Canberra Centre Parents Room | Mather Architecture

The Parents Room in the new North Quarter renovation Canberra Centre is a carefully planned and highly functional space, designed to be a fully inclusive space for all users, from parents and carers to children, of all genders, identities, and abilities. Colour is used in sophisticated yet unexpected ways to define zones, while curved elements soften and unify the spaces, creating an immersive and memorable experience for users. The inviting tones of the parents’ room facilities provide both spatial definition as well as a welcome contrast to the stimulating shopping mall environment.

Central Village, Canberra City | AMC Architecture

The Central Village redevelopment has taken a 1980’s city office block and reimagined it as an exciting and active commercial precinct through wholesale improvements to the public realm, better integrating Nara, Allara and Customs Houses, increasing ground level permeability, carefully located retail uses and through refurbishment strategies that meet market needs. improved energy performance and meet NCC standards while preserving the embodied carbon. The central plaza is integral to its success with a beautiful new cafe pavilion, a warm materials palette, preservation and augmentation of existing trees and landscaping, improved microclimate, wayfinding and a sense of safety. The precinct is now fully tenanted as a testament to the success of the project and its market–acceptance.

Canopy House | Neighbourhood Architecture

This architectural project in Watson aimed to rejuvenate an aging residence, transforming it into a modern, energy–efficient home with an added upper storey. Combining historical charm with contemporary functionality, the project focused on sustainability through solar passive design, insulation, and smart home technology. The upper storey addition seamlessly integrated into the existing structure, offering additional bedroom, office, panoramic views and a striking facade. Architectural features blended traditional and modern elements, emphasising open spaces and the connection to outdoor areas.

Canberra Grammar School Centre of Music and Snow Concert Hall | Cox Architecture

COXs proposal the CGS Centre of Music and Snow Concert Hall was selected by the competition jury for its originality, innovation, and integration with its heritage context. The design proposed the 1400 seat auditorium be built underground with music rooms of various sizes placed adjacent, forming a plinth for the heritage buildings behind/above. Additional uses that went beyond the requirements of the brief were suggested as result of the additional space generated by the siting strategy. Critical to this approach is a three-dimensional circulation system that integrates both new and old movement patterns into a series of new circuits and points of entry/egress. A new library now sits atop the ceremonial front door of the campus, overlooking the historic Dining Hall, Quadrangle to the South, and Main Oval to the North. The intent was to enhance the context and not design from a tabula rasa.

Bookend Addition | Studio Heim

Bookending the front and rear of an existing mid–century Seidler inspired dwelling are two interventions that respect the original design. At the front, an under–croft area has been infilled to provide storage and a place for creative pursuits. At the rear, a contrasting two storey form holds new living and sleeping spaces.
Overcoming a challenging position on a wedge–shaped block, the new form is like a Tetris piece that hugs the existing dwelling whilst stepping to work with boundary setbacks. As a deliberate contrast to the existing dwelling’s cream brick, the new addition is clad in vertical Shou Sugi Ban, with a base of cream bricks, salvaged from a removed section of the rear façade, blending old and new together.
Bookend Addition is a light touch approach that enhances the dwelling’s liveability with a striking light–filled form that makes the most of its unique position adjacent bushland.

Betty House | Josh Mulford Architects

This fresh revitalisation to the classic ‘ex–govie’ provides an example of a high–quality sustainable alternative to the often large and expensive knock–down rebuilds in the Canberra suburbs.

The key move that unlocked the potential of the house was relocating the kitchen to the centre of the house, addressing the formal nature of the spaces and becoming the beating heart of the house. Working within a tight budget, this move allowed a 3 bedroom + 1 bathroom house to be internally reconfigured to a 4 bedroom + 2 bathroom house without extending the building footprint in any way, creating the maximum effect with an economy of moves.

The interior celebrates the simple joy that lies within assembly, craftsmanship, and timeless materials. Although contemporary in nature, the “new” subtly stitches and blends into the existing, almost as though it’s always been there.

Aviation Lane | The Mill: Architecture + Design

Aviation Lane is the culmination of ten years of collaboration between client and architect. The completed project centres around providing a healthy, supportive and connected workplace setting that puts people at the heart of every decision. Great efforts have been made to provide a space that genuinely supports varied workstyles, provokes collaboration and fosters connection.

The space celebrates many of the features of modern workplace design without losing the individuality that makes different government departments what they are. All design decisions were aimed at providing flexible, connected and healthy spaces, with the final build coming in under budget in spite of an inflated pandemic market.

Aviation Lane shows what a considered collaboration between client and architect can achieve, and what the future of workplace design looks like. It celebrates the people behind the work, and aims to provide a home away from home.

Atkinson Recycle | Light House Architecture and Science

The Atkinson Recycle demonstrates the enormous potential within Canberra’s existing housing stock by transforming a classic Canberra 413 ‘ex–govie’ into an energy efficient, family home.

In 1882 the Atkinson cycle was designed to provide efficiency at the expense of power density. In 2022, this little house was re–designed to provide efficiency at the expense of unnecessary floor area and embodied carbon.

The original ‘ex–govvie’ character remains while the functionality and sustainability have been dramatic dramatically improved. The revitalized home achieves an impressive energy efficiency rating of 7.2 stars and uses more than 60% **less** energy than the average Canberra home.

With careful attention to detail, including a refreshed façade and thoughtful interior design, the home seamlessly blends with its surroundings while offering modern comforts and a very small carbon footprint.

This exemplary project demonstrates a commitment to sustainable suburb reinvigoration and sets a benchmark for sensitive yet innovative housing transformation.

ACT Health Centre, Duntroon, Canberra | Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd

Located at the Duntroon Military Area in the inner–city suburb of Campbell west of Canberra Civic precinct, the ACT Health Centre (ACTHC) is a part of the first phase of the Australia Defence Force Joint Health Command Program and provides healthcare for ADF members within the Barracks and in Canberra generally.

To create a restorative environment the building design is understated, with a palette of muted and earthy tones that reflect the local environment. Simple texture and repetitive building elements articulate the facilities mass with shadow and relief, creating
a façade with a sense of depth and dynamism.

The ACTHC is intuitive and welcoming, with continuous access to natural light and external landscaping relief areas. Waiting areas and courtyard spaces are private where staff and patients can relax and convalesce, whilst treatment spaces are designed to be flexible and multi–purpose and aim to reduce the stigma surround mental health services.

Fossil House | Rob Henry Architects