History
Ideas
“Pure, unadulterated visions”: A book on the unbuilt
Phaidon’s ‘Atlas of Never Built Architecture’ is a thought-provoking romp through the counter-factual architectural imaginary on a global scale.
Ideas
STORIESINDESIGN with RIBA Royal Gold Medallist, Níall McLaughlin
Recently in Australia as plans for the first new cathedral in over a century in Sydney were announced, Níall McLaughlin met Timothy Alouani-Roby during his visit to discuss community, tradition, inspiration and the history of architecture.
Ideas
A grand architectural tour of India – from a student’s perspective
What insights, impressions and inspirations does a student of architecture gain from travel? Khushi Chevli, based in Sydney, recently travelled around India, so we asked her to share the experience with us.
Events
London meets Mexico City as this year’s Serpentine Pavilion is announced
Mexican architecture studio LANZA atelier has been selected to design the Serpentine Pavilion 2026, which will open to the public in London’s Kensington Gardens on 6th June.
Ideas
The humble brick: Timeless foundations meet contemporary innovation with Brickworks
Brett Ward, General Manager of Marketing at Brickworks, tells us how modern approaches to sustainability are intersecting with the long history of the brick.
Events
Eames Demetrios on continuity and innovation as he visits Australia
He’s the Director of Eames Office and an all-round creative polymath – and Eames Demetrios has just been in our region with Living Edge.
Ideas
Comment: “Heritage architecture and climate resilience – don’t throw the baby out with the floodwater”
David Gole, principal at leading climate-resilient design practice JDA Co., comments on the intersection between heritage and climate in architecture.
Ideas
Landscape architecture under the microscope
Phillip Withers joins the podcast to discuss landscape design in relation to Country, place and European notions of control, as well as his part on the Habitus House of the Year 2025 Jury.
Ideas
Uncovering Melbourne’s interior heritage
A new book documents the city’s historic building interiors, from 1800s coffee palaces to post-war modernist spaces.
Ideas
Enrico Taglietti’s life in design on show in Canberra exhibition
A retrospective at Canberra Museum + Gallery honours Enrico Taglietti, shaping the exhibition through his own design principles.
Events
A certain type of design at Sydney Design Week
Type designer Vincent Chan, who delivered a keynote speech with the Powerhouse as part of Sydney Design Week, tells us about the history and importance of this niche profession.
Events
“We have much to learn from sheds”
A recent exhibition at the Robin Boyd Foundation in Melbourne invited visitors to think deeply about sheds and what this under-appreciated building typology can teach us about construction and living today.
Events
Speakers share their reflections ahead of fjcstudio’s Queensland event
As the next event in a series of discussions centring on Richard Francis-Jones’ book comes to Brisbane, we hear directly from the speakers on fences, villas and the importance of critical community.
Events
“Architecture is always about more than form; it is about meaning”: In conversation with Lina Ghotmeh
As French-Lebanese Architect Lina Ghotmeh prepares for lectures in Melbourne and Sydney, we hear about the philosophy shaping her internationally celebrated practice.
Project
Tilt on preserving heritage in public spaces: How technical innovation is making history accessible
From preserved boat remains to 8,000-year-old hearthstones with First Nations significance, Tilt Industrial Designs shares how their technical work is often directed towards heritage.
Events
A history of Saturday Indesign: More than two decades of bringing designers and showrooms together
Saturday Indesign is one of the standout fixtures on the Asia-Pacific design calendar – but how exactly did it start, and when did it become so big?
Workplace
More than just a transitional space: Perth’s Palace Tower receives the Woods Bagot treatment
Woods Bagot has completed a lobby refurbishment inspired by the historic architecture of the Palace Hotel.
Events
SANAA in Sydney: Interview with Art Gallery of NSW director
Michael Brand talks us through a new book on the architecture of Naala Badu, the culmination of Sydney Modern Project.
Events
The human story behind Australia’s modernist history
At a glittering event at the DKO studio in Melbourne, the launch of a new book was celebrated with champagne and cheers.
Project
The architecture of postcolonialism: Restoring Ethiopia’s Africa Hall
Architectus Conrad Gargett’s revitalisation of Africa Hall in Addis Ababa traces lines of historical, cultural and architectural significance.
Events
Australia’s oldest continuous architecture practice commemorates 140 years
To honour Wilson Architects’ storied legacy, the practice has released a tome titled Genius Loci.
News
A river-inspired tribute reshaping Melbourne’s skyline
Seafarers’ intricate façade, designed by FK, is set to leave a lasting legacy on Melbourne’s urban fabric.
Events
Shrine of Remembrance design exhibition wonders what might have been
An exhibition uncovers the design history of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, marking the building’s 90th anniversary.
Ideas
New book explores Glenn Murcutt’s unbuilt works
A new book by Nick Sissons with contributions from Glenn Murcutt outlays some of the Pritzker Prize-winner’s unrealised designs.
Ideas
The dialectic of colonialism: Rethinking maps, remaking our cities
Dallas Rogers, Head of Urban Discipline at the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney, comments on the history of map-making in our cities.
Events
Celebrating Eileen Gray, a designer “too rich for the punditry to take”
Despite designing one of history’s most coveted side tables, Eileen Gray’s popularity faced significant gaps due to the challenges encountered by female designers in the early 20th century.
Ideas
Three Canberra architects on lessons from history for a planned city
We spoke with three architects currently practising in Canberra to investigate the city’s planned history and what it means to work in that shadow.
Project
Ramses the Great in residence at the Australian Museum
There’s still time to see the milestone exhibition, Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs – the display of Egyptian riches runs until 19 May.
Ideas
Book review: ‘The Religious Architecture of Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto’
A new book investigates the religious architecture of Studio Aalto, the Finnish practice that has influenced the work of architects including Glenn Murcutt and Jørn Utzon.
Ideas
Robert Puksand comment: Have you ever wondered why you design the way you do?
In this opinion piece, the founder of Gray Puksand reflects on past influences as well as the trends and technologies influencing today’s designers.
Project
Rooftop renewal of a Sydney modernist gem
Ground-breaking in its day and an icon of Australian campus architecture, the University of Sydney’s Fisher Library is celebrating 60 years with a very special reactivation.
Events
An unprecedented inquiry into precedents with Kevin Carmody
Following his recent keynote speech at the 2023 Australian Architecture Conference, we spoke to architect Kevin Carmody about his inspirations and experience.
Ideas
AJC Architects’ Andrew Fong comments on the evolution of museum design
In this comment piece republished from INDESIGN #88, Andrew Fong, studio lead at Allen Jack+Cottier Architects (AJC), discusses the ways in which museums are innovating in order to stay relevant.
Events
Book review: When Modernism landed in the tropics with Concrete Jungle
What happens when rational, Modernist architecture puts down roots in a lush, tropical setting? Concrete Jungle, a new book by gestalten, explores locations across Asia and the world to find some of the most visionary residential adaptations of an international style to distinct local settings.
Events
Unsettling Queenstown: Questions of decolonisation at the Venice Biennale
The Australian pavilion at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale involves confronting questions of decolonisation in architectural form and history. Unsettling Queenstown looks at the ubiquitous presence of British colonialism.
Ideas
Mapping concrete and Brutalist architecture across Australia, Asia and beyond
From concrete Tokyo to Brutalist Sydney, Blue Crow Media provides a way into new cities — or perhaps a closer look at familiar ones — for the architectural connoisseur, especially those with a keen interest in the twentieth century history.
Project
Literate design: The bookstore infused with Chinese history by HAS
As an architecture practice, HAS design and research is leading the way, creating inspirational projects with ingenuity and originality. They are projects that always amaze and The Glade Bookstore in downtown Chongqing is no exception.
Events
Anita B. Lawrence Centre launches: 25-year anniversary marks renaming of UNSW Red Centre
As part of UNSW’s Celebrating Women on Campus project, the home of UNSW’s School of Built Environment has been renamed in honour of a trailblazing architecture graduate.
Project
A cavernous retail space inspired by India’s architectural heritage
The flagship store of Forest of Chintz in Mumbai has been designed with India’s ancient stepwells in mind. SJK Architects has used restrained materials and colours to create a store that is both exuberant and understated.
Project
Trent Jansen’s Venice design residency: Uncovering the dark and salty side of the city
Spending a month in residence in Venice, Trent Jansen has worked with the sublimely talented Vetralia Collectible, where artisans and artists work on contemporary art and design using Venetian craftsmanship. It all takes place in a Renaissance workshop, exploring a wide range of techniques and materials.
Project
The long arch of history: From Rome to Surry Hills showrooms
Once the byword for passé, the arch has returned to favour with force. The cheeky epitome of 70s chic is now championed on a grand scale with both renovations and new builds opting for the arch. Here are 6 outstanding examples.
Project
Skyscraper design, construction & history of the high rise phenomenon
An in-depth look at the history and evolution of the iconic skyscraper design; from 10-storey origins to a century-long competition to be named the tallest building.
News
Open House Melbourne 2019
A highlight of the calendar, the Open House Melbourne 2019 Weekend returns on the 27th and 28th July with an all-inclusive and open access lens.
Project
It’s Back! Open House Melbourne 2017
Winning hearts and minds through architecture and design — we explore the evolving story of Open House Melbourne with the initiative’s Executive Director Emma Telfer.