ASPECT Studios

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) blends a live-judged awards program with an array of seminars and information-sharing opportunities, Bringing together architects, designers, and urban thinkers from around the world, WAF is the world's premier celebration of architecture and design. ASPECT Studio’s Matthew Mackay will be presenting the WAFX Water Prize-winning Greenline Project on behalf of the City of Melbourne and Taylor Cullity Lethlean. He will also participate in a panel discussion with Antoine Besseyre Des Horts, Patrick Speck, Kongjian Yu and Pannipa Ponghanpanit (moderator). Panelists will discuss the future of environmental sustainability and the need for continuous innovation to tackle the unique challenges that water presents.   Reach out to Matthew to arrange a meeting during the event. EVENT DETAILS When: Wednesday, 6 – Friday, 8 November 2024 Where: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore View the full programme here: https://lnkd.in/gnN8XnPf

Celebrating excellence in Australian landscape architecture, the 2024 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Landscape Architecture Awards were unveiled last week in Melbourne. The University of Melbourne Student Precinct won the National Landscape Architecture Award in the Civic Landscape category. The transformation of the 18,000m² Student Precinct was a collaborative effort, with the jury praising the design team for creating "a richly textured experience that deepens users' connection to culture, environment, and place." The revitalised Precinct now serves both the student body and the surrounding community, as a space for connection and engagement. Thank you to AILA for this award and congratulations to our collaborators: GLAS Landscape Architects with Lyons, Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc., NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architecture + Greenshoot, and Architects EAT. Photography: Drew Echberg Photographer, Peter Bennetts and Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri people

The Greenline Project Masterplan has won the National Landscape Architecture Award in the Landscape Planning category at the 2024 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) National Awards, held last night in Melbourne. These awards celebrate excellence in landscape architecture across Australia. The City of Melbourne's Greenline Project aims to transform the rivers north bank, creating an iconic new parkland and urban promenade along the north bank. As part of the ongoing recovery of the CBD, the project will link a series of ecologically and culturally rich spaces, connecting people, the city, and the water. The jury was impressed by the seamless integration of cultural, environmental, and urban elements. They praised the design team's thorough community consultation, high-quality concept communication, depth of thinking, and exemplary leadership and collaboration. Thank you to AILA for this award and congratulations to our partners, City of Melbourne and Taylor Cullity Lethlean. Traditional Owners: Wurundjeri People

Over the past few months, we’ve seen Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) Young Street Campus Park in Melbourne transform from a multi-story concrete car park into a vibrant green space, providing a peaceful retreat for students and the wider community. Following the completion of the St Teresa of Kolkata Building, the old car park was demolished to make way for this 1,800m² park. Designed in close collaboration with ACU, the space incorporates symbols of faith and unity through its carefully crafted furniture and paving as well as the recently acquired artwork ‘Under the Obelisk’ by esteemed Japanese artist Akio Makigawa. The park features an expansive lawn, diverse planting, and new trees, offering areas for social gatherings, outdoor study, and quiet contemplation. The Young Street Campus Park is set to open in the coming months, bringing a welcoming and inclusive green space to the heart of the campus. Thanks to our project collaborators: ACU Delta Group, SPARK, Concretum, Aurecon, TTW, Urbis, Arup, and Smart Water Corporation.

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project helped to advance the idea that major infrastructure projects can create high-quality public space. A post-occupancy study with Place Intelligence ®, using mobile device data, has shown the project as not only a transitory space but also as a destination in its own right. Visitors are actively engaging with the parklands, seating areas, and activity nodes, throughout the day and into the evening. It is important that we revisit past projects to assess the performance of our designs and offer valuable learnings on how projects like these can help sculpt and support communities. Read more about the study, and the design of the project here: https://lnkd.in/euVEUQuw

The Australian Catholic University Saint Teresa of Kolkata Building is transforming the St Patrick’s campus at ACU in Melbourne. Located in the evolving Fitzroy area, this vertical campus integrates terrace and rooftop spaces that offer moments of reflection and connection. From sunken gardens in the lobby to contemplative terraces and a rooftop sports court, every level is designed with purpose. With biophilic study areas and a focus on faith and spirituality, the project blends nature, learning, and community in a unique urban campus environment, offering spaces for both quiet contemplation and community gatherings. Thanks to our collaborators for bringing this project to life; Lyons, Fytogreen Australia Pty Ltd, Aurecon, Arup, Cardno, and AECOM. Photography: Peter Bennetts

We are passionate about ensuring that urban densification is done well, creating cities that are exciting, convenient, and desirable for families. In Sydney's inner-city suburb of Alexandria, residents can now enjoy a world-class, FIFA-certified sports facilities, alongside the existing basketball courts, at the revitalised Perry Park, designed by an ASPECT Studios-led team. This accessible, leafy space features both new and preserved native trees, active transport, with the Bourke Street cycleway providing safe access for surrounding suburbs by bicycle and a new amenities building designed by Scale Architecture. Congratulations go to the City of Sydney for this demonstration of their commitment to ensuring the public has access to high-quality spaces and recreation facilities. Photography: Sara Vita

Protecting nature and biodiversity is essential to achieving decarbonisation goals and addressing the effects of climate change. As built environment professionals, we have a key responsibility to minimise harm, connect with nature, and restore biodiversity in our buildings and precincts. ASPECT Studios' Erwin Taal along with speakers Abigail Heywood, Emily Low, Hui-Anne Tan, Philip Martin, Ross Barton and Elham Monavari (moderator) will discuss ‘strategies for achieving nature outcomes’, as part of the Green Building Council of Australia’s 'Nature and Biodiversity Masterclass'. Speakers will share strategies for biodiversity, nature assessment and incorporation, highlighting their application at project, precinct, and masterplan levels. This session sets the stage for improving outcomes in these critical areas. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gdbYDNbY

Designed by our Brisbane Studio, the renovation of Banfield Street in Brisbane, a part of the Westfield Chermside precinct, sees the transformation of a once transient and shadeless area into a versatile outdoor space that supports the functions of a diverse commercial precinct and encourages outdoor interaction and respite. The new landscape design offers ample seating for groups of all sizes, complemented by much-needed shade. Working closely with MPN Consulting to navigate the existing foundations, the design carefully positions new planters and shade structures optimally. Sustainability remained a priority throughout the process, with existing planter walls retained and soil reconditioned to reduce waste and costs. The renovation also includes façade updates by Plus Architecture, further enhancing the precinct. Photography: Yan Chen

When designing spaces in regions with extreme heat, we prioritise enhancing usability during the hotter months by addressing thermal comfort through a range of strategies. These include bespoke shade structures, garden rooms, seating areas, flexible spaces for both large and small scale events and everyday leisure activities as well as creating moments for connection and engagement.   In the example below from our Dubai Studio, the team leveraged digital design to explore innovative shapes and forms, developing solutions that effectively respond to the region's intense climate.