Buchan Perth Studio, photograph by Jes Lindsay.
Rounding up the movers and shakers across architecture and design in February 2024, including news from McGregor Coxall, Buchan and more.
Fender Katsalidis partner, Rob Mirams, has been appointed to the Urban Renewal, TOD and Local Town Centres UDIA NSW 2024 Committee. Aiming to deliver informed solutions to the NSW government, Mirams says that he believes great design engages with arts and culture, history, philosophy and technology. Under his stewardship, FK’s Sydney studio has produced a diverse body of work within masterplanning, mixed-use, multi-residential, hotels, cultural and commercial sectors, with examples including the Central Station Precinct Masterplan, reimagining George Place in Sydney and Garangula Gallery in rural NSW.
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“The UDIA is a proactive organisation championing positive development outcomes. It is a great honour to join the Urban Renewal committee and collaborate with enlightened professionals to find ways to enhance our planning system and the built environment.“ – Rob Mirams, partner at Fender Katsalidis.
Dutch designer, Christien Meindertsma, has been awarded the 2024 MECCA x NGV Women in Design Commission, a major series inviting globally renowned female designers to create groundbreaking new work for the NGV Collection. Meindertsma is the third recipient of the annual, five-year commission series, which has been made possible by a significant contribution from MECCA’s social change movement, M-POWER. The first and only commission series of its kind in Australia, the annual commission creates a platform to present topical, world-premiere works of international significance to highlight the contributions and practices of female designers to the world.
“I feel very honoured to have been awarded this commission and am very much looking forward to making a new work,” says Christien Meindertsma. “This opportunity will allow me to explore and push the possibilities of wool as a strong and at the same time soft material, in directions it has not gone before.”
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The architecture and design firm is expanding its global reach and building strategic partnerships to meet growing demand for cross-sector design in new and existing markets, looking to service clients in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. 2024 sees brand refresh for the 130-year-old practice, which has simplified its name from Buchan Group to Buchan to align with its one-studio vision. A bold colour palette, dynamic graphic language and new website reflect the practice’s evolving culture accompany the changes.
With consolidation of its studios in Australia and New Zealand, Buchan CEO Stephen Auld comments: “We’re committed to staying fresh and ensuring a strong future that builds on our legacy. Our new branding embodies that ethos, and the high value we place on our team. We’re excited to push ourselves and challenge business-as-usual to deliver the highest quality design locally and internationally.”
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Design Nation has appointed Abbey Magalad as Business Development Manager for VIC/QLD. Magalad brings a wealth of experience in luxury goods including fashion, lifestyle and furniture. With over 25 years of experience in the design industry, she says her passion lies in fostering strong, mutually rewarding relationships with her clients.
“I eagerly anticipate collaborating with our clients, working together to find optimal solutions for their challenging projects. With the guiding principle of ‘nothing is ever a problem, always an opportunity,’ Design Nation expresses confidence that Abbey will swiftly become a valued contact within the design community.
Russell Hall takes on the role of Chapter President of the AIA Queensland Chapter. The Brisbane-based architect, experienced in residential retail, commercial and industrial design, shot to prominence for the distinctive dodecagon Carpenter Hall House on Eildon Hill in Wilston, a home now listed on the AIA’s Nationally Significant Architecture. Gold Coast-based Amy Degenhart has served as previous Chapter President for a year.
“I am delighted with the opportunity the position has to confer with governments on regulations and by-laws in the hope of a more climatically appropriate built environment for our state,” says Hall. “The anonymous nature of recent buildings from the arctic to the tropics enabled by energy consumption is an anathema to me. It eliminates place identity. Well-designed homes and buildings use less energy, are healthier and are better for people. That’s why architecture is so important.”
Arcadia has further established its presence in Victoria with the announcement of a new studio in Geelong and new Principal in Melbourne, Elly Russell. With a number of projects in Geelong and surrounding regions, including hospitals and schools, the new studio will be led by Matt York. It joins Arcadia’s offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and the Sunshine Coast.
Principal, Matt York, comments: “Having lived and worked in the region, I recognise the opportunity we can have in helping shape new communities that will be living here in the years to come with great landscape architecture and urban design. With new team members already identified, we are excited to start work and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with a number of local collaborators and authorities to talk about how Arcadia can help deliver open spaces and public domain in the region.”
Elly Russell, Principal of Arcadia Melbourne, adds: “I’m excited to join an established Australian landscape architectural practice that is passionate, reflexive and driven to improve public realm design excellence for our cities and regions.”
The landscape architecture practice has announced a new leadership team as well as a recent move to a new studio location in Sydney. Hamish Dounan, who also recently wrote a comment piece on outdoor learning environments, now owns and directs the studio, while Scott Jackson is appointed as Associate Director.
“Having grown our team two-fold in the past 18 months, this is a dynamic new chapter in the studio’s evolution – defined by a future-focussed vision to realise ambitious new projects and collaborations locally and internationally. Meanwhile, it also celebrates and reflects on our diverse existing portfolio which represents over 30 years of experience in designing landmark projects of significance across the built environment,” says Director Hamish Dounan.
Following successful implementation in its UK Studios, McGregor Coxall is launching the nine-day fortnight in Australia. It’s an innovative approach aimed at providing employees with increased flexibility in managing their professional and personal commitments, something we’re seeing more of in Australia alongside moves towards employee ownership. Kate Cowdy, Head of UK Operations says that “after almost a year, we are pleased to have reported increased engagement scores, sustained productivity – we’ve successfully maintained our business targets.”
“Our trials have shown this is most successful with trust at its core,” says People and Culture Business Partner, Emily Manning. “The goal with changes like flexibility and the 9-day fortnight is to increase employees’ time to rest and recover, whilst achieving a greater sense of trust, belonging and wellbeing. [When] employees are given the flexibility they need, research shows engagement, excellence and satisfaction at work increase.”
CEO George Panos adds: “This exciting initiative is not just a shift in the traditional working week; it’s a leap toward enhancing the lives of our incredibly diverse team, offering time for each individual to recharge for a more balanced work life. “Life extends far beyond the office and, with the nine-day fortnight, we hope to prioritise work-life balance.”
We think you might also enjoy reading about last month’s On The Move, careers in design column, here.
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