Cunnamulla Hot Springs | COX Architecture
Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of southwest Queensland, Australia, Cunnamulla stands as an inviting haven for adventurous travelers in search of an unparalleled outback experience. Situated along the tranquil banks of the Warrego River, Cunnamulla unveils a captivating landscape where the vast plains seamlessly merge with the boundless skies, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
At the heart of this setting lies a serene bathing oasis, where mineral rich artesian waters flow beneath the earth’s surface. Here, guests are invited to embark on a journey of relaxation and rejuvenation amidst a constellation of geothermal mineral pools, complemented by a cold plunge pool, sauna, and steam room. Shaded by the graceful coolabah and eucalyptus trees that line the riverside, visitors can unwind and immerse themselves in the tranquility of their surroundings, while basking under the mesmerizing starlit skies of the outback during nighttime soaks.
Coulson Creek Shed | Reddog Architects
Coulson Creek Shed was envisioned as a rural retreat where the convergence of nature and communal spaces would harmonize seamlessly. Sited away from the property entry, the home intentionally turns it back to the road to provide privacy to the internal and external living spaces. Deliberate orientation of the shed towards the north captures the panoramic spectacle of Mount Greville and Coulson Creek strategically framed by carefully placed windows in the main bedroom and living room. An expressed portal structural with corrugated zincalume cladding references the shed typology common in the area while allowing for a more refined interior. The idea of a rural shed, however, serves as a mere facade, concealing a more cultivated interior.
Eromanga Natural History Museum | Architectus
The Eromanga Natural History Museum is designed to showcase the museums collections and activities to the public, provide exceptional research facilities, and prepare for a future exhibition space.
The project includes an entry building with public spaces, a courtyard and workplace. A research building houses labs and spaces for fossil preparation and storage.
On Boonthamurra Country in remote Queensland, the museums simple yet elegant concrete form sits comfortably within the landscape. From a low ridgeline, it opens to views of bloodwood trees and gilgai wetlands, while its canopy provides shade and textured walls respond to light conditions.
Understanding the remote context and the clients notforprofit status, the team designed the museum to withstand extreme temperatures and selected robust systems and materials to minimise costs.
Close collaboration and thoughtful design have resulted in a museum that is memorable and engaging for visitors and supportive and inspiring for staff and volunteers.
East Toowoomba Renovation | Kin Architects
East Toowoomba Renovation distils an abundance of ideas into an enriched long-term home for a family of six. A careful renovation and rear extension to our clients’ humble cottage has retained its charm and street presence, while allowing it to deftly accommodate four kids and two parents who work from home. The L-shaped extension wraps around the cottage, forming courtyards where the two meet, and houses generous shared spaces that open seamlessly to their garden. Fairy gardens, ‘rat runs’ and thoughtful kids’ retreats are integrated throughout the home, infusing it with child-centric magic. Grounded in pragmatism, including meticulously designed workflows and a tailored office for each parent, the design responds to the busyness of our clients’ daily lives – but more importantly, it connects to their beloved landscape, prioritises moments of delight and fosters togetherness for this close-knit, community-minded family.
Dorge | Base Architecture
Dorge stands proudly at the precipice of Toowoomba’s Glenn Lomond Park. Through its grandeur of scale, form and materiality it is a home that presents itself to be robust to the first-time visitor, however once welcomed inside, the softer interior begins to reveal itself. The interior architecture humbly steps back to play background, while allowing the captivating surroundings of this family home to take the lead role. With a subtle nod to Australian homesteads of the past and present, this home celebrates the best of rural life and a harmonious relationship with landscape.
Good Samaritan College, Polding Place | Speculative Architecture and Brammer Architects, architects in association
With a focus upon student wellbeing and community engagement, Polding Place at Good Samaritan College Toowoomba contains classrooms, Food Technology teaching spaces with a commercial kitchen, Cafe, and a Design Technology workshop. Each space is naturally ventilated with good access to breezes and controlled daylight. Outdoor learning spaces are located adjacent to traditional teaching spaces and are flexible for social activities. Materials and niches have been selected that are robust, with low maintenance, while providing continuity with the existing campus buildings to reinforce the identity and history of the College.
The main social space of the College is revitalised by the new building framing, and providing an active social edge to, a central courtyard. Integrated planting, through vines and shade trees, mediate the outdoor spaces to provide cool and social landscapes to be enjoyed.
Ipswich Hospital Mental Health Acute Inpatient Services | Hassell
Ipswich Hospital’s Acute Mental Health Unit builds on a foundation of healing to create an environment that nurtures wellbeing and mindfulness. The interiors are integral to the holistic design concept, establishing a setting of calm, restoring dignity to the healing journey and normalising mental health care in the community.
Through the codesign process, Hassell collaborated with consumers, carers, clinicians, allied health professionals, operations staff and community groups to shape the healing environment. Meaningful engagement with First Nations representatives has delivered a culturally safe environment with integrated landscapes, bush medicine, sunlit interiors, colours that reflect Country and artworks by local artists.
Shed for Propagation | Marc & Co
The clients love for gardening extends to propagation. The small triangular site was selected as a way of resolving a kink in the formal geometry of the Paul Bangay designed garden. The propagation shed becomes part of the system of hedges using a timber screen for planting, so it merges into the hedges. Inside a green marble is for garden work or a cup of tea. The shed goes beyond propagation to become a place of beauty, hope and joy.
Talgai Homestead Ram Stud Shed | KIRK
The Talgai Ram Stud Shed was an underutilised structure on a property that gets high use. Talgai is a fully operational farm, where they also host gatherings and events. Rather than building an entirely new structure for their use, the client wanted to reengage with the heritage structure already onsite. This is a more sustainable approach with the revitalisation of a largely unused structure on the property.
The Talgai Homestead and Ram Stud Shed, being an important heritage site, the project was required to adhere to strict guidelines within the Queensland State heritage register. KIRK acknowledged that new fit out materials and fittings should be ‘of our time’ and of good quality. The onsite team had to be cautious and sensitive towards original and early fabric of the building.
The Ninth Middle Ridge | Cox Architecture
The Ninth was developed for Aura, a private operator of Independent Living design on an existing 18 hole Golf course. It occupies an underused site in the northeastern corner of Middle Ridge Golf Club comprising 74 independent retirement living units apportioned across three buildings.
The proposal was structured around the creation of a village green at the heart of the three buildings.
Pedestrian access is organised under sheltered links to promote social activity, community and connectedness between residents. The village green looks out over the putting greens of the golf course and reciprocal relationship of views and backdrop are formed.
The stepped buildings use language of brick screening elements to direct views.
The scheme minimises the removal of existing vegetation and maximise views to the course and Silver Ridge beyond. The project creates a community identity within the site and has a symbiotic relationship with the Club offering shared services.
