Peta’s House | Mt Eyk

The housing market’s fixation on superficial metrics undermines housing quality, leading to wasted resources and missed opportunities. Peta’s house stands as a refreshing departure from this trend. Peta prioritised good design over resale value, resulting in a bespoke home tailored to her real needs.

The design focuses on site-specific solutions and individual desires, perhaps not surprisingly this appeals to a greater diversity of people, not less. Peta’s two-bedroom house, is energy efficient, compact though generous, has a strong relationship to vegetation, and is simple and minimal in aesthetics and maintenance. It includes a self-contained space that generates income, for Peta personally and for economy via tourism. Short stay that contributes to, not detracts from, community and place.
Peta’s house is 97m² on a 273m² block. Good design makes this possible. By playing outside the rules, Peta has created a home that perfectly suits her needs and brings her financial benefits.

Plateau Project | Rama Architects

Perched above an ancient forest of thousand year old Angophora trees with views over Pittwater, Plateau Project embodies natural tones and materiality of the country is resides on: Garigal. An internal palate of microcement and raw concrete draw warmth, reflecting light. A wandering wall greets you as you enter, leading quietly around a deep curve to a dramatic reveal of soaring ceilings and exposed rafters framing an expansive view over bushland and water.

The house embodies shape and volume. Curves and lines, confinement and expanse collaborate to create a bold statement of opposites and cohesion. The winding hallway hides what lies beyond, delivering you to a fortress like turret with brick and masonry walls, smooth with soft light. Residing in a BALFZ flame zone, the home is built with non-combustible materials with aerated concrete features throughout. Plateau Project is punctuated by texture and angles creating moments solid and soft, bold and light.

Olive Tree House | Bastian Architecture

Olive Tree House is a new urban infill project, it has been designed to challenge the Australian norm of housing, it is half the size of an average Australian home, sits on a site half the size of an average site and provides flexible rather than large spaces.

Situated within sight of Stockton beach and the Hunter River the house responds to the coastal location. Planned for the inevitable summer afternoons at the beach and winter afternoons on the deck the house is flexible and allows for parts of the house to be left open to catch the coastal breeze or connect to the winter sun. The mature Olive tree is retained to provide shade and habitat for the site.

It is a small house in which every metre works hard to provide quality living spaces.

Murran – First Nations Business, Retail and Arts Hub | Dawn Architecture

Murran is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business, Retail and Arts Hub located on Wadawurrung Country in the Geelong CBD, Victoria. Led by not–for–profit organisation Ngarrimili, Murran includes a retail store, art gallery, café, coworking areas, meeting and conference rooms, and provides the First Nations and wider community with business and entrepreneurship opportunities, career pathways, culture and learning.

Murran, meaning Eucalyptus in Wadawurrung language, represents a welcome gift, cleansing and healing. The shop fitout was designed by Dawn Architecture in close consultation with an all female First Nations advisory group, with the architectural response providing spaces for gathering, connection, culture, and collaboration. Materials and colours reference the Australian landscape.

Key contributors include Ngarrimili, the First Nations advisory group, design consultant Chris Connell Design, and the builder Laney Constructions. The project was funded by the Victorian State Government, with the build completed on time and budget in December 2023.

Nazareth Catholic College: Kidman Park Campus | Russell & Yelland Architects

The Nazareth Flinders Park Campus is a testament to collaborative design, seamlessly blending heritage, nature, and community. Inspired by the school’s desire for meaningful gathering spaces, the campus features a central circular courtyard promoting unity and sharing. Rich gathering spaces and flexible learning environments encourage connections and foster a culture of learning on display.

Paying homage to its market garden past, the campus facade echoes organic shapes and circular motifs, connecting with the site’s history. Despite substantial cost and time pressures, the project achieved an outcome within 1% of the budget, showcasing effective financial decision–making.

Sustainability measures such as natural light optimization and stormwater management contribute to the city’s infrastructure. Exceeding client expectations, the project demonstrates adaptability and dedication to fulfilling user requirements, epitomizing the transformative impact of thoughtful architecture.

NOMA Residences | Plus Architecture

NOMA is a thoughtfully designed development in Perth’s Mosman Park, with 53 apartments and three retail tenancies across nine stories.

Designed by Plus Architecture, NOMA’s contextual built form establishes a benchmark of design for higher–density living, with retail tenancies and shared amenities. Careful preservation of the area’s historical character is evident through intricate brickwork and retained River Red Gum tree.
Hard–wearing, yet high–end finishes elevate practical layouts, with all apartments boasting ample space, natural light, and cross ventilation delivering delicate density in this garden suburb.

Shared outdoor facilities, such as the rooftop lounge and landscaped gardens, will also foster a sense of community and connection to nature.
Despite going to market during COVID, NOMA sold 94% of apartments, and set a new standard for luxurious, sustainable living.

North Head Viewing Platforms | CHROFI and Bangawarra with National Parks and Wildlife Service

For thousands of years, Car-ran-gel the Country now known as North Head has been important ceremonial grounds for local peoples. The sandstone promontory offered a place to gather and celebrate stories like those of Gawura, the whale, and Car-rang, the pelican; a sacred animal to the Gaimariagal people. These stories have been passed down through generations and played an important role in establishing Songlines that connect a vast kinship system.

CHROFI and Bangawarra designed two new viewing platforms for North Head Burragula and Yiningma offering breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. In addition to improving the safety and viewing experience of the existing lookouts, the project intends to be a catalyst for the future identity of Sydney Harbour National Park, as an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable place that celebrates Country and continues the cultural traditions of local peoples for future generations.

Mid Century Remastered | Equinox Architecture (company registration pending)

This mid-century residence, initially designed by Ken Woolley and Pettit & Sevitt architects in 1965, undergoes a transformative and considered renovation. The architects embrace a conceptual framework focused on sympathetic and respectful design and adaptive re–use, all underpinned by environmentally sustainable principles. The approach respects the original mid–century design, seamlessly blending old and new elements, while incorporating environmentally sustainable design (ESD) principles. The project not only safeguards the architectural heritage of Hughes but also contributes to community pride and identity.

The design cleverly integrates the existing structure, utilizing flitch beams for the structural spans, balancing aesthetics and functionality. This collaborative design effort involves diverse disciplines, fostering creativity and delivering cost–effective solutions. The adaptive re–use strategy, combined with sustainable practices, results in financial value for the client and reducing the project’s carbon footprint. The renovation not only preserves architectural history but enhances the cultural vibrancy and aesthetic richness of the public domain.

Murdoch Residence | Kyearn Architecture

The Murdoch Residence stands out amidst suburban homes with its blend of openness and private retreats. Its welcoming entrance, highlighted by a grand staircase and lack of perimeter fencing, contrasts with typical suburban homes. Inside, a double volume living space offers space offers panoramic views and abundant natural light, while areas towards the rear provide intimacy and tranquillity, surrounded by lush trees of the adjacent park. Built on a challenging slope, the house preserves the original foundation and mature trees, minimising topographical changes and maintaining the landscape’s integrity. Sustainable Australian materials were prioritised in the interior design, reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility, and supporting local industries.

Mavis Terrace | Pasqual Architects

For the Mavis Terrace, the project goal was to respect the neighbourhood character, whilst working to create a respectfult and aesthetically appealling contemporary design .The Architecture responds to contempary planning and design, whilst respecting the existing forms and proportions of the original buildings.

In summary the Mavis Terrace translates the traditions found in an small inner west Calinfornian Bungalow Site, to a contemporary reinterprestaion. The Mavis Terrace has proudly set a new precedent in the smaller scale inner west projects.