S&amp;S Projects is boosting its investment at Rainbow Bay to more than $1 billion after the prolific Gold Coast developer acquired a new site for $20.25 million and immediately laid plans for a new luxury apartment project in the sought-after precinct.

The site, which is the company’s fifth acquisition at Rainbow Bay in the past four years, will be home to the company’s largest project to date after delivering 3 sold-out projects and construction progresses on Radia worth a combined $215m. 
S&amp;S Projects is currently finalising plans for its latest strategic acquisition, a 1,518 sqm site located 209-213 Boundary Street in Coolangatta, with a development application expected to be lodged within weeks.

The luxury residential development will build on the company’s highly successful projects at Rainbow Bay, comprising Flow, Awaken, Esprit and Radia, with Radia currently under construction by Hutchinson Builders.

“We have been unflinching in our commitment to Rainbow Bay and the transformation we have helped drive in this incredible part of the Gold Coast, which is among the city’s most desirable residential locations,” said S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun.

“Our fifth project will reflect the best of what we have done so far to create a lifestyle precinct that is second to none.”

The latest development, which has yet to be named, is proposed to accommodate 88 luxury apartments in a design that will immerse residents in a unique wellness lifestyle that expands on the legacy of S&amp;S Project’s earlier developments at Rainbow Bay.

The development will feature an expansive rooftop garden and wellness centre with a resort- style pool, among a host of lifestyle amenities planned for residents.

“Rainbow Bay, with its beautiful, protected beach and alongside one of the world’s best surf breaks at Snapper Rocks, is the natural wellness heartland of the Gold Coast,” said Gedoun.

“We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden.”

The latest acquisition comes as S&amp;S Projects is at the completion of Esprit and construction continues on Radia, which are part of their significant portfolio undertaken by the company at Rainbow Bay since 2022.

The $215 million Radia, which comprises 38 apartments, is currently the flagship development by S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay which is expected to be completed in 2027.

Jayde Pezet, of Pezet Matheson, which has managed sales and marketing for S&amp;S Projects across their Gold Coast portfolio, emphasised the developer’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence.

“S&amp;S Projects continue to elevate the benchmark of luxury with each development," Pezet said.

“We have worked with S&amp;amp;S on their 4 other projects in Rainbow Bay and their approach reflects a team that is constantly learning, refining, and pushing the standard higher.

“Their hyper-local knowledge and deep expertise within the luxury property sector are what truly set them apart, allowing them to deliver projects that feel both globally sophisticated and authentically connected to their coastal environment”

S&amp;S Projects plans to officially launch its latest project at Rainbow Bay in the second half of this year.

“As we embark on our largest project yet, we have pulled out all stops to create another landmark development that truly reflects the relaxed southern Gold Coast lifestyle,” Gedoun added.

Joel Robinson

S&S buys $20m Rainbow Bay site for fifth beachside apartment project

Japandi, an emerging design trend that combines Scandinavian functionality with Japanese rustic minimalism, remains relatively untested in Australia’s residential development market.

As developers look to differentiate their projects and offer something distinct to buyers, Brisbane-based developer Lantona has embraced the hybrid style for its recently launched Toowong apartment project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/koya-residences-6-josling-street-toowong-qld-4066">Koya Residences</a>, with early response to the design proving positive.

Lantona entrusted Red Door Architecture and interiors practice Luma Design Co with delivering the Japandi brief. The approach blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, emphasising warm, restrained interiors, natural materials and clean lines. Drawing on the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection) and the Scandinavian principle of hygge (comfort and cosiness), it creates serene, uncluttered and sustainable living environments.

These design principles are expressed throughout the Josling Street development, both in its exterior form and across the 40 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences within.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366229]

Koya reflects a deliberately scaled approach, with the five-storey form designed to align with the surrounding residential streetscape rather than dominate it.

“Koya is conceived as a building that sits comfortably within its surroundings. Every decision, from material selection to spatial planning, has been guided by long-term liveability and enduring relevance,” the developer said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366243]

Positioned within an established inner-west neighbourhood, the development sits near riverfront parklands and the Bicentennial Bikeway, while remaining within walking distance of Toowong Village and multiple public transport options connecting to the CBD, St Lucia and West End.

Lantona said the location was central to the project’s conception, pointing to Toowong’s balance of green space, transport access and proximity to major education institutions.

“<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> combines river access, walkability, immediate CBD connection and a strong educational presence. That balance made it the obvious setting for Koya.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

Communal amenity is concentrated on the rooftop, where a shared retreat will include a pool, dining areas and outdoor spaces oriented towards neighbourhood and city views. The design allows for both private use and small gatherings, extending the living environment beyond individual apartments.

Koya enters the market at a time when smaller-scale developments are becoming less common in established suburbs, with many recent projects in the suburb shooting for the sky.

In a nod of confidence,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/brisbane-builders">Brisbane Builders</a>&nbsp;has already commenced construction on the building, which is slated for completion in early 2027. Keenan &amp; Byrne is marketing Koya.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150787]

Japandi-inspired Koya Residences launch in Toowong

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:ca872054-bfe3-4cc5-a2c8-b373d4dfeafb-2" dir="auto">
A completed Castle Hill apartment development is returning to market with an uncommon level of financial backing, positioning it as one of the more secure options for buyers in Sydney’s north-west.

Skyview in Castle Hill, originally developed by Top Place and now overseen by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, is being relaunched following a full remediation process. Central to its repositioning is a substantial financial reserve designed to provide ongoing protection and reduce uncertainty for incoming purchasers.

At the core of this offering is an $11 million bond secured during the project’s remediation phase, negotiated by former NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler. With less than $4 million required to complete the works, approximately $7.2 million remains in reserve, with around 15 years left on the term.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359134]

Rather than a typical insurance-backed structure, the remaining funds are held as cash, creating a readily accessible financial buffer should any future building issues arise. The structure is intended to provide buyers with an added layer of certainty, differentiating the development from more conventional apartment offerings.

Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure provides a level of security not typically seen in apartment developments.

“The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers,” Huxley said.

“Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359135]

The remediation process has now been completed in full, with no active rectification orders or outstanding directives linked to the project on NSW Government registers. This outcome reflects the broader tightening of building oversight across the state, while also highlighting the project’s transition into a completed, compliant asset.

In a market where many buyers remain cautious about apartment quality, initiatives like this are designed to restore confidence, giving purchasers greater certainty and a stronger sense of security in their investment.

Equitifund has since acquired the remaining apartments and is managing their reintroduction to the market. With the works finalised and a significant financial reserve in place, the project now presents with a markedly different risk profile compared to its initial release.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359137]

Beyond the added security, the development is positioned in one of Castle Hill’s more established pockets. The Gay Street address places it within close proximity to Castle Towers, one of the country’s largest retail centres, as well as Castle Hill Metro Station, which now connects directly to the broader Sydney Metro network.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said buyer demand in the area continues to be driven by access to transport and amenity.

“Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre,” Hamblett said.

“There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359145]

The apartments also enter the market at a relatively accessible price point for the area, with two-bedroom configurations starting from $995,000 and rental demand for similar stock reaching around $900 per week. This combination of pricing, connectivity, and completed status is expected to appeal to both owner-occupiers and investors seeking lower-risk entry into the Hills District apartment market.

For eligible buyers, a limited 3.50 per cent p.a. two-year fixed interest rate is currently available through Equitifund’s lending partners, providing an additional layer of affordability.

EquitiCredit Pty Ltd ACN 676 363 769 holds ACL 559289 and provides credit assistance. Finance is arranged through EquitiCredit and funded by its lending partners. Interest rates are subject to change and eligibility criteria apply. Terms, conditions, fees and charges may apply. This is not financial advice and should not be relied upon as such. Prospective buyers should seek independent financial advice.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]
</section>

Castle Hill apartments offering unmatched buyer protection through dedicated fund

A State-Assessed Rezoning Proposal for the Kurnell Peninsula is now on public exhibition, setting out a plan to deliver up to 4,300 homes alongside new retail, tourism and public open space on a 210-hectare coastal site.

The proposal, backed by the Minns Labor Government, would transform a former sand mining area along Captain Cook Drive into a mixed-use precinct delivered over approximately 20 years.

In addition to housing, the plan includes more than 7,000 sqm of retail and commercial space, new community facilities and approximately 116 hectares of open space, equating to more than half the site.

<img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce1c6567-1df0-4de0-9fe5-a76be0367834" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.11.51%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=dbbTmYaJvROA5fkQbgaxis8cmFwtpB5_" />

<hr data-end="849" data-start="846" />
<h2 data-end="902" data-section-id="ony3l3" data-start="851">Rezoning framework enables mixed-use development</h2>

The rezoning application seeks to amend planning controls under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Precincts—Central River City) and the Sutherland Shire Local Environmental Plan 2015.

Its primary objective is to enable a broader range of land uses across the site, including residential, employment, tourism and community uses, while also formalising environmental protections and land management outcomes .

The proposal has progressed through the state-led rezoning pathway after being identified as a project of regional significance, supported by several years of technical studies and agency consultation .

Development would occur in stages, aligned with the progressive closure and remediation of the existing sand mine.

<hr data-end="1718" data-start="1715" />
<h2 data-end="1768" data-section-id="krwii9" data-start="1720">Master plan structured around three precincts</h2>

The accompanying urban design report outlines an indicative master plan that divides the site into three primary precincts, anchored by a town centre in the western portion of the site.

The town centre is planned as the first stage of development, located on land that has already been remediated. It is intended to accommodate higher-density housing, retail, and community uses.

<img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4bfd5873-4847-4105-b220-0a30c96f5573" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.20.09%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7aVaSsZLAc6mElSH4g6Ct5bGsNxZcnPL" />

Additional precincts extend toward Bate Bay and Boat Harbour, with built form responding to environmental conditions and proximity to the coastline.

The design framework identifies distinct local character areas, with the master plan structured to reflect “unique natural qualities” across the site.

<hr data-end="2495" data-start="2492" />
<h2 data-end="2544" data-section-id="1vitwqn" data-start="2497">Open space forms core of the design approach</h2>

A key component of the proposal is the allocation of approximately 116 hectares to open space and ecological land.

This includes:

<ul data-end="2846" data-start="2678">
	<li data-end="2702" data-section-id="d96caj" data-start="2678">Three district parks</li>
	<li data-end="2723" data-section-id="17y6uz6" data-start="2703">Nine local parks</li>
	<li data-end="2741" data-section-id="14hui00" data-start="2724">Sports fields</li>
	<li data-end="2778" data-section-id="ts7psx" data-start="2742">Coastal and ecological corridors</li>
	<li data-end="2846" data-section-id="agduax" data-start="2779">Two kilometres of publicly accessible beachfront along Bate Bay</li>
</ul>

The urban design report positions this open space network as central to the structure of the development, rather than ancillary to it.

It is intended to support ecological regeneration, provide recreational amenity and create a connected network across the peninsula.

The plan includes north–south ecological corridors, expanded wetland systems and pedestrian and cycling links designed to connect residential areas to the coastline and open space areas .

<hr data-end="3347" data-start="3344" />
<h2 data-end="3381" data-section-id="ql66rt" data-start="3349">Housing mix and affordability</h2>

The proposal includes approximately 4,300 dwellings across a range of housing types.

This includes high-density apartments, medium-density housing, townhouses and seniors housing.

Affordable housing provision is identified at approximately 240 dwellings, alongside a smaller component of social housing.

The master plan emphasises housing diversity, with the intent of accommodating a range of household types and age groups within the development.

<img alt="Kurnell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d4baba4d-b5b0-4a86-bcad-5d319b036184" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-13%20at%209.11.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=udYFz0q8tjEPR3pmKLHRSFRJN4dKakPO" />

<hr data-end="3877" data-start="3874" />
<h2 data-end="3919" data-section-id="rgckdv" data-start="3879">Built form controls and height limits</h2>

Proposed building heights across the site range from three to 12 storeys.

These controls are set out within the rezoning application and are intended to manage visual impact, maintain view corridors and ensure compatibility with the coastal landscape.

Floor space ratios and height limits are applied across different parts of the site to reflect varying environmental conditions and proximity to open space and the coastline .

Higher density is generally concentrated within the town centre, with lower-scale development toward the coastal edge and environmentally sensitive areas.

<hr data-end="4548" data-start="4545" />
<h2 data-end="4588" data-section-id="1minlda" data-start="4550">Retail, tourism and employment uses</h2>

In addition to residential development, the proposal includes retail, commercial and tourism uses.

This includes:

<ul data-end="4896" data-start="4706">
	<li data-end="4775" data-section-id="1jrun76" data-start="4706">Approximately 7,000–9,800sqm of retail and commercial floor space</li>
	<li data-end="4803" data-section-id="10kyifw" data-start="4776">A full-line supermarket</li>
	<li data-end="4830" data-section-id="fz1hdg" data-start="4804">Food and beverage uses</li>
	<li data-end="4896" data-section-id="1aqg2fj" data-start="4831">Tourism accommodation, including hotel and short-stay options</li>
</ul>

The proposal also identifies employment outcomes, with the development expected to support jobs both during construction and in ongoing operations.

These uses are concentrated within the town centre and key activity areas across the site.

<hr data-end="5142" data-start="5139" />
<h2 data-end="5172" data-section-id="162x2kt" data-start="5144">Infrastructure and access</h2>

The proposal includes upgrades to Captain Cook Drive, which provides the primary access to the peninsula.

These upgrades are intended to improve traffic flow and support emergency access.

The transport strategy also incorporates:

<ul data-end="5529" data-start="5407">
	<li data-end="5433" data-section-id="fanquy" data-start="5407">Internal road networks</li>
	<li data-end="5469" data-section-id="o6y80y" data-start="5434">Walking and cycling connections</li>
	<li data-end="5529" data-section-id="jgraft" data-start="5470">Proposed public transport routes and bus stop locations</li>
</ul>

The rezoning report includes detailed analysis of transport, flooding, and infrastructure requirements to support the staged development of the site .

<hr data-end="5723" data-start="5720" />
<h2 data-end="5769" data-section-id="14urh3" data-start="5725">Environmental and cultural considerations</h2>

The site is identified as having environmental and cultural significance, including areas of ecological value and Aboriginal archaeological sensitivity.

The proposal includes measures to protect and enhance these areas, including:

<ul data-end="6230" data-start="6004">
	<li data-end="6056" data-section-id="1pzyouo" data-start="6004">Retention and regeneration of coastal vegetation</li>
	<li data-end="6100" data-section-id="bjn2vz" data-start="6057">Strengthening of biodiversity corridors</li>
	<li data-end="6148" data-section-id="1bpeyoj" data-start="6101">Protection of riparian systems and wetlands</li>
	<li data-end="6230" data-section-id="lg0cka" data-start="6149">Integration of cultural interpretation and recognition of Indigenous heritage</li>
</ul>

The urban design report also outlines opportunities for incorporating Indigenous cultural elements into public spaces and landscape design.

<hr data-end="6893" data-start="6890" />
<h2 data-end="6908" data-section-id="w7rk5f" data-start="6895">Next steps</h2>

The proposal is currently on public exhibition, with submissions open to the community. Feedback received during this period will inform the Department of Planning’s assessment of the rezoning.

If approved, the rezoning would establish the planning framework for future development applications across the site.

<hr data-end="6893" data-start="6890" />
<h2 data-end="6908" data-section-id="w7rk5f" data-start="6895">What the NSW Government says</h2>

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the planned closure of the sand mine and remediation of the Kurnell Peninsula presents an exciting opportunity to transform the area.

“This proposal envisions a vibrant new beachfront community with thousands of new homes, jobs and great open space in the Sutherland Shire. I encourage the community to have their say during the public exhibition period. Feedback from the community will play an important role in the assessment of the proposal.”

Sydney's newest beachfront city: NSW Gov to unlock 4,300 new homes on Kurnell peninsula

A long-awaited transformation of a former industrial site in Holroyd has been given the green light, with the NSW Government approving the $1.2 billion Crescent Parklands masterplan that will deliver more than 1,200 new homes just south of Parramatta.

The State Significant Development approval clears the way for a large-scale mixed-use precinct at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-crescent-street-holroyd-nsw-2142">1 Crescent Street</a>, replacing an underutilised site with a coordinated residential community anchored by new open space, retail, and commercial uses.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> for WA-based developer Tiberius, the approved scheme comprises seven buildings arranged across two precincts. In total, the development will deliver 1,227 apartments, including 201 allocated as affordable housing, alongside approximately 2,500 sqm of retail and 5,000 sqm of commercial space within a mixed-use podium.

<img alt="Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver 1,200+ homes in major Holroyd transformation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1cc82dd2-8184-4b86-8665-90653147820d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Crescent%20buildings.png?VersionId=2ZmVDc_Rfc4AzQ6ShzZJlvdZnACLerVM" />

The project is structured as a masterplanned precinct rather than a standalone tower. Buildings 1 to 4 will rise from a shared podium with shop-top housing, while Buildings 5 to 7 are positioned closer to the northern park interface as residential flat buildings. The built form has been carefully modulated to balance density with amenity, with the design resolving building separation, solar access, and wind impacts at a precinct scale.

A significant focus of the design is the activation of Crescent Street and the integration of public domain. The submission notes that “individual townhouses [were] removed for community based functions to Crescent Street to increase activation and surveillance,” reinforcing a more urban and publicly engaged street edge. Retail, commercial tenancies, and resident amenity spaces are concentrated along this frontage and within the podium to support day-to-day activity.

The landscape strategy underpins the project’s identity, with a network of pedestrian connections, landscaped corridors, and open spaces linking the site internally and to its surroundings. The design prioritises permeability, delivering “increased uninterrupted flow between spaces for pedestrian access” and improved connections through to the adjoining parklands.

<img alt="Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver 1,200+ homes in major Holroyd transformation" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19282454-ab2f-4e2c-866f-4b35cf4283d4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Crescent%20masterplan.png?VersionId=JQdWGYI5B5R1lzmK4omYOp_8KLPkT4Bv" />

Buildings within the western precinct are oriented toward the park, shaping a residential offering defined by proximity to open space. The design describes this approach as creating apartments “immersed in nature with apartments facing the park,” positioning the landscape as a central organising element of the masterplan.

The broader architectural response addresses both infrastructure and context, with taller elements capturing long-range views toward Parramatta while setbacks and separation distances mitigate impacts on surrounding residential areas. Sustainability initiatives, including solar optimisation, cross-ventilation, and integrated landscape systems, are embedded across the scheme.

Located approximately one kilometre south of Parramatta CBD, the 3.6-hectare site is bounded by Crescent Street, Woodville Road, and Holroyd Sportsground. It benefits from strong access to public transport, including nearby bus routes and train stations, and sits within a rapidly evolving corridor earmarked for increased residential density. The design also strengthens connections between surrounding green spaces, including Holroyd Sportsground and Parramatta Parklands.

The approval follows several years of planning, including a rezoning process that enabled significant uplift in height and density across the site. With determination now secured, Crescent Parklands is positioned to play a major role in delivering new housing supply within Greater Parramatta’s growth area.

Tiberius’ Crescent Parklands to deliver over 1,200 homes in major Holroyd transformation

Victorian Architecture Awards 2018

<html><body>
RMIT’s New Academic Street (NAS) with Lyons at the helm, in collaboration with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects was the big winner at the recent Australian Institute of Architects’ (AIA) 2018 Victorian State Architecture Awards, claiming six awards in total.

The awards recognise the best of Victorian architecture and acknowledge the outstanding contribution architecture and urban design make to our built environment. 

The Lyons led team was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal - the event’s highest honour - in addition to being named a dual recipient of the Melbourne Prize which was shared with Breathe Architecture for their design for Nightingale 1.

RMIT NAS took out the top gong in both the educational architecture and urban design categories and was also among the winning projects for architecture awards in the categories of interior architecture and sustainable architecture.

<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/171017_nas_14661469.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="RMIT's New Academic Street claimed six awards. Image: Supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="513" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/171017_nas_14661469.jpg?itok=xMPETYME" title="RMIT's New Academic Street claimed six awards. Image: Supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>RMIT's New Academic Street claimed six awards. Image: Supplied</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
These awards are a wonderful acknowledgement of the successful collaboration between Lyons and four architecture firms — all of whom are RMIT alumni.

Together, we were driven to reimagine the campus into what would become a dynamic urban destination for students to embrace and enjoy. Integrating NAS within Melbourne’s CBD transformed the student experience and we’re delighted the design has been so well received by both the student body and the architecture community.

- Professor Carey Lyon, Lyons founding Director and NAS Project Director
</blockquote>

<h2>Awards won</h2>

<ul>
<li>Victorian Architecture Medal</li>
	<li>Melbourne Prize — Joint Winner</li>
	<li>Educational Architecture  - The Henry Bastow Award for Educational Achitecture</li>
	<li>Urban Design  - The Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design</li>
	<li>Sustainable Architecture - Architecture Award</li>
	<li>Interior Architecture - Architecture Award</li>
</ul>
<h2>Looking ahead...</h2>

<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/5ad9685b52a2a0ebe87f565b4eb8af39.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The New Student Precinct's proposed outdoor amphitheatre. Image: ArchitectureAU"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/5ad9685b52a2a0ebe87f565b4eb8af39.jpg?itok=p4-SqGUm" title="The New Student Precinct's proposed outdoor amphitheatre. Image: ArchitectureAU" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The New Student Precinct's proposed outdoor amphitheatre. Image: ArchitectureAU</figcaption></figure>In February 2018, Lyons Architecture was engaged as the lead architects for the concept design for the University of Melbourne’s $229 million New Student Precinct at its Parkville campus.

The design team comprises Koning Eizenberg, Aspect Studios, Breathe Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Glas Urban and Architects EAT.

The New Student Precinct aims to make a significant contribution to the transformation of the on-campus student experience at Parkville by delivering a world-class student hub for the whole campus community.

Early and enabling works commenced earlier this year to prepare the site for construction works, continuing through until the end of 2018.

<a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/lyons-led-design-team-completes-concept-design-for-melbourne-uni-student-precinct/#img=0">According to ArchitectureAU</a>, the design team will now move on to produce a schematic design, which will be delivered in September, with the project expected to be completed by 2021–2022.
</body></html>

Laurence Dragomir

Lyons leads charge at Vic Architecture Awards with RMIT's New Academic Street

<html><body>
With the impending Victorian Architecture Awards dinner, Apartments.com.au concludes its Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018 series with the North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub - the first mixed-use public building to achieve a 6-Star Green Star rating in Victoria.

The awards are presented tonight.

Designed by GroupGSA, the new library and community hub has been shortlisted for awards in sustainable architecture, public architecture and Melbourne prize categories.

The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub has been conceived as a multi-use space that supports the learning, health and well-being of the 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/nflchentry-vzxvqeyw-641761.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub’s lush rooftop garden. Image: Tom Hutton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="380" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nflchentry-vzxvqeyw-641761.jpg?itok=cr_74oL2" title="The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub’s lush rooftop garden. Image: Tom Hutton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub’s lush rooftop garden. Image: Tom Hutton</figcaption></figure>The building is home to the City of Yarra’s International House and includes a library, maternal child health facilities, in addition to a variety of community-focused facilities. 

Named ‘Bargoonga Nganjin’ which means ‘Gather Everybody’ in Woiwurrung - the language of the Wurundjeri people - the $17 million project was funded almost entirely by Council, and was the result of an extensive and exhaustive consultation process that included multiple stakeholders and the community.

GroupGSA says the design has driven a desire to create a socially inclusive space that integrated seamlessly with its local context, but was also had a minimal environmental footprint. 

The Library’s lush rooftop garden, exemplifies the potential for environmental design to draw people together, according to the architects.

Among the Library’s environmental features are its on-site power generation and pressurised air handling system incorporated into columns instead of bulkheads to maximise overhead space.

Additionally,  the architects specified locally-sourced materials, including reclaimed bricks from the surrounding area, to ensure product miles were minimised while also maintaining the character and materiality of North Fitzroy.

The architectural language of the Library reinforces this connection to its locale, with its triangular footprint taking inspiration from the old North Fitzroy post office building.

The community building features a bespoke screening mechanism, which became an integral part of the building’s external fabric, to manage glare and natural light. The perforated metal screens allows light to filter in and out, the design of which is derived from the trees in the Edinburgh Gardens, just immediately south of the site - using the local elements as a key to inform the design.

<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/nflchentry-vzxvqeyw-644529.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub. Image: Tom Hutton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/nflchentry-vzxvqeyw-644529.jpg?itok=Vdxm8Uvj" title="The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub. Image: Tom Hutton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub. Image: Tom Hutton</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
The local people of North Fitzroy are an educated community that wanted to see a really robust sustainable outcome. We put the effort in to ensure all avenues were looked at, from energy use, to the lifecycle of the building, materials, orientation and water usage, all of those things.

We wanted to maximise the sustainable outcome of the building. “When designing this project, we took a pragmatic approach with regards to sustainability. The overarching aspect was to do all the basic elements really well in a way that related to the community and we’re really proud that this is the first time a six star green star rating has been awarded to a public mixed use building in Victoria.

To me one of the most eye catching of the green spaces is the rooftop garden. Featuring native plants and a productive garden, this area provides more than simple green respite on the site’s narrow footprint.

It has a cleverly integrated catchment system, positioned underneath the roof decking, which collects water to sustain landscaping as well as essential services for the whole building. Herbs and fruit trees on the roof supply the adjoining community kitchen, with students encouraged to pick things from the garden to use in cooking classes.

- Scott Francis, Principal, GroupGSA
</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>
This project exemplifies a leading approach to good sustainable design – in an environmental and social sense. Not only is it a building with leading green credentials but it has also been designed as a multipurpose and multi-generational space to support the diverse community of North Fitzroy.

The common denominator in successful projects is supportive and engaged clients who acknowledge the value that quality architecture interventions can bring to building strong and successful communities.

- Amy Muir, Victoria Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects
</blockquote>

Lead Image: Tom Hutton 
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Road to the Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: GroupGSA's North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub

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The winners of the 2018 Victorian Architecture Awards have been announced at the annual awards dinner hosted on Friday night.

Education and public architecture projects dominated across multiple categories, reinforcing the importance of a well designed public realm.

Across 14 categories, a total of 66 awards were given including named awards, architecture awards and commendations from the 108 shortlisted projects. The awards were announced at a dinner hosted in Melbourne by the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects.

RMIT University's New Academic Street, by Lyons in collaboration with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects, dominated proceedings on the way to the claiming the Victorian Architecture Medal along with the Joseph Reed Award for Urban Design, The Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, architecture awards for Interior Architecture and Sustainable Architecture and a joint winner of the Melbourne Prize.

Other big winners include Nightingale 1 by Breathe Architecture, Victorian College of the Arts former Mounted Police Stables by Kerstin Thompson Architects and Koondrook Wharf by TERROIR, all obtaining recognition across three categories.

<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/koondrook_wharf.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="TERROIR's Koondrook Wharf was one of the award winning projects. Image: Adam Gibson"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/koondrook_wharf.jpg?itok=Bq5_spAU" title="TERROIR's Koondrook Wharf was one of the award winning projects. Image: Adam Gibson" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>TERROIR's Koondrook Wharf was one of the award-winning projects. Image: Adam Gibson</figcaption></figure>The Enduring Architecture Award, recognising structures over 25 years old that remain important in a contemporary context, was given to the Yarra Footbridge at Southbank, which ties into this year’s theme of the public realm.

Projects that received an architecture award or a named award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program. The shortlist will be announced by the Australian Institute of Architects in the coming months.

<blockquote>
We are celebrating the significant contribution that architecture brings to the everyday lives of people and to the evolution of our cities and townships throughout Victoria. The awards also acknowledges the strong collaboration between clients and architects required to deliver carefully considered and robust buildings and public realm interventions.

The projects included in the awards program define a broad and rich example of architecture within our state. It is wonderful to see these projects recognised and I extend my congratulations to all of our very deserving winners. 
Victorians understand the value of good design and the enormous benefits it brings to building engaged and resilient communities. The award winning architects are not prepared to accept the status quo and have worked incredibly hard to deliver outstanding contributions to our state’s architecture and infrastructure landscape.

-  Amy Muir, Victorian Chapter President
</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/nightingale_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Breathe Architecture's Nightingale 1 took home the Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable 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.jpg?itok=z3avipvp" title="Breathe Architecture's Nightingale 1 took home the Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture. Image: Peter Clarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Breathe Architecture's Nightingale 1 took home the Allan and Beth Coldicutt Award for Sustainable Architecture. Image: Peter Clarke</figcaption></figure>The winners of the named awards and architecture awards are listed below:

Residential Architecture – Houses (New) 
THE HAROLD DESBROWE-ANNEAR AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (NEW) Compound House | March Studio

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Park House | Kerstin Thompson Architects 
House on the Coast | Sean Godsell Architects 
Towers Road House | Wood Marsh Architecture 
 

Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing 
THE BEST OVEREND AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE - MULTIPLE HOUSING Nightingale 1 | Breathe Architecture

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 35 Spring Street | Bates Smart 
Campbell Street | DKO Architecture and SLAB 
Averi | Jackson Clements Burrows 
C.F. Row | Woods Bagot 
 

Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations &amp; Additions) 
THE JOHN AND PHYLLIS MURPHY AWARD FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE – HOUSES (ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS) King Bill | Austin Maynard Architects

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Hatherlie | Andrew Simpson Architects 
The Kite | Architecture Architecture 
Boneo Country House | John Wardle Architects 
Station Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects

Small Project Architecture 
THE KEVIN BORLAND AWARD FOR SMALL PROJECT ARCHITECTURE Sorrento Visitor Centre | Workshop Architecture

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Campbell Street | DKO Architecture and SLAB 
Koondrook Wharf | TERROIR

Urban Design 
THE JOSEPH REED AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Koondrook Wharf | TERROIR 
Deakin Link | watsonarchitecture+design

Heritage Architecture 
THE JOHN GEORGE KNIGHT AWARD FOR HERITAGE North Melbourne Terrace | Matt Gibson Architecture + Design

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS St Vincents Place Residence | B.E Architecture 
Victorian College of the Arts former Mounted Police Stables | Kerstin Thompson Architects

Commercial Architecture 
THE SIR OSBORN MCCUTCHEON AWARD FOR COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE Barwon Water | GHDWoodhead

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 
Jackalope | Carr 
Mercedes Me | Jackson Clements Burrows

Interior Architecture

THE MARION MAHONY AWARD FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Deepdene | Law Architects

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Boneo Country House | John Wardle Architects 
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building | John Wardle Architects 
New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, MvSArchitecture, Harrison &amp; White and Maddison Architects 
Station Street House | Robert Simeoni Architects

Public Architecture 
THE WILLIAM WARDELL AWARD FOR PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE Bunjil Place | fjmt

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Bendigo Hospital | Silver Thomas Hanley with Bates Smart 
North Fitzroy Library and Community Hub | GroupGSA

Educational Architecture 
THE HENRY BASTOW AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL ARCHITECTURE New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS The Geoff Handbury Science and Technology Hub, Melbourne Grammar School | Denton Corker Marshall 
Monash University Learning and Teaching Building | John Wardle Architects 
Victorian College of the Arts former Mounted Police Stables | Kerstin Thompson Architects

Sustainable Architecture 
THE ALLAN AND BETH COLDICUTT AWARD FOR SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE Nightingale 1 | Breathe Architecture

ARCHITECTURE AWARDS Barwon Water | GHDWoodhead 
New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects

Regional Prize

Koondrook Wharf | TERROIR

COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture 
COLORBOND® AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE (VIC) Bugiga Hiker Camp - Grampians National Park | Sean Godsell Architects

Melbourne Prize – Joint Winner Nightingale 1 | Breathe Architecture 
New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects

Enduring Architecture Award Yarra Footbridge at Southbank | Cocks Carmichael Whitford

Victorian Architecture Medal New Academic Street, RMIT University | Lyons with NMBW Architecture Studio, Harrison and White, MvS Architects and Maddison Architects

Lead Image: New Academic Street, RMIT University by Peter Bennett 
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The Victorian Architecture Awards 2018: Winners announced

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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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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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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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Victorian Architecture Awards 2018

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