A kitchen island sits central to the living spaces of the house and ties in with the raking ceiling geometry.  Bi-fold doors open a sliter of side passage couryard to extend the space of the kitchen in fine weather.

PROJECT: Island House
LOCATION: Summer Hill, NSW
YEAR: 2010 ~ 2012
PEOPLE: Adam Russell, Greg Bachmeyer.
CLIENT: Private Client
COLLABORATORS: Serrao Smith (Engineers).
BUILDER: AKR Constructions
PHOTOGRAPHY: DRAW
PROJECT NUMBER: 0911

A porous circulation system of naturally ventilated breezeways anchor a generous landscaped light court. Every opportunity for sunshine, views and fresh air has been maximised. Although the site is south facing we have achieved solar gain for 87% of the apartments, well over the SEPP 65 requirement.

The Freshwater is a collaboration with Jack Taylor Architects (JTA).

PROGRAM: Multi-unit Housing, 23 apartments
LOCATION: Freshwater, NSW
YEAR: 2013
PEOPLE: Adam Russell, John de Manincor and Imogene Tudor with JTA
CLIENT: QPS Developments Pty Ltd
PROJECT NUMBER: 1207

Slideshow of work by local Chippendale Architecture practices.
ANDERSON ARCHITECTURE (AA)
ANDREW BURNS (ABA)
CARMICHAEL STUDIOS (CS)
DRAW
LACOSTE STEVENSON (L+S)
TERRIOR
WELSH MAJOR (WMA)

We pondered these questions in our recent submission for the $3.8M “Bike Hub” in Taylor Square, Darlinghurst for the City of Sydney – our approach was all of the above!  In addition to the significant energy required to complete the tedious tender schedules for 19 consultants and a concept design, we invested a more into our submission and prepared a graphically compelling summary document in which we attempted to convey our understanding of potential users – Some of the images are included here.

Our team comprised a number of excellent consultants including; Bike Wise, Anagram Studios, Steensen Varming, Sustainable Transport Solutions, Cantilever Engineers and UTS’s u.lab. As a means for our team and the City to fully understand how this new type of space might operate, we proposed a series of ‘ride-in’ brainstorming workshops similar to u.lab’s successful BikeTank series that would be attended by key stakeholders and community organisations.
We came close, HASSELL won the project  - pipped us at the post. Practice capacity (scale) and fee (lower) were contributing factors to their success over us. It will be a great project for the City.

Beyond the initial brief we proposed “The Balcony Room”, a soaring reception space annexed to the Hall that capitalises on a commanding view across the future Alumni Green. The Balcony Room adapts a previously underused terrace, enclosing it to provide a link between the main building foyer and the rich, warm interior. – Photography © Brett Boardman [all rights reserved]

The Balcony Room, sits at the base of an iconic Brutalist tower, providing a bold new identity for the Great Hall in the external envelope and breathing new life into the campus. Glass ‘Pleats’ in the 11 meter high facade open up diagonal views across Alumni Green.

The lofty, light-filled Balcony Room overlooks Alumni Green, the University’s primary landscaped area. A sculptural light fitting (designed by DRAW) uses off-the-shelf light battens to animate the wall surface.

The Mantle comprises over 1000 unique perforated aluminium facets. Designed using Rhino and Grasshopper software, the surface seamlessly integrates audio-visual, lighting, fire, acoustic and mechanical services in a singular dramatic form.

Perforations provide acoustic attenuation across the surface of The Mantle. Two perforation sizes fluctuate through various fields of intensity and across panels to create the soft, organic, surface patination. Lighting is nested within the rhythm of peaks and valleys.

The LED media wall allows the mood of the space to be transformed to suit it’s various modes of use; from graduations, to lectures to the annual student Fashion show (pictured).

Natural light is drawn in through new openings in the roof structure. These roof lanterns reveal changes in light over the course of a day and reduce dependency on artificial lighting.

A mirrored ceiling and vertical strip lighting create the illusion of height in existing low-level aisles. Black velvet curtains improve on acoustic performance and allow the Hall to adapt to various spatial configurations.

The ‘Mantle’ is a fluid and formal addition that envelopes the ceremonial space of the Great Hall.

Roof lanterns wash the side wall in natural light. The yellow operable wall opens the two spaces up to each other allowing the Great Hall to spill out into the Balcony Room. Perfect for larger informal events such as City Campus Open Day.

Elements of the facade are operable allowing the Balcony Room to naturally ventilate for most of the year.

Warm timber panels contain the volume of the Great Hall within the Brutalist podium while vibrant yellow doors announce the two entry points.

Parts of the Balcony Room cantilever two metres beyond the existing structure, creating intimate gathering spaces within the main volume. The self-shading “Pleats” frame oblique views of the landscape beyond. Of an evening the facade becomes more transparent exposing the life of the building and its occupants.

In addition to The Great Hall and Balcony Room, the project includes a new commercial kitchen, Mutli-function Space and involved complete new mechanical and electrical services. The project is part of the University’s multi-million dollar Master Plan which includes buildings designed by Gehry and Partners, Lacoste & Stevenson, PTW, Denton Corker Marshall and Durbach Block Jaggers.

[Photography © Brett Boardman, all rights reserved]

PLAN.

SECTIONS.

REFLECTED CEILING PLAN.

SEE COMPETITION ENTRY AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS HERE.
THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC PHOTOS OF THE HALL IN ACTION ON Anna Zhu’s SITE  ~
HERE,
and HERE

PROJECT: UTS Great Hall and Balcony Room
LOCATION: Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney.
YEAR: 2010 ~ 2011.
CLIENT: University of Technology , Sydney
GROSS FLOOR AREA: 1,985 sqm
VALUE: $8.5M AUD

TEAM:
Competition Phase: Adam Russell, John de Manincor, Fransisco Layson, Chris Steinbach.
Design Development / Documentation: John de Manincor, Adam Russell, Fransisco Layson, Lorraine Yip, Zana Wright, Raffaello Rosselli, Nick Sargent, Leisa Tough.

COLLABORATORS:
Competition Phase: Kann Finch Group (Collaborating Architects), Steensen Varming (Environment / Mechanical / Electrical /Lighting) ARUP (Acoustics / Structure), MBM (Cost Advice)
Design Development / Documentation: Kann Finch Group (Collaborating Architects), Steensen Varming (Environment / Mechanical / Electrical /Lighting), Audio Systems Logic (Acoustics), Simpson Design Associates (Structure), Warren Smith and Partners (Hydraulics/Fire), Blackett Maguire + Goldsmith (BCA), Aquenta (Cost Planner), Philip Chun (Fire Engineering), The Mack Group (Commercial Kitchen)

BUILDER: Lipman.
FACADE: Facade Innovations
MANTLE: Facade Innovations
FACADE ENGINEER: Surface Design
DETAILED MANTLE MODELLING : AR-MA

PHOTOGRAPHY: © Brett Boardman [all rights reserved]
JOB NUMBER: 1007

Operable pivoting screens allow multiple gallery configurations.

The “thick” threshold contains offices and storage spaces.

A series of operable panels  slide and/or pivot to facilitate an infinite range of  configurations within the limits of an existing volume.

Varying wall positions dramatically change the character of the interior.

Reception sits within the carved black threshold.

Sliding panels allow control of natural light depending on particular needs.

Signage animates the upper level entry, whilst new doors connect to an existing elevated terrace.

Operability offers a variety of configurations and lighting possibilities.

PROJECT: Gallery Lane Cove
LOCATION: Lane Cove , NSW
YEAR: 2011 ~ due to open February 2012
PEOPLE: John de Manincor, Lorraine Yip, Adam Russell, Imogene Tudor, Jack Pearce
CLIENT: Lane Cove Council.
COLLABORATORS: Steensen Varming Mechanical and Lighting, Centerhouse and Lane Cove Art Society.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Adam Russell.
JOB NUMBER: 1031

Arrival and signage engaging with the landscape setting of Camperdown Park. Artists activity behind translucent roller doors illuminates the park at night.

A clear distinction is made between the white artist areas and the centrally located shared space in green. (View from Studio A, the artist in residence space).

Concept visualisation.

Our design concept makes a limited number of key moves, each carefully considered and each performing multiple tasks. Our proposal establishes a flexible arrangement of private, open and common spaces that can be adapted to suit occupation by either artist or by both. A level of neutrality is maintained in each creative space as a backdrop to the artists work. This is balanced by a bold a graphically engaging common space that is central to the scheme.

Conceptually the existing interior is stripped back to basics, stabilised and painted bright white. A single, central element is then inserted. This central form provides, screening, storage, security, seating, and an overall sense of drama to the space. It is multi-purpose and operable. The choice of robust materials [chain wire fencing] and bold colour [green] establishes a direct relationship to the sport and recreational facilities of the immediate parkland context.

Translucent roller doors admit an abundance of natural light to Art Camp by day. (Studio B, the mentor artists space).

PROJECT: Marrickville ArtCamp
YEAR: 2011
CLIENT: Marrickville Council
TYPE: Public
VALUE: $45.0k
LOCATION: Camperdown NSW, Australia
PEOPLE: Adam Russell, Frankie Layson
PROJECT NUMBER: 1009

DRAW operates across the spectrum of professional services, design teaching, publication and research. Imogene is highly active in all of these fields. She is a Director of Make Space for Architecture, an independent agency that promotes critical practice in the industry and works to inform the community in order to effect positive change in the built environment. Imogene is an active member of DARCH (Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Emerging Architects and Graduates Committee) and regular tutor at Universities in Sydney.

Imogene is the convener of “ArchiSoccer Sydney” a regular social soccer event on Wednesday evenings in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park (@archisoccer). She was recently awarded a Byera Hadley Traveling Scholarship from the NSW Architects Registration Board to research international examples of promoting architectural issues and ideas to a broad range of audiences.

The jury for the day comprised of:
Tarsha Finney – Architect/Urbanist, Senior Lecturer UTS, PhD candidate at AA (@TarshaFinney)
Marissa Looby – Architect at Woods Bagot (@MarissaLooby)
Sam Crawford – Director of Sam Crawford Architects (@samcrawfordarch)
Rachel Neeson – Director of Neeson Murcutt Architects (www.neesonmurcutt.com)
David Bennett – Founder of Shaping Suburbia (www.shapingsuburbia.com)
Rod Simpson – Assoc Professor Architecture Design & Planning USyd, Director of Simpson Wilson Architecture
Tim Williams  - CEO Committee for Sydney, Arup Head of Policy on Cities team (@Committee4Syd)

Group model at 1:200 scale showing all student projects.

Long Bao Tran – V-House, for your everyday vacation!

William Cai – Living Life, Home and Land Packages.

Ning Zhao – Variable Dwelling.

Shahab Mokhtare – Expandable House.

Collective Cohesion – Simon Gollan.

Minh Duc Pham – Design Meets Policy.