Architecture
Hames Sharley identifies and manages the key issues and tasks required to undertake the requirements of the brief of each project. This process is based on a successful architectural methodology utilised on previous or similar projects and applied uniquely to each new project.
Hames Sharley specialises in research and design-led strategy. Our knowledge-based organisation takes pride in ensuring our employees are constantly at the forefront of their areas of expertise.
Designing for dignity
A shared commitment to better palliative care environments
Palliative care environments are among the most emotionally and physically demanding spaces in healthcare. The design of the physical environment is often overlooked or treated as a secondary concern, but it can be a powerful contributor to all occupants.
Navigating Australian police station design with expertise and sensitivity
Modern police stations are integral to Australian communities. They are dynamic hubs encompassing diverse functions and spaces – far beyond simply law enforcement – with a design approach that is deeply collaborative at every level. But in the face of great change, how do we design the police stations of the future?
Mixed purpose: The importance of delivering ‘soul’
Do we rely too much on ‘peak trading times’ – Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter and so on? Are ‘quiet times’ simply unavoidable and just part of everyday shopping habits? What if those ‘quiet times’ could become busier? How can design and tenant mix change trading patterns?
Are we really designing for inclusion?
‘How can we better design to advance inclusion and equity’ and ‘How do we encourage staff and clients to challenge cognitive bias and employ compassion and understanding?’ Our strategic goal is to challenge and ultimately break barriers, understand our unconscious biases, and deliver on inclusive and equitable design in our communities.
Building for a better tomorrow
William Hames, Chairman and Caillin Howard, Managing Director at Hames Sharley, discuss the firm’s continuous improvement strategy and innovation drive the latest edition of APAC Outlook’s magazine.
Taking stock: How Australian retail has adapted to the pandemic
Compared to many nations, Australia has weathered the COVID-19 outbreak relatively well. While others still languish in lockdown, most of us have returned to something approaching normal life (snap restrictions to stamp on localised outbreaks excepted).
A changeroom of their own: the importance of designing for women in sport
Hames Sharley, like the AFL is taking steps in the right direction to make significant improvements in this area and become more gender-inclusive; not just adding female teams, but by creating spaces which accommodate for women too.
Inclusivity in design: Re-imagining Hames Sharley’s Perth Studio
In her book, Invisible Women, Caroline Criado Perez cites numerous examples of how women have been forgotten in a world designed by men, for men. From speech recognition software not trained to detect female voices to office air-con which is generally around five degrees too cold for women because it’s designed for male bodies; there are countless examples which demonstrate the ways in which women have been simply forgotten when it comes to designing the world they also live in.
Designing for all genders: How Casuarina Shopping Centre is leading the way
For parents, getting out and about with little kids can be a challenging experience. From feeding ever-hungry newborns to dealing with toddler meltdowns and the sudden need for nappy changes - or head-to-toe outfit changes! - the parents’ room is a welcome respite for any parent in need of a break.
Ritual in apartment design – the interstice
The way people interact with a building and move within its spaces, finding shelter and comfort, is essential to architecture’s concerns. The considered accommodation of our day-to-day rituals within residential settings – arriving home, the reception of guests, the family meal, conversations around the coffee table, bathing, going to bed, waking up – is what humanises a space, makes a home and shapes our identity.
Is building with timber really sustainable?
Hailed as one of the most environmentally friendly building materials, timber is versatile, strong, renewable, and beautiful. However, wood is often associated with deforestation, and the frequency of forest fires have increased in recent years. And so, we ask Yaara Plaves: is building with timber really sustainable?
How can design help alleviate overcrowded emergency departments?
The overcrowding of Emergency Departments (EDs) has been a serious issue facing many Australian hospitals for at least the last decade. It’s a complex issue resulting from multiple issues; from inadequate funding, to doctor shortages, and a scarcity of beds.
An EPiC initiative to build more sustainable cities
With global temperatures steadily increasing, sustainable design is more important than ever. But beyond constructing energy-efficient buildings, embracing biophilic design and finding clever ways to capture and recycle rainwater, architects must also consider the life cycle of their building materials for minimal impact on the environment.
The rise and rise of mixed-use developments in the post-COVID economy
The lines between work and play are blurred as newer developments boast a diverse mix of residential, retail, commercial and entertainment spaces all in the one area. This new style of mixed-use design is increasingly being embraced for new developments across Australia, in the city centres and suburbs alike.
Theory in practice
How a collaboration strategy is shaping our future architects Part 2
As part of the NEXUS // 1.5 venture offered by Curtin’s School of Design and the Built Environment (DBE), students were asked to undertake the design research through a project-based study of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) between March – June of this year.
Going viral – how the coronavirus will affect urban design
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant big changes to the ways we interact with each other as a society. Now, with Australia slowly emerging from lockdowns and restrictions, we’re faced with the prospect of returning to normal again. But when it comes to architecture and urban design, what will normal mean? Can it really be business as usual?
Architecture in an Age of Augmented Reality
How Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) will shape the future of built environments
To those outside of the industry, the idea of taking a virtual tour of a new building before it’s even been constructed, every detail brought to life by wearing VR goggles, might sound like science fiction. But for designers, these futuristic technologies are becoming par for the course, rapidly transforming architecture as we know it.
How the Australian retail landscape has changed for good
As the country ends lockdown and stores begin to re-open, how will retail reshape itself amidst the possibility of ongoing social distancing requirements? What impact will this have on landlords when it comes to planning and managing space? And how will new developments adjust their plans to suit?
Back to the drawing board
Why hand-sketching still has a place in modern design
The computer entirely transformed every aspect of how architects work, from their first impressions to creating complex construction documents. But however impressive technology can get, there’s a lot to be said for continuing to work on paper.
Building a Gender Equal World
In the lead up to International Women’s Day on Sunday the 8th of March, we spoke with Liesel Perks from our Melbourne studio on forging a gender-equal world.
See how Liesel is challenging stereotypes, broadening perceptions and celebrating women’s achievements through her article.
It’s World Architecture Day (or is it?)
World Architecture Day is a celebration of both great architecture and the people who produce it. The brainchild of the Union International des Architects (UIA), its aim is to bring together architects, designers, planners and more to share their experiences and viewpoints.
Celebrating NAIDOC Week through design
NAIDOC Week is a week for Australia to come together to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year, it runs from the 4th to the 17th of
Places of Pride
Australia has a vast number of war memorials – something in the order of 6000 across the country – displaying a phenomenal breadth of design and variation. While you may be familiar with the war memorials in your own community, however, experiencing the full range of commemorative sites would be a massive undertaking.
Marion Mahony Griffin - The heroine that shaped our capital
A spotlight on the ‘woman behind the man’
Many know Marion Mahony Griffin in relation to her work undertaken for Frank Lloyd Wright, and with her husband and business partner Walter Burley Griffin, but she was an incredible architect in her own right.
Hubs of activity, fonts of knowledge
Brisbane Open House includes talks and seminars on all manner of architecture and design topics. As part of this year’s event Hames Sharley’s Queensland studio opened its doors to the public and hosted a panel event that covered the subject of urban hubs. We asked one of our recent Architectural Graduates to report on the proceedings, while broadening her own knowledge.
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.
A Celebration of Global Architecture
World Architecture Day 2018
Created in 2005 by the Union International des Architects, World Architecture Day is a day to show appreciation for the work architects do and to celebrate some of the great global architectural works. This year the event takes place on October 1st with a series of events and publications.
Finding the way to better wayfinding
Wayfinding in the architectural realm has evolved to encompass a combination of elements including visual graphics, tactility and materiality, interactivity, and animated and audio-visual installations. With technology advancing apace, how best should major wayfinding and signage projects be approached and what does the future hold in store…
Reusing materials for LEED certification
Many building designers have started prioritising LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification in their projects over the past decade, as the industry has caught up with the need for better long-term design solutions. As a result, the reuse of building materials has increased.
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.
The architects of remembrance
War memorials are an essential part of the Australian landscape – their beauty, symbolism and the quality of materials and craftsmanship illustrates the respect that communities have towards those who have paid the ultimate price.
To mark the ANZAC day commemorations this month, we look at the story behind three examples from around the country.
A (very brief) history of cities
Cities are centres of population, commerce and culture, yet it is not widely known how this way of life came about. Looking to the past, however, enables us not only to decipher how cities came to be but also how they are defined and what they mean for the future of our societies.
A future family day at their local library
In recent years we’ve found great benefits in using 3D printers and virtual reality hardware, but it’s our investment in a time machine that’s really allowed us to experience what life is like for communities in the future.
Here we follow the Mancio family as they set out for a day at their local library…
Disrupting the retail hierarchy – It’s always been about the people…
During the mid 20th-century Australian shopping centres were developed within a retail hierarchy that was based on modern suburban family life. Today people live in apartments in the city and inner urban areas and seek their daily needs and convenience goods and services in the city.
Artificial constructs
In the 21st century, automation is a fact of life, with robots having a metallic hand in the production of everything from cars to toys, but when it comes to the construction industry, the automated workforce is conspicuous by its absence. In a recent address to Consult Australia, Valentina Sansbury asked why construction has been so slow to build on automated assistance, and offered a vision of how robotics can be an asset to increase productivity within the industry.
A future family day at their local shopping destination
At Hames Sharley, we like to invest in the latest technology, which allows us to provide a better service for our clients and partners. In recent years we’ve found great benefits in using 3D printers and virtual reality hardware, but it’s our investment in a time machine that’s really allowed us to experience what life is like for communities in the future. Here we follow the Mancio family as they set out for a day at their local shopping centre…
The legacy of World Expos: what’s left after the fair?
Hosting a major world event is in many ways seen as a coming of age for host countries. Seen as a way of putting a city on the map, World Expo organisers attempt to showcase their city to the world in an extravaganza of cutting edge technology, sustainability, design and architecture. But what happens when the fair leaves town?
Function and form in protecting buildings from earthquakes
As Mexico recovers from the devastating effects of its recent earthquake, The Malay Mail has reported on a Japanese innovation that looks to add protective functionality to buildings while introducing an aesthetically pleasing, sleek design motif.
Retrofitting, refurbishing and repositioning: how older buildings can become relevant again
All buildings age and what was once an A grade building is eventually downgraded until its inevitable slide into obsolescence. That is unless it is retrofitted, refurbished and repositioned back to its former glory - and that’s where Building Upgrade Finance comes in…
Face values
You can’t ever underestimate the value of face-to-face interaction. The benefits are many: you can bounce ideas off others, unlocking creativity that might not otherwise be accessed via email or text; you can gain more information when negotiating a deal, or you can simply gauge whether someone really likes that idea you floated.
Building cultural diversity through the language we speak
It is proven that cultural diversity adds to the bottom line. The benefits of cultural diversity are many: improved decision-making, increased collaboration, better problem-solving, enhanced well-being and knowledge sharing, to name a few. But what does it look like in a real workplace?
From the ‘Food Court’ to the ‘Foodie and Fun’ Café Court
We are a nation obsessed with food. We’re also getting more particular about it. We talk about whether it’s organic or home-grown, whether it’s slow cooked or triple smoked, whether it was inspired by Jamie or Bill. That’s right, Oliver and Grainger. We’re on a first name basis these days. What does this mean for the food court?
Feel good shopping: How retail architecture and interior design can improve wellness
When was the last time you went to a beautifully designed building and felt drawn to your surroundings in a way that made you feel better? Because the space spoke to you, ushered in relief, engaged your senses, enhanced within you a sense of… wellness? We investigate ‘The Architecture of Happiness’...
