The Embassy of Australia, Washington D.C. | Bates Smart

The Embassy of Australia in Washington embodies the essence of our vast continent. The building’s transparency manifests the inherent Australian values of welcomeness and trust, while the interior’s expansive atmosphere is representative of the vastness of the Australian landscape.

At the heart of the building, a large atrium serves as an orientating space displaying a powerful connection between the ground and the sky.

The building hosts the representational public realm which consists of a sequence of gallery spaces and function areas, while private access leads to the consular department and government workspace.

The representational spaces are defined by strong materiality with Australian timber panels transitioning from rough to smooth, mirroring the eucalypt forest’s cycle of growth, burn and regrowth.

Australian art, sculptures, rugs and furniture are featured throughout, emphasising local artistic excellence, rich Indigenous heritage and depict the stories of vibrant diaspora communities, showcasing our creative culture to the world.

Plastic Pavilion | TERROIR

The 2023 UIA World Congress of Architects featured ten “Copenhagen Pavilions”. This pavilion was located on a critical site in central Copenhagen – Gammelstrand, or old beach, which for years was the site of fish markets bought on small boats. Noting the confluence of plastic waste and damage to marine ecosystems, we envisaged the project as a “cloud” of “good plastic” to counter the plastic island that now inhabit our oceans and in doing so, challenge mainstream con¬ceptions of sustainability by examining the role that plastic might play as we transition to a decarbonized economy.

Plastic has largely been written out of these discussions yet we all still need it, especially when we are in hospital, for example. Methods for recycling and upcycling and re-using the plastic in circulation are required. The pavilion structure and exhibition showcases innovative new products that can substitute materials with greater CO2 emissions.

Lu Style – Shanghai | Schin Architects with Atelier W

Lu Style Shanghai is the seventh edition of this boutique restaurant chain. Situated in a pair of traditional Shanghai Shikumen dwellings, the restaurant serves luxury cuisine originating from the coastal Shandong province.

The project comprises a combination of dining formats with an emphasis on private dining rooms combined with three bar areas and a flexible multi–purpose art gallery and function space. Working within the tight confines of a reconstructed heritage site, we sought to bring a light touch and breathe a breath of fresh air into the formal and somewhat austere buildings. The result was a series of spaces that were unexpected and engaging, encouraging further exploration.

Långhus | RAAarchitects Pty Ltd

Långhus – an Australian summerhouse in the Swedish countryside.
After 35 years in Australia, I rediscovered a site close to where I grew up. My connection to this land is strong and continues to evoke a visual and emotional sense of belonging, both to the land and its people.
The idea behind the building is continuity with the landscape.
Simple planning controls (area, height, and roof pitch) governs the site. From the western vernacular–like facade, the roof tilts up and down to maximise internal volume.
A narrow plan, extensive glazed areas and a neutral palette of colours highlight the connection to surrounding nature. The green carpet creates a medium for vegetation to ‘flow’ through the house.
The dark colours of the steel-clad roof and walls, and pine gables recess the house and prevents competition with the colours of nature. Only in snow, does the building stand out.

Kimbe Market Redevelopment | PAWA Architecture

Kimbe Market in West New Britain Province, PNG is the economic and social heart of the local community. Dependence on the ageing infrastructure highlighted the need for a redevelopment that increased capacity and delivered improvements in health, climatic response and community safety, particularly for women who make up 80% of vendors.

The redevelopment has delivered a market environment that improves user experience through improved airflow, reduced density and cleanliness. Safety has been improved through lighting, bathrooms and washing areas, onsite storage facilities and onsite banking allowing vendors to safely bank daily takings.

The West New Britain Governor has stated that “the newly opened markets not only provide a vibrant hub for economic activities, but also serve as a symbol of dignity and empowerment for the province’s hardworking farmers and vendors.”

The redevelopment was delivered by a partnership between West New Britain, Australian and New Zealand Governments.

Je ne sais quoi Villas | EMKC3

This new boutique resort in Seminyak, Bali features six teardrop-shaped villas with crescent-shaped roofs in an intelligent approach to a small site. Je Ne Sais Quoi or JNSQ gives guests the option to be social in a communal area or retreat entirely to their own private sanctuary.

Each of the six villas has its own minimalist–designed private interior, with a centrally–placed bed, multifunctional bedhead/desk, lounge area, mini bar and bathroom, looking out onto its own plunge pool. Even though each room is only 45 square metres, the open plan design and multifunctional furniture make it look larger.

The interior design at Je Ne Sais Quoi deliberately goes against the traditional Bali look to provide a more minimal and contemporary palette. Venetian plaster was used on all internal walls to create a soft, textured and neutral tone complemented by furnishings in shades of black and grey to reduce visual impact.

Acticity Centre for Dance and Movement-based Arts | Gall and Associates – Gall és Társai Építésziroda

The 120-year-old Children’s Hospital (Lajos Ybl 1904) had been uninhabited since 1995. European Capital of Culture in 2023, the historic city of Veszprém chose to rejuvenate brown-field infrastructure to serve community needs.
At the outer point of a “green corridor” leading to inner-city institutions, the site is a point of “urban acupuncture”, interwoven with public space and the adjacent university campus through strategic removal of boundaries.
Despite the key-location, the site was derelict. An innovative design program and public access create significant new amenity. Based on a need for community spaces for dance and movement across ages, the architects formulated the functional program with the parent organization, which has successfully operated sustainable cultural programs for over ten years.
The architects synchronized flexible indoor-outdoor programming, financial and community sustainability, and various tenant specifics (ballet, folk-dancing, wall-climbing) with an analysis of existing fabric potential.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands | KHA Pte Ltd

K11 Art Mall | Hassell

Paris Apartment | Wood Marsh Architecture