Devaluing the role of iconic public architecture
The appalling misjudgment in allowing commercial advertising on the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House calls into question the special custodial role of our public buildings, major public artworks and iconic infrastructure as symbols of shared community and cultural values.
Reopening the door on architecture: The Open House phenomenon
Fancy an adventure exploring your city? Open House is an event in which buildings across a city throw open their doors to the public for one weekend each year, to enjoy the best architecture on offer.
A blessing or a curse?
We read about them with alarming regularity – from comedians and actors to writers, artists, architects and designers, lost to us by their own hand. Is there a greater risk of mental illness in creative people? And does new research have the answer?
Enhancing health and wellbeing through urban design
Human behaviour is intrinsically influenced by our surroundings, and as a nation predominantly made up of city-dwellers, our urban environment contributes a major part to making us who we are. Here Chris Maher, David McCarroll and Jason Preston uncover some of the tools used by designers of the built environment to enhance health and wellbeing.
Harnessing VR to attract retail tenants in a first for South Australia
Attracting retail tenants with virtual reality tours in South Australia.
Architects and engineers, R U OK?
Architects and engineers rate worryingly high for risk of suicide. As part of RU OK Day on 13 September, we look at the factors behind this trend and what can be done to mitigate them.
Hames Sharley designs for NextDC released
NextDC has submitted Hames Sharley's design for a $195 million data centre in Perth that will feature nine data centre levels and 10-storeys of office space.
Arty Facts
No matter the size of the project, over the past twelve months we have applied the same set of guidelines in our approach to designing buildings and spaces in the public & culture sector. Here we present our 12 key considerations when designing for museums and galleries.
Retail opening in Western Australia
Hames Sharley’s latest regional shopping centre redevelopment had its first phase grand unveiling on Thursday 23rd of August as the Vicinity Centre’s Midland Gate Shopping Centre expansion opened its doors to the public.
The notion of nodes
What is a city node? What are its benefits? And what is its place in the Australian urban environment?
Why cultural diversity is vital in design
Cultural diversity is a critical consideration in the design sector. As our industry looks inward in an attempt to close the diversity gap, we recognise a number of advantages that a more multicultural workforce provides in enabling communities to flourish.
Space consumption
Hames Sharley’s National leader of the Urban Development portfolio, Chris Maher, discusses the societal pressures of vanity-driven space wastage and how millennials are here to save the day.
Laying the tracks for great Transit Oriented Developments
For today’s developers, urban planners and governments, development around transit areas requires extremely careful planning. Here we explore the key principles that will allow projects to truly serve and support their surrounding communities.
Part One: Transparency in Population Growth Data
Information and data relating to population growth do exist, but perhaps it is not as widely distributed or as fully understood as it could be. Here we discuss how increased transparency could make a difference.
6 ways biophilia can improve economic prosperity
Based on his paper titled The Biophilic City: Can it Improve Economic Prosperity, here, Darren Bilsborough summarises his paper into six key areas: biodiversity, climate change, urban farming, cooler cities, bio-sequestration and health and productivity.
Naming rights (and wrongs)…
The Walt Disney Company made Australian headlines this month when it picked up the naming rights for The Etihad Stadium. But such naming rights are by no means a new thing; similar deals have been taking place for more than a century…
Measuring the value of biophilia
An increasing importance of investing in people has resulted in a reawakening of the philosophy of biophilia and the importance of biophilic design.
What Australia can learn from Asian retail, and vice versa
There is obviously a considerable difference in how Asian and Australian retail developments are shaped by the culture within which they sit, along with, at times, some surprising similarities. David McCarroll investigates…
A view from inside Adelaide’s Rundle Mall Plaza
Managing Director, Caillin Howard met with BrandSA this month to discuss the latest developments on one of Hames Sharley’s most exciting current projects; Adelaide’s Rundle Mall Plaza.
How to sustain Australia’s rural-urban communities; a case study part 1
Serpentine Jarrahdale have a predicted population growth of 1.5 million people in 20 years. Hames Sharley has assisted in creating a strategy and vision together with the Shire and the community.
Albion Train Station Precinct Redevelopment Announced
Hames Sharley is delighted to be contributing towards an exciting project that is set to connect the Brisbane suburb of Albion with the city and surrounding areas.
Broadway Shopping Centre Tops Australian Turnover List for sixth year running
Hames Sharley would like to congratulate Broadway Sydney and developers Mirvac and Perron Investments for topping the SCN list for turnover per square metre for the sixth consecutive year.
A Revitalisation of Adelaide’s Rundle Mall Plaza
Hames Sharley are proud to be a part of the redevelopment of Rundle Mall Plaza with the recently confirmed new tenant – Swedish fashion giant H&M.
It’s a shore thing
Approximately 85% of our population live within 50km of the ocean and our climate has facilitated a deeply embedded culture of life at the water’s edge. Therefore it is natural that our nation has become leaders in the field of waterfront urban design. But what are the factors that make a truly great waterfront? We present ten key considerations when for planning the perfect place at the water’s edge.
Experiences vs ‘Stuff’
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is the new keeping up with the Joneses. Here, some of Hames Sharley’s thought leaders discuss whether minimalism is making us richer, and the impact this is having on the built environment.
Stable designs
Not only can design help settle your mind through creative pursuits, it can also result in products that enhance mental health in other ways. Here are five ideas that employ good design to improve mental wellbeing – from the very simple to the more complex and innovative.