Australian Design Review
‘Are architects worth it?’ Groundbreaking Australian research finds answer

ArchiTeam and the University of Melbourne have released their crowdfunded Research for Architects in Small Practice (RAsP) report, finding that houses with renovations designed by small-practice architects outperform non-architect-designed houses. Launched in 2018, RAsP’s first research topic was: “Do small practice architect designed renovations improve capital gains in the Melbourne residential property market?” The groundbreaking […]

• Architecture • Business • Nov 25, 2020
Grimshaw partners with BPI Rating for sustainable product material selection

Global architecture firm Grimshaw has partnered with BPI Rating, the construction material data platform, to co-develop a solution to integrate sustainability and responsible sourcing into the practice’s material selection. The partnership is designed to assist Grimshaw’s ambition to reach carbon neutrality in their practice by 2020 and deliver zero carbon ready buildings and infrastructure by […]

• Architecture • Business • Nov 12, 2020
COVID-19 prompts government spending on housing programs

Four billion dollars in new or expedited funding for 98 housing program initiatives were announced by Australian governments due to the coronavirus pandemic between March and June 2020. The new report from AHURI, ‘Policy coordination and housing outcomes during COVID-19’, led by researchers from Swinburne University of Technology analysed the scale and range of policy […]

• Architecture • Business • Coronavirus • Nov 10, 2020
Architecture’s content dilemma: when you build and they don’t come

Architecture’s reticence to change cannot afford to extend to website content. It is time for the industry to innovate beyond project detail posts and director Q&As. Here are four alternatives. As a business practice, architectural culture is fantastically slow to change. The industry puts on and takes off styles and design trends with ease, but […]

• Architecture • Business • Oct 29, 2020
B Corp Certification with Kosloff Architecture

Well prior to establishing Melbourne-based Kosloff Architecture in 2017, founders Julian Kosloff and Stephanie Bullock knew they wanted to align their practice with the principles of a B Corp. “It was one of the first decisions we made,” says Bullock. “The first question we asked ourselves is ‘what do we want this to be?’ The […]

• Architecture • Business • Oct 22, 2020
The office isn’t dead, but will be 20% smaller says Unispace

Workplace design specialists Unispace have created a predictive tool that models expected office re-occupancy levels post-COVID-19 and provides space allocation recommendations.  The Predictive Analytics Tool (PAT) leverages 3.2 million data points from the Bureau of Labour Statistics to help businesses across industries prepare for their return to the office.  The tool is able to forecast […]

• Architecture • Business • Coronavirus • Oct 14, 2020
4 additions for the architect’s bookshelf

A humorous critique of architecture’s taxonomies, a celebration of the site-specific Sunshine Coast design and a curation of essays on how the industry should respond to COVID-19 are some of the best architecture book releases of 2020. Architecture as a Global System: Scavengers, Tribes, Warlords and Megafirms by Dr Peter Raisbeck Raisbeck goes beyond standard […]

• Architecture • Business • Oct 7, 2020
Lending changes boost home ownership

The Federal Government has given a boost to economic recovery post-pandemic by removing restrictive lending requirements for finance lenders, including mortgage finance.  Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “We commend the Federal Government for winding back regulation to a more reasonable position that allows the market more flexibility to approve housing finance. We […]

• Architecture • Business • News • Sep 30, 2020
Hassell announces new board members for three-year practice vision

Two new members have been appointed to Hassell’s board for three-year terms. Liz Westgarth joins the board after nine years with the firm’s Sydney studio, recognised for their work at 60 Martin Place for Investa, The State Library of NSW, and Metro North West. Prior to Hassell, Westgarth was with Foster + Partners and Future […]

• Architecture • Business • Sep 22, 2020
BLP ushers in new leadership era with Tara Veldman as managing director

Australian architecture firm Billard Leece Partnership (BLP), has appointed 12 principals and 11 associates as its new leadership team.  After 25 years of practice, BLP, a 130-strong team with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, is moving to a more inclusive model of ownership recognising performance and fostering diversity of talent.  Following David Leece’s recent retirement […]

• Architecture • Business • Sep 17, 2020
BESIX and Watpac integrate to create multi-disciplinary contractor

The integration of BESIX and Watpac construction companies creates a new multi-disciplinary contractor, bringing a unique offering to Australian and New Zealand markets. The capability of internationally acclaimed BESIX Group has been combined with iconic local brand, Watpac to form BESIX Watpac, heralding a new approach to the construction industry. The expertise that delivered the […]

• Architecture • Business • Sep 15, 2020