2021 National Architecture Awards shortlist
Traditional Land Owners: The Cammeraygal People
Opened to the public for the first time in over 150 years, Sub Base Platypus provides a rich overlay of its industrial and naval history. Located on the shores of Neutral Bay, it has been a gas works, a Naval Base providing torpedo maintenance and HMAS Platypus submarine base; before passing to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
In 2016 lahznimmo architects and Aspect Studios were engaged by the Trust to develop the outcomes proposed in the Trust’s Comprehensive Plan. The site is now open to the public with a series of interlinked public parks and plazas, a pedestrian bridge to Kersterton Park, a grand stair climbing the cliff face to Kiara Close and a passenger lift campanile. Super graphics facing the new FIMA Courtyard recall the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ camouflage technique used by naval vessels to confuse prowling submarines. The industrial buildings have been repurposed for complementary commercial uses.
Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?
“When I started as QUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy), my observation was despite having one of the largest populations of Indigenous Australian students in the country, QUT’s campuses did not visibly reflect or recognise Indigenous Australian cultures in a welcoming or engaging way.
QUT has addressed this situation by developing a strategy which helps shape the physical environments of both campuses to reflect the culture & history of Indigenous Australians. This will create a sense of belonging & place for Indigenous Australian students, staff & community, & enable the QUT community to experience & appreciate Indigenous Australian cultures & history.”
Angela Barney-Leitch,
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy)
Andrew Nimmo, Lahznimmo Design Architect
Hugo Cottier, Lahznimmo Design Architect /Project Architect
Jemima Manton, Lahznimmo Project Architect,
Stephanie Gotis-Graham, Lahznimmo Graduate Architect
Ben Gore, Lahznimmo Graduate Architect
Sacha Coles, Aspect Studios – Design Director
Kate Luckraft, Aspect Studios – Project Director
Louise Pearson, Aspect Studios – Design Review
Lauren Nissen / Lachlan Bellach / Dean Coulson / Alex Woodside, Other, Aspect Studios – Project Landscape Architects
Harbour Trust, Project Manager
Aspect Studios, Landscape Consultant
SDA Structures, Structural Engineer
Northrop Consulting Engineers, Services Consultant
Urban and Public, Signage and Wayfinding
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
