute of Architects’ CEO Julia Cambage. ‘At the Institute, our role is to provide leadership on the issues that matter to our members and the broader community. We intend to put the full weight of the Institute behind this issue to show how architects can make a difference.’

The Australian Institute of Architects is developing an action plan to deliver on this commitment. This plan will look at reducing the Institute’s carbon footprint operationally and reviewing how the awards program benchmarks best practice. It will review continuing professional development (CPD) and how the Institute’s policy and advocacy work can influence a consistently high quality, more regenerative, more sustaining built environment.

‘We intend to work with our international peers, the RIBA and the AIA, to create a local and global response to this call to action,’ Ms Cambage said.

NSW President says our construction industry needs nothing short of a revolution

20 July 2019

Kathlyn Loseby

The magnitude of the crisis currently facing Australia’s construction industry demands nothing short of a revolution, turning current building practice on its head to put quality and safety back on top where they belong.

As an architect with three decades’ experience working on all manner and complexity of projects in Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, I can’t overstate how serious and urgent the situation has become. It is a worldwide issue with construction failures such as the ‘leaky condo’ crises in Canada in the 90s, the ‘wet building syndrome’ in New Zealand in the 90s – early 2000, the Latvian supermarket roof collapse in 2013, and Grenfell fire in the UK in 2017. We are not alone in our concerns.

The issues are systemic and reach right around this wide brown land of ours. However, the issues have managed to unite industry, and now hopefully governments, on the need for reform and a consistent national approach to fix the mess.

This week’s agreement by the nation’s building ministers is a welcome step towards implementing solutions that can both address the legacy of defective buildings and prevent history from repeating as we move forward.

It is good news for consumers and has also created a sense of cautious optimism among building professionals.

But this national approach, encouraging as it is, doesn’t mean anyone is off the hook. There is an enormous amount of urgent work yet to be done, starting with the rectification of buildings that have already been identified as posing a risk from flammable cladding and other defects. Victoria has stepped up to the plate with a package enabling this work to
commence. We call on NSW and every other state and territory to follow suit. The sooner the better.

The Commonwealth must also play its part, together with industry. The safety of our built environment is a collective responsibility that needs collective action. At the Institute of Architects we are actively engaging with all stakeholders from developers, designers, engineers and builders through to strata owner consumers to foster an holistic approach focussed on finding effective, lasting solutions.

These solutions must address the root cause of the problem, namely a culture and practice that has put time and cost (or greed and speed to put it bluntly) above quality. That equation has seen quality lose out, jeopardising both people’s safety and their economic security. It’s an equation that must now be reversed.

At the same time, continuous, truly independent oversight by a properly registered and qualified professional must be reintroduced; this is the only way quality will be maintained.

People’s homes are, in most cases, their greatest asset. They are also a sanctuary, the secure base from which we live our lives. They must be protected. Stronger regulation and greater compliance are essential but on their own they are not enough, especially for complex projects. The only way to achieve the level of lasting change required is to embed quality into the construction process from start to finish and at all points in between.

This is at the heart of the Australian Institute of Architects’ concerns with the reform proposals put forward by the NSW Government. While the Building Stronger Foundations discussion paper, for which submissions are due next week, includes many meritorious measures, it also has some glaring gaps.

We, together with much of industry, wholeheartedly support the creation of a Building Commissioner, the introduction of a new building practitioners registration scheme and legislating a duty of care to building owners.

What’s missing, though, is the mechanism to ensure that as buildings are being constructed corners aren’t being cut, the specified and approved materials aren’t being substituted out for inferior products and that the best interests of the owners (current and future) are being served.

As part of a profession whose members have been regulated for almost a century now, I can attest both to the importance of registration but also to the fact that, in isolation, it’s no silver bullet. That’s why the February 2018 Shergold-Weir Building Confidence report put forward a suite of 24 recommendations, including the penultimate one that said they were to be treated as ‘a coherent package’. The authors stipulated a three-year timeframe for implementation. The clock is ticking.

While there have been many contributing factors to the current crisis, a significant part of the problem has been the rise of a method of procuring building services called the design and construct (D&C) contract. Essentially, D&C contracts see the developer hand over decision-making powers to the builder. Whereas previously other building professionals, such as architects, would have maintained a direct relationship with the developer, today that is no longer the case.

The consequences are that it is much harder to override, challenge or even effectively communicate concerns about decisions that can have an adverse impact on quality. And quality is what it all comes down to. Because without it the government and industry will never win back the public confidence that has been shaken and cracked just as surely as the physical structures.

This op-ed was published in the Sydney Morning Herald Sat 20 July 2019

National building agreement welcome, now focus on action

The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the agreement today from the Building Ministers’ Forum (BMF) to take a national approach to implementing all 24 recommendations of the Shergold-Weir Building Confidence report.

Attending the industry roundtable in Sydney this morning, the Institute was also supportive of discussions that envisaged an expanded role for the Australian Building Codes Board and looks forward to the release of further details.

National President, Professor Helen Lochhead, said the Institute had been calling for national consistency and the uniform adoption of the recommendations from day one.

‘Today’s announcement is a welcome and positive step towards rebuilding public confidence in Australia’s construction industry that we fully support and endorse,’ Professor Lochhead said.

‘Industry, and most importantly consumers, can have some assurance that there will be a nationally consistent approach to addressing these complex and deeply concerning issues plaguing the construction industry.

‘With this agreement in place the focus now needs to be on action and putting clear timeframes for implementation of each and every recommendation, building on the plan the BMF released in March.

‘The Shergold-Weir report, now 18-months old, specified a three-year timeframe for the implementation of its recommendations.

‘There is a huge amount of work still to do and the urgency of pursuing both reforms and rectification works in the interest of public safety must not be allowed to wane.

‘We will also be working collaboratively with other stakeholder associations to continue to improve practice.’

The Institute said measures to ensure the consistent registration of qualified building practitioners across all jurisdictions and reform to ensure continuous, truly independent certification of building works throughout construction, must be priorities.

The Institute was also looking forward to updates from the BMF on key actions agreed at its meeting in February, including Ministers’ in principle agreement to a national ban on the unsafe use of combustible ACPs in new construction and legislating a duty of care to building owners.

For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Nesbitt
National Media Advisor
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 477 333 205
alexandra.nesbitt@architecture.com.au

Architects welcome Victorian combustible cladding response

The Australian Institute of Architects has welcomed the Andrews Government’s action on combustible cladding, and repeated its call for urgent national reforms.

Victorian Chapter President Amy Muir said the announcement today of a $600 million package of rectification works for buildings found to have flammable cladding was a sensible and overdue step.

‘The Institute has been calling for urgent action on flammable cladding and building safety for years,’ Ms Muir said.

‘We commend the Andrews Government for their action which puts people’s safety first.

‘We welcome these practical measures to replace combustible cladding and fix buildings to ensure safety and compliance with all building regulations. This work had to be done and we are relieved to see the Victorian Government stepping up and getting on with the job.

‘Victoria has set the benchmark and now it is time for other states and territories to take similar action in a nationally consistent manner with support from the Commonwealth Government.’

The Institute has called repeatedly for the full and immediate implementation of last year’s Shergold Weir Building Confidence report, which sets out a path to building safety in a consistent way.

The Institute agrees with its recommendations, including strict controls Australia-wide on the use and sale of combustible cladding, rigorous enforcement of existing safety and certification laws, more thorough examination of materials, and the registration of practitioners in building design, construction and maintenance.

‘Ahead of this week’s Building Ministers’ Forum, it is imperative there is national action on flammable cladding and other urgent safety issues,’ she said.

‘Jurisdictions know what they need to do. Community safety and confidence is paramount and it is being put at risk when these vital reforms are delayed.’

The Victorian Cladding Taskforce said there were almost 500 buildings considered extreme risk or high risk. A new agency, Cladding Safety Victoria, will manage and oversee the works.

Joint call for bolder reform of construction process to better protect consumers

The Australian Institute of Architects and the Owners Corporation Network (OCN), the representative body for unit owners, have jointly called for bolder reforms to improve the quality of construction and better protect consumers.

While welcoming proposals put forward in the NSW Government’s Building Stronger Foundations discussion paper, such as introducing a new building practitioners registration scheme, a duty of care and appointing a Building Commissioner, they said the proposed reforms needed to go further.

The Institute and the OCN maintain that independent quality assurance checks by appropriately certified and qualified professionals must be embedded in the construction process to fill the gap between the proposed ‘declarations’ at the planning and construction completion stages.

‘Relying on declarations at the start and finish of what can be extremely complex construction processes is not enough to materially enhance quality, safety or consumer protection,’ the Institute’s NSW Chapter President Kathlyn Loseby said.

‘For large and complex projects, this oversight and quality assurance function needs to occur continuously throughout the design and construction stages, such as could be achieved through the appointment of a site architect and clerk of works, as has operated effectively in the past.’

OCN Director and spokesperson Stephen Goddard said there was insufficient accountability and independent checks throughout the construction supply chain, as the Mascot Towers evacuation a month ago had highlighted once again.

‘In order to protect consumers we need reforms that will help prevent, from the outset of the building process all the way through to completion, the types of issues that we are seeing arise when quality is forsaken,’ he said.

‘It is not fair that owners should have to face the ongoing financial burden of poor quality construction, which should never have been allowed to happen in the first place.

‘We share the view of the Institute that every building practitioner along the construction chain should be accountable for their work, and an appropriate quality standard should be enforced.’

During the public consultation period, which closes on 24 July, the Institute is seeking to secure support from across industry for an increased scope of reform.

‘This reform process offers a unique opportunity for the NSW Government, with the support of industry, to achieve lasting change in the best interests of consumers by reinstating quality and safety as the dominant considerations in construction above time and cost,’ Ms Loseby said.

State’s best architecture celebrated at New South Wales Architecture Awards

FRI 5 JULY –Winners of the 2019 New South Wales (NSW) Architecture Awards have been announced, honouring the state’s leading architecture, with public projects dominating across multiple categories.

Across 12 categories, 51 awards were given including named awards, architecture awards andcommendations from 97 shortlisted projects and 212 entries. Awards were also given to outstanding public and commercial projects across the NSW Architecture Medallion, 2019 NSW Premier’s Prize, 2019 City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize, Blacket Prize and Enduring Award categories.

The winners were announced at a dinner hosted in Sydney by the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects on Friday 5 July.

The prestigious NSW Architecture Medallion, honouring an exemplary project across all awards categories, was given to Maitland Riverlink by CHROFI with McGregor Coxall for illustrating the power of architecture in the civic realm by improving connectivity between the Hunter River and the main street of Maitland.

Peter Poulet, Chair of Juries for this year’s NSW awards program, describes the Maitland Riverlink project as an architectural centrepiece that improves connectivity and celebrates the history, value and ambition of Maitland in regional NSW.

‘A strong civic gesture, this building acts as a public living room, attracting and celebrating the coming together of the community. The town and its river and proves the power of public architecture to deliver change, celebration and a legacy for the future,’ says Poulet.

Another one of the evening’s most recognised projects was Green Square Library and Plaza by Studio Hollenstein in association with Stewart Architecture and HASSELL, which took four awards including the John Verge Award for Interior Architecture, two architecture awards across the Public Architecture and Urban Design categories and the 2019 NSW Premier’s Prize.

Sandra Furtado, Jury Chair for Interior Architecture and Commercial Architecture, acknowledged that the Green Square Library and Plaza reflected the integral role libraries are playing in supporting a city’s social infrastructure.

‘It is immediately obvious that this library is loved by its staff and the wider community – this building is already the vibrant heart of the community,’ says Furtado.
NSW Chapter President Kathlyn Loseby says that the awards are a time to reflect and celebrate the role that great architecture plays across the state.

‘The strength of our industry and its impact on the places we live is undeniably positive and at times revolutionary. Today we celebrate with our clients, consultants and contractors who helped make these projects come to life, and for the fortunate people who live, work and play in these environments which are designed to stand the test of time,’ says Loseby.

Loseby also highlighted the invaluable connection between good procurement practices and great design outcomes, a theme which resonated throughout this year’s winning projects. ‘Good design is far more than aesthetic achievement – it takes collaboration amongst willing clients, good builders and appropriate procurement methods to make it an enduring success,’ says Loseby.

‘The awards celebrate achievement and reward the best of 2019, it is an annual review of our professional output, our capacity, as well as our skills, potential and vision for a better built environment,’ adds Poulet.

Projects that received an architecture award or a named award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program. The shortlist will be announced by the Australian Institute of Architects in the coming months.

The full list of winners can be found below.

ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sophie Watson
Communications Collective
(03) 9988 2300
sophie@comunicationscollective.com.au

NOTES TO EDITOR:
High resolution images and jury citations are available for download by registering at –
https://nationalarchitecture.awardsplatform.com/profile/complete/lbyJlmXA

The National Architecture Awards and respective state and territory Architecture Awards programs are run by the Australian Institute of Architects. Images and information are provided only for use in articles relating to the Institute’s Architecture Awards. The Awards program must be attributed as the Australian Institute of Architects’ National/State/Territory Architecture Awards.
All images must credit the Institute, the architect and photographer. Use in any other context is strictly prohibited without written permission from the submitting architect.

2019 New South Wales Awards: Winners

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)
37 entries / 12 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 2 awards / 1 named
WILKINSON AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE (NEW)
GB House | Renato D’Ettorre Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Merewether | SAVIO PARSONS
Sunrise House | MCK Architects
COMMENDATIONS
Castle Cove House | TERROIR
Bay Guarella | Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Residential Architecture – Houses (New) Jury
Ed Lippmann (Chair) | Lippmann Partnership
Miriam Green | Atelier M
Matt Chan | Scale Architecture
Linda Morris | Sydney Morning Herald

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
32 entries / 13 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
AARON BOLOT AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING
North Rocks | Candalepas Associates
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Imperial | Stanisic Architects
Iglu Redfern | Bates Smart
OneA | Breakspear Architects and KANNFINCH
COMMENDATIONS
Arlington Grove | Smart Design Studio
Mezzo | CHROFI and KANNFINCH
Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing Jury
Conrad Johnston (Chair) | Fox Johnston
Ines Benavente-Molina | HDR
Paulo Macchia | Government Architect NSW

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)
30 entries / 11 shortlisted projects / 1 commendations / 1 award / 1 named
HUGH AND EVA BUHRICH AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES
(ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS)
Five Gardens House | David Boyle Architect
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Redfern Warehouse | Ian Moore Architects
COMMENDATION
Moreton Manor | CO-AP (Architects)
Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) Jury
Ed Lippmann (Chair) | Lippmann Partnership
Miriam Green | Atelier M
Matt Chan | Scale Architecture
Linda Morris | Sydney Morning Herald

Interior Architecture
25 entries / 10 shortlisted projects / 2 commendations / 2 awards / 1 named
JOHN VERGE AWARD FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Green Square Library and Plaza | Studio Hollenstein in association with Stewart
Architecture
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Castle Cove House | TERROIR in collaboration with Pascale Gomes- McNabb
Design
Dangrove | Tzannes
COMMENDATIONS
Redfern Warehouse | Ian Moore Architects
Caroma On Collins | Archier
Interior Architecture Jury
Sandra Furtado (Chair) | Furtado Sullivan
Tony Grist | HASSELL
Amber Stewart | ARM Architecture

Public Architecture
14 entries / 8 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 3 awards / 1 named
SULMAN MEDAL FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
Maitland Riverlink | CHROFI with McGregor Coxall
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Cabarita Park Conservatory | Sam Crawford Architects
Shellharbour Civic Centre | DesignInc in association with Lacoste+Stevenson
Green Square Library and Plaza | Studio Hollenstein in association with Stewart
Architecture
COMMENDATION
State Library of New South Wales | HASSELL
Public Architecture Jury
Jonathan Evans (Chair) | Tzannes
Jamileh Jahangiri | Cox Architecture
Jasmin Williamson | John Wardle Architects

Small Project Architecture
11 entries / 3 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 1 award / 1 named
ROBERT WOODWARD AWARD FOR SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE
Bungarribee Parklands Shelters | Stanic Harding Architects with Paramatta Park &
Western Sydney Parklands Trusts
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Renewal of the Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre | Scott Carver
COMMENDATION
Punch Park Amenities | Carter Williamson Architects
Small Project Architecture Jury
Elisha Long (Chair) | Long Blackledge Architects
Ava Shirley | Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Luigi Rosselli | Luigi Rosselli Architects

Educational Architecture
18 entries / 10 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 3 awards / 1 named
WILLIAM E KEMP AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
University of Sydney F23 Administration Building | Grimshaw Architects
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Taronga Institute of Science and Learning | NBRS ARCHITECTURE
St Pius X High School, Library | SHAC
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School | BVN
COMMENDATION
The University of Sydney Life, Earth & Environmental Services Building | HDR
Educational Architecture Jury
Jonathan Evans (Chair) | Tzannes
Jamileh Jahangiri | Cox Architecture
Jasmin Williamson | John Wardle Architects

Urban Design
10 entries / 6 shortlisted projects / 1 commendation / 2 awards / 1 named
LLOYD REES AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN
Harold Park | Mirvac Design, Government Architects Office (GANSW), City of
Sydney and HASSELL
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Green Square Library and Plaza | Studio Hollenstein in association with Stewart
Architecture and HASSELL
Maitland Riverlink | CHROFI with McGregor Coxall
COMMENDATION
Elizabeth Bay Marina | lahznimmo architects
Urban Design Jury
Conrad Johnston (Chair) | Fox Johnston
Ines Benavente-Molina | HDR
Paulo Macchia | Government Architect NSW

Heritage
14 entries / 9 shortlisted projects / 3 commendations / 3 awards / 1 named
GREENWAY AWARD FOR HERITAGE
House in Darlinghurst | Tribe Studio
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
Tayim | Welsh + Major Architects
State Library of New South Wales | HASSELL
Paramount House Hotel | Breathe Architecture
COMMENDATIONS
Balmain Rock | Benn + Penna Architecture
The Burcham | Allen Jack+Cottier
St John’s College Library | Hector Abrahams Architects
Heritage Jury
Elisha Long (Chair) | Long Blackledge Architects
Ava Shirley | Peter Stutchbury Architecture
Luigi Rosselli | Luigi Rosselli Architects

Commercial Architecture
18 entries / 8 shortlisted projects / 3 commendations / 1 award / 1 named
SIR ARTHUR G. STEPHENSON AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE
Dangrove | Tzannes
ARCHITECTURE AWARD
Paramount House Hotel | Breathe Architecture
COMMENDATIONS
Rail Operation Centre | Jacobs with Smart Design Studio
Barrack Place | Architectus
2 Bligh Street | Bates Smart
Commercial Architecture Jury
Sandra Furtado (Chair) | Furtado Sullivan
Tony Grist | HASSELL
Amber Stewart | ARM Architecture

Sustainable Architecture
7 shortlisted projects / 2 awards / 1 named
MILO DUNPHY AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School | BVN
ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
UNSW Roundhouse | Tonkin Zulaikha Greer
My Ideal House by Mirvac | Mirvac Design with Madeleine Blanchfield
Sustainable Architecture Jury
Rod Simpson (Chair) | Greater Sydney Commissioner
Mary Casey | HKA
Adam Russell | Roberts Day

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture (NSW)
St Pius X High School, Library | SHAC

COLORBOND® Award Jury
Jonathan Evans | Tzannes (Jury Chair, Public Architecture and Educational Architecture)
Ed Lippmann | Lippmann Partnership (Jury Chair, Residential Architecture – Houses
(Alterations and Additions) / Houses (New)
Sandra Furtado | Furtado Sullivan (Jury Chair, Commercial Architecture and Interior
Architecture)
Conrad Johnston | Fox Johnston (Jury Chair, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
and Urban Design)
Elisha Long | Long Blackledge Architects (Jury Chair, Heritage and Small Project
Architecture)
Rod Simpson | simpson + wilson (Jury Chair, Sustainable Architecture)

NSW Architecture Medallion
Maitland Riverlink | CHROFI with McGregor Coxall
NSW Architecture Medallion Jury
Peter Poulet (Chair of Juries)
Jonathan Evans | Tzannes (Jury Chair, Public Architecture and Educational Architecture)
Ed Lippmann | Lippmann Partnership (Jury Chair, Residential Architecture – Houses
(Alterations and Additions) / Houses (New)
Conrad Johnston | Fox Johnston (Jury Chair, Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing
and Urban Design)
Sandra Furtado | Furtado Sullivan (Jury Chair, Commercial Architecture and Interior
Architecture)
Elisha Long | Long Blackledge Architects (Jury Chair, Heritage and Small Project
Architecture)
Rod Simpson | simpson + wilson (Jury Chair, Sustainable Architecture)
Kathlyn Loseby | Crone Architects (Jury Chair, Enduring Architecture)

2019 NSW Premier’s Prize
Green Square Library and Plaza | Studio Hollenstein in association with Stewart
Architecture and HASSELL
NSW Premier
Gladys Berejklian

2019 City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize
Barrack Place | Architectus
Harold Park | Mirvac Design, Government Architects Office (GANSW), City of
Sydney and HASSELL
Lord Mayor of City of Sydney
Clover Moore

Enduring Architecture
350 George Street | Edward Raht
Enduring Award Jury
Kathlyn Loseby | Crone Architects (Jury Chair)
Jennifer Preston | JPA&D
Howard Tanner

Emerging Architect
Cameron Anderson | Cameron Anderson Architects
Emerging Architect Jury
Kathlyn Loseby | Crone Architects (Jury Chair)
Ben Coulston | TERROIR
Amelia Holliday | Aileen Sage Architects & 2018 Emerging Architect Prize Recipient
Isabelle Toland | Aileen Sage Architects & 2018 Emerging Architect Prize Recipient
Murray Chaloner | AWS

An education in architecture – 2019 state winners

This year’s South Australian Architecture Awards, run by the Australian Institute of Architects, has seen a strong field of educational projects flex their collective design muscle across a range of categories.

Chief among these is the Adelaide Botanic High School by Cox Architecture and DesignInc which this year won the Dr John Mayfield Award for Educational Architecture, the Robert Dickson Award for Interior Architecture and the Derrick Kendrick Award for Sustainable Architecture. Named awards represent the highest accolade in each category.

Jurors were particularly impressed with the school’s superb composition and integration within the Parklands setting as well as the seamless incorporation of the former Reid Building’s structure. Botanic High is what one jury determined ‘a new benchmark for adaptive reuse in South Australia’.

SA Chapter President Tony Giannone noted ‘the Adelaide Botanic High School exemplifies the high-quality outcome that can be achieved when all parties invest in the process. This project is a community asset of lasting value – not just because of its sustainability credentials but also because it provides an example of how this state can provide state-of-the-art educational facilities with outstanding flexibility and adaptability.’

Educational architecture award winner St Mary’s Corner by Grieve Gillett Andersen also took out the City of Adelaide Prize People’s Choice while the Cabra Dominican College Therese Sweeney Music Centre by Russell and Yelland received the COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture. Collectively the strong field of educational projects entered in 2019 demonstrates the depth of architectural expertise and commitment to excellent education environments in South Australia.

The residential categories remained strong this year with over 21 entries. Architects Ink received the John S Chappel Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) – for the second year in a row, this time for Sugar Gum House.

In total, the jury bestowed 40 honours with named award and award winners in each category now progressing to the National Architecture Awards announced 7 November.

Full list of winners:

Commercial Architecture

Keith Neighbour Award – Mitolo Wines by Tectvs

Commendation – Southern Crop Breeding Centre by Ashley Halliday Architecture Interiors

Commendation – OZ Minerals Head Office by Studio Nine Architects

Commendation – Global Centre for Modern Ageing by Tridente Architects

Educational Architecture

Dr John Mayfield Award – Adelaide Botanic High School by Cox Architecture and DesignInc

Award – St Mary’s Corner by Grieve Gillett Andersen

Commendation – Swallowcliffe P-7 STEM by Thomson Rossi

Commendation – Christies Beach High School Inclusive Education Centre by Flightpath Architects

Enduring Architecture

Jack Cheesman Award – Colonel Light Centre by Hassell and Partners

Heritage

David Saunders Award – Elder Hall Northern Upgrade and Conservation Works by DASH Architects

Award – Willunga Mainstreet by Mulloway Studio and WAX Design

Commendation – Adelaide Central Market Federal Hall Façade Conservation by Flightpath Architects

Interior Architecture

Robert Dickson Award – Adelaide Botanic High School by Cox Architecture and DesignInc

Award – Malvern Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi

Award – University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute by Swanbury Penglase with BVN

Commendation – The Esplanade by Williams Burton Leopardi

Public Architecture

Jack McConnell Award – University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute by Swanbury Penglase with BVN

Award – St Andrew’s Hospital Eastern Clinical Development by Wiltshire + Swain

Award – Gawler Civic Centre by MPH Architects

Commendation – Parks Library by JPE Design Studio

Commendation – Kangaroo Island Air Terminal by Ashley Halliday Architecture Interiors

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions)

John Schenk Award – Malvern Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi

Commendation – …number 35 by Black Rabbit Architecture + Interiors

Commendation – City Cottage by Davis + Davis Architects

Commendation – Myrtle Bank_Mid Century Modest by Taylor Buchtmann Architecture

Residential Architecture – Houses (New)

John S Chappel Award – Sugar Gum House by Architects Ink

Award – House and Cart by Khab Architects

Commendation – Baliol Residence by Grieve Gillett Andersen

Commendation – Douglas Street Residence by Ashley Halliday Architecture Interiors

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing

Commendation – Carmelite by Walter Brooke

Small Project Architecture

Commendation – Hilton Adelaide Gym Pavilion by Grieve Gillett Andersen

Sustainable Architecture

Derrick Kendrick Award – Adelaide Botanic High School by Cox Architecture and DesignInc

Award – University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute by Swanbury Penglase with BVN

Commendation – Kangaroo Island Air Terminal by Ashley Halliday Architecture Interiors

Commendation – Parks Library by JPE Design Studio

Urban Design

Gavin Walkley Award – Willunga Mainstreet by Mulloway Studio and Wax Design

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture

Award – Cabra Dominican College Therese Sweeney Music Centre by Russell and Yelland

Chapter Prizes

City of Adelaide Prize – Karen Rolton Oval at Narnungga Park 25 by Cox Architecture

City of Adelaide Prize Commendation – Pelzer Park/ Pityarilla (Park 19) Activity Hub by ASPECT Studios with City of Adelaide with the ODASA

City of Adelaide Prize People’s Choice – St Mary’s Corner by Grieve Gillett Andersen

Sir James Irwin President’s Medal – Steve Grieve

Perth Children’s Hospital an ‘inspired creation’

Perth Children’s Hospital has been awarded the most esteemed accolade, the George Temple Poole Award, at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2019 WA Architecture Awards.

Celebrating excellence in design and construction, the Awards were held on Friday, June 28 at the award-winning Optus Stadium.

Designed as a joint venture by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS, the Perth Children’s Hospital has been celebrated for its exceptional design that successfully engages all users of this complex new medical facility.

‘From children and parents, through to specialist consultants and medical staff, the design team have created a high quality, people-first environment that changes our perception of what a hospital can be,’ the jury said.

‘The atrium design in itself is a work of art, a spectacular space using sculptural forms to delight all those who enter and enabling visual connections across floors, providing a constant but dynamic point of reference.

‘Medical equipment is diminished in scale through the skilled use of colour, which combined with a high level of art and functionality works to create an amazing ‘wonderland’ for children in need of specialist care – it truly is an inspired creation.’

In addition to the prestigious George Temple Poole Award, Perth Children’s Hospital was also recognised with The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture, The Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture as well as The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture.

The Westin Hotel by HASSELL was the recipient of The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture and was commended by the jury for having successfully revitalised and repurposed a city block.

The jury were impressed with the architects’ delivery of not only a high-quality hotel, but also the establishment of a hospitality and retail precinct that acknowledges the inherent heritage of the site and provides connections and benefits for both patron and public enjoyment.

Amongst an impressive group of residential projects recognised in the 2019 Awards, Cloister House by MORQ was the recipient of The Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New).

Fronting a busy road in a simple setting, the architect has delivered an unconventional response to increased suburban density, creating a distinctive home with a bold street presence and exceptional interior.

Australian Institute of Architects WA Chapter president Peter Hobbs was impressed with the cross-section of winners recognised in the 2019 Awards, echoing the sentiments of the jury and attesting to the vital role architecture plays in our everyday lives.

‘This year’s winning projects demonstrate the importance of quality architecture when it comes to creating and sustaining successful, vibrant communities not just today, but well into the future,’ said Mr Hobbs.

‘In particular, the Perth Children’s Hospital is a remarkable project that is innovative, considered and engaging, and the Institute is delighted to award JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS the most prestigious honour at this year’s Awards.’

All Western Australian Named and Architecture Award winners will progress to the Australian Institute of Architects National Awards to be judged against the very best architectural works in the country.

Full list of winning projects:

GEORGE TEMPLE POOLE AWARD

Perth Children’s Hospital by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS Inc.

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE

The Ross Chisholm and Gil Nicol Award for Commercial Architecture – Westin Hotel by HASSELL

Architecture Award – Premier Mill Hotel by spaceagency

Commendation – The WEB Business Hub by Whitehaus

Commendation – DFO Perth by Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick

EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

The Hillson Beasley Award for Educational Architecture – Skyplay: North Perth School of Early Learning by Tom Godden Architects and Matthew Crawford Architects JV

Architecture Award – Hale Junior School by SITE Architecture Studio

Commendation – Kolbe Catholic College Refurbishment – New Learning Resource Centre and Staff Facilities by EIW Architects

HERITAGE

The Margaret Pitt Morison Award for Heritage – Montgomery House by Montague Grant Architects

Architecture Award – Premier Mill Hotel by spaceagency

Commendation – Dumas House Conservation Works by Griffiths Architects

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

The Julius Elischer Award for Interior Architecture – Perth Children’s Hospital by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS Inc.

Architecture Award – Premier Mill Hotel by spaceagency

Commendation – Little BIG House by Suzanne Hunt Architect

Commendation – Dollhouse 2.0 by Laura Chruscinski

PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE

The Jeffrey Howlett Award for Public Architecture – Perth Children’s Hospital by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS Inc.

Architecture Award – Karratha Health Campus by HASSELL

Commendation – Yagan Square by Lyons in association with iredale pedersen hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (Alterations and Additions)

The Peter Overman Award for Residential Architecture – [Alterations and Additions] – Forrest Street Alterations & Additions by Philip Stejskal Architecture

Commendation – Broome Street Apartment by MDC Architects

Commendation – Chelmsford by vittinoAshe

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (New)

The Marshall Clifton Award for Residential Architecture – Houses [New] – CLOISTER HOUSE by MORQ

Architecture Award – Arthouse Swanbourne by Hartree + Associates Architects

Commendation – Dollhouse 2.0 by Laura Chruscinski

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (Multiple Housing)

The Harold Krantz Award for Residential Architecture – Houses [Multiple Housing] – CIRQUE on Kishorn by MJA studio

Architecture Award – The Boulevard; Purpose Built Student Accomodation by MJA studio

Commendation – Liv Apartments by HASSELL

Commendation – Kilmarnock by Kerry Hill Architects

SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE

The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture – North Fremantle – Beach Office by Braham Architects

Commendation – Scarborough Arbors by Taylor Robinson Chaney Broderick

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

The Wallace Greenham Award for Sustainable Architecture – Perth Children’s Hospital by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS Inc.

Architecture Award – Capital Square by Cox Architecture

Architecture Award – Liv Apartments by HASSELL

Commendation – The Creamery, Bannister Downs Dairy by Bosske Architecture

Commendation – Punmu and Parnngurr Aboriginal Health Clinics by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture

URBAN DESIGN

The John Septimus Roe Award for Urban Design – Yagan Square by Lyons in association with iredale pedersen hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios

Architecture Award – Koombana Bay Pedestrian Bridge by Gresley Abas

Commendation – The Lane Apartments by Peter Hobbs Architects

Commendation – Hibernian Place by HASSELL

RICHARD ROACH JEWELL FOR ENDURING ARCHITECTURE AWARD

QV1 Tower by Harry Seidler & Associates

COLORBOND® AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture – Yagan Square by Lyons in association with iredale pedersen hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios

Commendation – Christ Church Grammar Preparatory School by With Architecture Studio

MONDOLUCE LIGHTING AWARD

Mondoluce Lighting Award – QT Perth by Candalepas Associates

Commendation – Yagan Square by Lyons in association with iredale pedersen hook and landscape architects ASPECT Studios

Commendation – Koombana Bay Pedestrian Bridge by Gresley Abas

NSW reforms a sensible step for safety – time to act nationally

The Australian Institute of Architects has
welcomed more detail on the NSW Government response to building safety issues,
labelling it a belated but sensible step to maintain safety and public
confidence.

The Institute’s Immediate Past President, Clare Cousins, today said the Berejiklian Government’s Building Stronger Foundations discussion paper requirement for registration of builders, designers, engineers – in addition to the existing requirements for architects – was long-awaited and important.

‘The Institute has been calling for full
registration of people across the building industry for many years,’ Ms Cousins
said.

‘We are pleased the NSW Government is finally making steps to action this measure. Now it is time for all other Australian states and territories to implement these protocols, and the full set of recommendations of last year’s Shergold Weir report into building safety.

‘These reforms are vital to protect public
safety and maintain public confidence in Australia’s building protocols.’

The discussion paper of the NSW Government response
proposes an industry-wide common law duty of care to owners and bodies
corporate, and would also create a regulatory system where builders and others could
face deregistration if found to be negligent.

It also includes builder declarations of
compliance with the Building Code of Australia, and a new building commissioner
to oversee regulations.

‘These vital safety measures must be
implemented as soon as possible,’ Ms Cousins said. ‘After the recent issues we
have seen with Mascot Towers and other incidents, the public needs to know
there is a robust and nationally consistent system in place to ensure safety
for people and their investments.’

NSW President of the Institute, Kathlyn Loseby
added: ‘The Institute has been a leading voice in calling for increased
building safety measures in recent years and will be responding to the Government’s
paper’.

‘We welcome the impending appointment of a
building commissioner and the opportunity to work closely with the NSW
Government to ensure these measures go far enough to protect our communities,’
she said.

‘The issues of self-certification,
inappropriate risk allocation in contracts, and product substitution as a cost-saving
mechanism also need to be addressed.’

All architects are insured and are required to
have ongoing registration with state and territory bodies, following five years
of tertiary education and two years’ industry practice before taking a
registration exam. The Institute has called for a robust registration system like
this applied to all building practitioners including project managers, building
designers and draughters.

At the time of the last Building Ministers’
Forum in March, only Tasmania had implemented the
recommendation to require registration of all practitioners in building design,
construction and maintenance.

The Institute is heartened there has been
greater implementation of the Building Ministers’ Forum priority for
jurisdictions to create minimum controls to reduce conflicts of interest and
increase transparency between builders and surveyors, with complete
implementation in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Ms Cousins said more action is needed across
jurisdictions for approved documentation to be prepared by registered
practitioners, in accordance with the National Construction Code, which needs
to be implemented in all states except Tasmania.

‘Australia’s vital building-safety system needs
to be consistent across the entire country. All practitioners, be they
architects, builders, certifiers, surveyors, developers or engineers, must be
held accountable for the work they complete. Without surety on this our
communities will pay the price,’ she said.

‘While we applaud the work done to date, work
is still lagging on a national level. All Australians deserve to have
confidence in their buildings regardless of where they live, work and play
around the country.’

10 point plan for restoring public confidence in the construction industry

Kathlyn Loseby – NSW Chapter President

A spate of recent incidents, generating extensive media coverage, has brought significant attention to the safety and quality of Australia’s built environment and has severely impacted public confidence. These include the Lacrosse Tower Fire, Melbourne 2014; the Grenfell Tower Fire, UK, 2017; the Opal Tower building evacuation, Sydney, December 2018; the Neo200 Apartment Building Fire, Melbourne, February 2019; the CBD walkway collapse, Perth, June 2019; and the Mascot Towers building evacuation, Sydney, June 2019.

Australian Federal, State and Territory ministers, through the Building Ministers Forum, commissioned a review by Dr Peter Shergold and Ms Bronwyn Weir. Their report, Building Confidence, was released publicly early in 2018 and an implementation plan in March 2019. The Australian Institute of Architects has supported and publicly called for the urgent adoption of all recommendations.

For NSW to overcome the huge dip in public confidence in the construction industry, 10 key issues need to be addressed.

1. #SafetyFirst is paramount, but in a first world country we should also expect #Wellbeing

The Australian Institute Architects Code of Conduct expects architects to ‘improve standards of health and safety for the protection and welfare of all members of the community.’ This is an important distinction beyond the basics of safety, and it is not just for the client, the developer or the financial institution, but for everyone.

Architects strive for a built environment where you can walk your children down the street, stop in a café for an ice cream, shop for your groceries, grab a book from the library, and return home all the while feeling safe, secure and enriched.

2. Certification by qualified, independent, registered professionals with PI insurance = consumer protection

Certification should be limited to qualified registered professionals who have professional indemnity insurance, are trained, have their capabilities assessed prior to registration and who keep up to date through continuing professional development. This is required for architects in NSW under the Architects Act which is designed to protect the consumer. In NSW, this is not the case for engineers, building designers or project managers, so these titles can be used by anyone without proven credentials, registration or regularly assessable standards to maintain.

We recommend maintaining a ‘third party’ distance between builder and certifier, that is, those that certify should be independent and not be employed directly by the builder.

3. Stop self-certification

The current system of allowing sub-contractors to self-certify does not put safety or quality first.

For example, at the beginning of a project the mechanical engineer will design the air-conditioning system. Under a Design and Construct contract the builder typically replaces the mechanical engineer with a mechanical sub-contractor who will redesign the mechanical system to get the cheapest possible outcome. The mechanical sub-contractor is the installer and also the certifier of the system. Not only is the sub-contractor not independent, but they will not be paid by the builder until they produce the certification. The building certifier relies on these sub-contractor certificates to produce the final certificate so effectively the sub-contractor is self-certifying.

There needs to be much greater clarity on the roles, rights, responsibilities and risks of all parties in the building chain. We need an industry standard as recommended in the Shergold Weir report.

4. Contracts need to place #Quality over #speed and #greed

Procurement practices are principally driven by three factors: time, cost and quality. They are a balancing act.

It is a misconception to presume that every reduction in time and cost produces a better outcome. When quality is affected, the long-term maintenance costs and ‘construction cracks’ are very expensive and time consuming to rectify.

5. Contracts need to reconsider risk allocation

Pushing risk onto sub-contractors who then go into receivership does not work. Likewise, the risk-return trade-off needs to be appropriate relative to fees. It should also be relative to the level of professional training, code of conduct, regulation, ongoing and measured professional development and adequate insurance pertaining to the entity absorbing the risk.

6. Documentation by appropriately registered professionals to the National Construction Code (NCC)

The adequacy of documentation in the building approval process has been an issue of concern to the profession for some time. As per Shergold Weir, we recommend building approval documentation must be prepared by appropriately registered professionals, demonstrating that the proposed building complies with the National Construction Code.

7. Value engineering should include a quality judgement

Bronwyn Weir has stated: ‘Value engineering cuts on costs that can compromise safety; it can make the building cheaper to build but more expensive to maintain.’

Design and Construct contracts in particular can place undue focus on reducing costs through value engineering. For too long these contracts and value engineering have prioritised time and cost (speed and greed) over quality.

Safety and basic amenity should never become second to time and cost; too often we see it has.

8. Substitution of materials

Substitution has become a dirty word. It doesn’t have to be, but again when minimising time and cost drives a decision to substitute a product or material, without any consideration for the quality impact, safety and future maintenance costs are often the losers.

9. Partial services and ‘shopping’ consultant services

The current market sees developers and builders breaking up the design, documentation and site observation stage services of the professional team (architects and engineers). Instead of maintaining consistency, they shop around the market mid project to change the team and reduce fees. This process makes no attempt to justify itself in regard to achieving quality outcomes. The rationale is that the risk of a loss in quality can be offset by the potential cost savings.

What happens? Vital project knowledge is lost so cost drivers trump quality and the consumer loses.

Maintaining the same professional team from design through documentation and overseeing construction means the best equipped and project knowledgeable team is watching the project the whole way through.

10. Delight, beauty and inspiration

In the words of the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Mr Rob Stokes: ‘We can do better than liveability, we can do delight, we can do beauty, we can do inspiration.’

An architect spends five years at university, a minimum of two years of practical experience, and further professional registration examinations to be accredited as an architect. To maintain the title requires annual continuing professional development. Underpinning every part of this process is a commitment to ensuring that architectural outcomes are always more than a sum of their parts. Safety, quality, time, cost, liveability, delight and inspiration never have to be mutually exclusive.

Notes:

7. Brownyn Weir quote from Warning dangerous building flaws will continue without industry overhaul, Mon 17 Jun 2019, 12:38pm, By Stephanie Smail on The World Today

8. Rob Stokes quote from Rob Stokes’ push for Sydney development: no more nasty surprises, by Jacob Saulwick May 31, 2019 — 5.43pm

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/rob-stokes-push-for-sydney-development-no-more-surprises-20190531-p51tbp.html

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/adelaide/programs/worldtoday/warning-dangerous-building-flaws-will-continue-without-overhaul/11215750

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/rob-stokes-push-for-sydney-development-no-more-surprises-20190531-p51tbp.html