Hotel Marvell | HGA Studio
Located in the heart of Byron, renowned for its vibrant culture and landscapes, Hotel Marvell stands as a boutique sanctuary with 24 rooms. Situated between Marvell Street and Marvell Lane, its design incorporates a double-height ‘laneway’ through the site, allowing a new public hangout and passage through the development. Lush vegetation hangs through the laneway, adding to the pursuit of ’Tropical Brutalism’. Strong Concrete detailing and warm robust rendered surfaces add warmth to the palette. the hotel is an oasis that merges the public and private realms to create connections between hotel guests and locals enjoying the space. Its rooftop consists of both a bar and a pool that provides a unique perspective on the coastal landscape.
Brahminy House | HGA Studio
Brahminy House, perched over wategos beach, was named after two nesting Brahimny kites next to the site. The design integrates seamlessly with its lush hillside surroundings, framing views of the bay. Materials like spotted gum and terracotta tones enhance sensory experiences and minimise glare.
Situated on a steep north-facing site, the house anchors into the hillside, offering ocean vistas and views of the nearby lighthouse. It balances panoramic views while maintaining privacy through landscaping and restrained openings. The design aims to create a sanctuary at the back to counteract the ocean’s vastness and strong winds.
Open-plan living and dining areas foster connection, while innovative off-form concrete detailing . Strategic landscaping enriches the environment, balancing built form and nature. Brahminy House is a timeless sanctuary, embodying coastal living and innovative design.
Bonito | HGA Studio
Bonito, within Hotel Marvell, integrates with its urban surroundings by transforming the hotel’s laneway into an al fresco dining oasis, filled with natural light and lush vegetation. This greenery provides a refreshing contrast to the surrounding buildings, enhancing the dining experience.
Inside, Bonito features a central sculptural bar with elegant green marble tops, offering a visual counterpoint to its ocean-inspired menu. Warm walnut veneers and accents of red micro cement panels create a cosy yet vibrant atmosphere that sit with the hotel’s warm palette.
By activating the laneway with vegetation, Bonito not only expands its seating area but also creates a serene ambiance that complements Byron Bay’s coastal charm. This thoughtful design not only enriches the dining experience but also connects guests with nature in an otherwise urban setting.
C House | Donovan Hill
UQ Brisbane City | BVN
In 2019, The University of Queensland (UQ) purchased the state heritage listed building, 308 Queen Street and its 2008 tower extension. The scheme establishes a distinctive, state-of-the art learning environment through the through the conversion of the historic bank and modern commercial tower, providing new settings for postgraduate students within the Architecture and Business Schools, alongside a hub for UQ alumni.
Three key space types were identified: Teaching Suites, Creative Suites, and a series of unique Engagement Spaces. Collectively they provide both informal and formal teaching and learning environments at varying scales, from individual to group and large format.
Bombala | Sealand
A light-filled house with protection from the subtropical sun, wind and rain.
Bombala is a house for a couple to enjoy a relaxed lifestyle and entertain friends and family.
The first challenge was to open the house to the outside, while also being able to provide protection from the subtropical sun and rain. To maximise light, ventilation and water views, we used big sliding glass doors and windows that could open to the outside.
To provide protection from the summer sun and rain, windows and doors have overhanging roofs and timber vertical screens. We also included two covered deck spaces. One on the north and one on the south. The clients can move around the house to be out of the wind, or to enjoy the ideal sun conditions, depending on the time of day and year.
Hassell Studio Brisbane | Hassell
Hassell’s new Brisbane studio, located on Yuggera and Turrbal Country, is housed within the old Peter’s Ice Cream Factory at West Village, West End. Workspaces enable collaboration, visibility, and flexibility, support agile working, and give staff greater autonomy as they choose their daily setting depending on their needs.
Abundant natural light and lush subtropical planting provide visual relief and calm to support staff wellbeing. Rough edges and historical graffiti have been preserved and softened with natural, sustainable finishes like cork and terracotta. The studio’s adaptability supports after dark client events and community gatherings.
High Street | Lineburg Wang
A tiny pre1911 cottage on a tiny 253m2 site, the design works hard to find generosity.
The existing house is moved forward, a relaxation to all boundary edges enables enough space to construct one special room to the rear.
The project builds less in order to provide generosity on a constrained site the special room remains flexible, void of any fixed walls or cabinetry that could dictate the permanence of the occupant’s routine.
The room is an empty square, serviced by a utility core, circumnavigated by a split-level stair. By removing obstacles, the special room is free, occupied only by loose furnishings, changeable. With doors open, the internal and external public space operates as a single volume, sharing the same brick materiality.
The project challenges the commonly prescribed room requirements of today’s homes, working with strategies of expanding constrained space to ensure the small site does not feel small.
Law Society House | BVN
The Queensland Law Society House has been reimagined as a hub for the law community and a contemporary workplace with a transformation of their 1986 Bligh Jessup Brentnall designed Brisbane city premises. The project focuses on promoting engagement and creating memorable spaces for members, employees, and the public.
The vision of Queensland Law Society (QLS) was to provide both a destination for their community to connect and collaborate in a hive of activity by facilitating social and corporate interactions, and a contemporary workplace for the QLS staff to support membership. Key aspects of the strategic reorganisation include: the consolidation of outdated workplace into 2 new levels of contemporary activity based working; a generous top floor suite of members spaces; and the opening up of the ground floor to Ann Street to welcome QLS members, staff and the public with a new series of spaces for interaction and exchange.
Rivière | Bates Smart
Rivière adds a striking presence to its clifftop location in Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point. The sawtooth tower references the natural faceted forms of the neighbourhood’s cliffs. Along with an alternating pattern of outboard living spaces and balconies, the form opens up views of the river, Botanic Gardens and the city’s rapidly changing skyline.
The tower’s unique façade combines board marked concrete, breezeblock, and glazed brick. Apartments are planned to maximise spatial efficiency, views, natural light and cool summer breezes. Native planting weaves through the entire building, starting at the entry and culminating on the impressive communal rooftop, making Rivière feel like an oasis within its urban context.
Interiors are refined and elegant with resort-like amenities. The spacious lobby doubles as a social meeting place and flexible workspace. A gym, pool, theatre room and wine room mean residents won’t need to leave home when they want to work out, relax or entertain.
