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Following the announcement of all the award winners during Friday night's Victorian Architecture Awards dinner, Apartments.com.au concludes series: The Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards.

Today we speak to Genevieve Brannigan, Director of Communications Collective, to explore the importance of communications in architecture and design.

Throughout her career, Genevieve has worked with a number of leading architects and design practices, advising them on good communications strategies. Here she shares her insights on why communications and architecture are inextricably linked.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/nightingale_1_peter_clarke.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Nightingale 1 by Breathe Architecture. Image: Peter Clarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nightingale_1_peter_clarke.jpg?itok=mRRmWuyj" title="Nightingale 1 by Breathe Architecture. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Nightingale 1 by Breathe Architecture. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: What is the main function of communicating architecture?

Genevieve brannigan: As communications professionals, we promote beautiful projects, create thought leaders and provoke discussion and debate on what’s happening in the industry. Architecture always tells a story and it’s our job to ensure this is communicated effectively within and beyond the industry.

The rapid evolvement of technology means communication needs to sit in more than one place to effectively engage with diverse stakeholder groups and show how design is deeply functional beyond visual elements. This involves educating audiences to help people who visit buildings understand and appreciate how they were conceived.

For example, sustainability measures incorporated into a building aren’t always visible yet are increasingly prevalent and a hugely valued component of each project. The need to communicate this is important, but often hidden, aspect of building design opens up an opportunity for architects to become thought leaders by sharing their design processes, ideas and projects.

U: What do you like most about working with architects and designers?

GB: Working in communications for the built environment intertwines two of my passions, design and communications. It allows me to explore the work from an aesthetic or visual perspective as well as to identify the messaging ingrained in a project in order to communicate it to a wider audience.

I feel lucky to play an influential role in shaping trends that affect the design of the cities in which we live and help to break down barriers by educating architects so they can speak to different audiences.

Communications Collective takes a creative approach with each of our campaigns to develop unique content that engages with different audiences through different touch points, whether that be through the media, digital communications, content marketing or event management. Communications – along with the architecture and design industries – is a constantly changing landscape, so it’s an exciting time for us to be involved.

U: What role do awards play in communicating architecture? 
GB: Awards promote milestones, acknowledging the best work and sharing this not only within the industry but among broader audiences, unpacking emerging trends and telling the stories behind projects. Receiving accolades in the industry helps architects establish a name for themselves and opens the opportunity for the reach of their work to be dramatically extended.

We worked with the Australian Institute of Architects for the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards, which took place last night on Friday 29 June. Seeing the incredible buildings in our state that have featured on the shortlist is inspiring and insightful, such as Bunjil Place in Narre Warren by fjmt and Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub by Group GSA, both paying homage to Australia’s Indigenous heritage while acting as vibrant community centres enhanced by their building designs.

The Bendigo Hospital by Silver Thomas Hanley with Bates Smart, for instance, is inspiring by showing the impact good design can have on health and recovery while Monash University buildings show how the education sector is at the cutting-edge of architecture and technology.

We have also seen fantastic projects that focus on sustainability including Nightingale 1 by Breathe Architecture and the complete re-purposing of spaces such as the Victorian College of the Arts renovations in the former Mounted Police Stables by Kerstin Thompson Architects.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/stables_kta.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Former Mounted Police Stables by Kerstin Thompson Architects."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/stables_kta.jpg?itok=yOsTKI_H" title="Former Mounted Police Stables by Kerstin Thompson Architects." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Former Mounted Police Stables by Kerstin Thompson Architects.</figcaption></figure>U: What have you noticed about changes to the way architecture is being communicated?

GB: Since I started working in communications 15 years ago, I have seen the interest in the built environment grow dramatically, particularly as Australia is a very design literate country. This has been driven by the densification of cities and the role of design as a key differentiator in residential, commercial and other types of developments.

Buildings serve a whole range of purposes – functional, aesthetic, narrative, conceptual - and with the cultural, technological and societal changes that are constantly occurring in our fast-evolving world, there are more stories to tell and so many ways we can communicate the latest developments in building design.

U: How can communications help increase interaction with buildings and architecture?

GB: Communications plays a vital role in shaping the way people perceive buildings, whether it be on an aesthetic, functional or sentimental level. People are much more likely to visit and even appreciate a building if they have heard about it from a credible source, which demonstrates the power of communications in architecture.

Establishing a dialogue around architecture is all the more important for public projects – to ensure that they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Communications, in this sense, simply means allowing architecture to most fully serve its intended purpose.
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Laurence Dragomir

The Victorian Architecture Awards 2018 wrap: Communications Collective's Genevieve Brannigan

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In today's piece as part of Apartments.com.au's Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards series, in the lead up to the awards dinner on Friday 29th June, we speak to Hamish Lyon, Director of Architecture and Design at NH Architecture. Leading the design direction of the firm, Hamish is an advocate for architecture, regularly engaging in public debate.

Hamish and the NH Architecture team have worked on the Monash Business School redevelopment, shortlisted in the educational architecture category at this year’s Victorian Architecture Awards. Giving us an insight into the project which brings the corporate environment into the classroom, he also shares his perspective on architecture in Melbourne more broadly.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/entry-zvrmkqnw-644346.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="NH Architecture's Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/entry-zvrmkqnw-644346.jpg?itok=Luj6tdhJ" title="NH Architecture's Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>NH Architecture's Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: How did you tailor this project specifically for business students? 

Hamish Lyon: Designed exclusively for postgraduate and executive business students the project transcends the traditional stereotype of cellular learning and delivers a high quality environment which bridges the gap between executive-level education and a corporate environment.

Planning and design acknowledged the necessity to transform spaces from a teaching lead environment to one appropriate for executive style events requiring high-quality presentations, function facilities and corporate hospitality.

U: What challenges did the existing building pose?

HL: The new Monash Business School project is a combination of a three-level fit-out of an existing 1990s speculative office building coupled with a small addition of new work.

The specification and environmental performance criteria of the original building was extremely poor, offering little opportunity to achieve many of the now accepted initiatives of sustainable design. Despite these limitations, the school consciously fulfilled the requirements for a high performing education space with enhanced acoustic façade treatment, lighting and building services.

U: Where do you see the trend moving forward for educational architecture?

HL: In reaching out to the global community the Business School acknowledged the expectations of the local and international market, placing emphasis on the student staff experience and connecting corporate industry with education, mixing and blending private with public.

The demand on space will continue to ensure buildings will extend beyond their traditional hours of operation providing facilities for aligned industries outside the core business of education.

An attitude of “one size does not fit all” means the relationship between program and space has become more challenging.

U: The Monash Business School redevelopment bridges the gap between executive-level education and the corporate environment. What elements of both the education and corporate spheres were integral in your design?

HL: The traditional segregated office style floor plates were transformed with the introduction of two interconnecting stairs: one within the existing building structure and the other in the new adjoining Pavilion, built on the existing external terrace and housing a state of the art auditorium and function facility.

The distinct Pavilion visible from both Dandenong Road and the local train station is an asset for both the Business School and the broader University community; for corporate and dignitary functions throughout the year. Providing a flexible and accessible reception and student staff lounge area adjacent to the pavilion offer a public area for an expanded conferencing and function facility available to the wider corporate community.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/entry-zvrmkqnw-644353.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The interior of the Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="373" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/entry-zvrmkqnw-644353.jpg?itok=UFfvjJOe" title="The interior of the Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The interior of the Monash Business School redevelopment. Image: Peter Bennetts</figcaption></figure>U: You have worked on some high profile Melbourne projects including Margaret Court Arena and QV. What elements of ‘Melbourne’ do you strive to embody in your projects?

HL: Our approach to design has been formed by the city in which we reside. Melbourne’s high quality of public amenity underwrites the moniker of “world’s most liveable city”.

In its built form the city has many lessons to teach and as a practice we actively research its public spaces, institutions and businesses to understand its particular vibe – we see it as a world-class laboratory of buildings and space.
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: NH Architecture's Hamish Lyon

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In today's instalment of the Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards series, Apartments.com.au shines the torch on one of the more unique buildings featured in this year's shortlist of entries, with the winners announced at the awards dinner on 29 June 2018.

Harmer Architecture's Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum for client Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT) represents a prime example of a piece of public architecture that engages with a wide audience in fulfilling their role, while providing a service to a specific community.

The mausoleum creates a dialogue between architecture, landscape and the role of memorial in the form of a striking circular structure comprising eight separate blocks that are arranged around a central landscaped courtyard providing above ground burial for 672 people.

The Victorian Chapter of the AIA cites the mausoleum as an example of the diverse and innovative contemporary design interventions that Victoria has to offer, in particular, the approach to public architecture and its role.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/atrium_of_holy_angels_-_jonathan_hadiprawira.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Jonathon Hadiprawira"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/atrium_of_holy_angels_-_jonathan_hadiprawira.jpg?itok=XmWtgWk_" title="Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Jonathon Hadiprawira" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Jonathon Hadiprawira</figcaption></figure>GMCT sought a design which offered longevity while reflecting the overarching purpose of the mausoleum. Harmer Architecture responded to this desire via a design which provides longevity to visitors who will continue to visit their loved ones.

The architecture which incorporates the crypts into the design via the circular shape and internal and external landscaping provides people with a variety of options when they are purchasing, claim the architects.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
As a profession it’s important we continue to challenge the norm, and allow architectural interventions to evolve and create new cultural relationships and understandings.

Architecture is something that should be enjoyed and add value to the public realm, and the mausoleum does just that. The mausoleum acts as a pavilion, creating a welcoming and open space that families can visit and honour the passing of a relative, whilst allowing for life to be celebrated and remembered in a sensitive and meaningful way.

- Amy Muir,Victorian Chapter President
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
This is a logical extension of the other types of work we do which involves public spaces. It’s an active public space that people visit, it isn’t just about death.

There is a large community of Italian heritage who live in Melbourne’s North, many of whom want significant memorials such as community mausoleums. Many people in the local community visit their deceased relatives regularly and for long after they have gone.

It’s all about the landscape and giving people choice by facing every direction of the compass. It becomes more of a pavilion than a building.

- Philip Harmer,  Managing Director of Harmer Architecture
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Design ambitions for our Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum was to create a building that was classic and enduring, yet bold and innovative. We wanted to provide families with a beautiful and high quality environment – a fitting tribute and final resting place for loved ones.

- Jacqui Weatherill, CEO of The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT)
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/atrium_of_holy_angels_-_trevor_mein.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/atrium_of_holy_angels_-_trevor_mein.jpg?itok=uXVoh3bl" title="Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>Lead Image: Trevor Mein 
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: Harmer Architecture's Atrium of Holy Angels Mausoleum

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Urban.com.au's coverage of the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards continues today with a look at two of the shortlisted entries in the public architecture category and the positive contributions they make to their respective communities.

According to the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, the growing role of social sustainability is one of the themes to emerge in this year's shortlist of projects.

Additionally, to ensure the continued viability and longevity of public spaces, architects in Victoria are increasingly designing projects which are both socially and environmentally conscious.

A well designed public project should engender positive social outcomes, create active spaces, encourage interaction and enrich lives claims the Vic Chapter of the AIA.

One of the challenges of sustained population growth is ensuring access to and provision of quality space within communities, thus making it an increasingly valuable commodity. To address this issue numerous public projects across Victoria have been designed to accommodate a variety of diverse program within buildings, to appeal to different members of the community or community groups.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/bunjilplace2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Fjmt's Bunjil Place. Image: John Gollings"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bunjilplace2.jpg?itok=JgD3cvm5" title="Fjmt's Bunjil Place. Image: John Gollings" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Fjmt's Bunjil Place. Image: John Gollings</figcaption></figure>Bunjil Place has been shortlisted in this year’s architecture awards for demonstrating a new form of community and civic building. It incorporates a library, theatre, function centre and a multipurpose studio, an art gallery and the City of Casey customer service centre, all in the one building. 

According to its architects fjmt, Bunjil Place has been designed as an inclusive, hybrid form of public building, reflecting and embracing the diversity of its community.

Similarly, Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library, which has been shortlisted for three awards, provides more to its community than a traditional library.

Designed by GroupGSA, Bargoonga Nganjin – which, appropriately, means ‘gather everybody’ in Woiwurrung, the language of the Wurundjeri people – is a 6 star green star building that is home to a library, maternal child health service, playgroup spaces, the customer service centre for the City of Yarra, community meeting rooms, an exhibition space and a spectacular rooftop garden.

Designed to provide a suite of services to people of all ages, from newborns to seniors, the building is intended to support the wellbeing of its community for decades to come.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/north_fitzroy_library.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library by GroupGSA. Image: Tom Hutton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/north_fitzroy_library.jpg?itok=L3wcF-2I" title="Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library by GroupGSA. Image: Tom Hutton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Bargoonga Nganjin North Fitzroy Library by GroupGSA. Image: Tom Hutton</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
It comes down to design resilience and proper consultation processes – this lies at the heart of making buildings socially sustainable. Both architects and an ever better informed client sector now see the benefit of hosting extensive conversations and workshops prior to work commencing. Determining how spaces should be used, these processes are valuable to the design of quality architecture. Quick-fix solutions or less-than-rigorous design processes cost more in the long run, by creating expensive ‘white elephants’ that do not reach the potential of their purpose.

As architects we are building for people and ultimately the public realm is about social connection. Providing a conduit for people to interact is incredibly important when it comes to strategic and effective urban planning. Architecture and design’s public sphere nurtures communal responsibility defining an enriched city governed by more than what one might read as simple form making. The instigation of building sustainable communities is an imperative condition for successful architectural and urban planning outcomes.

- Amy Muir, Victorian Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects
</blockquote>

The winners of the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards will be announced at the awards dinner on 29 June 2018. Winners of each category will then progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program.
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: Social sustainability and public architecture

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This week I chat with Tim Leslie, studio director at Bates Smart about the upcoming Open House Melbourne, ICI House and Bates Smart's work on the new Australian embassy in Washington.

Tim joined Bates Smart in 2006 working across a broad range of sectors, after gaining experience as an architect in Australia and abroad over 20 years. In 2013 he became the Melbourne office's first Studio Director.

He founded Open House Melbourne in 2008, a not for profit event promoting architecture and buildings of significance to the public.

For more details on the '165 Years of Enduring Architecture' exhibition at Orica House and the guided tour of Orica House as part of OHM2018, check out our previous article <a href="/news/bates-smart-to-celebrate-two-key-milestones-in-july">here</a>.

 

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Weekly Podcast: Episode 20 - Bates Smart Studio Director Tim Leslie discusses Open House 2018

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The second in Apartments.com.au's Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards series in the lead up to the awards dinner which take place on 29 June and recognises the achievements of architects' contributions to our built environment.

John Wardle Architects is one of the most recognised practices in this year’s 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards, shortlisted for 7 awards ranging from residential architecture, urban design, interior architecture and educational architecture.

Apartments.com.au took the opportunity to speak to Meaghan Dwyer, Principal at John Wardle Architects, about how to respond to the many changes faced by the built environment. Meaghan also discusses some of the projects the practice has been shortlisted for.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/jwa_caulfield_library.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="John Wardle Architects' Caulfield Library shortlisted in these year's awards. Image: Dianna Snape"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jwa_caulfield_library.jpg?itok=zn2tnkSy" title="John Wardle Architects' Caulfield Library shortlisted in these year's awards. Image: Dianna Snape" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>John Wardle Architects' Caulfield Library shortlisted in these year's awards. Image: Dianna Snape</figcaption></figure>Apartments.com.au: The way we work, live and play continues to constantly evolve. As an architect, how do you design buildings and spaces that will stand the test of time?

Meaghan Dwyer: Firstly, designing for change requires us to drop past assumptions and explore new potentials. We employ a number of strategies to create buildings and spaces that will stand the test of time.

We begin by firmly anchoring our design response in place. We do this through forming a deep understanding of the context within which we design and we respond to this in a nuanced way. We create flexible buildings that can respond to change. We apply the principles of good design – orientation, natural daylight, accessibility, and the like.

We select enduring materials and detail our buildings to last.

U: Tell us about some of the projects you’ve been working on that have been shortlisted in the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards

MD: We have been fortunate to be the architects for two buildings for Monash University as part of their $750 million spend to upgrade their educational infrastructure. The Learning and Teaching Building and the refurbishment of the Caulfield Library are both shortlisted in the educational and interiors categories.

The transport interchange that formed part of our commission at the Clayton Campus is also shortlisted in the urban design category. These projects all follow the university’s aspiration to create vibrant settings for university life.

In addition, our Main Ridge House is shortlisted in the residential alterations and additions category. This is an existing house that has been completely reimagined as part of a larger plan for the rural site where it is located.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/jwa_tl_clayton.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Learning and Teaching Building at Monash Clayton also shortlisted. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="575" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jwa_tl_clayton.jpg?itok=fpaKOLWd" title="The Learning and Teaching Building at Monash Clayton also shortlisted. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Learning and Teaching Building at Monash Clayton also shortlisted. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>U: With the student experience being at the centre of your approach to educational architecture, how do you design for millennials and cater to the university of tomorrow?

MD: One thing for certain is that the higher education sector continues to experience rapid change. Just this week we have seen the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia announce that they are considering the merits of a merger.

Consequently, there is much speculation as to what the future university will look like. We understand that while every university is unique, they are all tackling the challenges of increased student numbers and the introduction of online learning.

This requires an intimate understanding of the organisational strategy, pedagogical approach and the characteristics of the student body. We certainly appreciate that millennials engage with technology in a very intuitive way.

They appreciate the flexibility to work anywhere they like, and are used to accessing all kinds of information and services at any time they like. They also tend to be very connected with their peers.

For these reasons the university campus needs to be a vibrant and activated place that supports peer to peer learning in any location. This impacts both the classroom setting, and also the spaces and places around the campus that support university life.

U: When approaching public projects, how important is it to design spaces that mean many things to many people?

MD: We believe that the public realm is experienced by all and so should be responsive to a broad range of aspirations and requirements. In our view it is highly desirable that every project display civic generosity, or make a positive contribution to the public realm, rather than reflect the interests of one stakeholder, or another.

U: In your opinion, do you think the education sector is leading the way in dealing with the design challenges presented by our changing environment (e.g. population growth, technology etc)?

MD: Universities have been subject to rapid growth in student numbers for many years now. They have also been grappling with the impacts of technology on learning and teaching. As there are a relatively large number of universities in Australia, and while each of them has invested substantial funds, there has been a constant iteration of responses to these circumstances.

Other public institutions that build less often have been slower to respond to the challenges resented by rapid population growth and technology. Our recent work with the justice system suggests that the courts are beginning to tackle these challenges. Likewise, our recent work in the cultural sector suggests the same.

In some ways, these organisations have a lot to learn from the higher education system.

U: Do you think architects need to play an increasingly collaborative role with clients to ensure their vision aligns with creating spaces that are future-proofed?

MD: We certainly pride ourselves on our ability to work with a client to understand their strategic requirements. We also appreciate that many clients are navigating change in the way that their organisations are offering services.

We believe that there is a place for spatial problem solving and we feel very able to join with our clients to align their strategy with their built environment. We also believe that their objectives can be supported by good design.

U: How important is it to engender communities through the built environment and how can this be achieved?

MD: We are firm believers that a good public realm is essential for the public life of a city. A good public realm is achieved through creating civic generosity, that is a built environment that responds to a broad range of aspirations and requirements, rather than responding to the interests of one stakeholder, or another.

This approach underpins all our project work, be it in the education sector, commercial, or any other sector.

U: Why do John Wardle Architects work on such a diverse portfolio of projects?

MD: We often describe ourselves as fabulous generalists. Our ability to move across project types comes from our curiosity to explore unrealised potential, rather than rest on past assumptions. Our ability to problem solve and design at all scales stands us in good stead, and nothing delights us more than a fresh challenge.
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: Q&A with Meaghan Dwyer of John Wardle Architects 

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In the lead up to the Victorian Architecture Awards dinner, to be held on Friday 29th June, Apartments.com.au will be profiling a number of architects who have had projects shortlisted for the awards, in addition to commentary on current issues and challenges within our built environment.

Kerstin Thompson Architects (KTA) - where I worked for five years and continue to admire from afar - has been shortlisted for four awards this year ranging from residential, heritage, interior and educational architecture.

The practice is highly regarded amongst peers for its continued contribution to the built environment, which is not only reflected in the impressive body of work completed to date but also the office's success in consistently recognised for its achievements, particularly over the last 4 years for the following projects:

<ul>
<li>2017 AIA Commercial Architecture Award, Victorian Chapter for TarraWarra Cellar Door</li>
	<li>2017 AIA Residential Architecture Award – New, Victorian Chapter for Seaberg</li>
	<li>2016 Eat Drink Design Awards TarraWarra Estate – Highly Commended</li>
	<li>2016 IDEA Interior Design Excellence Awards TarraWarra Estate – Highly Commended</li>
	<li>2014 AIA National Architecture Awards, Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (New) for House at Hanging Rock</li>
	<li>2014 AIA Harold Desbrowe Annear Award for House at Hanging Rock</li>
	<li>2014 AIA Heritage Award for Wertheim Factory Convrsion – Studio 9</li>
	<li>2014 AIA Public Alterations &amp; Additions for Birralee Primary School</li>
</ul>
Apartments.com.au caught up with KTA founder and Principal, Kerstin Thompson to discuss how the studio continues to design a diverse portfolio of projects, which draw on and make meaningful connections to their context.

Apartments.com.au: KTA has worked on a diverse range of projects and typologies over the years - how do you continue to develop original and creative work?

Kerstin Thompson: We approach every project from first principles which is easy when it’s a project type you haven’t worked on before because you don’t have rote thinking to fall back on, but even with repeat project types like our police stations, the combination of a generic brief with wild variations in context and community provides plenty of opportunity for original thinking on each project.

We certainly value the fact that KTA doesn’t specialise but rather maintains a curiosity for any kind of project assuming an alignment between the client’s aspirations and KTA’s core values.

U: The Victorian College of the Arts former Mounted Police Stables is a highly recognised project in the Victorian Architecture Awards shortlist this year. How do you achieve leading design across different realms such as outstanding heritage architecture and interior architecture?

KT: Every project starts with pre-conditions. Even a site without any built form will have strength of context whether this is its ecology, cultural history, patterns of use etc. Our work with heritage buildings is simply engaging with the richness of existing built form and for us this presents a fascinating launching pad for transformation to enable new uses and understandings around a site.

Also, we always approach every project through a clear conceptual intent that guides our thinking across landscape interior, architecture &amp; site infrastructure. For us boundaries between interior and exterior architecture are false.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/vca_stables.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Victorian College of the Arts Former mounted Police Stables. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/vca_stables.jpg?itok=6ANpN67s" title="Victorian College of the Arts Former mounted Police Stables. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Victorian College of the Arts Former mounted Police Stables. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>U: How have you balanced maintaining what was existing in the space while entirely changing the purpose of the building?

KT: With VCA, as with much of our work on heritage or adaptive re-use projects, we strive for an ease of fit between old forms &amp; new uses. In this case the already cellular nature of the stables as collection of horse stalls, their remarkable light-filled double height voids was a superb fit with studios for 165 arts students; two art students for one horse.

Similarly, with the former riding school this beautifully proportioned and generous space is now a performing arts space which can accommodate a range of performance practices and formats.

U: What was it like working on an education project that is also expected to serve various other functions such as studio and performing arts spaces?

KT: The Stables and entry octagon needed to serve many purposes. Primarily the school’s studio-based philosophy required mixed-mode spaces that could easily switch from studio to exhibition areas. So the design incorporates a series of sliding panels that enable the school to reconfigure itself – for events, exhibitions, seminars and working studios for a range of art practices as required.

U: When working on a new residential project such as Park House, what influence does the existing streetscape and surrounding architecture have on the design?

KT: Of course, all projects need to be responsive to the people and the place for which they are designed. As a counter to the bland contemporary style of much new one-off housing, KTA uses the architecture of new residential projects to reinforce some valued aspect of the locale to achieve a distinctly local character.

In this instance, its location on the edge of a suburban park influenced its form. In its gradual shift of scale from street to rear, Park House wavers between a suburban modesty and grandeur. The house has an enigmatic neighbourly presence and its low-key street façade belies its size.

The draped roof over the length of the plan creates a gentle silhouette beside the park to the east. Holding the eastern façade together is a veil of woven mesh, which softens morning light and allows daytime views out to the park while maintaining privacy.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/kta_park_house.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Park House has been shortlisted in the Residential (New) category for the 2018 Vic Awards. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/kta_park_house.jpg?itok=8HwOx3SY" title="The Park House has been shortlisted in the Residential (New) category for the 2018 Vic Awards. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Park House has been shortlisted in the Residential (New) category for the 2018 Vic Awards. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>U: Can you provide an insight into some of the other projects you are working on at the moment?

KT: In line with my earlier comment, our current range of projects are across many different sectors. We are making a foray into the commercial one with a major redevelopment on a prime Melbourne city block. We’ve also recently started work with Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Melbourne on imagining what a new herbarium as part of a nature &amp; science precinct might be like.

It’s fascinating to be working with RBGV again in such a different setting to our former work for the Cranbourne Visitor Centre. Our work on the Riversdale site, part of the Bundanon Trust, for a new gallery celebrating Arthur Boyd’s legacy is another project through which we can pursue our commitment to a more integrated vision for buildings and landscapes in sensitive cultural and environmental settings.

We are also working on a number of multi-residential projects in Melbourne’s inner-north which are exciting for their precinct-wide impact and opportunity. Parallel to that, our ongoing interest in civic projects includes Broadmeadows Town Hall, currently under construction, which will repair and revitalise the currently car park-dominated town centre.

We’ve just received planning support for the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Elsternwick, which aside from being a very interesting program, also sets a precedent for alternative ways in which heritage buildings can be embedded within new architecture.

U: Through your projects you’re known for breaking new ground. Do you think the intention to break new ground is becoming increasingly common across Australian architecture today?

KT: Depends what we mean by breaking new ground. Sometimes formal gymnastics and façade flamboyance can be mistakenly construed as this, especially in the housing sector, a dress-up of otherwise conventional apartments.

We like to think that it can be more about the invention of new typologies and the sometimes invisible but potent spatial connections that can be forged within our cities and suburbs to create a sense of place and opportunity for many.
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: Kerstin Thompson Architects

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Construction of the first stage of the Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street transformation project will begin this month. The project which will be undertaken in stages will create 2.5 hectares of new public open space on Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street, with the first stage expected to take 18-months to complete.

Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, City of Melbourne's aspirations for Southbank Boulevard are to transform it into one of Australia’s most pedestrian-friendly places. The Concept Plan was drafted to recognise the history of the site and is based on extensive community and stakeholder engagement.

The transformation project will provide Southbank, which is Melbourne’s most densely populated suburb with critical public open space.

Beginning on 16 July, 2018, Southbank Boulevard will be closed to all traffic between St Kilda Road and Sturt Street. Trams will continue to operate and the precinct will remain open to pedestrians.

As a part of stage 1 works 39 trees will require removal however, over 65 new trees will be planted, along with approximately 300 new trees across the entire project.

The Concept Plan, which was adopted by the  Council in 2017, outlines a new vision for Southbank that will:

<ul>
<li>Create 2.5 hectares of new public open space;</li>
	<li>Prioritise pedestrians, public transport and cyclists;</li>
	<li>Deliver a new, accessible tram stop on Sturt Street;</li>
	<li>Enhance the gateway into the Arts Precinct;</li>
	<li>Create a living link, connecting the Domain Parklands to the Yarra River;</li>
	<li>Create a ‘Melbourne Experience’ for Southbank;</li>
	<li>Build a new civic square for the precinct;</li>
	<li>Deliver a series of new neighbourhood parks for the community.</li>
</ul>
Additionally, the project will weave together other projects mooted for Southbank including the upgrade of City Road, Sturt Street Civic Spine as part of the <a href="/news/back-to-the-noughties-melbournes-arts-precinct-set-to-get-a-major-makeover">Arts Precinct Master Plan</a>, <a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">Australia108</a>, the Queensbridge Square upgrade as part of Crown &amp; Schiavello's One Queensbridge development, and <a href="/news/southbank-by-beulah-designs-to-be-revealed-via-a-public-symposium">Beulah International's $2bn 58 Southbank Boulevard</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/southbank_boulevard_project_staging.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/southbank_boulevard_project_staging.png?itok=1wvNGCNY" title="Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Southbank Boulevard Project Staging Plan. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Upcoming works include:

<ul>
<li>Early works construction from July involving the removal of 39 trees to enable construction of the new carriageway, tram line, and tram stop.</li>
	<li>Main tram construction period from 22 to 30 September 2018 this requires the demolition of existing tram infrastructure, construction and recommissioning of new tram line and tram stop on Sturt Street.</li>
	<li>Civil construction works from October 2018 to August 2019</li>
</ul>
For more information visit <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard">participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au</a>

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iiQVS9jbZO4" width="560"></iframe>
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Stage 1 of Transforming Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street commencing this month

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Earlier this week Watpac announced that it was successful in winning a $110 million contract to design and build the new Deakin Law School building at the Burwood Campus.

The nine level building, designed by Woods Bagot will comprise 20,000 sqm of teaching and learning spaces, student support and wellbeing spaces, staff workspaces and basement car parking.

The Law School building will provide a hub for meeting, learning, networking, student wellbeing and student services that caters to the needs of next generation learners beyond the classroom. This holistic approach is intended to create a vibrant and engaging interactive campus for students.

Additionally, other innovative features have been incorporated into the design with spaces that facilitate and encourage interactive modern learning and enhance the overall student experience.

Principles of environmentally sustainable design have also been embedded within the design including;

<ul>
<li> Rooftop solar panels</li>
	<li>High efficiency HVAC and lifts</li>
	<li>Rainwater harvesting</li>
	<li>Glare control systems </li>
	<li>Connection to end-of-trip facilities.</li>
</ul>
According to Watpac, the company is looking forward to delivering its first project for Deakin University, while this continues Woods Bagot's relationship with the University at its Burwood Campus. The firm has previously designed the Burwood Highway Frontage Building which accommodates the Faculty of Health, and Deakin University Building I which connects two existing theatres and provides internal and external gathering spaces for students. 
 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/a-lc-entry_view.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Deakin's new Law School Building designed by Woods Bagot. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="504" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a-lc-entry_view.jpg?itok=CYa8oh-2" title="Deakin's new Law School Building designed by Woods Bagot. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Deakin's new Law School Building designed by Woods Bagot. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure>The contract builds on Watpac's national pipeline of projects which includes specialised university buildings including Port Macquarie’s Charles Sturt University Campus and the University of New South Wales Joint Health Education Facility.

Watpac anticipates site works to commence on the Law School building by the end of the month, and says its project team is well-placed to deliver a leading education facility for Deakin University.

<h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
Watpac understands the specific requirements of creating modern learning environments that embrace the changing way students engage with learning and we are excited to work with our new client in delivering this innovative building.

The Group has the desirable combination of education sector and sustainability experience having delivered almost $1 billion of education infrastructure since 2016 underpinned by our commitment to environmentally sustainable design and building practices.

- Martin Monro, Watpac Limited Managing Director
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
Thanks to our integrated approach to design and construction, and our diverse experience in the education sector, this state-of-the-art facility will provide Deakin with an exceptional learning space for years to come.

We anticipate peak workforce numbers to reach 230 people and estimate the project will be completed by mid-2020.

- Nick Pavlovic, Watpac Construction Victoria State Manager  
</blockquote>
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Watpac wins first contract for Deakin University

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Heavyweight GPT is progressing with plans for a substantial overhaul of the lobby of its Melbourne Central Tower. 

Designed by COX Architecture, the $35m upgrade would re-instate the corner of Elizabeth and Little Lonsdale Streets as one of the primary points of access into the building, removing interventions introduced during upgrades to the centre over a decade ago.

The upgrade will dramatically change the Elizabeth Street streetscape and how people move in and around the site, while also retaining and celebrating the 90's architecture, characterised by the space frame canopy.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/mct-render-5-tmb.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mct-render-5-tmb.jpg?itok=7VlTMeKY" title="Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne Central's reconfigured retail laneway. Image: Scharp</figcaption></figure>Included as part of the works are the following key elements:

<ul>
<li>The realignment of the entry, and the creation of new retail opportunities and a 'third space' to refresh and reset.</li>
	<li>Interactive media &amp; LED walls streaming live content and multimedia artwork, as part of the welcome experience for visitors.</li>
	<li>An amphitheatre designed for collaboration, the exchange of business ideas, or a space to enjoy a morning coffee.</li>
	<li>A flexible working hub that is envisaged as a dynamic place to meet with connections to the amphitheatre and supplemented by business facilities.</li>
	<li>Providing an expanded and consolidated premium retail offering catering to new retail operators, in addition to a high-quality lobby barista on-site at the Tower.</li>
</ul>
The existing 65,000 sqm tower - designed by the late Kisho Kurokawa in association with Bates Smart - was completed in 1991, and currently accommodates major tenants including ME Bank and NBN Co, who account for approximately 40% of the office space.

GPT is also seeking a pre-commitment for an office tower at 300 Lonsdale Street, estimated to be worth around $100m.

The 13-storey development has been designed by Woods Bagot to provide 26,000 sqm NLA of A Grade office space, to be built above the existing Melbourne Central retail centre.

Whether the design as illustrated in the renders below is still current hasn't been confirmed, they at least provide a good indication of the location and breadth of development expected.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/300lonsdale.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/300lonsdale.jpg?itok=vfO9uwNd" title="300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>300 Lonsdale Street awaiting a pre-commitment. Images: Point Polaris + Equity DM</figcaption></figure>Combined, these projects would form the basis of a projected $200m capital works program that GPT are embarking on at its retail and commercial asset.

The lobby upgrade represents a growing trend among owners seeking to refresh existing commercial assets in response to the latest and emerging trends within workplace design and a competitive commercial office market.

Additionally, the new wave of CBD commercial office developments such as 477 Collins Street, 80 Collins Street, Collins Arch and 405 Bourke Street is putting further pressure on existing stock to remain relevant.

Other commercial buildings set for major upgrades to their lobbies and foyers include 100 Queen Street (upon ANZ 's relocation to Docklands next year), 35 Collins Street, 459 Collins Street and 530 Collins Street to name a few.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/18_collins-place-banner.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/18_collins-place-banner.jpg?itok=evy05jOr" title="35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>35 Collins Street lobby upgrade. Image: Armitage Jones</figcaption></figure>There is an increasing focus on maximising street presence and retail opportunities, improving the arrival and welcome experience, and providing quality end-of-trip and business facilities.

Works are due to commence on the Melbourne Central Tower lobby upgrade this year with completion slated for 2019.

Lead Image: Scharp
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It's Back to the Future for Melbourne Central Tower's lobby upgrade

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

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Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Laurence Dragomir

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