See the latest offering to Perth from Gresley Abas Architects and Colgan Industries:

http://www.soda-apartments.com.au/

Gresley Abas amongst a host of other Flinders Street Station Design Competition entries have gone on exhibit in Melbourne last week.

Ahmad and Mim attended the opening.

Follow these links to check out more info.

Architecture & Design – Architecture rebels reveal Flinders Street Competition entries

The Red and the Black Architect – Flinders Street Designs Set Free

Check out our entry here…

The Victorian Government is currently running an international ideas competition for Flinders Street Train Station, to ‘re-energise the station and its surrounds, preserve its heritage and improve transport functions.’

118 entries were submitted from across the globe, including one from Gresley Abas, in association with Tim Pardoe and Luis Schilling.

Check out our entry below, the result of a pizza-fueled late night or two.

Our proposition aimed to consolidate the site as the principle public transport hub for city commuters, so we reconfigured the streets to optimise the precinct as a pedestrian-friendly civic and transport hub. At the same time, we introduced a range of public and private uses, civic accessibility and activation at all scales. We brought new life to both sides of the Flinders Street Administration Building, preserving the existing qualities that currently exist over, under and alongside the current station operations, and introduced new uses and development opportunities at the western end of the site.

Our strategy was simple. The Station Precinct was opened up to public access, offering its potential to the same urban revolution that has occurred elsewhere in Melbourne. Our proposition aimed to create the conditions that would allow the existing urban momentum to grow into the spaces that are offered by the redevelopment of the site.

The solution was based on:

• Transport transfer efficiency – improved access and egress to all train platforms, particularly from the western approach
• Permeability – pedestrian access created across the site to reconnect the precincts and attractions distributed around all sides of the station: particularly the north-south connection between Southbank and city centre.
• Activation – the Station precinct established not just as a public transport transit hub, but as an activated iconic destination in its own right. This would include the introduction of activation and adaptive uses to existing buildings, and the creation of new development at all scales along the edges and over the top of the site.

In order to achieve all this, an elevated ground plane was draped across the site to extend a pedestrian trajectory that commences at the existing eastern concourse. Moving westwards, this new podium performs as Precinct entrance, Station concourse, public open space, and mixed-Use development podium.

Along this east-west trajectory, numerous connections were established to the north and south, allowing complete permeability across the precinct. These will be key in unlocking the existing ‘separation’ between the Hoddle Grid, Southbank and Federation Square.

Congratulations and good luck to the 6 shortlisted entries!

We are very very pleased and proud to announce that we have been awarded at the 2012 AIA Awards on friday past.

We took out an architecture award for public architecture with the Belmont Trade Training Centre and an award in the Residential category of Alterations and Additions for the Gresley Monk House

We want to thank all involved in these projects. I think its fair to say that they have been highly rewarding for all involved – from conception through to completion. Thanks!

(Latest News – 2012 AIA Residential Alterations and Additions Award winner!)

At last Justine and I are able to show our completed addition. Typically, as two architects its taken us about 10 years…

Justine wrote this great description….

“In the 1950’s the WA Railways Commission undertook the building of homes for workers and their families in the new subdivision of Bedford Park.  Today, the owners of one of these cottages embraced the opportunities of a tight budget, a modest house and a sub-divided block to design an addition that could offer space, light and a sense of generosity to the resident family.  A living, dining and kitchen space, a second bathroom and laundry were conceived as a ‘box’ that would suspend itself from the rear of the existing cottage, sitting above the sloping grade of the block to invite maximum light and space into the home. Good passive solar design was critical to the comfort of the home. Materials were selected for their robustness , warmth  and their ability to balance the expression of solid and void within the ‘box’.”

(Latest News – 2012 AIA Public Architecture Award winner!)

We are very pleased to showcase this recently completed project -  the outcome of the passion and enthusiasm of Project and Design Architect Natalie Hill.

The design approach for the project is focused on providing an effective operational environment for the delivery of Hospitality training packages. The facilities are laid out to accommodate skills training style classes, with a demonstration bench facing work areas that accommodate up to 16 students in a class. The facilities also accommodate A La Carte training and service which interfaces with a restaurant environment.
Primarily the intention was to create a functional and comfortable facility that also provided engaging, flexible spaces that energise students, teachers and the community.
A series of folded pale green ceiling planes allow an abundance of natural light, while a glazed perimeter frees the roof volume from the walls creating a sense of lightness for the students, teachers and patrons inside. Externally, insitu concrete planter boxes for a future produce garden aspire to connect students with the elemental aspects of food. They also promote positive exchanges between patrons of the restaurant and students emerging from the kitchen to collect items such as herbs, tomatoes or fruits.

The articulation of simple qualities of space and light have aspired to create positive teaching and learning spaces that are open, communicative and connected.

Trevor and Darrel from the college have both expressed great delight with the outcome and GA are very proud to have been involved in such a great project team. Thanks too to Shane and Tristan from PACT constructions for doing such a great job. Nice one boys.

Handover of the new Donnybrook Medical Centre to The Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup was official on 24^th June 2011!

Located adjacent to the Donnybrook Regional Hospital this great new facility will provide a long-awaited new home for the local General Practice plus a separate tenancy for pathology services.

This low-key but edgy facility combines elements of the local vernacular and a human scale with a slightly quirky architecture incorporating finishes such as glass-faced cement render, slick white joinery, a striking ‘green apple’ perforated aluminium screen and a warm twist on the traditional blue/green palette of health service facilities of the past.

Congratulations to the contractor, Cimeco, who, after a very slow start in 2010, pulled a rabbit out of a hat to reach Practical Completion only two weeks behind the contracted date.

Credit also goes to Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup’s CEO, John Attwood and Councillor Peter McCabe for both fitting the client side of this challenging project into their busy schedules and for the faith and goodwill they demonstrated in allowing architects to be architects and do their thing, often against their better judgement!

The result is terrific and …..certainly if the number of local sight-seers cruising through the carpark at night-time for a look-see is anything to go by…….then this building will be a credit and an asset to the Shire for years to come!

The striking ‘green apple’ perforated aluminium screen

The new Aboriginal Interpretive Centre has reached Practical Completion!!

A great strength of this project is the three public artworks:

Interpretive Wall – Norma MacDonald (with assistance from Concreto)

Interpretive Canopy – Shane Pickett (with assistance from Stuart Green)

Community Artwork – Sandra Hill and Jenny Dawson

The Centre which was commissioned by the Armadale Redevelopment Authority as part of it’s Champion Lakes Development will be handed over before the end of the year.  The centre, through artwork and performance provides and interpretive journey to all who visit it.  The amphitheater, audio visual infrastructure and changeroom  facilities will enable performances ranging from a simple daytime performance right through to a sophisticated production……

Its taken a while, but we have recovered from the party that was the AIA(WA) Awards.

This year had over 140 entries and it was universally agreed that they were all of a high quality.

We all had a great night out together and were very pleased to receive commendations for two of our projects.

Commendation: Scene Apartments (Multi-Residential Category)

See more here

Commendation: Central Park (Urban Design)

See more  here

With construction well ahead of schedule, the new sports pavilion for the Shire of Capel, located in the beachside locality of Dalyellup, south of Bunbury, will provide the community with a vibrant, purpose-built, modern facility to serve the sporting needs of a rapidly-growing community.   

The sports pavilion comprises two separate change room blocks and a central amenities building, all connected by functional paved covered areas.  Tiered concrete bleachers provide significant viewing areas for the ovals to the north and the east whilst the elevated Meeting Room and Kiosk overlook a grassy bank, landscaping and facility for a future playground whilst also enjoying uninterrupted panoramic views of the playing fields.

Striking roof forms, curved glass-faced cement rendered retaining walls and brightly painted steel elements add an architectural quality to a suite of robust and highly functional materials.  Brickwork and roofing are now complete and, with windows due this week, internal finishes have already commenced.