News page 4

Donald K Turner Address

On 12th September, Philip delivered the Donald K Turner Address at the University of NSW. The lecture was titled ‘Architectural Culture: From Site to Society’ and looked at a range of projects through the lens of architectural culture – retracing our steps from built project to inception to locate each within our understanding of its broader architectural lineage. The address can be viewed, courtesy of the University of NSW, here

Canberra Medallion

We are delighted to announce that Constitution Avenue has been awarded the John Overall Prize for Urban Design and the Canberra Medallion at the recent ACT Institute of Architects Awards. The project was a collaboration involving the National Capital Authority, Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture, Hill Thalis, SMEC and AECOM. The jury citation notes that, ‘ the character of the avenue is responsive to its location and varies in scale from civic to boulevard, bushland to ceremonial effortlessly.’ It describes the project an exemplar of how to plan, design and deliver public domain works.

Narara Eco Village Update

Congratulations to the Narara Ecovillage, who four and a half years after making an offer for the land:

  • Are now 2/3 of the way through the civil works for stage 1
  • Were recently awarded an ARENA grant of nearly $1m toward a ‘smart grid’ for their electric network
  • Have membership now, of over 80 families and 160 adults and children

See latest photographs of the civil works here.

Verve Apartments, Newcastle

Our major new twin apartment tower scheme, designed in association with CKDS Architects, for Windham King has just been lodged in Newcastle. Look for details on our website shortly.

Book Launch

We’re delighted to be the subject of the second volume of URO media’s Minimono Series.

The book features a foreword from AIA Gold Medallist Lawrence Nield, an essay co-authored by architects David Neustein and Michael Neustein and an interview between Philip Thalis, Rachel Neeson and Richard Francis-Jones.

Books are available for purchase online from Uro Publications

Congratulations to our Urban Provocateur!

We’re delighted to see Benjamin Driver awarded in the DARCH awards for his passionate commitment to urban issues.

2016

Late 2015 saw the completion of projects in Strathfield and Burwood – middle ring housing sites with transitional urban conditions.

We begin 2016 with works on Campbell Section5 reaching a conclusion and works on Constitution Avenue continuing. Builders have been appointed for the Sydney University Boatshed We have a number of Development Applications on small, challenging inner urban sites in various Councils, and we are working on a range of family houses, due to begin construction in the next few months.

We hope to progress works on an adaptive reuse project in the beautiful Beynon and Hayward building Petersham, and see the commencement of the Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk towards the latter part of this year.