Category: Media Releases 2013

Shortlisted projects give public spaces personality

Five projects have been shortlisted for the new City of Sydney Lord Mayor’s Prize,
established to recognise design excellence in the public domain across central Sydney.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the prize was designed to encourage projects that improve
the quality of the public domain, making the city more liveable, interesting and engaging.
‘We need to celebrate the imaginative, innovative and inspiring design that gives our city its
personality,’ the Lord Mayor said.

In the running are: The Art Gallery of New South Wales Forecourt Upgrade by Johnson
Pilton Walker; Darling Quarter by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (fjmt) with ASPECT
Studios and Lend Lease; Newtown Interchange by Caldis Cook Group in association with
the NSW Government Architect’s office; The Wayside Chapel by Environa Studio; and
VSQ2 by Tony Caro Architecture.

‘These projects accentuate the quality of our open spaces and urban environments,’ the
Lord Mayor said.

‘Each one makes the most of its urban backdrop, creating wonderful open spaces to be
discovered and enjoyed.’

The winner of the first Lord Mayor’s prize will be announced as part of the 2013 NSW
Architecture Awards this month on 27 June.

Australian Institute of Architects’ NSW Chapter President, Joe Agius, said the prize was an
exciting addition to the annual NSW Architecture Awards and an opportunity to celebrate the
work of architects as place makers and collaborators within the city.

‘This prize recognises architects and projects that, through their creativity, have played a key
role in bringing new life and texture to a range of places across the city,’ Mr Agius said.
Mr Agius said the City of Sydney had been a leading advocate of architecture during Clover
Moore’s time as Lord Mayor.

‘The Institute is pleased to have developed this new prize in close collaboration with the
Lord Mayor and senior Council staff, and I recognise and thank my predecessor Matthew
Pullinger for the key role he played in helping to make this prize a reality.’

2014 National Architecture Conference in the Making – creative team selected

The act of making; the dirtiness, directness and honesty of architecture is the inspiration behind the theme for the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2014 National Architecture Conference, hosted in Perth for the first time in over a decade.

Adam Haddow, Helen Norrie and Sam Crawford were introduced as the 2014 creative team with their theme, Making, by the Institute’s National President Paul Berkemeier on the last day of the 2013 Conference, Material.

Helen Norrie, Adam Haddow and Sam Crawford. Image by Philippa Nicole Barr.

The creative team are inspired by the process of making architecture, rather than simply the presentation of architecture as a finished product, as well as the collaborative relationships and catalytic projects that lead to cultural change and shift the context of architectural practice.

‘Our interest lies both in the machinations of the process, and the beauty, delight and surprise of excellence. Making will be a celebration of ideas. It will celebrate approaches to achieving architectural excellence that challenge cultural, economic, social and political environments. It will be through an investigation of the unknown that our own place will be revealed more clearly.

‘How do we learn, as practitioners, from these alternative processes, the wins and losses, the mistakes and coincidences that led to better outcomes?

‘We want to hear from the speakers about other ways of making architecture. How architecture is made in other cultural, economic and geographic contexts, particularly Asia, Latin America and Africa,’ the team explained.

Making will also explore the expanding role of the architect and consider a broader definition of ‘architect as maker’ – not just of singular buildings, but as the maker of environments and connections that extend the bounds of traditional practice.

‘The contemporary architect is not constrained to the drawing board but is engaged with communities and cross-disciplinary collaboration and is often a champion of political change. We are interested in a new emerging role of the architect and the different ways of “making” across a range of circumstances.

‘The conference is an opportunity to celebrate our profession, to enjoy a collegiate environment and be inspired and energised from practitioners who share our ambition but differ in approach and context,’ the team said.

The creative team, keynote speakers and panellists will further investigate ‘making’ through four subthemes – Making: Culture, Life, Connections and Impact.

About the team

Adam Haddow is a Director of SJB. He has received numerous awards and is known most for his work on multiple housing and his engagement in ideas about the future of our cities. He is a contributor to many journals and is actively involved in built form advocacy through the Institute.

Helen Norrie is an academic in the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Tasmania and a writer, curator and architectural critic contributing regularly to national and international architecture and design discussions.

After leaving university Sam Crawford established his own practice. Sam Crawford Architects has since been widely published nationally and internationally and has been recipient of numerous state and national awards including a 2012 NSW Architecture Award and National Commendation for the Smee Schoff House.

The National Architecture Conference – Making will be held in Perth from 8 to 10 May 2014.

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

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.

National President’s baton passed to Sydney architect

The Australian Institute of Architects has officially welcomed Paul Berkemeier as the 74th National President at the Annual General Meeting in Melbourne this week.

Mr Berkemeier is a Sydney-based director of an award winning small practice with extensive experience in a broad range of projects including large scale urban design and planning, public buildings, medical and research projects, single and multi-unit housing, schools, exhibition design and heritage buildings.

Institute CEO David Parken welcomed the inauguration Mr Berkemeier.

‘Paul has a very high profile in the profession and has been closely involved with the Institute for over 15 years including terms as chair of the NSW education committee and as a national councillor.

‘It is my pleasure to present Paul as the next leader of the Institute and champion for our members and the profession,’ Mr Parken said.

Mr Berkemeier takes over the reins in the lead up to the federal election and is enthused about his tenure at a time of reflection and action on matters integral to the profession and the built environment.

‘I consider it a great privilege and honour to be entrusted with this role and I look forward to working with fellow members and Institute staff to gain the recognition that the value of design warrants,’ he said.

Paul Berkemeier graduated in architecture from the University of Sydney in 1975 and was awarded Master in Architecture from Harvard in 1983. He worked with the Commonwealth Government and then as an Associate Director of Denton Corker Marshall before establishing his own practice in 1988. An active advocate for architectural education and accreditation, he has taught design studios at numerous Australian architecture schools and has been Visiting Professor and Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney.

Mr Berkemeier assumes the role from Shelley Penn who has been a passionate voice for the profession and the Institute.

‘Shelley has been a tremendous leader and role model not only for women architects and sole practitioners but for all members and I commend and thank her for dedication and commitment,’ David Parken said.
Western Australian architect David Karotkin is the new National President Elect.

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

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

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