Bates Smart Architects

BUILDING B, COLLINS SQUARE - MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Collins Square is Australia’s largest commercial mixed use development comprising five commercial towers over a 10,000 sqm retail podium and including the refurbishment of the historic Southern Goods Shed.

The $1.3bn project is situated on a whole city block with a 246m of Collins Street frontage and aims to create a vibrant new precinct for big business in Melbourne.

Designed by Bates Smart for the Walker Corporation, the Masterplan will add a new energy to the Docklands through the provision of a diverse retail offer for the 48,000 people who will visit Collins Square daily for work and retail activities.

The development has already proved to be a success with 40% of the commercial space already leased to major tenants including The Australian Tax Office and The Pearson Group.

Marsh Mercer is the latest financial services giant to relocate to the address by leasing significant space in Building B, the second of the five buildings designed by Bates Smart.

The 5 Green Star and NABERS rated buildings has a side core and will provide tenants with large open flexible work spaces. A full height central atrium provides excellent natural light and accommodates open interconnecting stairs between floors.

Visit the Walker Corporation website

BATES SMART TIMELINE - `ICI HOUSE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

In the pursuit of design excellence at Bates Smart we always have the future in our sights and it is easy to forget the weight of history behind the firm: 158 years to be precise.

ICI House, now Orica House was designed by Bates Smart in 1956 was one of the first lightweight steel framed high-rise towers in Australia.

The 22 storey office tower proposal was granted after protracted discussions with the City of Melbourne Town Planning Authority and changed Melbourne’s skyline forever.

ICI House opened to the public in 1958 and received 20 000 visitors in its first week.

It is interesting to note that during the 1960s every major Australian city had a steel and glass commercial building designed by Bates Smart.

BATES SMART - MEDIA AWARD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Bates Smart is proud to sponsor the AIA Award for Architecture in the Media, Australia’s most prestigious media award for journalists, editors, producers and others reporting on architecture and design.

It is an annual award to encourage and recognise media discussion of architecture and is open to entries from electronic, print, specialist, popular and online media.

Established in 1986 and sponsored by Bates Smart since its inception, the Award has become an integral part of the Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter annual awards program.

Image: 2010 Victorian winners Tania Davidge and Christine Phillips.

Enter at http://www.vicawards.com/p/batessmart-award.html

Visit the AIA for more about the Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - `UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Talented designer Clare Pettitt is the recipient of the Bates Smart Award for Design Excellence at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Clare is in her final year of completing of Design in Interior Design at UTS.

She is currently working on her major project where she intends to convert the derelict tram sheds at Newtown into a bustling performance, learning, and accommodation venue for budding and established performers.

STUDIO CONNECTIVITY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Practice Manager Misty Waters reports on the success of the Sydney studio mentoring program.

We started our first trial mentoring scheme in late 2010 with 15 pairs of staff. We recently came together as a group to review the scheme.

The response was very positive with most participants indicating they wanted to continue.

New starters found that mentoring seemed to work best when paired with someone within their project team as this allowed them to fast track their experience and induction. Senior staff found it was more valuable to be paired with someone whom they may never otherwise come into contact with.

Effective pairing of the mentors/ mentees is essential and there can be some delicate issues to be considered by the coordinator such as past office romances!

Visit Bates Smart for more information on our employment philosophy

A FRESH APPROACH - TO LUXURY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

This month Facility Management Magazine reviews the Crown Metropol approach to luxury from the perspective of facility managers.

Read Facility Management Magazine's article

Visit Bates Smart for more about Crown Metropol

BATES SMART TIMELINE - `MLC BUILDING, NORTH SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Designed by Bates Smart in 1957, the MLC building turns 55 this year. We think this is an appropriate time to take stock of the longstanding relationship between Bates Smart (formerly Bates Smart McCutcheon) and MLC. The relationship spans a century of work and over 12 significant buildings across four states.

This longstanding relationship started in 1937, when Bates Smart McCutcheon (BSM) won a design competition for the new Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Building (MLC) headquarters in Sydney, a competition that attracted more than 70 entries.

The classical design, with its corner tower and prominent inclusion of MLC’s sculptural emblem, was meticulously designed to support the MLC’s needs and ambitions. At the time it was heralded as “the most beautiful and impressive structure in Australasia”.

The relationship prospered in the 1950s, with MLC building BSM designed buildings in Brisbane (1955), Wollongong (1956), Shepparton (1959), Ballarat (1954), Geelong (1953), Adelaide (1957), Perth (1957), Newcastle (1957) North Sydney (1957), and Canberra (1959).

The key for many of these buildings was their innovation in construction, that is, the introduction of lightweight structure that was then unprecedented in Australian buildings.

Each building was planned on a modular grid to maximise the use of prefabricated elements. Given the pre-assembled nature of the design, interior fitout and external cladding could occur at lower levels while the steel frame was simultaneously being erected on upper walls.

Of these, the most notable design was the MLC Building in North Sydney, which retains its importance as a significant intact local example of the 1950s International Style in post-war architecture. The curtain wall, a thin aluminium framed glass skin, represents the highest level of innovation in construction technology of the time, which was coupled with the emerging modern rationalised open-plan office environment.

Bates Smart has recently been involved in a general refurbishment of the building to upgrade its corporate attractiveness and flexibility for the contemporary market. The extent of the refurbishment included all aspects of the curtain wall: exterior cleaning, waterproofing, internal finish and venetians, all base building elements of the typical floors and the Miller Street retail concourse upgrade.

Read Chairman Roger Poole's essay on the evolution of Bates Smart

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - `THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce that the Bates Smart Prize for Architectural Design 2010 at the University of Sydney has been awarded to 5th year student Hao Quan Cai.

Hao Quan demonstrated an impressive level of depth and insight in his portfolio of work. His commitment and passion for architecture has already gained him the University of Sydney Academic Merit Prize and the NSW Architects Registration Board Prize amongst other accolades.

Hao Quan is planning high endeavours including a PHD and we look forward to hearing more about him in the future.

RESEARCH FOCUS - HISTORY OF THE CURTAIN WALL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart architect Torsten Fiedler recently conducted an in-house learning seminar on the history of the curtain wall.

About 150 years ago steel construction clad in various materials started replacing load bearing masonry structure in commercial office buildings.

Another 50 years later the first steel framed glass curtain wall was built. Finally around 1950 the unitised aluminium framed curtain wall was introduced and Bates Smart (McCutcheon) helped spread this technology through several designs to all mayor Australian cities.

ICI Building, Melbourne, 1958, Arch.: Bates, Smart and McCutcheon

Besides its promise of generous views and of interiors flooded in natural daylight the curtain wall allowed faster and cheaper construction.

Double and triple glazing now achieve and exceed insulation levels of thick masonry construction and perform well acoustically.

CBW, Melbourne, 2009, Arch.: Bates Smart

Now the curtain wall needs to help produce carbon neutral buildings and further improve the transition between inside and outside in today’s workplaces.

SPATIAL NARRATIVES - AND ARCHITECTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

‘Arch-exhibit’ is a local and internationally focused blog that explores the relationship between the disciplines of film, art and architecture, the various ways they intersect, and the various practitioners who work in this discipline of the in-between.

The research aims to prompt an intensive engagement with the temporary, sensorial and social qualities of space and a fresh consideration of architecture.

The relevance of studying the relationship between film, art and architecture is pursued as a specific source of inspiration and tool in the process of architectural design work.

'7 houses for 1 house', Architecten de Vylder Vinck Taillieu, Architecture Biennale, Arsenale Venice 2010

In addition, the investigation aims to explore how the link between architectural space and film space might inform the expanded conception and practice of architecture. A consideration of film as an art form relying on temporary architectural environments might aid one in thinking through the experience of narrative in the city.

‘Cloudscapes’, Transolar and Tetsuo Kondo Architects, Architecture Biennale, Arsenale Venice 2010

The Arch -exhibit blog is part of ongoing research and has been funded by the NSW Architects Registration Board through the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship awarded to Amanda Clarke in 2010.

Amanda is an Architect who works in the Bates Smart Sydney studio. She has 10 years combined professional experience working in Architecture and Art Direction/Design for the Australian Film Industry. Amanda is a Master of Architecture and Bachelor Arts in Architecture graduate of UTS. She also has a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Sydney University.

Visit Architecture insights

Visit Arch exhibit

BAKER & MCKENZIE FIT OUT - REVIEWED IN INDESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

A Breath of Fresh Air

The new fit out for law firm Baker and Mackenzie makes lawyers feel at home in the workplace. Read more by Stephen Crafti.

- Link to article

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - RMIT BATES SMART GRADUATE PRIZE WINNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 2 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Jesper Nyborg is the recipient of the RMIT Bates Smart Graduate Prize for Interior Design for 2011. Here Jesper explains his award winning final year project 'Remote Intimacy'.

"My project investigations into the human skin. The project began by the creation of new, 'second skins' that began to show how the human body does not necessarily have to end with its skin, but can instead expand into space, and ultimately merge with its external environment.

"I saw a new fluctuating evolution for the body, and how our bodies and spaces are shifting as a result of today's developing technologies. By looking at what us humans are capable of today for example with plastic surgery and even less significant procedures such as piercings, tattoos etc. we can see how spatial, functional and aesthetic boundaries have completely transformed. Internal processes have been relocated to the exterior, while other technologies have entered the body to replace internal organs. The skin is no longer the threshold between inside and outside, private and public.

"I wanted to develop a space or an idea where the individual can physically act at a distance, where the body begins to perform as an extension of the space, and the space as an extension of the body's movement/performance. Various sensors embedded within the interior space can sense movement and simultaneously activates the corresponding space in the remote partner's home.

"The project also shows how through movement, architecture has the capacity of altering space in varying ways, constantly transforming our relationship with it and its environmental context."

Jesper now works in our Melbourne studio as a graduate interior designer.

ANDREW FRANCIS - `ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Yes it is official: the new RCH has been opened by HRH Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke of Edinburgh and many other dignitaries. It was on a perfect, sunny, blue sky, Melbourne spring day and was broadcast on national television.

The Queen was escorted through the Emergency Department (ED) entry, past the Aquarium, through the highlights of the project to see the Meerkat enclosure and then to the Street to unveil the commemorative opening plaque. She sat quite sober and unemotional, listening and taking in the surrounds till her cue. She then stood up and drew the cord to reveal the plaque, at which point her face lit up and the previously horizontal lip turned to a smile. It was a great moment and it is a beautiful plaque, with congratulations to Mark Di Bartolo and Kristen Whittle for its design.

Well, none of this would have been possible without enormous efforts from a lot of people.

It is a project of international standing and will set new benchmarks for children’s hospitals around the world, a facility that will enhance people’s lives and ultimately save lives. It is one of Melbourne’s most significant buildings. It was completed on time - overall not an insignificant achievement by all involved and something they all should be very proud of.

Tribute should go to those who worked on the original bid. While I believe there were many challenges during this stage, there was much celebration in both Bates Smart offices and Billard Leece's offices when the successful bid was announced. Ah, but the fun had only just begun.

Tribute also should go to the Albert Street project office team members and to all of the team members including the designers, health planners, codebookers, kit-of-parts team, interiors team, facade team, partition team, basement team, IPU team, Lower Ground team, East, West, and IT. They should be very proud of their contribution to the success of this enormous project. Yes, the weekends, the late nights and overtime, the care that was taken to get it right ultimately made a difference. There were some hard times and some fun times.

A big thank you to the Albert Street office leadership team with Lucy Best, Roger Chapman, Esther Mavrokokki, Nicola Lodge and Gouldha Figuera showing the way and keeping the team focused when things got wobbly. This was a tough project with demanding deadlines and contract deliverables. The support throughout from the directors, accounts and HR departments of both offices was also appreciated.

And tribute to the site team, where everyone was determined to achieve their maximum possible whatever the challenges whilst managing their relevant zones and always supporting each other. A team that I was proud to be part of.

A truly rewarding project not only for the successful outcome but for the friendships forged.

Some interesting area comparisons to appreciate the scale of the project:

RCH area                 200,000 sqm
MCG arena area       25,000 sqm
Chadstone area      155,000 sqm
Rialto Tower area     84,000 sqm
Eureka Tower area     60,000 sqm

Andrew Francis is an Associate Director at Bates Smart who joined the company in 1989 to work on a house renovation for the Pratt family at Raheen in Kew, a joint venture with Glenn Murcutt. This was followed later by Federation Square, a joint venture with Lab Architects and more recently a number of international projects in Beijing, Malaysia, Russia and Macau.

BATES SMART AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE IN THE MEDIA - 2012 LAUNCHED

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

The Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media is Australia’s most prestigious media award for journalists, editors, producers and others reporting on architecture and design.

Established in 1986 this annual award was commissioned to encourage and to recognise media discussion of architecture, it has become an integral part of the Australian Institute of Architects annual awards program in Victoria.

Bates Smart has sponsored the Award since its inception. The Award is designed to increase media coverage of the work of the profession as well as encouraging high-quality debate about architecture in Australia.

The Award recognises the role and contribution of people who:

> Bring architecture to the attention of the general public
> Create awareness of architectural practice
> Generate quality public debate about architectural issues and provide information for relevant professionals and specialists in the areas of architecture, interior design and environmental design.

The Award is open to entries from electronic, print, specialist, popular and online media.

How to enter

Submissions should have been broadcast or published or circulated in Victoria within the twelve months prior to the closing date
of the Award.

Entries open: Monday 6 February 2012
Entries close Friday 30 March 2012
Entry fee: $50.00 (including GST)

Winners announced: Victorian Architecture Awards Presentation

Dinner: Friday 29 June 2012

2011 Winners shown: Ivan Rijavec, Peter Maddison and Justine Clarke

Absent: John Gollings

MIRJANA SAZUNIC - `LEAD DESIGN ARCHITECT

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Lead design architect Mirjana Sazunic has spent the past 4 years on the RCH project and found the experience to be both profoundly challenging and rewarding.

“Health care projects are, by their nature, always a complex task for architects. Designing a hospital for children and participating in creating an environment that will aid their wellbeing was an added challenge and, at the same time, stimulation for all of us.”

She says ”The Evidence-Based Design Principles, set out in the Brief developed by the Department of Health and RCH, have been particularly inspiring.

"The main objective from the Brief was to closely integrate the facility with the natural surroundings of the Royal Park.

"We pursued a design philosophy based around bringing the park into the building and the building into the park to show how nature and light can work to create a positive and healing environment. Working closely with Lend Lease we were able to develop the ideas into a highly crafted end result.

"For me, particularly successful are the treatments to the Inpatient Unit and West building facades and the branching bridges and walkways of the Main Street."

Mirjana is an Associate Director at Bates Smart, she has worked on a range of health, commercial, hospitality and institutional projects.

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - RMIT BATES SMART AWARD FOR DESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce that RMIT graduate Marissa Kefalianos has won the 2011 Bates Smart Award for Design.

Marissa presented a highly engaging final year thesis project exploring the notion ‘how we can control our level of exposure in a public setting’.

Marissa's work examines the manner in which an interior space can be generated through the manipulation of various forms and elements and the influence that this can have upon its character and one’s perception of the space.

DAVID BAND 1959-2011 - `A TRIBUTE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 15 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart would like to pay tribute to David Band, an exceptionally talented artist who passed away last month.

We were privileged to work with David over many years and many projects. The elegance and beauty of David's work never failed to inspire us and we have put together a series of images as a tribute to his prolific talent.

ROGER POOLE - WORKPLACE DESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

A great deal has been written about good workplace design as a key element in creating staff engagement, teamwork and productivity. Our resources-led economy has cushioned us from many of the effects of the GFC for now.

Australia has returned to full employment, taking the form of as a “two speed economy”, relatively frantic in resources-related businesses and quite subdued outside this sector. What does this say about workplace design in 2011?

First, a high-performance, nimble organisational culture has never been more necessary, as Australia enters a period of profound change and adaptation.

Second, speed to market has never been more important. Not only must Australian enterprises continue to change, but to get those changes to the marketplace faster.

Third, good workplace design must address the essence of an organisation’s culture, expressing the CEO’s and the Board’s vision for the business. Workplace design is “growing up”, losing its fascination with bean-bag chairs and jelly-bean seating, and focusing on the challenges of cultural change.

Fourth, today’s workplace is a key element of an organisation’s strategic infrastructure, not only designed to help attract and retain the best staff, but to allow rapid evolution of organisational models to meet the accelerating pace of change.

New information technology, new marketplace opportunities, and the cultural challenges of new markets can best be addressed through a strong organisational culture. The workplace must communicate and reinforce this culture while making growth and change easier.

This excerpt is from an article that originally appeared in 101 Collins magazine, to read the complete article please refer to

Visit 101 Collins Magazine for the complete article

COPOLOV - INDUSTRY LEADERS FORUM

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

This month Hotel Management interviewed Jeff Copolov about his approach to Hospitality design.

Read the Hotel Management interview

Visit Bates Smart for more about Jeff Copolov

BATES SMART - MEDIA AWARD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

It is an annual award to encourage and recognise media discussion of architecture and is open to entries from electronic, print, specialist, popular and online media.

Established in 1986 and sponsored by Bates Smart since its inception, the Award has become an integral part of the Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter annual awards program.

Visit Bates Smart for the 2010 winner

Visit the AIA for more about the Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media

ARCHITECTS - JUST ADD IPAD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

There is no doubt that iPad has created a new appetite for electronic devices. On one level, it looks like the iPad will do to books what the iPod did to CDs. However, is it more than an electronic book reader? At Bates Smart we’re considering – How can an iPad be used in our Architecture Studio?

The iPad is too big for a pocket but fits nicely in a handbag or compendium. Its real advantage is the touch screen - doing away with the mouse and keyboard.

Will iPad be an essential tool for every architect? Perhaps not this version. But in a not too distant future we suspect we will all be carrying one of these around.

Will it replace A1 / A0 print outs? Perhaps… AutoDesk have released a free AutoCAD reader that allows the user to open AutoCAD diagrams and mark them up on the iPad. A practical example of this is that one of our architects took the device on site, reviewed the documents with the builder, marked them up and confirmed them on the spot – avoiding delays and possible confusion. Beware though, that viewing more complex diagrams can be slow and a less than satisfactory experience.

Soon we expect to use the iPad for client presentations and as a conversation starter at conferences. Right now it’s perfect for reading JOURNAL/ when you’re on the move.

BATES SMART AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE IN THE MEDIA - 2010 WINNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Sally Ingleton has produced and directed a remarkable documentary “John Gollings: Eye for architecture”.

Bates Smart is proud to sponsor the Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media. Now in its 25th year.

Winner of the 2010 National Award for Architecture in the Media is Sally Ingleton of 360 degree Films. Sally has produced and directed a remarkable documentary “John Gollings: Eye for architecture”. This feature length film reflects a personal journey following the career of leading architectural photographer John Gollings. Gollings is based in Melbourne but has achieved international recognition as one of the world’s great architectural photographers.

The film documents his distinguished career and provides an insight into the volatile lives of people who make architecture.

For Architects, the film gives insight into a profession which is trying to make exciting and enduring buildings under difficult circumstances. For students of architecture in Melbourne, Ingleton enables us to better understand the culture of Melbourne architects.

For those who know John Gollings, he comes through as a confident yet unpretentious, well-grounded master of his profession.

- Find out more about the Bates Smart AIA Award for Architecture in the Media

- Find out more about Sally Ingleton and 360° films

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - BATES SMART GRADUATE PRIZE WINNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

JACINTA TESSARI - `ASSISTANT HEALTH PLANNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Working on the new RCH from schematic design right through to technical completion has been the most rewarding and challenging experience.

In the past 4 years I have had the privilege to work alongside some amazing architects, health planners and interior designers to produce a masterpiece that will become a well known icon worldwide.

I was engaged to assist in the health planning of 20,000m² of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) area within RCH. This area included offices, workstations, consulting rooms, laboratories and support rooms.

My main focus was the careful planning of laboratory spaces and their relationship to open plan workstations and support rooms. Design layouts were regularly reviewed against the DHS guidelines and the Australian Standards for laboratory design and construction to ensure compliance was achieved.

Planning these spaces required extensive coordination with users and consultants to ensure that constantly evolving work practices and compliance issues were met as well as allowing us to achieve an innovative design infrastructure.

The most rewarding part of the project has been working in such a large team environment, the people within this team and most importantly working on site to ensure maintaining the design intent throughout the construction process. Dealing with builders and construction managers was challenging at times however we had a great site team and leader Andrew Francis gave us tremendous support."

Jacinta Tessari joined the RCH team in 2008 as a graduate architect and assistant health planner.

THE DESIGN CONVERSATIONS - `PHILIP VIVIAN TALKS TO CHRISTOPH INGENHOVEN AND RAY BROWN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Philip Vivian talks to Christoph Ingenhoven and Architectus director Ray Brown about their project 1 Bligh Street, Sydney as part of the Australian Design Review video series.

View the conversation here:

Australian Design Review video series

THE DESIGN CONVERSATIONS - `JEFF COPOLOV TALKS TO JANNE FAULKNER AM

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 4 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart Design Director Jeff Copolov features in the first of the Australian Design Review series in conversation with IDEA Gold Medalist, Janne Faulkner AM.

Janne's work has influenced generations of Australians through her design consultancy; she is credited with encapsulating a uniquely Australian aesthetic.

Jeff Copolov says "She saw something in this country, in this land and the light, and the skills and the craft, and somehow wove it, to me for the first time, where it was Australian and it wasn't imported. I don't know how she did it."

Janne received an Order of Australia in 1982 "in recognition of service to the arts, particularly as a designer".

View the conversation here:

Australian Design Review video series

MARK HEALEY - `LEAD INTERIOR DESIGNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

"The Royal Children's Hospital project was a deeply complex and rich experience," says Mark Healey.

"The Public Private Partnership(PPP) process was a new experience for most, but one which ultimately produced a remarkable product which will serve Melbourne and Victoria's children for many years to come.

"Of the 75 or so presentations I gave to get the project interiors endorsed, the one I gave to the Youth Advisory Council, consisting of eight long term patients of the hospital, some of which had lived their entire lives at the RCH, was definitely the most poignant.

"To witness firsthand what our work can do to improve people's lives was possibly the most rewarding moment of a demanding three years spent on the project, and a reminder that the end user should always be at the forefront of our minds."

Mark Healey is an Associate Director with Bates Smart.

GRADUATE STUDENT SHOWS - `SYDNEY + MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

We value our students for their contribution to the studio and for their loyalty and work ethic. Each year Bates Smart is proud to sponsor a range of graduate architecture and interior design shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

Here are the details of some of the shows opening in November and December.

MELBOURNE

INDEX
RMIT Interior Design Graduate Exhibition
79 Ireland Street, West Melbourne
13-17th November

SYDNEY

Amaze
University of Sydney Faculty of Architecture
Wilkinson Building (G04), 148 City Road
University of Sydney
1-8th December

FULL SCALE 1:1
University of NSW Faculty of Architecture
Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay
26-27th November, 2011

re|FORM
University of NSW Faculty of Interior Architecture
Paddington Town Hall, Oatley Road, Paddington
24th of November | Industry Opening Night 6.30-9.30pm
25th of November | Public Opening Night 6.30-9.30pm

INDEX 2011
UTS School of Architecture
Kensington Street, Redfern
Exhibition Opening 2nd December 6-10pm
3-5th December 11-3pm
6th December 11am-10pm

IS Exhibition 2011
UTS Interior Design Graduation Show
26 Broadway, Chippendale
(entry opp UTS Tower)
25-27 November, 1-6pm

Learn more about careers at Bates Smart

BATES SMART PEOPLE - `BEHIND THE SCENES

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

In-house model maker Chris White takes us behind the scenes and presents some of his latest work.

After 14 years in the industry, Chris has seen some major changes in the production and delivery of everyone's favourite design tool, the architectural model.

The increasing role of technology in model making with the use of controlled CNC and Laser Cutting machines, as well as the development of Rapid Prototyping techniques, has radically changed the model making studio.

Chris explains why The Capitol South Yarra model is one of his favourites.

“The brief was to produce a model that was semi-abstract and jewel-like in its appearance.

"The use of window solar films and acid etched vinyl applied to layers of acetate and acrylic achieved the desired result within a tight deadline, which was very rewarding."

Chris runs our Melbourne model making studio. Visit our website to see more of his work.

THE AUSTRALIAN - `PHILIP VIVIAN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Philip Vivian comments on the parallels between fashion design and architecture.

"It takes years of dedication to understand the effects of line, colour and texture in a good dress and the same is true of a good building” says Vivian, commenting on fashion designer Alex Perry's branded residential developments.

Visit Bates Smart to read the full article here

BATES SMART - PEOPLE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart architect Amy Watkins is passionate about increasing the visibility of women in the construction industry.

Amy Watkins is an architect in our Sydney studio who has recently been appointed as a Chapter Chair on the NSW Chapter of The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

NAWIC is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at promoting and improving the construction industry by the advancement and development of women within it. NAWIC has a diverse group of members spanning a broad range of construction related occupations across the nation.

In her role as Chapter Chair, Amy is responsible for developing topics and sourcing speakers for the NAWIC Success Series: a series of events which are aimed at professional development, knowledge sharing and networking.

Amy is currently working on Linc at Discovery Point, a multi-unit residential project which is the first stage of Australand’s new masterplan for Discovery Point.

Visit the NAWIC website

MILESTONES - PRINCE HENRY DEVELOPMENT - LITTLE BAY SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Construction has commenced on the Prince Henry Terraces at Little Bay with developer Brookfield Residential Properties.

The 56 townhouses are oriented to take full advantage of possible ocean views and maximise aspect to the north.

Material choices will respond to the corrosive marine environment, and colours and textures will harmonise with the coastal landscape.

Early works are currently being undertaken and construction on the display suite commenced in March 2011.

Bates Smart is also responsible for the design of new multiple residential apartments and the rejuvenation of existing Art Deco heritage buildings to create grand residential apartments.

Visit Brookfield Residential Properties for more information

Visit Bates Smart for more information

CROWN METROPOL - REFLECTIONS ON SKIN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

See Kristen Whittle on Archichannel talk about his architectural design for Crown Metropol, Melbourne.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Crown Metropol and Kristen Whittle

Visit Crown Metropol

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - BATES SMART AWARD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Bates Smart believes it is important to support and mentor the next generation of designers and architects. We sponsor prizes for talented graduates and end of year exhibitions at several leading universities.

This month we introduce Sally Westren, a recent graduate in interior design from University of Technology Sydney.

Sally won the Bates Smart Award for Design Excellence UTS in 2010. She undertook a 6 month study exchange to Hong Kong in 2009 and she is one of three finalists in the DIA GOTYA Awards to be announced in March.

Sally’s major project was an investigation into post disaster architecture. Through a series of temporary insertions into a surviving structure the project explored the relationship between people and place within a shifting environment.

For the Bates Smart Award students presented a portfolio of projects. Projects spanned a range of design areas including a warehouse office conversion for Lorax, a fictional environmental sustainability consulting firm.

Sally’s winning design focused on the interplay of natural materials and industrial elements, symbolising Lorax’s aim of bringing industry and nature together.

Visit Bates smart for more about our employment philosophy

ART IN ARCHITECTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Increasingly developers and architects are engaging with artists as a part of the design process. Bates Smart has a long history of integrating artworks into our projects.

We often work with art consultant Virginia Wilson. This month we asked Virginia about choosing art for architecture.

BS: What factors make a public artwork successful?
VW: The artworks integration and response to the architecture is critical. Also an understanding of the building’s purpose. Most of all it helps if it is beautiful!

BS: The new Alexander Knox installation at 420 George Street, Sydney is a beautiful work. Can you tell us about the process of choosing an artist for the 420 George Street lobby?
VW: We asked 3 artists to provide proposals for the site and, after much discussion, Alex was selected. His work responded to the architecture and, in particular, the grandeur of the lobby. It brought in new textures and colours that enhance the lobby, making it exciting to move through the space.

BS: Building design is becoming increasingly ‘brave’ and individualistic. Can the same be said for public art?
VW: I don’t think installation art or public art is in fact brave. It is an opportunity to work with highly skilled and talented artists to do something amazing that adds to the project. The artists are responding to factors that already exist – the site, the design, etc. so, in fact, the risk is low. Compromise is the risk factor.

BS: In what way can a public artwork serve a community?
VW: It serves the art community by providing artists with opportunities on a scale they rarely have otherwise. The general community is benefited by experiencing an environment that has thought, design and care go into it.

Read more about Virginia Wilson

BOUTIQUE MEETS BIG - PROJECT METROPOL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

“Sexy, black and tres chic - Bates Smart has made the biggest hotel in the Southern Hemisphere look boutique” Penny Craswell.

- Visit Bates Smart to read full article

THE ARCHITECTURE OF WORK: - THE WORK OF ARCHITECTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Philip Vivian comments in the Australian Design Review.

- Visit Australian Design Review for more

BATES SMART PEOPLE - SMART STUDIO WORK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Associate Director Eugene Cheah and colleagues Tommy Joo and Jonathan Brener present some of their ongoing work with the University of Melbourne Graduate Architecture Studio.

RCH WINS NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AWARD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

The Royal Children’s Hospital in Victoria has been judged the nation’s best infrastructure project at Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s National Infrastructure Awards.

IPA Chairman, Mark Birrell explains the judge's decision.

"The New Royal Children’s Hospital was judged the best new project in Australia because of its design excellence, engineering quality and its scale.

"The $1 billion New Royal Children’s Hospital was one of the largest projects completed last year and is an excellent example of a successful Public Private Partnership.

"The project was delivered on time and on budget, and includes a wide range of design innovations that make this project the benchmark for paediatric care."

Read review of RCH in Artichoke Magazine

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about RCH

ANDREW RAFTOPOULOS - `ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The strong nexus created between nature and architecture in the concept design posed some huge challenges to the design team in translating the inspirational images into a built form.

The morphing of nature’s 'organic' forms and colours into the 'inorganic', predictably led to a degree of abstraction which, while necessary to avoid a trite and unsophisticated interpretation of nature, needed to also satisfy the constraints of modern commercial building practice and the complex procurement method of the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Inevitably, the gruelling negotiation process between, budget, 'buildability' and refinement of design detail, caused many disappointments along the journey of implementation but there were many triumphs.

Instilling quality in the product is not necessarily a case of lavishing extravagant detail and materials on a building.

Indeed, sublime results can evolve under the most restrained of circumstances where the designer is challenged to create a spare but eloquent result.

Andrew Raftopoulos is an Associate Director at Bates Smart and leads a specialist team in the design development of concepts with an emphasis on facade design and technology.

He has been involved in the design development of the RCH facades since 2008 through Stage 1 completed in 2011 and Stage 2 scheduled for completion in 2014. He is currently working on the facades of 171 Collins Street and 735 Collins Street Melbourne

IN THE MEDIA - INDESIGN FOCUS ON CLAYTON UTZ, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Read Indesign's review of the new Clayton Utz home. Bates Smart's design concept expresses the synergy between the building and Clayton Utz, referencing the shared qualities of integrity, transaparency and endurance.

Read the article here

Clayton Utz on Indesignlive

Visit Bates Smart to learn more

LEANNE GUY - `LEAD HEALTH PLANNER + INTERIOR DESIGNER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

“It was a great privilege and a remarkable experience to work with a dedicated team of design and healthcare professionals on the new Royal Children’s Hospital, which I believe will become a significant public building for Melbourne and Victoria.” says Leanne Guy.

Senior Health Planner and Interior Designer Leanne Guy was involved in the design and clinical planning of the new Royal Children’s Hospital from the bid phase in 2006, through to completion in 2011.

She says, “The team, from the very beginning, were so motivated to achieve design excellence, whilst maintaining focus on designing for the child and their family. The Brief, the Response and our design solutions were determined by Patient Centred Care and Evidence Based Design Principles.”

Leanne’s role included working closely with the clinicians and the Victorian Department of Health to translate the Brief and the Model of Care, and to incorporate their values and aspirations into a dynamic design outcome of a world class facility which responds to the needs of the users and the children and their families.

Leanne has designed a number of hospitals around the world, including Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Leanne is an Associate Director with Bates Smart.

IN THE PRESS - THE CAPITOL SOUTH YARRA

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

"Inner-city luxury living need not necessarily be quite as 'inner-city' as you would expect" says Gillian Serisier (inside) Interior Design Review Magazine on The Capitol South Yarra.

Read on to find out more about Bates Smart's most recent luxury residential project.

"The materiality of the building is solidly classic and has been extended to the interiors which are a rich amalgam of high-quality, high-finish, timber, stone, leather and glass" says Serisier.

Visit Bates Smart to read the full article

ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS - `BATES SMART GRADUATE PRIZE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Bates Smart are delighted to announce the winner of the 2010 AIA (Vic) University of Melbourne Bates Smart Graduate Prize in Architecture: Joanne Nataprawira.

Joanne was one of 6 shortlisted from the top students of her graduating year.

Joanne's project shown here is a design for a Koori Contemporary Arts Centre.

LINC - DISCOVERY POINT, WOLLI CREEK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Linc is the first stage of Australand’s new Masterplan for Discovery Point.

Two separate buildings will accommodate 130 one, two and three bedroom apartments in addition to a new neighbourhood park and pedestrian street linking surrounding streets to the existing Wolli Creek train station.

The pedestrian street will be activated by a supermarket and retail tenancies with continuous covered outdoor dining.

Bates Smart won the Discovery Point masterplan design competition in 2009.

It proposes a mixed use neighbourhood of 14 buildings comprising 1500 apartments, 4600sqm retail and 5000sqm commercial space located within a permeable network of new streets and public open space.

Visit Bates Smart for more information on our residential projects

STUDENT NEWS - `COMPETITION SUCCESS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart Student Marinel Dator has won first prize in the Barcelona 2011 International Architecture competition. She beat 500 entries from both students and professionals.

The competition held by Arquitectum challenged professional architects to design a 100m tall, 'zeroecological impact' hostel tower in the low-lying gothic quarter of Barcelona, whilst creating a new landmark for the city.

Marinel and her design partner Katie Yeung submitted ‘The Hanging Cloud:Lightweight Living’, an open-air tower with suspended pods; a reinterpretation of Gaudi's inverted hanging model.

The pair eliminated the external façade to create a physically and visually permeable form, offering a thrilling spatial experience and activating social interaction between internationals and locals alike both at the base and the rooftop of the site.

Marinel is currently undertaking her Masters in Architecture at the University of Sydney and is expected to graduate next year. She is currently working for both the 360 Collins Street team and the Prince Henry Stage 2 team in our Sydney studio.

Visit the University of Sydney's news website for more on the competition success

Visit the Arquitectum competition website

MEDIA HOUSE TOUR - PCA EXCLUSIVE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Fairfax Limited has kindly agreed to open Media House to a tour an exclusive site tour of Media House for PCA members.

On Wednesday April 6 Bates Smart Directors Roger Poole and Jeff Copolov will lead the site tour.

This will be followed by an in depth briefing, looking at the buildings evolution from concept to completion.

Limited spaces are available exclusively for Property Council members.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Media House

Visit the PCA for bookings

SHAPING MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Melbourne is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that will continue to grow. The ongoing challenge, therefore, is to ensure that the quality of life improves as Melbourne grows.

Roger Poole, Chairman of Bates Smart, is a member of the Executive Board of the Committee for Melbourne, an apolitical, not-for-profit committee of senior executives working to improve Melbourne’s livability, connectivity, affordability and economic health.

The Committee’s Shaping Melbourne Task Force, consisting of over 160 contributing members, has worked under Co-Chairs Roger Poole, Tom Fricke, Executive Manager of GHD, and Pru Sanderson, former Chief Executive Officer of VicUrban, to examine the options for Governance, Density and Local Economies, and Infrastructure in order to deal with Melbourne’s predicted growth from 4 million in 2011 to 5 million in 2025 and about 8 million in 2060.

The Task Force believes that there is a need for a 50 year strategic plan for Melbourne, dealing with key issues which need to be examined at the metropolitan level.

Three volumes are available for download on the Committee for Melbourne website, http://melbourne.org.au/.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Roger Poole

Visit the Committee for Melbourne

SUMMER BREAK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart will take a short Summer break. Our offices are closed from Thursday 23 December 2010. We are back at work on Monday 10 January 2011.

Have a safe, relaxing break. We look forward to bringing you more JOURNAL/ news in the New Year.

FLOWING LIGHT - PAVILION

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

The Bates Smart Flowing Light Pavilion is designed by University of Sydney architecture students. It was a ‘Quay’ feature of the Sydney Architecture Festival.

Designed and constructed using recycled materials; the pavilion was installed in Customs House Square at Circular Quay. Architecture students were given the opportunity to design and construct temporary installations exploring recycled materials as a building product.

Students Alex Tesoriero, Matt Ardain, Aliakbar Irani and David Strange, from the Master of Architecture program, constructed the Bates Smart Flowing Light Pavilion from recycled City of Sydney event banners and Foamex routed hoops.

The festival was held from 20 October to 7 November.

Read more about the Sydney Architecture Festival

Read more about the University of Sydney Faculty of Architecture Design and Planning

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart is a partner to support research by Dr Naomi Stead et al in a University of Queensland and Australian Research Council study.

This project will develop strategies to maximize women's participation in architecture, improving human resource practices within architectural firms and developing a diversity policy for the national professional association.

Only 1% of practice directors in Australian architectural firms are women. The question then, is what happens to women architects between graduation and senior management? And what measures could be taken to change the current pattern of women architects’ career development?

Together these outcomes will increase women's representation within architecture, and help all architects achieve a greater work life balance with its concomitant effects of improving individual health, wellbeing and national productivity.

Increasing the visibility and recognition of female architects will directly support innovative practice in architecture, which will advantage all attempts to create socially and ecologically sustainable built environments in Australia.

Visit Bates Smart to find out more about our Directors

Find out more about Naomi Stead

CROSS SECTOR POLLINATION

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

How does hospitality design influence the modern office these days. In which corporate sectors does this mainly play out?

The fusing of hospitality elements and working methods into corporate fit-out is certainly not a new phenomenon. Whilst the media sector has endorsed this cross pollination for many years other sectors such as legal and finance are now joining in the softer, more tactile expression of space.

Hospitality lighting, furniture, materials and service skills are all finding their way into the corporate office. Legal firms in particular have often entertained clients outside of the office. More recently that trend has reversed so now we see fully operational in house dining rooms with commercial kitchens. Upon arrival, clients are greeted with a concierge-like experience. This has created legal experiences that are as rewarding to visit as a well appointed 5 star hotel.

When does an office space become a stage? And are we willing players, when does this become forced frivolity?

Of course the line between fusing sectors for function, impact and general visual metaphors is certainly fine. More often than not spaces that are “dressed” to promote fun in the office can quickly become dated and a little contrived.

There should always be an honest reflection of a company’s core ethos and brand values reflected in any fit out. The contrived wow factor added for impact sake can often render spaces within the fit out redundant after a few months when the novelty of sliding down a slippery-dip between floors has worn off.

Brenton Smith, senior Interior Designer, recently joined Bates Smart as an Associate Director. He returns to Australia after 12 years in London with TP Bennett.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on workplace projects

OUR NATURE OF - NURTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:07:00 +0000

Kristen reports in on the new Royal Children's Hospital in World Health Design.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on the RCH

- Visit the RCH website

- Visit World Health Design for more

BATES SMART PEOPLE - WORKPLACE THEORY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

PROPERY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA - VICTORIAN STATE AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 2 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce that Fairfax Media House, Melbourne has been awarded the 2012 Innovation and Excellence Awards, Victorian Development of the Year.

The Innovation and Excellence Awards showcase Australia’s finest, celebrates innovation and leading practice within the property development and investment industries.

Bates Smart completed the building and integrate fitout for Fairfax Media in 2009, it has since gained a five-star Green Star Design as-built rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

Media house is home to the expanding group of Fairfax Media holdings in print, broadcast and on-line formats including The Age and The Australian Financial Review.

Learn more about Fairfax Media House Architecture, Interiors

Indesign Magazine review

Property Council of Australia National Awards

Property Council of Australia Victorian Chapter

BATES SMART PEOPLE - `THE TEAM BEHIND RCH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Andrew Raftopoulos, Jacinta Tessari and Andrew Francis share their different experiences of working on RCH.

CROWN TOWERS LEVEL 39, SOUTHBANK, MELBOURNE - 2012 INTERNATIONAL GAMING AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

The Bates Smart designed Level 39 has been awarded best VIP Gaming Room at the 2012 Fifth International Gaming Awards.

Level 39 of Crown Towers is the world's most luxurious VIP gaming environment, comprising four private gaming salons with the ambiance of individual penthouse apartments.

This award was judged on the facilities offered, with particular consideration given to VIP Rooms of oustanding quality of design, customer service and design features that enhance the consumer experience.

Learn more about Level 39

Visit the Gaming Awards website

BATES SMART PEOPLE - `THE TEAM BEHIND RCH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

The Bates Smart team worked closely with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals from the bid phase in 2006 through to completion in 2011.

Leanne Guy, Mirjana Sazunic and Mark Healey reflect on their experience.

THE COUNCIL ON TALL BUILDINGS + URBAN HABITAT - `2011 WORLD CONFERENCE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Philip Vivian, has just returned from the 2011 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat world conference in Seoul on the topic of 'Why Tall? Green, Safety and Humanity'.

The conference aimed to shed new light on the meaning and value of tall buildings from the perspectives of sustainability, safety, and humanity.

Philip presented a paper entitled 'Tall, Green and Sub-Tropical', focused on Australia's tallest building (an active project in Brisbane).

The Bates Smart project 111 + 222 is a mixed use high rise project consisting of two buildings: a 36 level 45,000sqm commercial office building at 111 Mary Street, and a 92 level five star hotel and residential tower at 222 Margaret Street (the tallest building in Australia* with the highest occupiable penthouse).

This project has been designed to efficiently maximise its height, delivering a building that is tall, environmentally sustainable and responds to the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane.

Reporting back on the conference Philip said:

“The conference attracted over 1000 participants including architects, engineers and academics from 45 countries.

"Case studies and issues explored ranged from Rebuilding Ground Zero, creating vertical communities, reuse of water and super tall buildings (over 1km in height).

"Within the recent context of global economic changes, earthquake, tsunamis and growing environmental imperatives this was a fantastic opportunity to hear perspectives from around the world.”

*excluding the spire on Q1.

NAWIC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE - `SUCCESS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Bates Smart Associate Polly Gee celebrated a well deserved win at the NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) State Awards for Excellence last month.

Interior Designer Polly was awarded a Leighton Contractors Achievement merit award for her work on the Clayton Utz Sydney project.

Under the direction of Simon Swaney and Jeff Copolov, Polly led the Bates Smart team of architects and designers and managed the project from the initial briefing stage through to completion in June 2011.

Simon Swaney congratulated Polly on the recognition that this award brings.

"We are delighted for Polly, her dedication to the project work over the three years from briefing to completion, and her attention to every detail down to the most minute, have resulted in an exceptional workplace for Clayton Utz and its staff."

NAWIC promotes the profile of women working in the construction industry.

Learn more about NAWIC

IN THE NEWS - `SMART INTERIORS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov talks about the synchronicity that happens when architecture and interior design are coordinated as one vision.

Copolov cites Bates Smart project, Media House, as an example of how early input from the design team maximised the potential for the interior design.

The team moved the regulation fire stairs to the centre of the building and used glass to reveal the staircase as a central focus for social connectivity.

Read the complete article here

Visit Bates Smart for more on Media House

IN THE PRESS - `OUTSIDE THE BOX, EUGENE CHEAH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

The Age newspaper features Melbourne’s most promising young architects including Eugene Cheah, Associate Director, Bates Smart.

Cheah's latest project for Bates Smart is the Dandenong Hospital Emergency Department and Mental Health facility. Both departments are due to open this month.

The Dandenong Hospital ED has already received critical acclaim for its innovative design.

Cheah explains the challenges of designing an ED that is required to service over 147,000 people of 156 nationalities.

He argues that the most successful approach stems from thinking "not of what's left outside the prescribed specifications but of what can be worked into them".

Dandenong Hospital in The Age

2011 AIA ARCHITECTURE AWARDS (NSW) - SHORTLIST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart is delighted that three of our projects have been shortlisted in seperate categories in the AIA (NSW) Awards 2011 shortlistings.

420 George Street for Commercial Architecture (NSW)

Learn more about 420 George Street

Urbanest for Residential Architecture - Multiple Housing (NSW)

Learn more about Urbanest

Conneq for Interior Architecture (NSW)

Learn more about Conneq

The official presentation of the 2011 Architecture Awards will take place on July 1st, Sydney Hilton Grandballroom.

RESEARCH - DESIGN STUDIO

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Associate Director Eugene Cheah talks about his work with the University of Melbourne, SKINS 2010 Design Studio within the Master of Architecture program.

The Studio was commissioned by the Faculty of Architecture to design and build a permanent ceiling installation in the foyer of the faculty’s building in the Parkville campus.

"We began with the position that material, technique and form are interdependent" says Cheah.

"Our aim is for students to develop an understanding of digital design and fabrication technologies, as tools for managing a complex negotiation of material, geometric, manufacturing, and assembly constraints"

The construction of the ceiling required 4600 minutes of laser cutting, 378 hours of pre-fabrication, and 3 days of insitu installation.

The result is a series of 784 unique modules, all with different proportions and directions.

Through the exploration of these techniques, students will discover new forms of collaboration with industry and challenge conventional methodologies, and suggest a future in which designers are much more engaged in the total process of architecture – re-associating design and making.

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY - NEW STUDENT HOUSING

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart has been awarded a new student housing project at the University of Sydney.

The new accomodation will provide approximately 700 beds across two high profile sites as part of the University's strategy to increase accommodation by 3,500 beds by 2014.

This is a great opportunity for Bates Smart to deliver a new benchmark and set the standard for following student housing projects.

The project focuses on the needs of international students and visiting academics.

Briefing has commenced.

THE EFFECTIVE URBANIST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Roger Poole was interviewed by CapitalLand INSIDE, March issue for his views on designing innovative and sustainable buildings to reflect changing urban life.

Roger is Bates Smart Executive Chairman and as one of Australia’s leading urban designers and architects he has influenced the shape of our cities in recent decades.

Roger’s contribution was acknowledged when he was made a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects by the AIA National Council in November 2010.

Visit here to read Roger Poole’s CV

Read the full article here

CROWN METROPOL - `INSIDE STORY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

See Jeff Copolov interviewed by Archichannel about his unique approach to designing the interiors for Australia’s largest hotel Crown Metropol, Melbourne.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Crown Metropol

Visit Bates Smart for more on Jeff Copolov

BIO ARCHITECTURE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Can the physical environment of a hospital actually aid the healing process? Recent studies demonstrate that views to nature and access to daylight can help physical healing.

Dr Roger Ulrich, a behavioural scientist and Director of the Centre for Health Systems and Design at Texas A+M University, has contributed significantly our understanding of Evidence Based Design (EBD).

Professor Ulrich has conducted extensive research on healthcare facilities and their effect on medical outcomes. His 1984 study provided scientific proof that having views to nature from the hospital bedroom can reduce the length of stay and pain relief in a group of post-surgery patients.

Biophilia is the term used to describe the need that humans have for contact with the natural environment. Buildings designed to evoke or reinforce biophilia appear to ‘grow’ out of nature and seek to give people a sense of greater well-being.

This concept is particularly influential in health facility design. Led by Directors Kristen Whittle and Sheree Proposch, Bates Smart has applied this perspective to the new Royal Children's Hospital in Parkville, Melbourne.

A recent study at the John Hopkins Medical Centre indicated that even simulated views to images of nature, for patients undergoing bronchoscopies, significantly reduced their pain levels.

And although the use of “virtual nature” isn't considered a replacement for windows and views, for short term patients visiting clinics imbedded in US-style deep-plan hospitals, this research is a positive step to understanding the mind/body connection.

Implementing Biophilic design is more complex than adding a skylight or having a hospital bedroom with views to outdoors. It also involves the use of natural materials and forms and a deeper understanding of evolved human-nature relationships.

The economics of patient care are also relevant. If architectural design using evidence-based principles can trim the length of stay and the need for pain-relief pharmaceuticals, cost savings over conventional hospitals would be very substantial.

Dr Ulrich believes that over the life of the facility, operational costs are reduced if the hospital is designed according to EBD principles.

Visit Bates Smart for more on the new RCH

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN - GRADUATION SHOWS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Bates Smart believes in providing opportunities for students and graduates of architecture and design. We provide positions in our studios for student work experience and mentoring programs.

We are proud to be supporting sponsors of the following graduate exhibitions:

‘Ten is more’ UNSW Masters of Architecture Graduation Exhibition 2010
Opening 19 November
www.tenismore.com

UTS INDEX 2010 show
Kensington St, Redfern
Opening 3 December

‘Archipelago’ Graduate Exhibition 2010
University of Sydney
The Wilkinson Building and The Tin Sheds building, University of Sydney
Opening 26 November

‘Gradex 2010’ University of Melbourne Graduate Exhibition
Melbourne School of Design: Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design.
27 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Opening 6 November

Swinburne one:one
221 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Opening 24 November

Index RMIT Interior Design Graduate exhibition 2010
64 Sutton Street, North Melbourne
Opening 12 November

DESIGNER VS PERSONAL TRAINER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Dana Tomic, Associate Director asks:

If you are a designer who works with clients, you will be faced with a challenging brief at least once or twice in your career. Your client may ask you for solutions that really challenge the conventional, or maybe it’s just challenging for them.

Success can often depend on your client’s ability to shift their thinking and start to see themselves in new ways. For example they may ask you to design a house with a series of open spaces with elegant spatial flows. But when it comes down to the crunch they back away from their original vision and ask for the walls to be put back in!

I was recently involved in a pitch to a potential new client which needed to address this very issue, but on a much larger scale. The design brief was clearly going to be a challenge for both the design team and the client. Yet often, as designers, we can use our client as an excuse as to why the project is never going to be the best it can be, not cutting edge or innovative, because “our client just wasn’t that way” or “they are just too conservative”.

I think we need to remember that the role of our client is not to be innovative or creative. Their role is to embrace innovation and creativity, and that is a big difference. How can we expect them to get it, if we don’t show them how?

After some thought, I asked myself this question – are Designers in fact just like Personal Trainers and Coaches?

Let’s say our client has a goal to do some exercise and improve their fitness. Perhaps they have challenging goal like running the next City to Surf or to compete in a triathlon. Perhaps they even have an ambition to become a world class athlete and a gold medalist. The personal trainer or coach has the tools to get their client anywhere they want to go, but first we need to know what the goal is. It’s called beginning with an end in mind.

Very often things get tough along the way, especially if the project is a long one. We get tired, the client loses their focus, other factors come into play like the budget, timing, contractors etc. It can be easy to lose control, especially if our client starts to lose the track of what we are trying to achieve.

It is exactly in those moments that we must be in control, just like the personal trainer. We have to coach our client through and keep our energy high so that the best outcome can be achieved.

Innovation isn’t an easy process. Just like winning gold. If it was, everyone would be doing it. Growth and results can hurt, and so can training with the coach, but the rewards are all the sweeter.

DADA - GROWS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:08:00 +0000

The Directors of Bates Smart are delighted to announce the following promotions in our Melbourne and Sydney offices.

Associate Directors
Brenton Smith
Julian Anderson
Eugene Cheah
Marko Damic
Kathryn Lombard
Kellie Payne

Associates
Matthew Allen
Aaron Coats
Edwina McDermott
Martin Schmidt
Bobby Wei

- Visit Bates Smart for more on our promotions

THE DESIGN CONVERSATIONS - PAUL MCGILLICK TALKS TO JULIE LEVIS, CLAYTON UTZ AND SIMON SWANEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney and Clayton Utz Partner Julie Levis talk to Paul McGillick about achieving the benefits of an open plan within an office environment at 1 Bligh Street.

Indesign TV Series

visit Bates Smart to learn more about the Clayton Utz project

2012 AUSTRALIAN INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS - RCH WINS FOUR AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 2 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart is delighted to announce The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne has won the following four awards at the 2012 Australian Interior Design Awards: The Premier Award for Interior Design Excellence and Innovation; Public Design Award; Colour in Commercial Design Award and best in State Commercial Design Award.

Extracts from the Jury citation for the Public Design Award read:
"The interior design of The Royal Children’s Hospital will extend the experience of the power of interiors into the public realm further than any other project this year. The designers are to be congratulated on this highly complex, technical, responsive and, above all, beautiful hospital interior.... The jury believes that the project sets a new benchmark in this restrictive building typology and that it will be seen as a game-changer for healthcare..."

The judging panel congratulated the team for producing "a legitimate balance between architecture and interior design; a brilliant collaboration resulting in an interior that is necessarily functional yet incredibly beautiful".

Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov and Associate Director Mark Healey celebrate the awards.

Visit Bates Smart for more on RCH

Artichoke AIDA Special Issue Article

Australian Interior Design Awards 2012

SHEREE PROPOSCH - AMBULATORY CARE NEIGHBOURHOOD

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The striking 14m high colourful, curling, tentacled sculpture, known as ‘Creature’, is immediately visible upon entry to the internal ‘Street’.

It is a key wayfinding landmark, strategically placed outside Ambulatory Care, the busiest department in the hospital.

Providing a range of speciality consulting and diagnostic clinics and with over 230,000 visits a year, the large Ambulatory Care footprint invites the park into the building via three courtyards.

The first courtyard is a calm viewing lightwell, the second a rolling landscaped children’s play area, and the third a Meerkat enclosure, providing hours of captivating entertainment for waiting families, or light relief for staff.

The Ambulatory Care neighbourhood’s six speciality pods, and their associated reception and waiting areas, radiate around the collective courtyards providing a central focus on nature, daylight and distraction. Using a balance of standard and bespoke room design, the pods can flex between each other to allow clinic expansion and contraction.

The Ambulatory Care neighbourhood is the most functionally diverse area of the hospital, which also made it a complex and fascinating area to design. Together with the Department of Health and Lend Lease, our team worked with a range of clinicians to develop the speciality areas including: orthopaedics, neuroscience, cardiology, audiology, ophthalmology, immunology, respiratory medicine and surgery pre-admission.

From an holistic design perspective, the Ambulatory Care neighbourhod exemplifies the integration of architectural and interior design, health planning and landscape design, to deliver a family friendly, child focussed and operationally efficient area.

Sheree is a Director of Bates Smart, and worked on the new RCH over 5 years. Sheree led the Health Planning team for all clinical services in the East Building and select functions in the North and West buildings, as project Joint Health Architecture Director.

Sheree has worked in Social Infrastructure, with a focus on health, in UK, Singapore, NZ and Australia for 25 years.

Creature sculpture by Alexander Knox

Wayfinding by BuroNorth

Landscaping by Land Design Partnership

Meerkat care by Melbourne Zoo

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE - STUDY LAUNCHED

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work and Leadership

Women have been an active and highly successful part of the architecture profession in Australia for more than a hundred years, however they remain dramatically under represented at senior management level and in professional leadership roles.

Bates Smart is one of five industry partners behind a research study aimed at understanding the issues surrounding this under representation and to propose intiatives towards change.

Dr Naomi Stead is part of a collaborative group of scholars that initiated the research. She says, "This research is by no means new. Over the years a huge amount of time, effort, thought and goodwill has gone into the matter of women's under-representation in architecture. Nevertheless the situation remains depressingly similar to what it was three decades ago.

"The challenge for us is to ask different questions, understand the issue in new ways, and most importantly to propose actions and initiatives which might begin to make a change."

As Paula Whitman noted in her landmark 2005 study ‘Going Places: The Career Progression of Women in the Architectural Profession’ at that time in Australia women graduated from architecture in roughly equal numbers to men but only 1% of company directors were women. Whitman found that women architects chose not to pursue high levels of seniority because of the sacrifices it would entail for their families and personal lives, and found a surprising number of survey respondents had actually declined a promotion at some time in their career.

Whitman’s study clearly demonstrated that there were impediments to women, not of their own making, which continued to slow and stymie their progression to the highest and most influential levels of the architecture profession.Today these impediments continue to be poorly understood by both the profession and its representative bodies.

In response to this problem, in 2010 a collaborative group of scholars from five universities across three states were successful in applying for an Australian Research Council Linkage grant for the project ‘Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work, and Leadership.’

The project will interrogate patterns of women’s participation, progression and representation in the architectural profession, paying particular attention to women’s under representation in senior management.

The research team includes Dr Naomi Stead, Professor Julie Willis, Professor Sandra Kaji-O'Grady, Professor Gillian Whitehouse, Professor Susan Savage, Dr Karen Burns, Dr Amanda Roan, and Ms Justine Clark. Gill Matthewson has been appointed to complete the project’s dedicated PhD scholarship, and is undertaking doctoral studies at the University of Queensland 2011-2014.

Learn more about the project

Further Reading on the Architecture+Women website

CREATIVE COLLABORATION - `JADE OAKLEY'S SKY GARDEN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart has a history of successful commissions of artwork to enliven the built environment. This has never been more apparent than in the new Royal Children’s Hospital.

Last month Journal profiled the “Creature” by Melbourne artist Alexander Knox. This month we feature Bates Smart’s creative collaborations with Jade Oakley, a young Sydney based sculptor, whose mobile floats above the Creature in the internal atrium.

Bates Smart Director of Interior Design, Jeff Copolov sat on the hospital artwork selection committee, he says “Jade’s body of work aligns perfectly with the RCH. Her installations and mobiles are beautiful and poetic, with a gentleness of movement and calmness, drawing inspiration from the natural environment.”

The resulting sculpture, entitled, “Sky Garden”, occupies the large atrium on the hospital Main Street. It consists of 5 large colourful mobiles which reference the buildings’ parkland setting, forming a ‘tree canopy’ of colour and movement.

Jade’s concept for the design draws on the free-spirited nature of children, evoking a sense of wonder and peace, featuring fairies based on silhouettes of children leaping and jumping. The installation acts as a playful diversion for the young patients.

Pictured: Sky garden shadows

This is the second time Jade has collaborated with Bates Smart. The first was a commission for Melbourne's Teak Room in Crown Casino, in which Bates Smart worked with Jade to create a dynamic focal point within the sumptuous members lounge. Here, it was critical that both the design and sculpture seamlessly aligned.

The result is a mobile of autumnal coloured ‘leaves’ entitled ‘Goldengrove’, installed above a reflective pool of water, from a ceiling plate made from highly polished stainless steel. Dramatic lighting from above makes the silk ‘leaves’ glow against the dark timber of the restaurant interior.

Other successful art collaborations in award winning projects by Bates Smart include:
/420 George Street, Sydney, foyer mural by Alexander Knox, entitled “Morpho”.
/Crown Metropol Hotel, Melbourne, painting by Noel Skrzypczak, and seven sculptural balls by Korean artist Lee Jae-Hyo.

Learn more about Jade Oakley

DESIGN COMPETITION SUCCESS - `CONCEPTS OF SCALE AND MAPPING

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart recently won an invited design competition for Landcom’s new head office fitout. Landcom will occupy two interconnected floors (totalling 2,640m2 NLA) in the Eclipse Tower in Parramatta.

The rigorous selection process involved a capability submission, fee proposal and design concept.

The design concept was inspired by Landcom’s dedication to the creation of communities. Landcom works across a range of scales from mapping land use down to the selection of public artwork.

Our concept uses scale and mapping concepts whilst also applying rigorous planning and sustainability principles that complement the base building design.

Having worked previously with Landcom on larger architectural projects we are delighted to win this opportunity to work on a more intimate scale. A client group with property expertise and a commitment to sustainability provides a very exciting opportunity for our interiors team.

This integrated fitout is being designed to ensure completion for occupation by late 2012.

OPINION - `CAN GOOD WORKPLACE DESIGN ENCOURAGE LAWYERS TO STAY?

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Law firms continue to experience high rates of attrition of young talented lawyers, exiting the profession to pursue vastly different careers – hospitality, the arts, not-for-profit organisations and design.

Why is this the case and what can law firms do from a design perspective to retain and support the best employees?

Polly Gee led the design team responsible for the fitout of Clayton Utz.

According to Polly, employee satisfaction and retention of staff may be achieved in a number of ways:

> Fostering collaboration within and across teams to create a unifying culture where employees feel part of the greater whole. How? By focussing on how circulation spaces and bump zones, visual connectivity, team rooms and shared special-purpose zones allow for greater staff connectivity.

> Training and development of junior employees. While there may still be a need for cellular offices in law firms, adjacent informal interactive spaces encourage a collegiate environment where knowledge held by more senior employees is shared.

> Using technology to facilitate and encourage flexible working conditions. It should be as easy for an employee to work out of the office as it is within the office.

> Changing the focus of traditional support functions. The library can now become a café area where employees from different departments (and even clients) interact.

> Greening offices to improve employee health, morale and productivity. New office buildings increasingly offer outside areas for staff, plant life within offices, and improvements to air quality, circulation and ventilation.

Does this increased focus on workplace design to improve employee morale and retention really work in practice? A number of these initiatives were introduced in the Clayton Utz office fitout.

“We’ve been here a month and I can already see the difference in terms of people talking to each other. And because they can see what’s happening on other floors there’s a heightened sense of being part of a whole.”

Julie Levis, Managing Partner, Clayton Utz, Sydney, commenting on the Clayton Utz fitout in No.1 Bligh Street, Australian Financial Review, 2 August 2011.

2011 MELBOURNE DESIGN AWARDS - VOTE NOW!

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Vote here for Crown Metropol or Maze Restaurant fitout in the inaugural Melbourne City Design Awards.

The Design Institute of Australia (Vic) together with Thinking have launched a new award recognising a broad range of design categories open to design professionals, students and those that commission design.

The awards are cross-disciplinary, celebrating and honouring the role of design and the skills of designers around the planet, while recognising all aspects of the design process.

Vote here for Maze Restaurant

Vote here for Crown Metropol

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS - BATES SMART ARCHITECTURE IN THE MEDIA AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

These awards are given to a talented group of individuals who seek to inform, provoke and entertain the architecture profession and public alike on the expansive subject of architecture.

Our congratulations go to the winners of the AIA (Vic) Awards for Architecture in the Media.

National Award for Architecture in the Media - Justine Clark, Architecture Australia

National Award for Architecture in the Media - Peter Maddison, Grand Designs

State Award for Architecture in the Media - Ivan Rijavec and John Gollings, Now and When

For the full jury citations please view the gallery below.

MELBOURNE OPEN HOUSE 2011 - ORICA HOUSE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

On the weekend of 30-31 July you’ll be able to explore 75 incredible buildings for free, including our very own Orica House.

Once Australia’s tallest building, Orica House, designed by Bates Smart in the 1950s, will be open to the public again and we warmly invite you to tour our studio and view our latest projects.

The building is considered to be one of the most stylish skyscrapers of its time.

Images of Orica House by @awusterp

Bates Smart are proud to have supported Tim Leslie, Associate Director in developing Melbourne Open House through the Committee for Melbourne’s Future Focus Programme.

Tim was the founding president of Melbourne Open House which is now in its fourth and highly successful year.

Visit Melbourne Open House 2011

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL - AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

"This must surely be Sydney's most glamorous accomodation," says Susan Kurosawa in the Australian Financial Review.

Read the full review of Bates Smart's work on the Four Season Hotel.

SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK - HOMEBUSH SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

The elliptical geometry of these residential towers maximises views and increases access to sunlight.

In 2010 Bates Smart won a competition to design two residential towers. The towers are linked by a low podium, comprising commercial office and retail tenancies that creates a lively street frontage for residents and passers-by.

This design provides a sense of connection between the large scale of the surrounding sporting infrastructure and the human scale of street life.

Horizontal sun-shading bands circle each tower, varying in depth to provide greater protection to the north.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Site 3 Sydney Olympic Park

SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK - SITE 4B, HOMEBUSH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

This ‘A’ grade commercial office building is located at Sydney Olympic Park. Site 4B is located at the heart of the Park precinct. Our building design is a direct response to the Homebush context.

The plan consists of two large, modular open-plan floor-plates arranged at a 90-degree angle to capitalise on the site’s 'L' shaped geometry.

The planning concept provides a flexible working environment that encourages a high level of interaction among the occupants, the atrium serves as the communal heart of the building.

The floor plates are designed to appeal to both mid and small scale tenants.

Our design seeks to achieve 5-star ratings using both the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating and Green Star rating schemes.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Sydney Olympic Park , Site 4B

NSW GOVERNMENT - SERVICE CENTRE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Read Architectural Review’s report on the NSW Government Service Centre in Queanbeyan.

Visit Bates Smart for more on NSW Government Service Centre

ARCHITECTS MEDALLION

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart architect Felicity Stewart has won the prestigious NSW Board of Architects Medallion 2010.

This follows on from her success in graduating from the University of New South Wales with First Class Honours and the University Medal for Architecture 2009.

Since 1952 the Architects Medallion has been awarded to a NSW architecture graduate who has achieved distinction, particularly in the final two years of their degree but also throughout their time as a student.

Felicity’s graduation project titled Theatre + Museum was based around a study of past stage theatre buildings in Sydney's CBD. Her project involved a hybrid program speculating on possibilities for the MCA site at Sydney’s Circular Quay.

Felicity joined Bates Smart in 2010 and is currently working on the Camperdown Gantry project.

SYDNEY WATER - POTTS HILL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Interior Designer Brad Schott and Associate Director Allan Lamb attended the 2010 Australian Timber Design Awards on 29 October, Sydney and were presented with the The Geoffrey Sanderson Trophy for Sydney Water at Potts Hill.

The new Sydney Water facility at Potts Hill stands adjacent to a reservoir and a well preserved, heavily treed reserve. Our approach was to adopt the use of raw, natural and robust materials in response to the buildings context and the large number of field staff who occupy the space.

The project has a five star GBCA green star rating and is a showcase for the use of FSC timber from Australia. At the present time it is the largest project using timber selected from certified renewable forestry sources in this country.

Visit Bates Smart to read more

Read more about the 2010 Australian Timber Design awards

ENDURANCE TEST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Philip Vivian discusses the notion of timelessness in architecture and nominates his personal favourites. This article appeared in the NSW Architecture Bulletin.

What do we mean by enduring architecture? In the contemporary sense, this often means a building outlives its current use, but remains relevant beyond the time in which it was built. Reasons for this can vary from material qualities of permanence, to aesthetic notions of timelessness or beauty, and typological concepts whereby a building can accommodate new functions beyond its original intended use.

So, what makes architecture endure? In my opinion it is architecture that responds to fundamental elements of time, place, climate, people and technology. Architecture that draws these elements into an integrated solution that is honest, simple, and uses an economy of means for its expression. A balance between a rational response and a poetic interpretation gives the work ‘resonance’, and makes the building feel ‘inevitable’. This does not mean a design should be conservative, or inexpressive; but rather places a greater emphasis on the integrity of the work beyond the fashions of the day.

To stand within a work of truly enduring architecture is to experience an overwhelming feeling of appropriateness. Louis Kahn’s Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, springs to mind. This building exudes a calmness and inevitability that is all too rare. Its simultaneous simplicity and honest expression allow the architecture to dignify the contents – the works of art it houses – and raises the spirit of all who come to visit them. Far from the realm of fashion, the building, as Kahn once said, “is what it wants to be”.

420 GEORGE STREET - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

“Morphosis in the City: A High Stakes Game of Survival Aesthetics”

“Morpho” by Alexander Knox is currently being installed in the foyer of 420 George Street.

Reflected sunlight and artificial lighting would activate the work producing a complex play of shadow and lustre that appears almost kinetic to the moving viewer.

Alexander Knox is a Melbourne based artist working with a wide range of techniques to produce an architecture of effects. Through a combination of lighting, optics, audio, kinetic and formal elements he engages with ideas of representation of myth and spirituality within the late capitalist spectacle. Knox studied public art at RMIT and has a background in film and industrial design.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on 420 George Street

- Visit Alexander Knox's website

MELBOURNE OPEN HOUSE - BATES SMART PROJECTS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AWARDS - FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 2 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

No less than five Bates Smart projects have been shortlisted in the 2012 Property Council Innovation and Excellence Awards to be announced later this month.

The shortlistings are as follows:
420 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY
Award for Best Office Development

CROWN METROPOL
Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development

CROWN CASINO Level 39 VIP Salons
Award for Best Tourism and Leisure Development (nominated by Schiavello)

MEDIA HOUSE
Awards for Best Office Development (nominated by Grocon) + Best Workplace Project

POTTS HILL BUSINESS PARK
Award for Business Industrial Parks (nominated by Sydney Water Corporation)

Congratulations to all the teams. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Sydney on May 26th.

HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT - `THE WORKPLACE STREET

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The 25,000sqm of workplace created for the Royal Children’s Hospital teams, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne within the new Royal Children’s Hospital represents a fresh new direction in workplace design within healthcare environments.

The design philosophy of the workplace environments in many ways mirrors the dynamic ‘Street’ concept that features in the hospital’s public spaces.

The workplace street defines the main circulation route around which are clustered a variety of communal social and collaborative spaces, encouraging a greater degree of inter-departmental sharing and interaction than was possible in the hospital's siloed workplace of the past. These spaces form a buffer to the daylit work space neighbourhoods beyond, layering from more public and energetic spaces to quiet, focused workspace as one approaches the window.

The hospital’s staff undertook a significant journey of change in moving into their new workspace. Central to the staff’s concerns was the transition from enclosed office to open plan, particularly for senior medical staff who faced many of the same issues common to many professional services practices, including confidentiality, paper storage and hierarchy.

The hospital’s vision of an equitable, open and flexible work environment was key to rationalising staff concerns and realising their workplace of the future.

Rachael McCarthy is an Associate Director at Bates Smart. She joined the RCH team in 2008 as a workplace interiors specialist. She led the team in establishing the design principles behind both the layouts and furniture solutions for the workplace environments, consistent with the progressive approach that the Children’s Health Partnership were seeking.

Rachael’s role in developing and communicating the workplace design was instrumental in assisting the significant change journey undertaken by staff in transitioning to a significantly more open and collaborative work environment.

View more of Bates Smart's workplace interior projects

111+222 - DA APPROVED ON BATES SMART DESIGN FOR BRISBANE'S TALLEST TOWER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Brisbane City Council has unanimously approved the DA for the 111 + 222 development design by Bates Smart.

Director Philip Vivian describes the project, "111 + 222 is a mixed use high rise project consisting of two buildings: a 36 level 45,000sqm commercial office building at 111 Mary Street, and a 92 level five star hotel and residential tower at 222 Margaret Street (the tallest building in Australia* with the highest occupiable penthouse).

"This project has been designed to efficiently maximise its height, delivering a building that is tall, environmentally sustainable and responds to the sub-tropical climate of Brisbane."

Learn more about 111+222

BrisbaneDevelopment.com

SHEREE PROPOSCH - `NEW WAYS TO DELIVER CARE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Sheree Proposch explains that an Emergency Department (ED) is in effect a ‘front door’ of a hospital, whereby around one third of the patients could eventually require admittance to the inpatient unit.

It is an environment with high levels of emotion and activity, multidisciplinary diagnostics and complex decision making.

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The ED has a close association with Medical Imaging (MI), and together, patient flows and efficiency are very strong design shapers that can have a profound effect on the operation of the rest of the hospital. It is therefore essential these are highly efficient, flexible and functionally well resolved spaces in terms of zoning, services, amenity, proximity, privacy, respite, calmness and safety.

The RCH and Department of Health developed an inspiring ED and MI Brief, cherry picked from a number of overseas hospitals, and fine tuned to the RCH Model of Care. This seeded an exploratory and creative design process, and ultimately, an innovative design response.

The design process included a great deal of time modeling the staff as well as patient and family flows, discussing operational issues, as well as looking at technical aspects as broad ranging as: xray gantries, pharmacy security, bio-hazard incidents, equipment installation and radiation safety.

Two particular features that challenge tradition in the new RCH ED and MI design are – an innovative triage concept, and the incorporation of daylight and nature.

The first feature was driven by the client rethinking the triage process. Upon arrival, patients are greeted by a trained ‘concierge’ who undertakes a rapid assessment to prioritise patients into the private triage consulting rooms. The patients then undergo a more detailed assessment, and may even commence treatment, prior to moving to a patient treatment cubicle or the fast track GP or Nurse Practitioner Clinic.

The distribution of waiting space, the relationship with the staff base and triage rooms rather than bays, all respond to the innovative Model of Care to be delivered in the new RCH.

ED and MI areas are often deep plan spaces with little or no daylight or connection with nature. This brings us to the second feature. We have been able to make the most of two key design elements, the aquarium in ED and the lightwell in MI. As a result, the ED waiting areas are clustered around the aquarium, and the Preparation and Recovery trolleys for invasive imaging procedures, as well as the Staff Lounge and a main corridor, surround the lightwell in MI.

The two level Aquarium serves many purposes including, linking the Ground and Lower Ground Levels, and providing entertainment, distraction, a connection with nature and a wayfinding landmark. The aquarium is set to become an iconic RCH element, greeting people at the entry in Main Street on the Ground Level, as well as in the ED on the Lower Ground Level.

Sheree is a Director and leads the Health, Science + Education group within Bates Smart, she was Lead Health Architect on the The Royal Children's Hospital.

COMPETITION SUCCESS - `KENSINGTON COLLEGES, UNIVERSITY OF NSW, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart with Richard Crookes Constructions has won the tender for the redevelopment of the Kensington Colleges at the University of New South Wales.

Accommodating over 900 students the project provides new facilities for the three existing Kensington Colleges, two new Colleges and University teaching space.

The design adopts a traditional courtyard arrangement with each of the 5–8 storey College buildings having their own public face.

"The courtyard is framed by facetted glazed brickwork facades" explains Bates Smart Director Guy Lake.

"These present a playful expression of colour, texture, dappled light and shade. The facetted form is a direct expression of the diversity of study room types within the Colleges."

Construction of the project is due to commence at the beginning of 2012.

Learn more about UNSW Kensington Colleges

Learn more about Richard Crookes

BATES SMART PEOPLE - `PAUL PURCELL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Paul Purcell, Associate Director, joined Bates Smart in 1977 and soon became the principal project leader for commercial interior projects at Bates Smart.

During his 35 year Bates Smart career, Paul has managed the fitouts for a number of significant corporations and has built successful and enduring relationships with these organisations, consultants, project managers and contractors.

Befitting our Showcase of this month’s Journal/, Paul spent quite a lot of time in the 1990’s working on Clayton Utz, Sydney with Jeff Copolov and the team.

Robert Spies, Clayton Utz pays tribute to Paul: "There is no doubt that Paul Purcell has led the way under the direction of [Chairman] Roger Poole in terms of offering outstanding service, demonstrating tremendous innovation as well as meticulous attention to detail."

Pictured: Clayton Utz, Sydney

Paul retires this month, and we thank him for his dedication and contribution; an inspiring team leader and mentor to many at Bates Smart – present and former.

The gallery contains only a few project images from Paul’s extensive portfolio of work with Bates Smart.

AWARDS SHORTLIST - `WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Crown Metropol has been shortlisted in the Holiday category in the World Architecture Festival Awards.

The awards attracted a record 700 entries from 59 countries and will be judged in Barcelona in November this year.

You can view the full shortlist here

Go to the World Architecture Festival Site

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Crown Metropol

NEXT GENERATION HOTEL BRANDS` - ANZPHIC 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

This tantalizing teaser led a team from Bates Smart Melbourne and Sydney offices to the annual Australia and New Zealand Pacific Hotel Industry Conference at the Sydney Hilton.

For two days we were immersed in panel discussions of current hotel development forecasts within the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific region.

James Chappell global marketing director of Horwath HTL led a spirited and provocative panel discussion.

Bates Smart’s Jeff Copolov weighed in with his contribution to the Lifestyle meets Luxury dialogue.

"As architects to the hotel industry we are foremost entrusted to deliver our clients brief with a product beyond expectation.

"Our responsibility is to steer away from “date stamped” avante garde design.

"Soft furnishings afford designers opportunity to express a contemporary attitude and aesthetic while the bones of our design remain responsibly sustainable."

Jeff celebrates the global movement away from generic and homogenous hospitality environments.

In this spirit, Bates Smart’s Crown Metropol is an engaging and economically successful example of crafted, bespoke design.

MILESTONES - `181 WILLIAM STREET

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Bates Smart are proud to announce that 181 William Street has achieved a 5 Star NABERS rating once again.

This is a great achievement for our client Cbus Property, and sets a precedent for future large-scale developments.

The tower presents as two side-core buildings positioned back-to-back.

These slim, elegant forms deliver high efficiencies; offer excellent flexibility in fitout; and provide minimal distances to natural light.

* NABERS is an Australian performance-based rating system for existing buildings. It rates a building from 1-5 stars on the basis of its measured operational impacts on the environment and in comparison to benchmark projects and surrounding buildings.

Visit Bates Smart to read more about 181 William Street

CROWN METROPOL - `AWARD SUCCESS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

We are delighted to announce another triumph for Crown Metropol.

Bates Smart won the Best Hospitality Award at the inaugural Belle Coco Republic 2011 Interior Design Awards for Crown Metropol Hotel.

Belle editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker said: "The calibre of entries this year is outstanding. It demonstrates that the quality of Australian interior design is truly world-class".

Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov was in Sydney to collect the award on behalf of the Melbourne studio.

Visit the Belle Coco Republic 2011 Interior Design Awards website

Learn more about Crown Metropol from Bates Smart's website.

Visit the DIA's website to read about the awards

MILESTONES - PROXIMITY ON QUEENS - MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Construction has commenced on Proximity on Queens following a highly succesful sales campaign.

70 Queens Road is an 11 storey apartment building with 159 apartments and 2 levels of parking.

The central Melbourne location and generous apartments designed by Bates Smart have contributed to the success of this development.

Visit Proximity on Queens

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about our residential projects

NATIONAL CENTRE - FOR SYNCHROTRON SCIENCE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Construction of the National Centre for Synchrotron Science has commenced and the Australian Synchrotron website provides a fascinating look into the progress of this project.

The two-storey building will include a 400-seat auditorium, seminar rooms and exhibition space. Excavation work commenced on the site of the old gravel car park. Construction is scheduled to finish in June 2012.

Visit National Centre for Synchrotron Science

THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR - SALVADO STREET, PERTH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Read the Habitus magazine’s review of Salvado Street by Philip Vivian

Visit Bates Smart for more on Salvado Street

WOLLONGONG COMMUTER CARPARK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart is designing three railway station car parks as part of the NSW Commuter Car Parks Programme implemented by the Transport Construction Authority on behalf of the NSW State Government.

Bates Smart is part of the design team lead by BUILT NSW who is delivering the carparks ranging from 360 to 720 spaces.

Whilst the three projects are part of the same programme, each building has a unique set of conditions which have influenced the design outcome to produce three distinct buildings.

The Wollongong design had to provide a high quality, low-impact backdrop to the state heritage listed railway station building which it serves.

This was achieved by reducing the footprint and bulk through careful space planning and providing a high quality façade. A system of modular interlocking panels provides a continuous screen over the four upper levels creating an animated pattern with depth and articulation.

Wollongong was successfully delivered in October, while Revesby and Woy Woy are due for completion early next year.

Read more here

DARWIN CITY - WATERFRONT

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Bates Smart has developed a unique tropical architecture for this development which responds to the beauty of the location and environment.

In a contemporary take on traditional tropical architectural principles, louvres and deep overhanging roofs invite sea breezes and provide shade from the elements. Seamless indoor-outdoor spaces create an open connection to the outdoors and the boundless views.

Director Philip Vivian describes this as “An architecture informed by the movement of air, the filtering of light and the connection between indoors and outdoors.”

The design incorporates a mixed use development that accommodates over 150 apartments together with retail and commercial facilities.

Visit Bates to read more

NATIONAL - ARCHITECTURE WEEK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

BEHIND THE FACADE

‘Behind the Facade’ explores the practice of architecture from the everyday perspective of a working architecture studio.

A collection of short films from a diverse range of architectural practices will provide a behind the scenes insight into the rich diversity of architecture and its practice in Melbourne.

As part of National Architecture Week, Laura Mason is compiling a short film about Victorian architectural practices to be shown on the big screen at Federation Square during national architecture week (24-30 October).

The film will give the general public insight into what architects do and highlight the rich diversity of architecture and practice.

Read more about “Behind the Façade”

View video

CONSTRUCTION COMMENCES ON CONVESSO APARTMENTS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

A sinuous fluid line links the two towers with one gesture

The design of Convesso was inspired by its extraordinary and unique location, surrounded by water on both sides, in the heart of Docklands, on the edge of the CBD.

The buildings are inspired by Bates Smart’s investigations of the patterns formed by water and waves, and the reflections from undulating waters of Victoria Harbour. A sinuous fluid line links the two towers with one gesture, while the form of podium recalls the movement of water against the wharf.

The two towers are shaped and located to maximise the spectacular views from all apartments, on all sides of the building.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Convesso

- Visit Convesso website

- See the Convesso location at Docklands

PROJECT WORKPLACE - DESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

Designing big: The public face of private dining

Simon Swaney shares his ideas on the big picture when designing for dining in Artichoke magazine

- Visit Bates Smart for more

WORK IN PROGRESS - PROXIMITY APARTMENTS, MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 9 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS - 420 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

420 George Street was completed by Bates Smart in 2010 and has achieved a 5 Star Green Star As Built (Office V2) rating. It is the first mixed-use development to achieve this rating in the State of New South Wales.

Bates Smart Director Philip Vivian comments on one of the initiatives that resulted in the environmental rating, the side core design. He says, "The side core design has distinct environmental benefits: locating the core to the north greatly reduces the heat load for the office areas. This has allowed a hybrid low energy perimeter chilled beam and low-temperature VAV (variable air volume) system to maintain a comfortable working environment within the office setting.

"The side core design also allows a contiguous floor plate where everyone is connected, promoting greater collaboration and in this case clear views to the south add to the overall amenity of the office areas."

Other environmental initiatives include:

> An eight level atrium that maximises natural daylight penetration throughout the building
> High perfomance insulating glazing
> Sun shading to East and West facades
> High efficiency plant and equipment
> Water-efficient fixtures
> A hybrid mechanical system with combined active chilled beam and low airflow-low temperature air conditioning system

420 George Street was awarded the 2011 AIA (NSW) Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture and is a finalist in the Property Council of Australia National Awards to be announced later this month.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about 420 George Street.

420 George Street website

Architecture Australia Reviews 420 George Street

DESIGN THINKING - DESIGNING FOR THE FAMILY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The great children’s hospitals of the world are no longer designed around a premise of catering just for the sick child, but rather providing facilities which are inviting and fun, yet provide a sense of control for parents and families, are supportive and promote healthy living.

Associate Director Leanne Guy explains the thinking behind design for the young and their families.

'During the briefing phase it was identified that what matters most to children during their hospital stay is the presence of family, including pets and contact with other children.

'What matters for families is maintaining a sense of routine and normalcy. This includes maintaining family and social relationships, managing finances and having choice of food, privacy and activities which support other children. Parents also want to maintain a parental role, by staying in control of the family and being part of the care team.

'The design of the new Royal Children’s Hospital supports these objectives including meeting the psychological, social and spiritual needs of the family.

'The inpatient bedrooms have been designed with a parent zone and the Staff Bases are open and approachable to encourage staff and parent communication and collaboration in the care of the child.

'Family focused areas, including support services are also provided for respite and care-coordination, including the Family Resource Centre and Social Work services, Child Information Centre, Care by Parent Unit for the transitional inpatient stays and Parent Accommodation, a Childcare Centre for siblings, the Multi-faith Centre and courtyards and gardens.'

Leanne has designed of a number of hospitals around the world, including Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in London and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Leanne is an Associate Director with Bates Smart.

DESIGN COMPETITION SUCCESS - A NEW ERA IN LEGAL WORKPLACE DESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Following a design competition Bates Smart was recently appointed for a new legal fitout for Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s Sydney offices, with fitouts in Melbourne and Perth to follow.

Corrs will be a major tenant in the new Richard Rogers designed 8 Chifley Tower in the Sydney CBD, occupying 10 levels (totalling 8,000 sqm).

Corrs’ decision to move from its current premises in Governor Philip Tower to 8 Chifley is part of its 2015 Strategy, seeking to differentiate itself from its competitors as a “world class law firm committed to driving Australia’s competitiveness and its economic engagement with Asia”.

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney comments on the engagement. He says, "A key to the success of Corrs’ Strategy is to introduce cultural change through an open collaborative environment, encouraging greater communication, knowledge sharing and interaction between colleagues."

Bates Smart's competition design sought to challenge the traditional cellular legal environment and to capitalise upon the 8 Chifley building design, which offers a series of interlinked vertical villages and open flexible floor plates. Equality, transparency and connectivity were all major facets of the Bates Smart design.

The integrated Sydney fitout is being designed to ensure completion by early 2014, and work on the Melbourne and Perth fitouts is planned for 2013.

Undertaking Corrs’ workplace design nationally supports Bates Smart’s strategy of becoming a leader in legal workplace fitout design, following on from the success of the Clayton Utz project at No.1 Bligh Street, Sydney and Baker and McKenzie's fitout located in 181 William Street, Melbourne.

Learn more about Bates Smart workplace interiors

DESIGN FOCUS - `A SENSE OF PLACE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Hospitals have traditionally assisted the needy or healed the sick; however not all patients are ill.

The new Royal Children’s Hospital has been designed for the child and their family, Associate Director Leanne Guy explains the holistic approach to designing a hospital environment.

"The inpatient bedrooms have also been designed with consideration of the child and the family, with designated patient, parent and staff zones provided.

"It has been widely acknowledged that the physical environment of hospitals can directly impact the patient and their healing.

"The design of hospitals has evolved to encompass Evidenced Based Design Principles of integrating daylight and views to nature into patient spaces with other design concepts such as creating a sense of place, reducing ambient noise, integrating information technology, and colour and art into the hospital environment.

"The word healing comes from the word ‘haelen’ – to make whole. Healing is not the same as curing and thus healing environments are designed to promote this harmony of the whole mind, body and spirit.

"The design of the new Royal Children’s Hospital addresses the whole person and the environmental setting assists to differentiate between illness, treatment and wellbeing."

DESIGN GUIDED BY LIGHT - `NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SYNCHROTRON

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Kristen Whittle says “Light is a fundamental basis for architecture.”

It also forms the basis of the science produced at the Australian Synchrotron.

The National Centre for Synchrotron Science explores both natural and artificial light in the building's architecture.

A highlight is the external skin which is engineered as double wall construction integrating structure, thermal skin and building services.

The facade system utilises a unique jointing system consisting of interlockable 500mm wide full height panels achieving a uniform texture of the external skin with no visible mullions.

The translucent polycarbonate facade is being enhanced through a dichroic protective coating which refracts and diffuses day light making the building change appearance throughout the day.

At night time light fittings in the facade cavity transform the building appearance through coloured back lighting mimicking the purple colour of the sky at sunset.

Construction has progressed to the point where the building’s shape is now evident.

Externally insulated precast panels forming the internal skin of the double wall and the facade structural supports are in place awaiting the installation of the translucent extruded polycarbonate cladding.

A prototype to assess the facade coating has been built.

The facade shimmers in day light, appearing pink, blue or purple depending on the angle from which it is viewed.

Inside the building sits a 400 seat theatre wrapped by a top lit double skin acrylic wall which illuminates the exhibition gallery foyer spaces around its whole perimeter.

Learn more about Australian Synchrotron

DESIGN PROCESS - `DESIGNER RUG

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Associate Director Kendra Pinkus blended her hospitality and commercial fitout experience in order to create the perfect rug for the staff café lounge.

Here Kendra talks about the collaborative process with Designer Rugs.

“We felt that the texture and vibrant colour of a large textile was essential to counterbalance the organic lines and pared back simplicity of the fitout.”

The process of designing the 6.5m x 6.5m rug took several months to evolve.

One of Designer Rug’s inhouse designs was used as a starting point but the design quickly became unique and specific to the level 13 space.

The resulting design was hand tufted from 100% NZ wool and viscose in a cut pile with carving finishes and the wool was colour dyed to match Kendra's choices.

Richard Misso and Monica Del Rosario from Designer Rugs worked closely with Kendra and Kate Wardlaw at Bates Smart and saw the production through to its pre-dawn installation in the countdown to client occupation.

Monica was delighted with the outcome, she says

“I think that my skill lies in stepping back and guiding from a distance. You have to let the designers run with their ideas for the best results”.

Kendra Pinkus, Associate Director

Visit Designer Rugs site

BATES SMART PEOPLE - `PROMOTIONS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

The Directors of Bates Smart are delighted to announce the following promotions in our Melbourne and Sydney offices.

Associate Directors
Leanne Guy
Basil Richardson

Associates
Mark Pellen
Ann Ronay
Denisa Syrova
David Tordoff

Each of these individuals adds their own combination of talent and passion to the team and we are very proud to recognise their contribution.

MILESTONES - `171 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Project Leader Tim Leslie reports on site progress at 171 Collins Street, Melbourne’s first Premium Grade office building in over 20 years, developed in joint venture by Charter Hall Office REIT and Cbus Property. The design is a refined exploration of architectural form in glass and light and we believe it will be one of Australia’s most elegant office towers.

The design integrates leading sustainability principles within a sophisticated commercial offering.

A façade prototype was constructed off-site in November 2010 to fully understand the aesthetic qualities of the building’s highly performing glass both internally and externally.

Brookfield Multiplex began construction on 1 December 2010 with the project is due for completion in May 2013.

Following careful documentation the first phase of site work was the fastidious strip out of the Mayfair heritage building.

Demolition of the existing buildings was completed in May 2011, with only the Mayfair building remaining on the cleared site.

Piling is almost complete and excavation of the four level basement is now underway.

We are excited to see work begin on what we believe will be a significant landmark Melbourne building due for completion in 2013.

171 Collins Street is designed to be a PCA premium grade, 6 star green star, 5 star NABERS energy building.

Learn more about 171 Collins Street

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about 171 Collins Street

MILESTONES - `CARNEGIE RESIDENCE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Bates Smart are currently in design development for an exciting adaptive re-use of the former First Church of Christ Scientist building, Darlinghurst, Sydney.

Our brief is to create a single dwelling within the auditorium by inserting a new structure which can be removed at a later date.

The structure is to sit as a sculptural element without impinging on the architectural and spatial qualities of the auditorium.

The form will be presented as simple cubic masses that are aligned with the volumes of the existing space.

A large orchestral style organ contained within the auditorium will be retained and the first three pews will remain accessible for private performances.

The structure is designed to allow removal without impact and so will be a fully reversible adaptive reuse.

This unique project is due for completion by the end of this year.

Above concept landscape sketch of an internal garden by Taylor Brammer Landscape Architects.

MILESTONES - `79 MARKET STREET, MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 14 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart has responded to the semi industrial context of this new residential building with a palette of raw and robust materials.

79 Market Street is a proposal for a residential development comprising 66 apartments (1 and 2 Beds) over 9 floors, with one basement level of car-stacker parking and a ground floor café/retail space and apartment lobby to activate the street front.

The site is located in a semi-industrial area of South Melbourne, characterised by early twentieth-century brick and corrugated-iron warehouse buildings.

The proposed architecture is a response to this industrial character, with simple massing volumes and using a rugged palette; pre-cast concrete, corten steel and polycarbonate sliding screens.

At night the screens lit from behind will give a diffused glow.

BRONTE RESIDENCE - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart has brought new life to this 1930s double brick bungalow overlooking Bronte Beach.

The design retains the original house and adds a new upper level. An independent steel framed structure was designed to sit above the original brick bungalow, and has been expressed as a new lightweight timber and glass pavilion.

Customised vertical timber louvres provide solar protection and privacy screening, while allowing access to the view.

AUSTRALIAN INTERIOR DESIGN - AWARDS SHORTLIST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

The 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards Shortlist was recently announced and Bates Smart is delighted that three of our projects have been shortlisted in five categories.

Bates Smart entries which have been shortlisted are:

Bates Smart for Crown Metropol for Hospitality Design

Bates Smart for Maze for Hospitality Design

Bates Smart for Crown Metropol for Colour in Commercial Design

Bates Smart for Maze for Colour in Commercial Design

Bates Smart for Conneq for Corporate Design

The 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards winners will be announced in Melbourne on Friday 15 April.

Visit Bates Smart

Visit the DIA for more on the awards

181 WILLIAM STREET - `5 GREEN STARS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Bates Smart are very pleased to announce that the Green Building Council of Australia has awarded 181 William Street a 5 Star Green Star – Office As Built v2 Certified Rating.

This represents Australian Excellence in environmentally sustainable design and construction.

181 William Street is one of two significant office towers that comprise the CBW development, located in Melbourne’s CBD.

Visit Bates Smart for more on CBW

Visit CBW

Visit The Green Building Council of Australia

ROGER POOLE - AIA LIFE FELLOWSHIP

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

In November 2010, Roger Poole was made a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects by the AIA National Council.

The Institute said that “Poole has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of Architecture through his involvement as a leader of one of Australia’s oldest architectural practices and by extension, through his contribution to the development of large practice culture in Victoria and also through his advocacy of the dissemination of Architecture through the Media. He is an active member and public advocate for Architecture on several committees related to the development of Melbourne.”

The AIA cited his work as a member of the Executive Board of the Committee for Melbourne, and former Council member of the Property Council of Australia (Victoria).

Roger Poole graduated in Architecture from the University of Washington then completed research studies for the PhD in city planning and urban design at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge. After a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship for study in Japan, Poole worked with urban designers Sasaki Dawson and Ashley Myer Smith in Boston.

After working on residential and hospitality projects in Hawaii, he moved to Melbourne where he has practiced since 1974 with Bates Smart, leading design teams on a number of award-winning projects. He became Chairman of Bates Smart in 1998.

Joining the RAIA in 1975, Poole was elected a Chapter Councillor in 1986 and joined the Executive, serving as Vice President External Affairs from 1986 – 1988. In 1884, Poole and then RAIA President Dimity Reed conceived a new ‘Award for Architectural Journalism’ as part of the annual awards program and the Bates Smart Award for Architecture in the Media was established. Over 50 such awards have been granted in the past 26 years.

Roger Poole is also a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Australian Planning Institute and an Associate of the American Institute of Architects.

Visit Bates Smart for more about Roger Poole

CROWN TOWERS - CITY OF DREAMS MACAU

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

City of Dreams, flagship resort of Melco Crown Entertainment Limited, has been honoured with “Best Integrated Resort” award in the prestigious 21st TTG Travel Awards.

City of Dreams has been distinguished as the only resort in Asia to be awarded in this category in 2010.

Bates Smart designed the six-star Crown Towers hotel interiors with 260 rooms, 56 suites and 32 villas, lobby and restaurants, spa complex, main gaming area and VIP gaming ‘sky salons”.

The hotel was awarded the Best international Design Award in the Australian Interior Design Awards earlier in 2010.

The modern, elegant interiors set new standards for international luxurious six star style with emphasis on high quality, finely crafted, individualised interiors.

Throughout the project, we worked closely with Arquitectonica who are the base building architects for the tower.

Visit Bates Smart to read more

Visit Crown Towers City of Dreams

URBANEST - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

REVIT IN ACTION

Bates Smart is expanding its 3D Building Information Modeling capabilities across both studios. Urbanest, Sydney is our first project to be fully completed using Audodesk’s Revit.

Revit is a 3D digital coordination platform which generates all 2D construction documentation from the base 3D model.

Revit offers advantages for both the client and the design studio. Clients will benefit as we can readily create project “walk-throughs” for the client to view on screen. This delivers remarkable transparency on a project. It minimises unwanted surprises, and speeds up our response time on submissions.

One of the major benefits of Revit is that you can generate a cutaway axonometric view of any part of the building, and turn it around and manipulate it in ways that just aren’t possible in a 2D environment. This gives everyone involved a much better understanding of the relationships between the all of the individual components.

Officially opening February 2011, Urbanest is open for a sneak preview during “Sydney Open” as a part of the Sydney Architecture Festival. Be one of the first to visit this lively, intriguing building.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Urbanest, Sydney

Visit here to find out more about Sydney Open and Urbanest

ROCKPOOL - WINS DESIGN AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 00:07:00 +0000

COMMENDATION
66 Hunter Street, Sydney: Bates Smart

Jury Citation: Emil Sodersten’s landmark 1936 Hunter Street building, which housed the former City Mutual Society’s banking chamber and a utilitarian basement space, were transformed into two unique dining experiences, responding to different briefs, menus and base building spaces.

Spice Temple draws on the Sydney tradition of vibrant and mysterious entertainment spaces and reflects the mystery of the East. Materials in the entry areas are raw and textured, referencing the hawker’s markets of Asia and contrasting with the dining area of richness, sound absorption and, lighting that is more contrasting and intense. Rockpool Bar and Grill’s concept is founded on a celebration of the heritage space and volume to create a dining room of grand scale that can be both intimate and spectacular. Screens, lighting and ‘glass’ chandeliers were introduced, which defined the spaces but still enabled views within the volume. These projects reflect sensitivity and respect with minimal intervention and clever use of appropriately themed detail.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Rockpool

WORK IN PROGRESS - LONG DISTANCE CONSTRUCTION REPORT

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Journal this month reports back long distance from the Lebua Hotel, Delhi.

WORK IN PROGRESS - BOHEME, BONDI, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 1 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Project Leader Peter Badger reports on site progress at Boheme Bondi, a mixed use development for TOGA Group comprising 44 luxury apartments, 113 hotel rooms, extensive retail areas and onsite parking within the heart of the iconic beach locale.

"Construction commenced in April 2011 and is programmed for completion in March 2013.

"Demolition of the existing buildings was completed in May 2011 whilst piling and excavation of the three basement levels to a depth of up to 12 metres concluded in March this year.

"Construction of the three basements floors has progressed well with the ground level likely to be completed within the month. The distinctive coloured precast concrete panels of the hotel facades have been created offsite and will soon be installed.

"Locals and visitors look on with great interest, witnessing the progress of an excellent addition to the much loved area."

Visit Boheme

TOGA Group

COLLABORATIONS - `ILLUSTRATOR JANE REISEGER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Melbourne illustrator Jane Reiseger was commissioned to produce a range of ‘scenes’ of unique Victorian regions to be used as the basis for a child-friendly way-finding strategy developed by our wayfinding consultants Buro North, and as a range of environmental graphics created by Bates Smart and Billard Leece Partnership.

Jane's work was a fundamental part of the colour strategy, her illustrations were coordinated with finishes on each level.

Jane’s work was used as an important distraction tool for clinicians and staff when children were undergoing treatment and it had to be full of intricate detail from which stories could easily emerge.

Elements of the ‘scenes’ were not only used for wayfinding and distraction but all film to glazing, bed curtains, bedcovers, lift interiors, vinyl floor inlays used her illustrations, creating a consistency of language never before seen in a paedeatric hospital of this size.

The Scenes detailed the Victorian goldfields, Port Phillip Bay, the Great Ocean Road, Central Victorian Farming district, the Grampians, the Otways, the Alpine Region and the Melbourne city skyline.

Associate Director Mark Healey discusses the decision to engage Jane for this project. 'Jane was selected because her work is imbued with the qualities of the Australian natural environment. Her work had a lightness of touch and a hand drawn timeless quality. It was sparse but engaging and contained a perfect balance of the literal and the abstract.

'Jane approached this task with such sensitivity and dedication, often spending days in the actual environment to gain an intimate understanding of the relationship of animals in their particular environment.'

Mark Healey was the Lead Interior Designer on the RCH team. His role was establishing key design strategies and ensuring implementation was carried out to the highest of standards.

Learn more about Jane Reiseger

CONVESSO CONCAVO - `GOOD DESIGN IN THE DOCKLANDS SELLS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 1 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Only a month after the launch of the second stage of the project, Lend Lease has sold more than 100 units in its flagship Melbourne Docklands project, Convesso Concavo.

The vast majority of the recent sales were in Concavo which launched in late October with a new branding approach.

A series of seductive interior renders directed by Bates Smart and executed by Flood Slicer are strongly featured in new lifestyle magazine style marketing brochures.

The interior renders are finely balanced with the goldern panoramic city and water views.

Contemporary clean lined furniture is mixed with an eclectic collection of artifacts and textures.

An extra ‘lived in’ feel is created with a glass of wine on the kitchen bench, a handbag and shoes on the bedroom floor. Finishing touches which are not typically seen on computer renders.

A similar ‘lived in’ design philosophy was built upon for the display apartment.

The advantage of building within an actual three bedroom waterfront apartment means visitors are treated to the serene quality of light shimmering on the water, despite being in the middle of a building site. Prospective buyers are assured that the project is well underway and that they are not buying part of a scheme that may or may not get off the ground.

Convesso progress is swift with an anticipated completion date of mid 2012.

All structure for the 32 levels tower is completed and the fitout for the podium level apartments are almost completed.

The tower apartments, pool, gym and lobby fitout are under way. The Concavo tower is in the tendering process and is expected to be completed in mid 2014.

Learn more about Convesso Concavo

Visit Convesso Concavo site

SHEREE PROPOSCH - `DESIGNING IN THE LIGHT

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Director Sheree Proposch explains "The RCH masterplan challenge was to assemble the component parts, using narrow floor plates, to closely connect to the external environment, and achieve the functional relationships with minimal travel distances.

“A close working relationship between macro and micro health planning, architecture and interior design led to the creation of three buildings connected by a light-filled weather-protected ‘Main Street’ with bridges and balconies across the upper levels.

"Our internal environment and external connection to daylight and views during the course of our day is well documented to have both psychological and physiological impacts.

"The new RCH has maximised access to daylight and views for clinical, workplace, waiting, treatment, therapy and research spaces as a key design feature to provide wellness, productivity, respite, distraction, reflection and the best health outcomes."

Sheree is a Director and leads the Health, Science + Education group within Bates Smart.

NEW ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE - REVEALS ART COMMISSIONS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 3 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

There is more to this spectacular sculpture than meets the eye.

The “Creature” by Melbourne artist Alexander Knox has been conceived as an integral part of the Royal Children's Hospital's main internal street with a presence somewhat akin to a great flowering tree in a courtyard.

It is situated at the junction of the busy outpatients department to aid in wayfinding.

Its effect is more environmental than monumental. The Creature is a means to communicate with the imagination, and to expound the virtues of the hospital, that of safety and care.

Colours and pattern are employed that reduce its scale and integrate it into its surroundings. A tonal interlocking of earthy Australian hues with brighter colours can be read like a brilliant parrot in a tree or a flower in the surrounding bush.

On approach the child encounters an almost ‘Alice in Wonderland’ like scaling effect where the Creature with the life like butterfly on its feeler seems to grow and transform into a whole explorable environment.

Other commissions at the RCH including the environmental and wayfinding graphics by Jane Reiseger and Jade Oakley’s “Sky Garden” will be featured next month in Journal/.

Learn more about Alexander Knox

DESIGN PROCESS - `LEVEL 15 CEILING

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

The wavy ceiling that greets visitors to Level 15 was designed by Interior Designer Leader Dana Tomic and Brad Schott. Brad explains the process behind realising the waves.

"Wavy plywood ceilings have been done before, but for Clayton Utz we introduced a new challenge. The ceiling is curved in elevation and plan, creating complex three dimensional curves.

"Getting the proportions right meant modelling in 3d CAD - there was simply no alternative.

"From this our in-house model maker made a balsawood model for our studies.

In order to do this the curved fins in the CAD model were 'straightened out' to give the profile of each fin, while the CAD model was rendered up to provide the client a realistic visualisation.

"A black MDF lattice support structure was milled out with the shape of each fin in plan, and each fin was attached to this individually from above, with no visible fixings below.

"Services were also hung from this lattice and painted out black, fitting unobtrusively between the fins.

"I should highlight the magnificent job done by Civardi developing the design and installing these ceilings, we worked collaboratively to figure out how to actually build it."

Brad Schott

Visit Civardi's website

MILESTONES - `A ROOM WITH A VIEW

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Bates Smart have released the concept designs for the lobby and hotel rooms at 111+222, Brisbane.

Project Director, Philip Vivian say "Our design tries to capture a feeling of sub-tropicality within the glamour of a luxury hotel while responding to the building's design concept."

Associate Director Brenton Smith adds " We have used a spare palette of high quality materials, including bronze anodised screens to create a contemporary Australian feel."

The hotel offers 395 rooms plus a ballroom and an impressive offering of business and leisure facilities, and will be a glamorous new addition to the city’s recreational offerings.

111+222 will be home to some 2,000 residents of Brisbane’s ever expanding population in 790 mid-rise and high-rise apartments located above the hotel.

Visit the 111+222 website

CEREMONIAL OPENING - URBANEST, HAYMARKET

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

Urbanest, Haymarket was officially opened earlier this month by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore.

Ms Moore cited the new student accomodation as a wonderful addition to Sydney,

“Today we are officially opening Sydney’s first urbanest community and the third in Australia, providing residents with purpose-built shared accommodation and living spaces to support and enhance both their academic and social lives.”

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney later thanked the team saying,

“In my view this is a true measure of the value we can bring when a great piece of architecture arises despite budget, brief or site constraints.”

Visit Urbanest

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Urbanest, Haymarket

Read Clover Moore's speech

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS - AWARDS 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Bates Smart has won the Commercial Architecture Award at the AIA Victorian Architecture Awards 2011.

The jury citation reads “Crown Metropol is characterised by a controlled and considered fluidity of form.”

"Crown Metropol is an assured essay by Bates Smart which sits comfortably within the typology of the stylish, sumptuous, contemporary hotel."

Read the full jury citation here

Visit Bates smart to read more about Crown Metropol

MILESTONES - `70 CASTLEREAGH STREET, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart has lodged a Development Application for the refurbishment of 70 Castlereagh Street Sydney located on the highly visible corner of King and Castlereagh Street in the heart of the city’s legal and luxury retail precinct.

The proposal includes the re-cladding of the tower façade to King and Castlereagh Street, the upgrade of ground floor entry lobby finishes and a new two level shop fitout for leading luxury goods retailer Chanel.

Bates Smart are working closely with Chanel to integrate the new tower façade with the new Chanel boutique designed by New York based architect Peter Marino.

The proposal to wrap the existing building with a transparent glass façade will significantly improve the environmental performance of the building while repositioning the building to reflect the calibre of its tenants and prime location within the city. The proposed over cladding construction method, developed in association with Arup Façades maximises the reuse of the existing facade structure and will allow tenants to remain within the building during construction.

COLLINS SQUARE - MELBOURNE DOCKLANDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart has designed the first commercial tower to be constructed on the Collins Square development in Melbourne's docklands.

Collins Square is an important new Docklands precinct consisting of five commercial buildings and the redevelopment of historic working buildings.

Bates Smart's masterplan for this precinct adds a new energy to the Docklands.

The building’s form is defined by a series of stacked volumes that allude to the stacking of containers; a loose reference to the former utilitarian life of the precinct as a hub for the arrival, departure and storage of goods.

This project is currently under construction and due for completion in March 2012. The Australian Tax Office has leased 35 00sqm of the 38 000sqm of available commercial space.

Visit the Walker Corporation here

PROPERTY COUNCIL - AWARDS SHORTLIST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Bates Smart is delighted that three of our projects have been shortlisted in five categories for the PCA 2011 Innovation and Excellence Awards.

The Property Council of Australia, together with the awards sponsor, Rider Levett Bucknall recently announced the national finalists in these prestigious awards which recognise excellence in the built environment.

The shortlisted projects are:

150 Clarendon Street for Best Residential Development

Sydney Water's Potts Hill Facility for Best Office Development

Media House for Best Office Development

Media House for Best Office Fitout

Media House for Best Sustainable Development – New Buildings

The National award winners will be announced in Sydney on Saturday 14 May.

Visit Bates Smart

Visit the PCA for more on the awards

THE GANTRY - CAMPERDOWN, NSW

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Gantry is a new residential neighbourhood located within the inner city suburb of Camperdown.

Gantry has four apartment buildings and fifteen terraces organised around a large landscaped courtyard. The new buildings provide a contrasting backdrop for the restored heritage buildings while subtly referencing the rich history of the site.

The project incorporates a pedestrian midblock link and new neighbourhood street activated by retail and commercial tenancies. Contemporary apartment planning has been integrated with the historic fabric of the Fowler pottery warehouses and High Bay building.

With over 190 residences, it provides a wide range of housing types including one and two bedroom single storey apartments; two and three storey terraces and three bedroom upper level penthouses.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Gantry

Visit Gantry

PRIMA PEARL PUBLIC SPACES - MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart is working with Schiavello and PDG on concept design for the public interior spaces of the Prima Pearl luxury high rise apartment development located in Melbourne's popular Southbank.

Prima Pearl architectural design and interior design development and resolution is by PDG’s in-house architects.

Public space concepts conceived by Bates Smart include:
/ Ground floor lobbies for low and high rise apartments
/ Level 6 swimming pool, sauna, spa and gymnasium
/ Level 6 Lounge, private cinema and library
/ Level 67 Sky Lounge, and pool

Bates Smart’s concepts illustrate a refined and sophisticated approach to urban living, crafted to meet the expectations of Prima Pearl’s purchasers.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Prima Pearl

Visit Prima Pearl website

NEW RCH - THE HOSPITAL IN A PARK

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Set in parkland, the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) building in Melbourne, Australia aims to be a ‘park in a hospital, and a hospital in a park’. Lead architect Kristen Whittle spoke with Healthy Parks Healthy People Central about the design process.

The new $AUD1 billion RCH is being delivered under the state’s Partnerships Victoria framework by the Children’s Health partnership (CHP) consortium.

The consortium comprises International Public Partnerships as sponsors, Bovis Lend Lease as contractor, Spotless Group as facilities manager and architects Billard Leece and Bates Smart.

Visit Healthy Parks Healthy People Central to read about Kristen’s approach

Read the Premier’s views on the New RCH

AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON - VISITOR CENTRE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Bates Smart embraces the elegant and bizarre world of the sub atomic in a building which will present the public face of Australia’s peak research instrument using electromagnetic radiation; the Australian Synchrotron.

The design adopts light as the fundamental basis of the architecture, presenting the visible part of the light spectrum in the facade.

A transparent skin and backlit façade mark the arrival as a first “Mis En Valeur” of the encounter with light. Internally the architecture presents both a functional response to the needs of a sophisticated building user, and an intriguing encounter for the casual visitor.

The building will house both the management planning of Australia’s Synchrotron and the presentation material and conference centre where visitors will encounter the science behind the instrument.

Visit the Australian Synchrotron

FACULTY OF ARTS GRADUATE SCHOOL - MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

The newly refurbished Graduate School in the Old Arts Building enables better cross-faculty and inter-faculty collaboration.

It provides a contemporary and collaborative learning environment that consolidates the School into a single location.

The dynamic learning and teaching environments are supported by improved administrative support spaces for student services. The new facilities are adaptable to changing requirements and set a benchmark for new graduate learning facilities.

The redesign provides a clear identity for the Graduate School with visual coherence and a strong visual language upon entry to the building, together with improved way-finding and circulation.

Other facilities include the refurbishment to the Old Arts Hall, providing a social and informal space for students that can be transformed into a stylish space for Faculty launches and events.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on the Faculty of Arts Graduate School

MEDIA HOUSE -
IT WORKS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

The design concept was based on the process of the media, how it perceives and processes information. It pursues the idea of how as individuals we see things differently. This led us to the notion of the virtual and the reality, or virtual reality.

In the design we explored perceptions through transparency, pattern and distortion as well as scale, materiality and texture. The idea being that things may not always be as they seem.

The signature gallery wall constructed of punched white metal uses pattern and positive and negative shapes to convey a binary code, representing the digital direction of The Age. Folded ‘zig zag’ screens applied with two different iconic images from the Age’s archives shield utility zones. They employ distortion as a visual device when viewed front on, the images converging as a frenetic montage from Melbourne’s past.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Office Building Projects

- Visit more on this project as seen in The Age

- Visit The Age to view a timelapse of Media House

SHEREE PROPOSCH - PROJECT WINS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

AUSTRALIA TOWERS, SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK - SELLING FAST

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 3 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

Approximately 40% of the apartments in the Bates Smart designed Australia Towers have sold in less than two weeks.

The tower, known as ATII, contains 270 apartments over 25 levels and is linked to a second residential tower by a low rise podium which will incorporate office and retail tenancies.

Purchasers are attracted to the elliptical geometry of the residential tower which maximises views and increases access to sunlight. Horizontal sun-shading bands circle each tower, varying in depth to provide greater protection where required.

Bates Smart won a limited design competition to design the two residential towers and podium in 2010.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more

AWARD SUCCESS - `2012 DULUX COLOUR AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

The Royal Children's Hospital has won the Grand Prix and the Commercial Interior awards at the 2012 Dulux Colour Awards, just announced.

The judging panel commented.

'The Royal Children’s Hospital’s colour palette is dynamic, complex and richly researched. Colour has been effectively and comprehensively integrated into the building to enable wayfinding throughout.

'With a base palette drawn from Royal Park to define various parts of the hospital, the colour schemes for different floor levels have also been taken from different regions around Victoria to give variation and richness to the experience of the children, staff and visitors of the building.'

The judges were Kim Chadwick of Colourways, Lucy Feagins of thedesignfiles.net, Jeff Fearon of Fearon Hay and Peter Maddison.

Jeff Copolov and Mark Healey pictured with Peter Maddison.

Bates Smart + Billard Leece Partnership have chosen to donate the Dulux Awards prize money to the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

DULUX AWARDS

KRISTEN WHITTLE - `DESIGN PROCESS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Kristen Whittle talks about the evolution of the distinctive facades at the Royal Children's Hospital, "Gardens have been proven to be a natural source of restoration.

"The shifting layers we see within a park with its pleasing colouration and patternation calm our minds and provide food for our imaginations.

"The design of the new RCH grasps these natural qualities and converts them into built form.

"If nature can be like this then why not architecture? These naturalistic qualities were fully explored in the fabric of the building where tree leaves and canopies have become the symbolic language for the new building and define the main facades to the project.

"The In-Patient Unit (IPU) facade uses green coloured polka dotted glazing units which drift across the facade like a camouflage pattern and help to blend the building into its park setting.

"The west facade, the most public face to the project, has a unique sun shading device comprising over 1000 glass 'leaf' blades which are coloured in a unique array of red and green tones to define the main entrance ways into the building.

"All of these elements work to be both functionally responsive and soft and intriguing to the eye. They behave as nature behaves and as a partner to the park setting they provide a supercharged health-giving backdrop to the entire hospital."

Kristen Whittle is a Director with Bates Smart and was the Design Director on the Royal Children's Hospital project.

CLUB 23 OPENS - CROWN TOWERS, MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 2 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

Club 23 is a luxurious “ultra lounge” located atop Crown’s new Mahogany Room extension on Level 3 of Crown Towers Hotel, Melbourne.

Led by Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov, the Bates Smart team has distilled the essence of the world's most alluring clubs to create Melbourne's chicest ultra lounge.

Sensuous and sensational, Club 23 is a truly desirable destination, uniquely positioned to soak in the spectacular nightscape of the Yarra River promenade and city beyond.

On arrival, guests are greeted at the Crown Towers threshold of gold and bronze-latticed gates into a moody lobby space with mesmerising iridescent wall sculptures by Melbourne artist Anne Marie May and a glittering courtyard backdrop of illuminated trees.

A sequence of narrow bay windows and large glazed panels was created to punctuate the journey into the club from the entry lobby. Giant spot lit woven fabric tassels alternate with layered shimmering string window coverings to provide glimpses of the alluring city scope views.

A striking sculptural wall treatment of leather, fabric and gold tubular forms appears to unravel as it draws visitors along the corridor, around a serious of sensuous curved walls and finally to the spectacular vista that awaits their eventual arrival in the prestigious lounge.

Textured surfaces were contrasted with smooth and sleek finishes such as gold glass and bronze mirror bar tops, faceted mirror panels and gold anodised lights to create a sense of luxury and opulence. Solid timber, natural hides, antiqued brass and custom designed wool carpets add warmth and sophistication while complimenting the jewel colour palette of ruby, amber, garnet and amethyst.

The main space features a stunning 4 metre illuminated handcrafted light feature designed by Bates Smart. This is the focal point of the space and hovers above a delicate tower of cut crystal vessels sculpted by local artist Corinna Berndt, its impact is secondary only to the spectacular panoramic vista beyond.

Since opening in November 2011 the club continues to host international and local celebrities and sports personalities.

Visit Club 23

Learn more about Bates Smart hospitality projects

NEW ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE - OFFICIAL OPENING

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Pictured: Prince Philip, Henry Bolte, Queen Elizabeth, and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at the opening of the new Royal Children's Hospital, 25 February 1963

The New Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, was officially opened by Her Majesty, The Queen on Wednesday 26th October. As patron of the RCH The Queen also opened the existing hospital in 1963.

Bates Smart Directors, Kristen Whittle, Sheree Proposch and Jeff Copolov attended the opening along with other key team members and Chairman Roger Poole.

The $1 billion project is adeptly integrated into the surrounding landscape and offers young patients an array of distractions through interactive displays and beautiful outdoor areas as well as increased beds and state of the art care facilities.

The therapeutic benefits of nature in the healing process underpin the design and the Royal Park setting was a distinctive source of inspiration.

Natural light is abundant and natural textures and forms are ever present to provide an enriching and restorative environment for the family-centred care.

Bates Smart and Billard Leece Partnership with HKS.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about RCH

Learn more about the new RCH

VISUALISATION IN 3D - `WORKING WITH BIM

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

For Bates Smart's National CAD Manager, Aaron Coats, the evolutionary shift for building information modeling (BIM) at Bates Smart took a significant leap forward with the Clayton Utz fitout at 1 Bligh Street, Sydney: One of the largest fully coordinated Revit projects in Australia.

BIM was employed by the builders Grocon to manage documentation of the base building and the integrated fitout.

Bates Smart attended coordination sessions with consultants and subcontractors at which the combined services Navisworks model was used to select views, including conducting “fly-throughs”, in order to resolve the design.

Aaron says, “1 Bligh Street was an unusual base building with no orthogonal grids and no easy setouts. The model gave us immediate feedback and a whole new set of challenges, for instance, the offices follow the curved façade, and on some floors there are not many straight walls - this setout was easily achievable with a coordinated BIM model.

“Projects produced in BIM are more resolved at the later stages of documentation as details have been worked through and they are better coordinated with services.

“Walking around a 3d model with design directors, clients and consultants encourages a far more incisive conversation than a 2d paper output could ever provide.

“Currently, we are working on a range of projects in different stages using BIM to provide a great working environment for the team, this is a design tool that can facilitate significantly better results for clients.”

Learn more about 1 Bligh

MILESTONES - `SITE 4B, HOMEBUSH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Associate Director Julian Anderson reports on the revised design of Site 4b, Homebush.

A change of tenancy profile in this six storey commercial project at Sydney Olympic Park provided an opportunity to revisit the concept and materiality of the building.

Julian Anderson says “The building’s scale, form and materials respond to the surrounding context and reinforce the unique character of Sydney Olympic Park.

"The use of timber in the facade complements the tree lined boulevards of Homebush and acts as a counterpoint to the slick glass facade deployed around the rest of the buildings.

“Balconies take advantage of the views and mixed mode spaces contribute towards the Australian 5 Star Green Star and NABERS 5.0 ratings that the building is designed to achieve.

"Timber louvers protect these spaces from the afternoon and morning sun and add a tactile dimension to the space.”

Section 75W planning approval has been achieved and design development will commence shortly.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about our commercial work

CONNEQ WINS INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE AWARD` - AIA (NSW) AWARDS 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

A significant new start for a long established company.

Bates Smart were commissioned to design a new workplace interior for Conneq, a new name on the block but with 50 years of success behind it.

The Conneq fitout won an Interior Architecture Award at the AIA (NSW) Awards earlier this month.Read the full jury citation below.

"As with many new commercial interiors, the main driver of the Conneq brief was the unification of a number of traditional hierarchical companies and the design of an interior to act as a facilitator for culture change.

"The success of this interior lies in its consistent approach on all levels - clarity of planning, thorough detailing and a thoughtful, pragmatic approach to the daily activities of the company.

"The workplace strategies are not necessarily new but are extremely well executed so that their composition results in an interior that is clear and dramatic.

"The traditional hierarchy has been reversed by placing the core office groups at the upper level. All three levels are interconnected with a void that enhances navigation through the interior.

"Materiality is inventive and references the industry. The highly transparent public level sends a message of fluidity and change.

"Clever framing of views out into the surrounding bush land through deep reveals fixed on to the base building mullions and use of directional ceiling treatments adds an unexpected dimension to the experience.

"This is a professional and slick interior."

Visit Bates Smart for more on Conneq

THE NEW MEDIA - WHYBIN TBWA TEQUILA, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

We love this quote. It reinforces our belief that the key to a successful project is careful collaboration with our clients. It allows us to understand their organisational culture and deliver the best results.

Take a look at our recently completed fitout for global media giant Whybin \ TBWA \ Tequila in Sydney.

Our designers worked with the existing crucifix cast iron columns originally designed to ward off evil spirits and an expansive sawtooth roof, all part of the unique characteristics of this 19th Century ‘wool bailer’ warehouse.

The brief required an engaging fitout within a heritage building that would reflect this global brand within a local context.

In order to achieve the brief the design team rejected clichéd references to Sydney by taking inspiration from the building and its heritage.

The scheme provides social, informal and client spaces that reflect the culture and personality of the agency as warm, approachable, energetic, raw and open.

Following on from the success of this project we have been commissioned to fitout Whybin's Melbourne offices.

NO.1 BLIGH STREET, SYDNEY - `AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

Bates Smart's Sydney studio are finalising their latest fitout for leading law firm Clayton Utz at No.1 Bligh Street, Sydney.

This stunning fitout is due for completion by the middle of June and we look forward to sharing the details with you in the coming months.

In the meantime you can read about it here in the AFR magazine 'Life and Leisure', review by Ainslie Chandler.

Visit the AFR Magazine article here

101 COLLINS STREET - FOYER

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Bates Smart continues to work with 101 Management to continually refine, enhance and maintain one of Australia’s finest workplace environments.

Our approach to the refurbishment of the new lobby is to build upon the strengths of the existing design and upgrade elements using new technology.

The visitor entry experience is improved through a new reception desk which includes a new directory board. This new desk reflects the grand scale and timeless character of the lobby.

Above the desk is an artwork installation by Marion Borgelt “Candescent Moon”. Borgelt says of her work “I have aimed for a timeless quality; one that keeps its relevance and reminds us of the larger world whilst at the same time plays a part in our everyday world”.

The entire lift lobby core stone has been replaced with new filled travertine stone and we’ve introduced a black granite skirting course linked to portal framing. This defines and frames the lift lobby entries.

These changes are the latest in a series of pro-active enhancements which 101 Management have initiated through the years to keep the tower right at the forefront of Australian workplace environments.

Visit 101 Collins Street

NORTH SYDNEY - `COMMERCE CENTRE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

Our vision for the North Sydney Commerce Centre is to create a commercial building that will deliver a 21st century design with flexible floorplates to reinvigorate North Sydney as part of global Sydney.

The tower design will create a new gateway to North Sydney; anchoring the north-west corner of the CBD. The asymmetrical composition of forms will create a dynamic tower where each volume responds to its respective orientation and solar aspect; creating a unique tower which varies depending on the vantage point.

The resulting built form provides for a major public space for the people of North Sydney in the form of a naturally ventilated all weather Garden Plaza, which will be a major extension of the Berry Street Special Area.

To preserve the nearby Miller Street Special Area on the Winter Solstice, the tower envelope features unique large cut-away sections.

Visit Bates Smart for more on North Sydney Commerce Centre

Read more about the North Sydney Commerce Centre

MEDIA HOUSE - FIRST ANNIVERSARY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Time flies when enjoying life in a new, purpose-built workplace. Fairfax Media’s Melbourne operations have occupied Media House – their Melbourne headquarters designed by Bates Smart – for just over a year.

Chief Executive and Publisher of the Melbourne Publishing division, Don Churchill, said this week: “During the past year, Media House has provided the perfect environment for the production of first-class journalism.”

“On a typical day, the plaza and café area buzzes with journalists and other staff holding informal meetings or just taking time out. Furthermore, the nearby foyer can hold a large multimedia contingent during a doorstop media conference, for example, without impeding on the rest of the ground floor. That space is exactly what we needed, and we’re using it exactly as was envisioned.”

The open plan is set to maximum strength: in The Age’s editorial areas on levels two and three, for example, staff can see from one side of the building to the other, while the central staircase encourages a visual connection with Collins Street and Southern Cross Station as well as with the content-creation areas.

The Age Editor-in-Chief Paul Ramadge said:

“The central newsdesk on level 2 is at the core of the 24/7 news operation, and seats all the key editors from all delivery platforms – print, online, photography, video – in one shared space.”

Mr Ramadge said that the result of the central newsdesk is that communication has improved simply by being involved in one conversation.

“It has allowed editors to give quick responses to breaking news, smoother handover briefs between night and day, and easy transition between print and web.”

Visit Bates Smart for more on Media House

Visit The Age

LA TROBE INSTITUTE OF - MOLECULAR SCIENCE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

The transforming principal for our design for the La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science is to combine the disciplines of biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and physics to achieve real multi disciplinary outcomes beyond those possible in traditional research settings.

Bates Smart was invited to participate in a Design Competition for the La Trobe institute of Molecular Science.

Our building design encourages discovery as living systems within. Our vision is to create an open and inviting building, fertilising the green campus garden setting and next generation research.

Students, academics, industry and the greater community engage in a warm, natural environment where the public space runs organically through and up the building to seek, explore and discover big problem scientific challenges under the ‘Knowledge Canopy’.

This architectural device provides shelter, shade, circulation and social breakout zones for students, staff academics and the community. It also creates a defined organic route for circulation, exploration and discovery. The new building seeks to embrace natural collaboration with a three dimensional tree like canopy experience at every level.

ORICA HOUSE - OPEN HOUSE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Bates Smart proudly supports Melbourne Open House which is now in its third year and continues to grow with over 65,000 visits recorded in 2010. Tim Leslie, Associate Director at Bates Smart is the founding president of Melbourne Open House, which has become an annual fixture in our city’s cultural calendar.

In addition to being a sponsor of this event, Bates Smart opens its Orica House office each year to the public. This year over 500 people visited Bates Smart at Orica House to see for themselves the working environment of an architecture practice and learn more about this historic building.

Orica House, the first high-rise commercial office tower in Melbourne was designed by Bates Smart in 1956 and is classified by the National Trust of Australia. It was the first lightweight steel framed high rise tower in Australia, and was the tallest building in Australia when it opened in 1958.

Our design for Orica House still provides a benchmark for commercial office design in Australia. The building’s characteristics have much sought after qualities including side-core location, clear unobstructed floor plates, building orientation and detailing for energy efficiency, and a timeless, modern design.

Visit Melbourne Open House here

NANOSCIENCE - NOW

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

EIF funding awarded to new Nanoscience Faculty

The University of Sydney has won critical EIF funding for the new $108M Nanoscience Facility. The Sydney studio won the briefing and master planning role for a new science precinct at the University of Sydney encompassing the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Physics/ Nanosciences.

The new precinct has been designed around a north facing courtyard that links the existing Physics Faculty to the proposed new Physics/ Nanoscience project. The courtyard will be activated with cafes and other collaborative spaces. The fundamental principle is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and cross fertilisation of ideas.

“We thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the University of Sydney on this project and were delighted to hear that our efforts had assisted the university in securing EIF funding for the Nanoscience Facility.”
Philip Vivian, Bates Smart Director

- Visit University of Sydney website

150 CLARENDON STREET - RECORD PENTHOUSE SALE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 7 Jul 2010 00:07:00 +0000

The $18.2 million sale of a penthouse at 150 Clarendon Street East Melbourne set a record for Victorian Property and a new benchmark for apartment prices in Australia.

The twelve storey apartment building is on a site of extraordinary presence adjacent to the Fitzroy Gardens. The spacious, elegant apartments have magnificent views. The panoramic vista extends cross the gardens to Port Phillip Bay and to the Dandenong Ranges in the east.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Residential projects

- Visit more on this project as seen in The Age

- Visit 150 Clarendon Street website

COMPETITION WORK - 200 GEORGE STREET, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

QUEENSBRIDGE TOWER, MELBOURNE - WINS PLANNING APPROVAL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

The Schiavello Group have gained planning approval for a new residential tower on the banks of the Yarra River. Bates Smart designed the luminous cyclindrical form which reaches 276 metres in height, making it the second tallest building in Melbourne.

The development offers 592 apartments with extensive public space at ground level which links to existing open spaces and will introduce variety and dynamic movement in the precinct. The design will also reflect the urban character of Melbourne’s public realm, combining bluestone paving and planting.

The Queensbridge Tower will have a strong sense of place. The views provide a wonderful panorama of the City of Melbourne and the Yarra River, while bringing the riverfront right into the site. The new tower creates stronger street definition and activation while defining a new gateway to Queensbridge Street.

The plan is an asymmetrical bundle of three cylindrical forms joined by sinuous curves. Views of the building contrast highlights and shadows, slimming and elongating the tower. Balconies are treated as winter gardens which can be opened when the weather permits, while providing additional living space under all weather conditions.

The Schiavello Showroom located on the Ground level will be one of the world’s most exciting furniture environments. It uses dynamic curving geometry to achieve multi-level displays and will be an important visitor attraction on Southbank.

Queensbridge Tower extends the teamwork between Schiavello and Bates Smart created through decades of designing and building high quality hospitality and commercial environments. Queensbridge Tower will create a world-standard residential tower for Melbourne.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about The Queensbridge Tower

Learn more about Schiavello

View video

HEALTHY BUILDINGS - `KRISTEN WHITTLE DISCUSSES SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

In today’s age, sustainable design involves reducing a buildings carbon footprint but also the longevity and quality of the built solution.

Bates Smart Director Kristen Whittle discusses the challenge of creating a wholly sustainable healthcare building. `The new RCH has created a significant benchmark for hospital design worldwide where the highest standards of human comfort and sustainable design have combined to create a truly holistic built form solution.

'Apart from the many technical features within the building, including tri-generation, blackwater treatment plant, solar collectors, green roofs and a working labyrinth, it is the building's master plan which truly shapes the RCH’s sustainable solution.

'The campus design allows natural light and views into parkland to enter all sections of the building whilst also providing a robust expansion strategy to add up to 50,000m2 of additional space.

'In concert with our joint venture partners and Lend Lease, Spotless Group and NDY we have created the most sustainable healthcare building in the country to date but we have also provided a much needed insight into how holistically derived solutions can deliver on the long term viability of our built fabric.'

Kristen Whittle is a Director with Bates Smart and was the Design Director on the Royal Children's Hospital project.

Learn more about RCH from our stakeholders:

Royal Children's Hospital

Murdoch Children's Research Institute

The University of Melbourne

The Department of Health, Victoria

Lend Lease

Children's Health Partnership

Consultants:

Spotless Group

NDY

171 COLLINS STREET - A JEWEL IN THE CITY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Bates Smart Director Kristen Whittle discusses healthy workplaces and his work on 171 Collins Street, Melbourne.

"A building's performance and its ability to inspire its occupants are critical aspects of design, especially in our era of sustainability and urbanisation.

"For many of us the time spent in a workplace setting is greater than in any other space in our lives.

"Unlocking the potential of this environment is therefore of great importance to institutions and individuals alike.

"Recent studies have shown that combining social interconnectivity with natural outlook and indoor environmental qualities have the richest possibilities for health and wellbeing in architecture.

"Our recent work on 171 Collins Street office tower in Central Melbourne for Charter Hall Office REIT and CBUS Property has highlighted architecture's role in cultivating an energising and invigorating workplace environment.

"The design for 171 Collins Street has been developed directly out of the richness of its inner city location and showcase large open floor plates with unsurpassed views across Melbourne’s river corridor.

"The crystalline tower, a new ‘jewel’ in the city, will be Melbourne’s first Premium Grade office building in 20 years.

"As one of only a handful of 6 Star Green Star and 5 Star NABERS Energy rated buildings in Melbourne, the Premium Grade offer is made unique with a combined package of destination control lifts, a cutting edge under-floor air distribution system, advanced rainwater and grey water reuse and secure bike and car parking.

"171 Collins Street will be appearing on Melbourne’s skyline this year and we keenly await its final completion and official opening in 2013."

Learn more about 171 Collins Street

Visit 171 Collins Street

MAIN STREET - `THE SOCIAL HEART OF THE HOSPITAL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

Director Kristen Whittle explains the significance of Main Street, a six storey light filled atrium that provides a hub to the Royal Children's Hospital.

"Main Street is the social heart of the project and also its defining idea.

"It is the primary wayfinding device in the project as well as its information centre and public interface. It allows natural light, views and open access to the garden courtyards as well as to Royal Park.

"Many forms of amenity have been accommodated here to make the children and their families visits more comfortable and uplifting. These include the garden courtyards, restaurants, interactive artworks and the coral reef aquarium.

"The street gives all three campus partners, Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and Melbourne University, a separate address point within whilst allowing all researchers, clinicians, nurses, parents and children to mix within the same space.

"The street continues over to Stage Two phase of works which will include the refurbishment of the previous Front Entry and MCRI buildings as well as the introduction of a 100 room, 3.5 star hotel and new crèche facilities."

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about the Royal Children's Hospital

Learn more about RCH from our stakeholders:

Royal Children's Hospital

Murdoch Children's Research Institute

The University of Melbourne

The Department of Health, Victoria

Lend Lease

Childrens Health Partnership

CONVESSO CONCAVO, MELBOURNE - `LAUNCHES STUNNING DISPLAY SUITE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Embellished with tranquil water views, the fluid forms of the Convesso Concavo residential towers will stand graciously in the Docklands against a city skyline backdrop.

With one tower near completion, due November 2012 and the other currently being documented, Lend Lease saw a marketing opportunity to relaunch their Convesso Concavo brand.

Bates Smart planned and designed the apartment interiors with an elegant selection of finishes and fittings. Following on from this we were recently commissioned to design the display apartment and set the design style for all the interior renders featured in the marketing brochures and website.

The fully furnished display apartment has just been completed and is to be used for corporate entertaining and create a memorable experience for potential clients.

Principal designer Kendra Pinkus with Kate Wardlaw and Lucy Bothwell complemented the scheme with a selection of beautifully crafted furniture, eclectic interesting collection artwork and accessories.

“When you first enter the display apartment,” Kendra describes, “it is like you have been given the keys to a friend's house to explore.” This friend is particularly interesting, well travelled and has collected beautiful things around the world.

Interior Design Director Jeff Copolov adds "As you pan across the rooms the soft neutral colors and textures of the living space complement the tranquil water views beyond creating a warm and intimate sense of place."

Congratulations to the Project team Kendra Pinkus, Sarah Naarden, Kate Wardlaw, Lucy Bothwell and Madeline Freeman who delivered the project well under budget and ahead of schedule to impressed clients.

Learn more about Convesso Concavo

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Convesso Concavo

IN ON THE DETAIL - `SCULPTURAL STAIRCASE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Associate Director Allan Lamb explains how ‘less is more’ in the design of the steel and stone staircase on Level 14 and 15.

It may look like a simple sculptural form but looks can be deceiving, this twenty ton staircase has challenged design, engineering and construction expertise.

The principal reception for Clayton Utz is on Level 15. The brief called for direct access from Level 15 to the Level 14 boadroom.

In order to connect the client meeting floors, an interconnecting stair was conceived as a sculptural form reflecting the building geometry and the fitout design.

By setting the stair adjacent to the spectacular atrium void, the stair was seen as a movement sequence and a chance to experience the building, using generous treads and risers and a middle landing all contained within one sweeping form.

Preliminary structural concepts for the all steel construction were developed with Enstruct, the structural engineers.

In developing the structural design, torsion in the outer balustrade proved to be a complex issue, this necessitated the provision of high tensile bolts to connect the structural beam and the balustrade steel cladding.

The stair was fully assembled in the off-site workshop but with some joints not yet welded. It was then dismantled and provided with a Class 2.5 abrasive clean and primer.

It was cut down further into nine sections for delivery via the builders hoist into location, re-assembled, bolted together and all joints fully welded and ground smooth.

After all grinding and filling with automotive body filler was complete the area was closed off and the paint finish applied.

Allan Lamb

BURRABIRRA RESIDENCE, SYDNEY - `BESPOKE SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

Traditional residential planning preserves a special space for guests and visitors at the “front of the house” but when this area has views of Sydney Harbour the space has to be for all.

On a triangular site in Vaucluse the Burrabirra residence has enclosed the “formal spaces” facing the view in a lightweight pavilion while the private spaces are enveloped in the solidity of stabilised rammed earth walls.

Views to the harbour occur throughout, with large sliding panels which enable the house to be one large space or a series of rooms.

The outdoor room is screened from the street with fine timber screens.

Built of stabilised rammed earth, copper and timber, the house has a sense of permanence and calm.

The interiors, also by Bates Smart, bring a richness and layering to the house which mediates the strength of the contemporary architecture.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about our residential projects

CROWN METROPOL WINS COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD` - AIA (VIC) AWARDS 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

Crown Metropol has won a Commercial Architecture Award at the AIA (Vic) Awards 2011.

As this distinctive hotel nets another award, of which we are immeasurably proud, we thought this was a good time to look at the team behind the success.

Interior Architect Ben Nicholas cut his teeth on Crown Metropol. Ben graduated from Monash University in 2005 and started work on the project six moths later. Here he writes about his experience.

“The Crown Metropol experience for me was one of overall enjoyment, satisfaction and most of all a steep learning curve.

"As a recent graduate I joined the team at the project’s inception and finished up 3.5 years later having experienced the full spectrum of a premium hospitality project.

"This was an invaluable ‘apprenticeship’ and introduced me to the extensive design process required to complete a project of this scale and quality.

"It was also my initiation to the rigorous approach to detail undertaken by Bates Smart, an embedded aspect throughout the project.

"This personal development, nurtured by a talented and supportive project team, coupled with the excellence of the finished building made for an experience which I think will remain unique throughout my career.”

REMARKABLE ARITHMETIC - 111+222

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

Bates Smart has recently unveiled plans for a subtropical mixed-use development in Brisbane.

A hotel, retail, office, residential and pedestrian-friendly public area combine to make 111+222 a microcosm of a vibrant, living city.

Renewable technologies are integral to the design and respond to the unique characteristics of the development.

The north-facing rooftop of 111 Mary Street is angled to incorporate a photovoltaic array while the roof of 222 Margaret Street incorporates wind turbines. A gas-fired tri-generation plant will provide onsite power generation.

Green roofs on the podium will reduce the heat-island effect and the tower’s façade has been designed to deal with the low angled sun, glare, and tropical downpours whilst working with contemporary glass curtain wall technology.

A floor-by-floor system of layered and angled planes of glass creates a facade-type expression that minimises solar heat load, sheds wind, and reduces glare.

A development application was submitted in May 2011.

Visit the 111+222 website

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

"Four Seasons' suite refurb reveals Sydney's sexiest bathtub" by Roderick Eime. Read more about this recent project.

“The Four Seasons Hotel Sydney has unveiled its ‘pièce de résistance’, four newly refurbished signature suites as the grand finale to a two-year, AUD$18 million refurbishment.

Intended to take on a 1930s-era New York-style apartment, leading interior and architecture practice, Bates Smart, wanted to evoke a feeling of warmth, elegance and refinement.

Taking prime position in the bay window and offering views over Sydney’s Circular Quay, the spacious master bathroom is unapologetically indulgent with warm, silvery travertine echoing the suite’s parquet floor.

With the Sydney Opera House as its backdrop, the master bedroom is an intimate cocoon featuring an elegant four-poster bed with linen canopy."

Read the full article here

420 GEORGE STREET - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

In 2003 Bates Smart won a City of Sydney Design Excellence competition to design a 36 level commercial tower above the MidCity Centre at 420 George Street. This new addition to the city was completed late last year.

The development includes a new commercial lobby with 5 storey atrium and 4 retail levels including a new façade to Pitt Street Mall.

The office tower is expressed as two volumes: a silvery polished concrete volume to the north housing the core and breakout areas, and a transparent green glass volume to the south housing a 19m clear span office space.

The challenge was to insert a large scale mixed-use building incorporating retail and commercial space seamlessly into the fabric of a city. We have created a highly contemporary addition to the city that respects its historic neighbours and provides an active public mid-block link.

The retail podium is an uncompromisingly modern insertion into the streetscape with a facade that reinterprets the cornices and vertical masonry proportioning of the adjoining heritage buildings in a contemporary language.

A genuinely public mid-block link creates a direct connection between Pitt and George Streets. The office lobby and entries to the mid-block link are expressed as urban rooms, defined by sandstone blade walls, which provide a transition to the scale of the city.

A 5 Green Star Design Rating has been achieved.

Visit Bates Smart for more on 420 George Street

Visit 420 George Street

DANDENONG HOSPITAL - MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

The new $25m Dandenong Hospital Emergency Department designed and developed by Bates Smart has recently been completed. The overriding design principle is to create a modern emergency facility that responds closely to new models of care.

The design challenges conventional hospital typology with planning that establishes a sense of order in an environment which is complex and fast-paced. The non-institutional design philosophy encourages one-on-one clinical management and offers a wide choice of varied patient-type treatment zones.

The new building establishes a clear address point for the Emergency Department. The white GRC screen on the front façade creates both enclosure and transparency whilst also creating a dynamic shading pattern across the façade, legible from inside and outside. The screen is a clear wayfinding device from David Street to the Emergency Department entry.

With clear views to outdoors the inside /outside connection is well established to create a calming environment for patients, staff and visitors. The waiting spaces feature artworks suspended from the ceiling. These unique gestures of light and shadow are richly coloured and evoke natural botanical forms.

The overall concept provides a contemporary healing environment incorporating clearly defined spaces and establishes a natural feel through the use of daylight, scale, colours, material, texture and lighting. A courtyard space is incorporated to offer outdoor views and respite space, and connects the new ED with the existing hospital.

BatesSmart in association with Irwin Alsop Architects.

Visit Bates Smart for more about Dandenong Hospital ED

Visit Southern Health for more about the opening of Dandenong Hospital ED

MASTERPLANNING SYDNEY - DISCOVERY POINT

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

In November 2009 Bates Smart won an limited design competition to create a masterplan for Discovery Point, Wolli Creek for joint venture partners Australand and Landcom.

Discovery Point is just 12 minutes from Sydney's CBD. The masterplan proposes a predominantly residential mixed use neighbourhood of 14 buildings comprising approximately 1350 apartments with ground floor retail uses including cafes, restaurants, specialty retail and a supermarket.

One year on from the competition win, Project Leader Matthew Allen describes Bates Smart’s approach.

"Our design responds to the local context: both the existing structures found on site and the surrounding natural landscape comprising Cooks River and Wolli Creek, both bounded by extensive parkland.

A series of primary axes and secondary streets have been introduced to define three precincts which are in turn broken down into discrete development parcels, each with good vehicular and pedestrian links and of appropriate size for residential development. The site contains an existing railway station – ground floor retail and commercial uses have been carefully located to take advantage of commuter traffic."

Building heights have been reduced in the centre of the site in response to the lower height of the existing station. The massing has been further modulated to open up the buildings to impressive water views and to reinforce the formal arc established by the existing buildings on the site. Two landmark towers have been strategically located to take advantage of distant city views and form an urban marker for the station.

Bates Smart is currently designing the first phase of development which includes a supermarket with landscaped podium and a 13-storey residential tower. The ground floor level is activated with specialty retail set around a new neighbourhood park.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Discovery Point Masterplan

Visit Discovery Point

171 COLLINS STREET

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

The new 171 Collins Street will have an elegant crystalline appearance – like a jewel in the city.

The façade is inspired by the building’s relationship to the spires of St Paul’s Cathedral. A weaving façade treatment is designed to highlight the Cathedral’s multi facetted appearance.

Subtle folding and faceting of the building skin will create the crystalline undulations. Delicate angling of the cladding sections will help to fold the light from the sky into the base of the building. It gives the whole building a lightweight ephemeral appearance.

The design provides visual articulation to the form without being overly dominant. It maintains a quiet elegance - almost like restoring the sky as a backdrop to the spires of St Paul’s.

At podium level the building reinterprets the masonry heritage of Flinders lane into a language of glass and steel through a combination of opacity, transparency and textured surfaces.

171 Collins Street will deliver a prime new-generation workplace environment to Collins Street. Equally important, the project positively responds to its urban context and provides a new pedestrian link between the sophistication of Collins St to the intimacy and vibrant atmosphere of Flinders Lane and embraces the latest in sustainable design.

DANDENONG HOSPITAL - DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

This new Mental Health facility in Dandenong, Victoria, is designed to respond to a new Model of Care for patients. Utilising principles of Evidence-based Design, the architecture actively contributes to improved health outcomes by providing greater access to natural light and landscape views.

Staff and patients will enjoy natural daylight and views from almost all parts of the building. Internal courtyard spaces have been incorporated, building a strong relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. The courtyards create a sense of connection with nature.

Timber is used extensively internally and externally, selected for its high quality, warm visual appearance, sustainability and tactile quality. Throughout the exterior, changes in texture accentuate the massing of the pavilions, with the articulation of timber elements defining individual parts of the buildings. The architecture complements the local residential scale and textures of the suburban context, creating a warm, a non-institutional appearance.

Bates Smart in association with Irwin Alsop Architects

Visit Bates Smart for more on Dandenong Hospital Redevelopment

Visit Southern Health

SYDNEY WATER - POTTS HILL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

The new Sydney Water Infrastructure Group workplace embraces the social change in contemporary workspaces more often associated with CBD office buildings.

It takes operations and technical workers out of traditionally lower quality accommodation into a workplace designed to the same standard as traditional office buildings, but conceived in response to the professional needs of Sydney Water field workers.

Located in the suburban setting of Potts Hill near the main office of Sydney Water, the facility includes 6,000 m2 of workspace and 5,400 m2 of warehouse space. The facility offers a wide range of workspace arrangements (hot desks, workstations, enclosed offices) on a large open floor plate designed to maximise flexibility and encourage interaction.

The expression of materials on the exterior and the interior of the building clearly references the semi-industrial purpose of the facility through the use of polished concrete floors, perforated plywood panels, an expressed steel frame and timber cladding.

Focusing on passive environmental strategies, the building is designed to achieve 5 star ABGR and 5 star Green Star ratings.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Sydney Water

- Sydney Water, Potts Hill is entered in the 2010 Australian Timber Design Awards. Click here to visit.

420 GEORGE STREET -
RETAIL OPENS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:09:00 +0000

The opening of the Mid City Centre retail is the first major new retail presence on Pitt Street Mall.

It incorporates a public link between Pitt and George Streets. The public through site link is clearly announced with a grand four storey opening to the Mall.

The Pitt Street Mall façade employs glass window boxes in an abstract pattern to create a dynamic retail façade. The use of glass allows the focus to remain on the merchandise.

Philip Vivian, Director Bates Smart said: “We are delighted with the design of the retail component of Mid City Centre. Maximising the use of frameless glass and using reflective ‘Japan Black’ has maximised transparency, creating a focus on fashion merchandise, while maintaining its civic role in creating a public addition to our great city.

- Visit Bates Smart to read more

- Visit 420 George Street website

INNER HOUSE - DARLINGHURST, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:00 +0000

The Inner House is a single dwelling constructed in the 1926 First Church of Christ Scientist in East Sydney.

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney explains the design approach, he says, "The House is erected on a platform built over the raking floor with a pair of two storey cubes flanking the volume. These spaces contain sleeping accommodation and ancillary facilities whilst the central space provides living and dining areas.

"The concept is derived from the formal geometry of the volume, its austerity and the temporary nature of the new structure. The desire to leave the existing fabric untouched also drove the design.

"The new structure is freestanding, lightweight, raw and designed for off-site fabrication and disassembly. It allows the
Church volume to be experienced while still expressing its own qualities. Three rows of pews have been retained to permit occasional public performances on the renowned Church Organ.

"The walls of the new building emit a soft glow at night. The floor of the space is heated and an ethanol fire provides glowing warmth avoiding penetrations through the roof."

The project was built in 14 weeks whilst restoration work to the original fabric continues.

This is a contemporary installation designed around the formality and symmetry of the original space.

THE MAHOGANY ROOM - CROWN TOWERS, MELBOURNE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart was commissioned by Crown to refurbish and revitalise the Mahogany membership gaming room in the Crown Towers complex on Melbourne’s Southbank.

The first floor plate is extended over the existing hotel porte cochere, increasing the floor area to create a new architectural façade to address Queensbridge Street.

A distinctive interior threshold, in the form of a soaring 6 metre high linear void separates the old building from the new. Here skylights allow natural light to flood the previously internalised gaming salon. Full height living green walls flank the structural, sandstone lined columns which define this threshold and celebrate the connection to the natural world.

Our interior honours the heritage of the room (named after a famous racehorse) while heralding a new youthful, energetic and colourful botanical aesthetic.

True to the room’s history, equestrian references abound in the bespoke stitched and quilted leather wall linings. Woven leather walls and ceiling canopies extend the theme.

In keeping with the garden theme is an elaborate and finely crafted interior 'pavilion' structure constructed from solid timbers, turned brass, and woven leather strapping.

The pavilion creates a generously appointed lounge bar leading to an expansive outdoor terrace taking full advantage of spectacular views to the river promenade and city beyond.

Bates Smart commissioned artworks from Australian sculptors Simeon Nelson, Carly Kotynski and Ewen Coates. These works make a bold contribution to the unique and luxuriously appointed interior which is both distinctly new yet in harmony with the heritage of the club environment.

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Crown Mahogany Room

Visit Crown

THE NEW ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE - `BUILDING IN THE LANDSCAPE

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:03:00 +0000

After millennia in natural environments, humans have contrived to develop urban communities of great convenience, but with little of the soft natural fascination of our ancestors’ environment.

Parkland gives us back the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the pleasing, recuperative qualities of nature, engendering the simultaneous combinations of rest and stimulation which can aid healing.

In the 20th century, architect Alvar Aalto showed how design could be shaped through a dialogue with natural settings. His formal language and use of materials showed how new and sometimes abstract design could convey a sense of familiarity and warmth whilst being very well resolved in a functional and ergonomic sense.

This range of conceptual influences underpinned our approach when we began our design journey with the new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne. There can be no doubt that the successful creation of a psycho-socially supportive environment is determined by an agreement between client and architect to give priority to the users’ experience of the building.

The hospital design seeks to emulate the soft fascination of nature. Built on parkland, the project draws on salutogenic design principles to bring the park into the building and, at the same time, establish an external appearance that helps bring the building into the park.

Our goal in the development of RCH was to awaken the senses, by creating form and texture that are a clear analogy to nature and working to reproduce a man-made nature experience in buildings.

The opportunity created by the brief and the park site was to pursue a design in which nature would nurture – where recovery would be faster and wellbeing enhanced by accommodating children, their families and RCH staff in a building that would embrace and reflect the best of nature.

The ‘park in the building’ concept has influenced every aspect of the hospital’s planning. Attention has been given to the natural textures, forms and colours of the park and how this can refer directly to the material expression of the building. A unique aesthetic language has resulted, which forms a new benchmark for hospital design and shows how healthcare spaces infused with nature can speak to the child.

This is an extract of an article published in World Health Design, October 2010

Learn more about RCH

NEW ROYAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE - `OPENS TO THE COMMUNITY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

HM Queen Elizabeth II opened the $1.1b new Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne on October 26, 2011 five years after the release of the initial Public Private Partnership (PPP) bid. The 165,000sqm facility is likely to set a new design benchmark for hospitals worldwide.

Bates Smart Director Sheree Proposch describes the event:

"The Queen and Prince Philip toured the facility, including the Emergency Department which features a two level aquarium, the Ambulatory Care Clinics with meerkat enclosure, the Operating Theatres with inter-operative MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and the 'starfish shaped' inpatient unit.

"The Queen was particularly taken by the meercats and their ability to distract and entertain children.

"Staff and patients played an active role in the tour and the ceremony, sharing personal experiences and their design contributions.

"The Royal couple were surrounded by an audience of 700 guests assembled in the Street and above on the bridges and balconies. RCH Chairman Tony Beddison AO and CEO Christine Kilpatrick led the Official Party which included Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and Premier Ted Baillieu.

"The six level high and 16 metre wide Main Street space was a perfect setting for the ceremony, capturing the design principles of a village-like, light-filled and nature inclusive building.

"It was a great delight to celebrate the dedicated work of the team with a Royal opening."

FACEBOOK, SYDNEY FITOUT - RAW ENERGY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:02:00 +0000

Bates Smart recently completed the fitout for Facebook’s Sydney office in the heart of the city's retail and business district.

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney says, “The design embodies the youthful, energetic culture of this startup company, characterised by rapid growth and a sense of anarchy. All is able to be changed and nothing is conventional or sacred.”

The Facebook culture is characterised by interconnectivity, technology, non-conformity and youthfulness. Our design plays upon these themes, adopting a vibrant colour palette contrasted against honest raw materials, used in an unconventional way.

The concept challenges the conformity of traditional office fit-out and introduces an intervention, not for intervention sake, but to redefine, improve, and reduce the space to its simplest form.

The open workspaces are positioned in the centre of the space, encouraging connectivity with the reception, meeting rooms, breakout/hub, and staff/client bar area.

Technology is embraced and emphasised in both the workspaces and meeting rooms.

The design draws parallels with exhibition design, activating the space with artwork and design elements in a confident, non conformist manner, which reflects the Facebook philosophy and expresses the “ incomplete”.

Learn more about Facebook

ENTERPRISE 1, INNOVATION CAMPUS, WOLLONGONG - `VISIONARY COMMERCIAL RESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT CAMPUS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Enterprise 1 is an innovative 10,000 square-metre workplace that allows the University of Wollongong’s collaborative businesses to share a unique campus environment while enjoying direct access to students and graduates.

The new building is set on the Innovation Campus, a 33 hectare research and commercial precinct established by the University to drive partnerships and collaboration between the research and business communities.

The Innovation Campus which was this year named the best new business and industrial park in Australia at the Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards.

Construction was completed in April 2011 and the building was officially opened on 1 September 2011 by the NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.

"The 4 storey building is designed to accommodate a wide range of tenancy sizes with office space located around a central atrium. Tenants benefit from excellent natural light and connectivity between floors via a large open stair," says Design Director Guy Lake.

The building has a 4.5 Star NABERS rating and naturally ventilated mixed mode spaces located at each end of the building with direct access to balconies that enjoy ocean and escarpment views.

Automated vertical cedar louvers located on the eastern and western facades protect the office space from low angle sun.

CLAYTON UTZ NEW PREMISES - `1 BLIGH STREET, SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Australia’s first 6 Star Green Star high rise building at 1 Bligh Street, Sydney is now the Sydney home to one of Australia's largest legal practices, Clayton Utz.

The base building qualities are well aligned with Clayton Utz's core values of transparency and integrity.

Bates Smart Director Simon Swaney says "The interiors respond to the base building so that together they read as a single entity and define a strong identity for Clayton Utz."

The entire fitout spans 15 levels of 1 Bligh Street.

The interior represents the next generation of legal workplace and uses strong design cues drawn from the architecture and palette of the base building to produce a seamless integrated whole.

Two client floors on Levels 14 and 15 are linked with a dramatic stair sweeping down beside the atrium while the meeting rooms on these floors take advantage of the dress circle views over Circular Quay to the harbour.

Legal floors are ringed with highly transparent perimeter offices enabling the clear glazed external facade to admit maximum natural light to work areas with the added objective of views for all.

A generous staff Cafe taking full advantage of a spectacular outlook over Sydney Harbour is integrated with the Library to create a hub for easy informal interaction.

Flexibility has been incorporated which will enable the premises to adapt to change.

One of the key drivers of the design was to bring the same timeless quality that Bates Smart successfully brought to Clayton Utz's last home in 1993. The 1993 project won the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Award for Interior Architecture in the year of completion.

Learn more about Clayton Utz

Visit 1 Bligh

DANDENONG HOSPITAL` - EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:08:00 +0000

We have just completed two new buildings for Dandenong Hospital, Victoria. The Emergency Department and the first stage of the Mental Health Facility department buildings have opened to the public this month. The second stage is due for completion in Oct 2012.

Directors Sheree Proposch and Kristen Whittle and Associate Directors Kevin Masci and Eugene Cheah led a team of dedicated health planners, architects and interior designers with an ambitious desire to rewrite the design rules for a public hospital.

The project presented an opportunity to provide a key public service to the community by creating a piece of high-quality Public and Social Infrastructure.

Both projects involved extensive collaboration with the clients, Southern Health and the Department of Human Services, to embrace the new Model of Care and create a positive therapeutic environment.

In Cheah’s words the team sought to achieve “a human-centric approach”.

The resulting architecture is a mix of lucid planning and quiet innovation. Natural daylight and garden views allow patients to remain connected with the world beyond the fast track Emergency Department and staff to easily navigate treatment zones organized by care requirements. The building is clad in a skin of glass-reinforced concrete slats of varying profiles – these change the opacity of the skin, controlling daylight, privacy and views.

The purpose-built Mental Health Facilities, the largest in Victoria with 120 beds, provide a non-institutional design centred on crafted, human-scaled spaces with direct access to landscape and nature.

The project consists of 38 pavilions arranged to create 16 landscaped courtyards. The layering of gardens, walkways and glazed corridors draws light and greenery into the buildings.

The pavilions are framed and clad in timber – blackbutt is used for all external exposed structure and cladding. It was selected as a material that could provide warmth, tactility and comfort, at the same time being durable and low maintenance, and would age gracefully.

The cladding explores the craft and materiality of timber framing and cladding – a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional timber craft methods – shiplap, tongue and groove, board and batten, open slats.

The architecture integrates seamlessly with the context of the natural landscape both within and without the buildings.

In association with Irwin Alsop Architects

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Dandenong Hospital Stage 3 Redevelopment Mental Health Facilities

Visit Bates Smart to learn more about Dandenong Hospital Stage 3 Redevelopment Emergency Department

420 GEORGE STREET WINS COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD` - AIA (NSW) AWARDS 2011

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:07:00 +0000

"420 George Street strikes the illusive balance between a strong retail presence and corporate identity" says Simon Swaney, Director Bates Smart. That illusive combination has been rewarded as 420 George Street, Sydney has won two major awards this month.

Bates Smart has been awarded the Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture at the AIA (NSW) Chapter Awards 2011 and our clients Fortius Funds Management have been awarded a Development Excellence Award for Commercial Developments.

Ray Sproats, Fortius Funds Management comments on the success.

“The commercial imperative of the development was the challenge to combine three conflicting elements:

"Maximise the retail floor space with the design driver being the merchandise, not the building - ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t sell it.’

"Create a significant ‘presence’ for a major office tower entry and lobby from George Street - the office building is the ‘hero’.

"Create an architectural solution that identified and integrated the parts without compromising the integrity of the whole.

"The success in meeting those challenges is evident having now received the AIA and the Urban Taskforce Awards."

Read the complete AIA Jury citation

THE CAPITOL SOUTH YARRA, MELBOURNE - LUXURY DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHED

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Thu, 26 May 2011 00:05:00 +0000

The Capitol is a new high-rise residential tower in the heart of South Yarra's fashionable shopping district.

The Capitol will comprise two separate buildings - a low rise office building and a 38 level residential tower with 210 residences and penthouses.

The development will host 4,400sqm of retail shop and restaurant space and 7,500sqm of office space.

The residential tower's focus is squarely on creating a luxurious lifestyle and maintenance-free living.

Bates Smart Chairman and architect Roger Poole says "We believe luxury is as much about the absence of problems as it is about fine finishes and well-designed spaces. The Capitol is an extraordinary opportunity to creat unique, elegant and distinguished homes as part of an urban sanctuary".

The Capitol goes beyond the offer of luxury and comfort in the heart of the city, it will provide amenities of a five star hotel including a dramatic pool pavilion, a spa and sauna with garden outlook as well as media and dining rooms and serviced kitchen.

Construction of The Capitol is due to start this year with completion scheduled from 2013.

Visit The Capitol's website

Visit Bates Smart's website to learn more about this project

PRIVATE DINING - THE TEAK ROOM

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:06:00 +0000

The Teak Room is a membership club offering of the Crown brand. Bates Smart’s architectural façade and interior décor has created a revitalised identity for the Teak Room.

The Teak Room hospitality offering has been extended to create outdoor dining and lounge terraces, a restaurant, bar and private lounge, and gaming salon.

Outdoor terraces transfer natural light to the interiors through intricately patterned cast screens providing a filtered interface to the streetscape beyond. Planter boxes are integrated into these dappled screens to create vertical gardens of lush flowering plant life.

Generous clusters of ochre glass lanterns drop through the ceiling screens which form a continuation of the vertical decorative aesthetic. Boldly patterned terrazzo floors create a playful, graphic backdrop to the space while the external fireplace creates a welcoming exterior lounge.

A low reflection pool mirrors a commissioned sculpture by artist Jade Oakley creating a dynamic focal point to the central lounge.

Spacious, discreet and sumptuous, the Teak Salon is a private gaming, lounge and dining retreat.

BATES SMART WINS AWARD FOR - CROWN METROPOL

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:04:00 +0000

Bates Smart has won the Award for Hospitality Design at the 2011 Australian Interior Design Awards for Crown Metropol, Melbourne.

Bates Smart also won a High Commendation for Colour in Commercial Design, also for Crown Metropol.

This is a fitting present for the Crown Metropol which celebrates its first birthday this month.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Bates Smart Melbourne’s Interior Design team have just finished adding the finishing touches to transform three Royal Suites and one Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney.

The refurbished suites elevate the Four Seasons experience to one of the great destinations in the world - one that uniquely celebrates Sydney. The suites provide a ‘wow’ factor, exceeding guests’ expectations of luxury and comfort to deliver a memorable moment of arrival and luxurious stay.

Perfectly positioned on the hotel’s 34th Floor, taking full advantage of the building’s extraordinary harbour views, the suites have a personal, intimate quality that evokes the elegance of Hollywood’s interpretation of the New York apartment circa 1930.

Sensuous, elegant and refined, Bates Smart’s vision creates for the guest a feeling of being a visitor in a good friend’s warm, chic pied a terre.

Visit Four Season's Sydney

CONNEQ THE WORKPLACE - SYDNEY

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:02:00 +0000

The Conneq leadership team sought a new workplace that celebrated their growth and supported the next phase of their business evolution. Bates Smart worked to ensure the new head office delivered successful cultural change and an exciting environment aligned with the company vision.

Conneq is the new name representing six decades of success for the former Bilfinger Berger Services. Conneq is a specialist engineering, construction and asset management contractor, connecting industries and communities with vital infrastructure. While the Conneq brand has only recently been introduced, the name represents an organisation with more than 60 years experience in Australia.

Conneq’s new offices were designed around a triple height void and dramatic stair. A shift towards open planning, glass partitions and generous shared social spaces and meeting rooms reflects the client’s aspirations for unity, transparency and collaboration.

The swing away from old workplace hierarchies is further expressed by allocating the prime views to communal staff spaces rather than private offices.

Direct views into treetop canopies from all three levels are a unique opportunity that the design embraces. The colors and tones of the canopy of gums change throughout the day. These delicate shades are translated in the subtle interior palette of bronze, tan, grey and gold; encouraging a connection between interior and exterior.

This workplace is richer than a typical corporate environment, blending elements of hospitality, residential and corporate design. Hospitality styled furniture, sculptural features, bold lighting and refined detailing were achieved cost effectively. The new sophisticated yet understated head office communicates confidence and assurance to Conneq’s clients and staff.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Conneq

Visit Conneq

BOHEME BONDI

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Bates Smart's latest luxury residential project "Boheme" at Bondi Beach was recently unveiled by long term clients, the Toga Group.

Bates Smart’s design team successfully transformed the ground floor of the iconic Hakoah Club into an elegant space that encapsulates the spirit and style of Bondi.

The display suite is entered through a sales space of raw and pared back materials which work in contrast to the refined elegance of the display apartment. A curved partition emulates the sculptural form of the residential building and acts as a screen between the sales and display spaces.

Material palettes of ‘sunrise’, ‘dusk’ and ‘twilight’ are offered, inspired by the buildings undeniably famous setting of Bondi Beach. The display apartment incorporates a kitchen, living and bathroom using the ‘sunrise’ scheme of aged oak floor, natural stone benchtops, and bespoke stone tiles.

The lower levels of Boheme embrace the street with a cosmopolitan buzz. Above the street Boheme takes on a curvaceous form. Five floors of luxurious residential living, wrapped in sweeping horizontal bands of glass take their inspiration from the classic Art Deco curves of Bondi.

Visit Bates Smart for more on Boheme

Visit Boheme Bondi

DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:11:00 +0000

Jeff Copolov Interior Design Director of Bates Smart was announced the Judges Choice for Designer of the year at the 2010 IDEA Awards.

On Thursday 11 November at the Ivy Room in Sydney, judges of the 2010 Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) announced Bates Smart’s Interior Design Director, Jeffery Copolov, as ‘Designer of the Year’.

With nearly 30 years experience, Copolov has a classically modern, timeless approach to design and a reputation for producing highly refined, carefully crafted interiors.

Renowned for his relentless attention to detail, Copolov has worked on a wide range of building types including commercial, hospitality, residential, civic, health and science projects in Australia, Europe and Asia throughout his career.

Working with both the architectural and interior design teams from a project’s inception, Copolov oversees the entire design process to craft buildings from the inside out.

Jeff Copolov summarised his approach to design, “As a designer, I seek to offer a balance of innovation, timeless design and excellence combined with function and thoughtfulness. I think about how spaces work and collaborate closely with clients to create the end product in a most exacting way.”

NSW GOVERNMENT SERVICE CENTRE - WINS STEEL AWARDS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Whilst the use of steel cladding is common, the use of weathering steel for cladding a civic building is rare. This bold and uncompromising approach has created a striking identity for the NSW Government Service Centre at Queanbeyan.

Utilizing the natural ochre colours and texture of the weathering steel adjoining the crisp building interior enhances the impact of the building and the forecourt space. Beyond the use of the material, innovation extends to the design and construction detailing. Attention to detail carries through from the selective use of the material to integrating the design of the cladding panels to achieve an outstanding outcome.

Other benefits of using weathering steel which has been left to oxidize naturally has meant the need for ongoing painting and the maintenance issues it brings has been eliminated.

The NSW Government Service Centre at Queanbeyan is the inaugural recipient of the John Andrews Award for Commercial Architecture. It also received a High Commendation in Architectural Steel Design from the Australian Steel Institute.

Visit Bates Smart for more on NSW Government Service Centre, Queanbeyan

Read about NSW Government Service Centre in Steel Profile

THE NEW CROWN METROPOL - OPENS

enquiries@batessmart.com.au (Bates Smart) — Wed, 7 Jul 2010 00:07:00 +0000

The challenge of designing interior and architecture for Crown Metropol, Australia’s largest and newest hotel was welcomed by Bates Smart.

While similar in its DNA to sister properties Crown Towers and Crown Promenade, Crown Metropol’s brief was to impart a more youthful and dynamic form.

Director, Jeff Copolov says, “We wanted the hotel's design to challenge tradition and add a sense of fun with unorthodox elements, dark, dramatic shapes and earthy, grounded silhouettes inspired by nature”.

- Visit Bates Smart for more on Crown Metropol

- Visit Crown Metropol website