Category: Media Release

Far North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards’ winners unveiled

Two projects have taken out top honours in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Far North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards announced tonight.

Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment by CA Architects and Cox Rayner Architects in association with O’Neill Architecture received a Regional Commendation and the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year.‘The Cairns Foreshore Development is an important contribution to the urban design puzzle for Cairns.

Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment Robert Gesink. — *Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment by CA Architects and Cox Rayner Architects in association with O’Neill Architecture. Image by Robert Gesink.*

‘The Cairns Foreshore Development is an important contribution to the urban design puzzle for Cairns.

‘It provides a flexible and intriguing set of spaces and makes impressive reuse of the existing hardwood timber from the site.

‘The fusion of playground, sculpture, outdoor shelters and amenities ensures that it is embraced by the whole community,’ the jury said.

The jury awarded the House of the Year Award to Charles Wright Architects for their Glass House project.

‘Glass House is an experiment in sampling the modernist principals of Phillip Johnson’s icon and melding it with a contemporary mode of living in the tropics. It is an adventurous move by both architect and client.

‘Its brave approach is matched and revealed by an exquisite use of detail and material. It is a striking contribution to the lexicon of tropical architecture,’ the jury noted.

Charles Wright Architects Glass House Patrick Bingham Halls — Glass House by Charles Wright Architects. Image by Patrick Bingham Hall.

This year locals had the opportunity to vote for their favourite project in the People’s Choice Award which went to James Cook University Lecture Theatre by Suters Architects.

Fifteen projects were entered in the awards in commercial, heritage, interior, public, residential and small project architecture and urban design categories.

In total the jury awarded nine Regional Commendations in addition to the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year and the House of the Year.

Regional Commendations:

JCU Central Energy Plant	Clarke and Prince Pty Ltd	Commercial Architecture	Smithfield
Mt Sheridan Plaza Cairns	Reddog Architects Pty Ltd	Commercial Architecture	Cairns
Retail Store and Offices Lockhart River	Kevin O’Brien Architects in association with Project Services	Commercial Architecture	Lockhart River
Undara Experience	EdgeArchitecture	Commercial Architecture	Mt Surprise
Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment	CA Architects & Cox Rayner Architects in association with O’Neill Architecture	Heritage	Cairns
Glass House	Charles Wright Architects	Residential Architecture – Houses	Edge Hill
Charles Street Residences	Studio Mango	Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing	Cairns North
Curator’s Office – Tank Arts Centre	Total Project Group Architects	Small Project Architecture	Cairns North
Re-Newell	Charles Wright Architects	Small Project Architecture	Newell Beach

Far North Queensland Regional Jury Coordinator Dr Shaneen Fantin, Principal at People Oriented Design and Juror Andrew Lane, Principal at Indij Architectural & Interior Design along with Lay Juror Kier Shorey, Presenter of the Breakfast Show on ABC Far North Queensland, assisted the 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant (Woods Bagot) and Deputy Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts) and State Jurors, Eloise Atkinson (Deicke Richards Architects) and Paul Curran (PUSH Architects) with selecting the winning projects, which now progress to the coveted Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

Vote for your favourite in the Far North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards

Fifteen projects are in the running for honours in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Far North Queensland Regional Architecture Awards with winners to be announced on Friday 24 May.

Locals have the opportunity to vote for their favourite eligible project in the People’s Choice Award and go in the draw to win one night’s accommodation for two at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino.

Shortlisted projects are on display at the Cairns Regional Council Office, 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns. This exhibition is open to the public between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. To cast your vote, simply fill out the ballot paper available at the display before midday, Friday 24 May for your chance to win the generous prize kindly donated by the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino.

Entries in this year’s Awards include the Cairns Foreshore Redevelopment by CA Architects and Cox Rayner Architects in association with O’Neill Architecture, Curator’s Office – Tanks Arts Centre by Total Project Group Architects and the Undara Experience by EdgeArchitecture among others in commercial, heritage, interior, public, residential and small project architecture and urban design categories.

Far North Queensland Regional Jury Coordinator Dr Shaneen Fantin, Principal at People Oriented Design and Juror Andrew Lane, Principal at Indij Architectural & Interior Design along with Lay Juror Kier Shorey, Presenter of the Breakfast Show on ABC Far North Queensland, will assist the 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant (Woods Bagot) and Deputy Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts) and State Jurors, Eloise Atkinson (Deicke Richards Architects) and Paul Curran (PUSH Architects) with selecting the worthy recipients of Regional Commendations and the Eddie Oribin Award for Building of the Year.

Projects awarded on the night will progress to the Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

Queensland 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant will present the Regional Commendations to Far North Queensland winners at the Awards ceremony at Pullman Reef Casino, Cairns from 6pm, Friday 24 May. Media are invited to attend.

Click here for images and names of all projects in the 2013 Far North Queensland Awards.

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For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing almost 12,000 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

Darling Harbour re-development on the wrong track say architects

The Australian Institute of Architects says the NSW Government’s decision to re‐develop Darling Harbour
through a single contract with a single developer has betrayed the public interest.

The Institute’s National President Elect Paul Berkemeier said the Government should fulfill its responsibility as
advocate for the public interest by defining and defending the public realm for the project, rather than leaving
this critical step to a development tender.

‘Lend Lease is a reputable organisation that should not have been put in the position of both planning and
developing this large 20 hectare public precinct,’ Mr Berkemeier said.

‘The government has contracted out its responsibility to prepare a master plan for the use of public land, as
well as the rights to demolish and develop it,’ he said.

‘The Institute’s view is that city development is better served by a multiplicity of players in the development
industry, not just one.

‘That is the way most urban areas have been developed, and re‐developed, in the past.

‘The Institute does not take issue with the quality of the professional teams involved in the re‐development,’
Mr Berkemeier said.

‘What we question is the muddled brief to which they are responding and the out‐dated and wasteful demolish
and rebuild strategy underlying the whole proposal,’ he said.

‘Last year the Institute’s NSW Chapter adopted a new policy: Valuing Award‐Winning Buildings in the Long
Term.

‘The policy proposes a number of actions to achieve the long‐term recognition and protection of buildings that
have won the Chapter’s highest honour, the Sulman Medal, including listings on local environmental plans and
the State Heritage Register.

‘The policy aims at the long‐term survival of these highly regarded buildings and encourages adaptations and
additions that respect the integrity of their original designs.

‘In view of this policy, the Institute strongly advocates the retention of the Sulman Medal‐winning Exhibition
Centre in any re‐development of Darling Harbour.

‘The Exhibition Centre was awarded the Sulman Medal in 1989 by a jury chaired by the late Harry Seidler,’ Mr
Berkemeier said.‘We also recommend the retention of the other major buildings in the precinct and the key
features of Tumbalong Park, a facility that has proved to be extremely popular with the people of Sydney.

‘We agree that there is an opportunity to re‐think the uses and relationships between the centres, the Darling
Harbour precinct, and the rest of the city.

‘But we are opposed to the notion that you need to demolish 25‐year old buildings and replace them with new
buildings on similar footprints to achieve these improvements.

‘We also consider that the scope of the project is unnecessarily limited.

‘This is an opportunity to re‐consider the whole of the precinct, from the National Maritime Museum in the
west to King Street Wharf in the east, at least from a planning perspective,’ Mr Berkemeier said.

‘A thorough analysis of the larger precinct would have enabled long‐term strategies to be developed that could
be implemented over a 20‐30 year period.

‘This is our city – the Government’s responsibility is to defend the public interest – not to sell it,’ Mr
Berkemeier said.

Venice Biennale – Shortlist announced for 2014 Australian Creative Directors

Seven teams have progressed to stage two of the Australian Institute of Architects’ search for the Creative Director of the Australian Exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Continue reading Venice Biennale – Shortlist announced for 2014 Australian Creative Directors

Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards – winners unveiled

An exemplary landmark tower, a lavishly-crafted laboratory and an elegant, beautifully crafted home have been awarded the highest honours at the Australian Institute of Architects’ Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards announced tonight. Continue reading Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards – winners unveiled

Projects compete in Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards

95 entries have been received for the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards with winners to be announced on Friday 10 May.

Cox Rayner’s One One One Eagle Street and the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law by Architectus in association with Guymer Bailey Architects are among projects entered in urban design, commercial, heritage, interior, public, residential – houses, residential – multiple housing, small project architecture and Art & Architecture categories.

The Brisbane regional juries assisted the 2013 Queensland Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant (Woods Bagot); Deputy Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts); State Juror, Eloise Atkinson (Deicke Richards Architects); State Juror, Paul Curran (PUSH Architects) and Brisbane Regional Jury Coordinator, Sarah Rush (Macksey Rush Architects) with selecting the worthy recipients of Regional Commendations, the John Dalton Award for Building of the Year and the House of the Year.

Projects awarded on the night will progress to the Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

2013 Brisbane Regional Jury

Brisbane Regional Jury Coordinator – Sarah Rush (Macksey Rush Architects)

ART & ARCHITECTURE
Jury Chair – Alice Hampson (Alice LTM Hampson Architect)
Jurors – Grace Liu (Queensland Art Gallery) and Geoffrey Pie (Geoffrey Pie Architect)

COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE
Jury Chair – Justin O’Neill (O’Neill Architecture)
Jurors – Geoff Street (Suters Architects) and John Thong (Wilson Architects)

HERITAGE
Jury Chair – Ivan McDonald (Ivan McDonald Architects)
Juror – Vito Villari (Project Services)

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
Jury Chair – Kon Panagopolous (KP Architects)
Jurors – Fred Iezzi (idearchitecture), Russell Peters (Reddog Architects), James Russell (James Russell Architect) and Margaret West

PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
Jury Chair – Stephen Cameron (Stephen Cameron Architecture)
Jurors – Philip Horwood (Studio 39) and Glen Mallett (Nettleton Tribe Partnership)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – MULTIPLE HOUSING
Jury Chair – John Mainwaring (JMA Architects)
Jurors – Kieron Gait (Keiron Gait Architect) and Angus Munro (Marc&Co)

RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES
Jury Chair – Brian Steendyk (Steendyk)
Jurors – Elizabeth Anderson (Hayes Anderson Lynch Architects), Andrew Gutteridge (Arkhefield), Mick Hellen (aardvarc), Paul Holston (Phorm Architecture + Design), Shaye McLean (SM Architecture) and Henk Mulder (Mulder + Kennedy Architects)
Lay Jurors – Margie Fraser (Vogue Design) and Francene Ridley (freelance journalist)

SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE
Jury Chair – Bud Brannigan (Bud Brannigan Architects)
Jurors – Paul Butterworth (Paul Butterworth Architect), Jason Haigh (Cloud Dwellers), Shy Tay (Arkhefield), Margaret Ward (Margaret Ward Architect) and Marion Wilson (Biscoe Wilson Architects)

URBAN DESIGN
Jury Chair – John Deicke (Deicke Richards Architects)
Jurors – John Clarke (Parish Clarke Architects) and Peter Edwards (Archipelago)

Queensland 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant and Regional Jury Coordinator, Sarah Rush will present the Regional Commendations to Brisbane winners at a special Awards ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, commencing at 7pm Friday 10 May.

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For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

NSW Chapter President Joe Agius letter to the editor in response to SMH article ‘Keating gives blessing to Packer’s big plans’

Dear Editor

I write in response to the article published in The Sydney Morning Herald today (4 May 2013)
‘Keating gives blessing to Packer’s big plans’ by Sean Nicholls on page 7.

The latest episode in the Barangaroo saga reveals yet another assault on the public interest.
In addition to the financial assessment of the competing Crown and Echo Entertainment
unsolicited casino hotel proposals, the government must undertake an assessment of the public
benefits (or otherwise) of these proposals on what is left of the public domain at Barangaroo.
What will be the impact of such a monumental building on the low-scale and people-friendly
community facilities proposed for the harbour side of Barangaroo Central?

The government is charged with the responsibility of protecting the public interest on this
important piece of public land.

Rather than protecting the public interest, successive governments have allowed private
interests to gain primacy in determining the re-configuration of this major site.

This is occurring again: encroachment on areas previously public, renegotiation of heights,
questionable uses, disregard for previous masterplans, no public consultation, and proposals so
unconscious of their context they may as well be in Dubai.

Mr Packer’s misguided comparison of his designs with the Sydney Opera House – a public
cultural building that is highly responsive to its context – is both ludicrous and offensive.

Joe Agius
NSW Chapter President
Australian Institute of Architects

Projects vie for honours in Northern Territory Architecture Awards

Sixteen projects are in the running for honours in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Northern Territory Architecture Awards with winners to be announced on Friday 7 June.

Spanning the region from Darwin in the north to Alice Springs in the south, the projects include a water park, tourist facility and emergency department among others entered in urban design and commercial, enduring, heritage, interior, public, residential and small project architecture categories.

Jury Chair, Justin Hill of Kerry Hill Architects in Singapore along with juror Brendan Meney of Brendan J Meney Architects in Alice Springs and lay juror Diana Richards, Assistant Director of the Northern Territory Library will select the worthy recipients.

Projects that receive a Named Award or an Architecture Award on the night will progress to the National Architecture Awards to be announced in Sydney on 7 November.

Former Chief Minister Clare Martin will present the awards to Northern Territory winners at a special Awards ceremony at the Darwin Ski Club on Friday 7 June. Media are invited to attend.

‘This year’s award entries span the length and breadth of the Northern Territory. The architects have responded sensitively to the climate, location and culture of each place.

‘The high quality of these projects highlights the significant contribution architects make to our cities and towns,’ said Simon Scally, NT Chapter President of the Institute.

DKJ Projects Architecture Australian Centre of Indigenous Knowledge and Education Kate Bowman — Australian Centre of Indigenous Knowledge and Education by DKJ projects.architecture, image by Kate Bowman.

Zone A Pty Ltd Royal Flying Doctor Service Al Simon Pettit — Royal Flying Doctor Service Alice Springs Tourist Facility, image by Simon Pettit

Key public buildings entered in the 2013 Awards include the Australian Centre of Indigenous Knowledge and Education by DKJ projects.architecture which includes an open air ceremonial space, central courtyard and state-of-the-art IT enabled Literacy Laboratory, facilitating interactive learning connections with 16 remote territory sites.

The Royal Flying Doctors’ new Tourist Facility in Alice Springs, designed by Zone A is a contender in the public and interior architecture categories. The design features a full scale replica of the fuselage of one of the services operational airplanes.

View all NT Architecture Awards’ entries here.

For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

Institute opposes Treasurer’s cap on self-education expense deductions

The Australian Institute of Architects opposes the federal government’s proposed reforms to self-education expense deductions announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP on 13 April.

As an independent professional representative body for approximately 12,000 members nationally, the Institute believes the proposed reforms will negatively impact the professional development of the architecture industry and in turn the future quality of our built environment.

Treasurer Swan’s proposed reform will involve an annual tax deduction cap of $2000 on all work-related education expenses, such as formal qualifications, textbooks, stationery, travel expenses, conferences, seminars and self-organised study tours. The current claimable amount is unlimited.

Architectural practice, theory and research are continually evolving to meet the challenges posed by societal and climatic changes while continued changes in technology, infrastructure, materials and an increase in innovation requires architects to be multidisciplinary in both skills and scope.

This need for continued learning is compounded by Australia’s rigorous system for accreditation of architects which in many state jurisdictions incorporates minimum continuing professional development requirements. Additionally, in recognition of the importance of continuing education, the Institute has implemented a new level of membership (A+) which requires a commitment to a minimum annual level of professional development be undertaken by all A+ members, further assisting Australian architects to compete in this increasingly global economy.

‘Equitable access to architecture-related education is not a luxury but a necessity for the creators of our cities, towns and communities and we are concerned that the proposed cap on self-education expense deductions will act as a disincentive for architects and other professionals to undertake further studies,’ said David Parken, Institute CEO.

In addition, the government’s efforts to address the future challenges facing the built environment including environmental concerns will require a commitment to facilitating the self-education of the professionals responsible for its adaptation.

‘Climate concerns are challenging architects to create environmentally sustainable built environments not only through the design of new buildings but through the adaptation of existing buildings to prepare for climate change mitigation. The estimated replacement value of existing buildings currently stands in excess of $5.7 trillion, therefore it is vital that the profession adequately prepares to meet these current and future challenges,’ said Mr Parken.

‘While we support sensible measures to address rorts in the current system which is a key driver of the government’s changes, we believe the implications of the proposed reform are too blunt and could be likened to taking a sledgehammer to the issue when a more targeted tightening of criteria could achieve a similar outcome without risking the up-skilling of professionals.’

Typical costs for built environment-related conferences are in the range of $1500 excluding associated travel and accommodation, costs which increase greatly for rural and regional practitioners.

The Institute is seeking a meeting with Treasurer Swan and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Craig Emerson, as well as Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, to discuss the proposed reforms and concerns for the architecture profession.

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For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Regional Architecture Awards’ winners

Two projects have taken out top honours in the 30th Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Regional Architecture Awards announced on Saturday 20 April.

Gold Coast University Hospital Mental Health Unit by PDT, STH and HASSELL (Joint venture) received a Regional Commendation and the Building of the Year Award.

‘A thoroughly engaging and considered response to an overwhelmingly complex program, that sets new benchmarks in healthcare and user needs,’ the jury commented.

The jury awarded the House of the Year Award to dm2architecture for their Binna Burra Sky Lodges project.

‘The architect has carefully crafted a complex brief into a thoughtful, contextual, sustainable and wonderful piece of conceptually rich architecture and legacy for its national park setting,’ the jury said.

Eighteen projects were entered in the awards including a hotel, surf training centre and a school chapel among others in commercial, interior, public, residential – houses, residential – multiple housing, small project architecture and urban design categories.

In total the jury awarded eight Regional Commendations in addition to the Building of the Year and House of the Year Awards.

Regional Commendations:

Architectural Project	Architectural Practice	Architectural Category	Location
Binna Burra Sky Lodges	dm2architecture	Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing	Binna Burra
South Stradbroke Island ‘Main Hut’	W.I.M Architects	Residential Architecture – Houses	South Stradbroke Island
Promenade Residence	BGD Architects	Residential Architecture – Houses	Isle of Capri
Sebring Residence	Paul Uhlmann Architects	Residential Architecture – Houses	Mermaid Beach
Gold Coast University Hospital Mental Health Unit	PDT, STH and HASSELL (Joint venture)	Public Architecture	Southport
Saint Stephen’s College Senior Technology Building	Burling Brown Architects	Interior Architecture	Upper Coomera
Surfing Australia High Performance Centre HPC	PENTARCHI & PHORM Architecture + Design	Commercial Architecture	Casuarina
Soul	DBI Design	Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing and Urban Design	Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast/Northern Rivers Regional Jury Coordinator, David Brown, Executive Development Manager at Sunland Group, was joined on the jury by Matt Cooper, Principal at Aspect Architecture; Finn Jones, Principal Architect and Urban Designer at the Gold Coast City Council; Alison McDonald, Lecturer at Griffith University;Paul Robertson, Principal at Paul Robertson Architect; Zac Tooth, Principal at ZT A+B; lay juror Shannon Willoughby, Journalist at Gold Coast Bulletin and lay juror Peter Scott, Presenter on ABC Coast FM.

Winners of Regional Commendations will now progress to the coveted Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

JURY CITATIONS

Binna Burra Sky Lodges – dm2architecture
The architect has carefully crafted a complex brief into a thoughtful, contextual, sustainable and wonderful piece of conceptually rich architecture and legacy for its national park setting.

South Stradbroke Island ‘Main Hut’ – W.I.M Architects
This holiday home mediates necessity and utility with simplicity and joy, whilst carefully allowing for the rich meaning of its site and tapestry of generations to continue.

Promenade Residence – BGD Architects
The residence is an elegant neighbour that beautifully and precisely resolves the family home for a perfect suburban waterfront living arrangement.

Sebring Residence – Paul Uhlmann Architects
A bold ambitious and extravagant residence of carefully articulated spaces and surprisingly delicate details provides for each member of the family including the beloved puppies.

Gold Coast University Hospital Mental Health Unit – PDT, STH and HASSELL (Joint venture)
A thoroughly engaging and considered response to an overwhelmingly complex program, that sets new benchmarks in healthcare and user needs.

Saint Stephen’s College Senior Technology Building – Burling Brown Architects
The architect has created an innovative and dynamic learning and teaching environment that skilfully caters for student needs and expands the knowledge base of architectural response to pedagogy.

Surfing Australia High Performance Centre HPC – PENTARCHI & PHORM Architecture + Design
A conceptually rich and resolved project that efficiently and economically responds to current and future user needs.

Soul – DBI Design
This large scale urban intervention has positively and dramatically affected the public realm of Surfers Paradise and the city skyline.

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For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au