politics
Events
DIA: It’s time to Write DESIGNER at the Australian census
With an in-your-face campaign from the Design Institute of Australia, Write DESIGNER urges every design professional to identify themselves in the upcoming census.
Events
Venice Biennale 2026: Evocations of resilience and hope
Arts writer and editor Victoria Hynes reports on the breadth of this year’s Venice Biennale, drawing out highlights from national pavilions including Australia, Morocco, India and the UK.
Ideas
SyLon Report: Housing as infrastructure, housing in crisis
AFK Studios’ Earle Arney joined STORIESINDESIGN podcast last year to speak about SyLon. Here, we reproduce a summary on a recent report with NLA that builds on research into housing as infrastructure amidst a landscape of housing crisis.
Events
On Milan: The good, the bad and the trendy from Salone del Mobile 2026
Salone del Mobile and the wider Milan Design Week again provided plenty of food for thought this year. Here, we reflect on some design ‘trends’ as well as taking a more critical view of the annual gathering.
Events
“Doing things differently demands an incredible sense of responsibility”
Chus Martínez and Nguyen Le reflect on the importance of exhibition design as their own show – ‘A velvet ant, a flower and a bird’ – runs at the Potter Museum of Art.
Ideas
Architecture, democracy and feeling at home in our cities
The built environment is all around us; would the average citizen feel less alienated if the education system engaged more explicitly with it?
Ideas
NSW parliamentary report recommends interior design licensing
In what the DIA describes as a “major boost for the profession,” a NSW Parliamentary Commission has released a report on the Review of the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
News
Australian Design Centre set to close
The Australian Design Centre (ADC) has announced that the organisation can no longer continue without adequate government funding to cover operational costs.
Project
“I don’t think we ever imagined it would be as successful as it is”: Ivan Harbour returns to Barangaroo
The Senior Design Director at RSHP reflects on Barangaroo South Masterplan during a visit to Sydney marking ten years since the completion of the first phase.
Events
Architecture as laboratory: Notes from the Venice Biennale with David Holm
In this comment piece, COX Principal David Holm reflects on Carlo Ratti’s curatorship in which climate, colonisation and gender equity took centre stage at the Venice Biennale.
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
Funding cuts are an existential threat to Australian Design Centre
The Australian Design Centre (ADC) is facing a crisis as core funding cuts leave NSW without a government-funded organisation dedicated to craft and design practice.
Events
Four architects discuss the NSW Housing Pattern Book
In this episode of Stories Indesign, architects from Studio Johnston, Sam Crawford Architects, SAHA and Carter Williamson discuss their involvement in the recently launched NSW Pattern Book.
Events
NSW launches landmark Housing Pattern Book (and it’s only $1 for now!)
Featuring designs by Studio Johnston, Sam Crawford Architects, SAHA and others, the NSW Pattern Book for low-rise homes is a milestone in housing design.
Events
UNSW housing analytics lab launches in Sydney
A new analytics lab led by UNSW researchers will draw on generative AI in an attempt to tackle Australia’s housing crisis, and has opened with an event attended by the NSW Premier in Eveleigh.
Ideas
ArtMade Architects’ Director weighs in on NSW Housing Policy
With more NSW Housing Policy rolled out early this year, ArtMade Architects’ Sherif Saad comments on the importance of good design to its success.
Project
This new embassy “softens the boundaries between formality and warmth”
Architectkidd brings curves, texture, warmth and dynamic details into the interior design of the Kuwait Embassy in Brunei.
Events
Crafted Liberation transforms textile waste into symbols of empowerment
From discarded headscarves to stadium seats, Crafted Liberation leverages material innovation to celebrate Iranian women’s resilience in the pursuit of gender equality.
Ideas
“Density used to sound like a betrayal of the Australian dream”: Matthews Architects Q&A
Gerald Matthews of Matthews Architects provides insight on South Australia’s 2024 Future Living code amendment, focusing on co-located living.
Ideas
Don’t demolish Flemington Estate, says OFFICE – ‘Retain, Repair, Reinvest’
Australia’s only not-for-profit architectural practice, OFFICE, is supporting the residents of Victoria’s housing estates in their fight to save their homes and communities.
Ideas
New Danish book tells stories of spatial justice in architecture
Aarhus, Denmark is the backdrop for a thought-provoking new book that challenges the architectural discipline to confront issues of diversity, discrimination and inclusion.
Events
Monumental Imaginaries: Energy transition and visual culture in the Hunter
This Tin Sheds Gallery exhibition delves into complexity and contradiction in the Hunter Region in the context of coal and climate crisis.
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.
Ideas
Stories Indesign: MP Max Chandler-Mather on housing crises and the politics of architecture
In this episode of Stories Indesign podcast, Timothy Alouani-Roby speaks to Greens MP and spokesperson for housing and homelessness, Max Chandler-Mather.
Events
Stories Indesign: Our new podcast is here!
Expect unscripted, intelligent conversation with people from across the design community in our exciting new podcast.
Project
Halls of power
Open, light-filled and speaking directly to contemporary Australian culture, the new Bates Smart-designed Australian Embassy in Washington DC is positioning Australia at the forefront of contemporary design.
Events
“Architecture is the silent scaffolding that enables the making and breaking of worlds”: Kabage Karanja Q&A
We caught up with Kabage Karanja, co-founder and co-director of Cave_bureau, ahead of the Living Cities Forum in Sydney and Melbourne.
Project
A first-hand account of the new Embassy of Australia in Washington D.C.
Having attended the inauguration of the Bates Smart-designed Embassy in Washington D.C., we hear exclusively from Kristen Whittle on his own personal journey and reflections on the design.
Project
Studio Lotus’ Biju Janata Dal Party HQ connects with the streetscape in India
Biju Janata Dal Party Headquarters’ connection with the streetscape is a testament to the inclusive development and regional pride of design in Odisha.
Events
Learning from the Global South with Tosin Oshinowo
The Nigerian architect was recently in Australia for Melbourne Design Week. We spoke to her about the power of design in cities such as Lagos.
Events
Parliament unites to champion urban design excellence in Australia
Designed to drive positive change, promote sustainable practices and cultivate inclusive communities, the recent launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Design will champion the role of urban design in shaping the nation’s identity.
Events
Hassell’s Perth BTR housing gets thumbs up from the Prime Minister
195 Pier Street is a build-to-rent (BTR) housing project in Perth and Hassell’s design just received some approving words from Anthony Albanese, no less!
Events
How do we imbue architecture with life?
The latest instalment of fjcstudio’s Truth and Lies talk series looked at ‘The Consciousness of Architecture and the Will of the Architect’.
Events
BLP on the principles of design for non-binary youth
We republish a speech delivered by Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) Health Lead, Tracy Lord, at the 2023 UIA World Congress of Architects in Copenhagen.
Events
Adam Haddow comments on new NSW housing manifesto
The AIA NSW Chapter President reacts to a recent announcement by the Minns state government aimed at tackling the housing crisis.
Events
An argument of architects
Packed into The Mint in Sydney, a gathering – ‘argument’ is the correct collective noun – of architects provided a fascinating discussion on questions raised in Richard Francis-Jones’ book.
Events
“Truth, beauty and justice”: On architecture and politics with Elizabeth Farrelly
Timothy Alouani-Roby spoke to the prominent Sydney-based author and architecture commentator about her experiences running for office and the place of architects in politics.
Events
What does empowerment and inclusivity look like in the design industry?
Last month, MillerKnoll and Queers in Property (QIP) came together to showcase queer designers in a LGBTQI+ speaker series which explored the journeys and work of leading queer designers. We give you the rundown.
Events
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture comment: Architecture and The Voice
On the eve of The Voice referendum, David Kaunitz comments on the power of listening and collaboration in Indigenous communities.