Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world: more than 86 percent of us live in urban areas and more than two-thirds of the population is located within capital cities.
However, contemporary forces are creating new scenarios and changing the shape of our metropolitan areas. The pandemic, coupled with the increasing cost of living within our capitals, has boosted the appeal of a regional lifestyle and prompted a more decentralised workforce.
How can works of architecture and infrastructure galvanise and better support these new urban environments? What are the forces shaping the architectural project within these decentralised cities? An/Other City will explore the architectural possibilities of a less centralised urban life.
Andrew Burges studied architecture at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with first class honours and the University Medal in 1992. Andrew completed a Master of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, graduating with distinction in 1996.
Andrew has 25 years’ experience in architectural practice, including 20 years as principal of Andrew Burges Architects (ABA). Prior to forming his practice in 2001, Andrew worked in firms in Sydney, New York and Boston, developing expertise in large-scale urban masterplanning and urban housing proposals, civic and sporting structures.
Maryam is an associate professor in architecture at Monash University. Her work examines the relationship between architectural practice and the social and political contexts in which the built fabric is designed, constructed and received.
Her interests include culture and identity in architecture, cross-cultural practices and inclusive architecture. Maryam often works at the intersection of academia and industry and is skilled at conceptualising and realising collaborations that span these worlds.
Thierry Lacoste has been in private practice since 1989, developing a reputation in France and Australia as an innovative architect, demonstrated with several winning competition entries and with built work. His most notable success in France is the Overseas Archives Building in Aix-en-Provence for which he was awarded the prestigious Best First Built Work.
Thierry treats every project as a delightful journey to a site-specific solution. He is passionate about finding innovative and pragmatic responses to architectural challenges. He is dedicated to respecting indigenous cultures and enthusiastic about designing the most liveable and sustainable future possible.
Joe Agius is the design director in the Sydney studio, overseeing design across multiple sectors including public and cultural, education, research, health, sports and urban planning. Central to Joe's design philosophy is achieving positive civic and public domain outcomes with every opportunity: “any building must give more than it takes.”
His recent award-winning projects include Allianz Stadium, the Sir John Monash Centre, the Australian Museum’s Project Discover (with NMN Architects), and the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the University of Wollongong. Joe is currently leading the design team for Riverside Theatres – a collaboration with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage Architects, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra.
Hiroko Kusunoki and Nicolas Moreau established Moreau Kusunoki in 2011, a practice with offices in Paris and Sydney. The architecture of Moreau Kusunoki is rooted in the cultural duality of the co-directors' origins. This creative reconciliation is expressed in the constant interplay of scales in space and time, in a gentle oscillation between reason and intuition. Hiroko and Nicolas design in the belief that architecture is best conceived in reserve and introspection, allowing for the emergence of poetic visions towards an architectural ‘in-between’: undefined spaces creating the potential for new meaning and personal experiences through user appropriation.
Steven Toia is a respected architect with a portfolio of award-winning projects. In 2010, he founded Genton, based in Melbourne and Sydney and recognised for embracing bold ideas and creative solutions. Genton’s significant achievements include winning notable design competitions such as the Frankston Station design competition in 2017 and the Powerhouse Parramatta competition in 2019.
Steven's leadership on major public architecture projects showcases his expertise and vision, and his strategic thinking combines creativity with innovation, ensuring designs that are both visually and functionally exceptional. Steven Toia and Genton continue to redefine architectural landscapes with innovative thinking and artistic sensibility.
Rhonda Itaoui is the director of the Centre for Western Sydney, with global expertise in the geographies of diversity and multiculturalism in urban spaces. Prior to her appointment with the Centre for Western Sydney, Rhonda was a researcher with the Challenging Racism Project at Western Sydney University and a Research Fellow and lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley.
Rhonda has led a range of collaborative research projects to inform key strategies, policies and thought leadership in Western Sydney.
Jared Webb established J.AR Office in 2022, following a decade of working across acclaimed interior, architectural, and precinct-scaled projects.
Committed to delivering spaces that endure and operating across all scales, the Queensland-based office positions its work to foreground life and people. Each project is rationalised from the urban and social fabric in which it resides.
Emily Wombwell is a director of SJB’s Sydney Studio. She currently works as design lead across multiresidential, mixed-use and commercial projects. Emily approaches each project with an innate understanding of the importance for strong design at all scales and its effects on the end users of a place. She has a comprehensive understanding of balancing the commercial drivers of a site with socially and environmentally sustainable outcomes, achieving a highly resolved design excellence in her work. Emily is a passionate collaborator with consultants and seeks to create highly localised built form outcomes.
Ian McDougall is nationally respected for his contributions to architecture, urban design, and design education. In 1988, alongside Stephen Ashton and Howard Raggatt, he co-founded ARM Architecture, which has since become one of Australia’s leading architectural firms. Ian has played a pivotal role in nearly all of ARM's arts projects, from the initial study in 2003 to establish a Recital Hall for Melbourne to the recent renewal of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
Ian led key projects, including the Hamer Hall Redevelopment, Melbourne Theatre Company/Melbourne Recital Centre, and the recently completed Geelong Arts Centre Stage 3.
Felicity Stewart is an architect and urban designer and director of Stewart Architecture in Sydney. Felicity works at all scales of the built environment and helps drive the design direction of projects across the office.
Felicity has been involved in a number of major projects in Canberra, Sydney and regional NSW including master plans, design excellence competitions and urban propositions for the private sector and local and state government. Felicity is a former member of the Government Architect New South Wales (GANSW) State Design Review Panel and now consults to the GANSW assisting with the development of the review processes.
Tom is a landscape architect with over 20 years of experience in landscape architecture, urban design, and master planning.
As a practitioner, he is inspired by a deep understanding of place and landscape, which enables him to uncover the ecological, historical, and cultural significance of sites. These insights form the foundation for carefully considered and strategic design responses, creating spaces that are not only functional but also deeply connected to their context and community. His design philosophy reflects a commitment to creating meaningful, enduring spaces that foster a deep connection between nature, culture, and the urban environment.
Anna is a registered architect and co-founder of Footscray-based architectural consultancy Public Realm Lab.
She is an advocate, researcher and adviser on the ways in which the built environment can foster inclusivity, creativity and sustainability by putting human experience at the centre of strategic and design thinking. Anna has over a decade of major project experience spanning masterplanning, strategic facilities planning, architectural design and delivery for local councils, state government departments, not-for-profit organisations and tertiary institutions. Anna was the lead architect for Powerhouse Place – the revitalisation of the Powerhouse on the Mighty Murray in Mildura, which was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal in 2024.
Brian Hooper is the sole practitioner and director of Brian Hooper Architect. Established in 1998 and based in Yeppoon, Central Queensland, the design orientated practice has worked on numerous local Queensland Government public projects, and in commercial, high-end residential and multiresidential sectors both locally and throughout Western Queensland.
Brian Hooper Architect seeks to pursue innovative design solutions to meet the pragmatic needs of their clients and is determined to maintain a high standard in all aspects of design and service. They endeavour to build close relationships to provide architectural outcomes that are responsive to their client’s expectations.
Lee is a founding principal of Dunn Hillam. Alongside Ashley Dunn, Lee has built the practice from an office of two to where it is now as an established practice with regional, cultural and arts expertise.
Lee’s strength is in the strategic and long-range thinking of masterplans and concept plans. She applies her knowledge of strategic planning and government policy to creative solutions for complex problems.
Senior Consultant, Aboriginal Affairs – Research and Design, WSP
Siân is a Budawang woman of the Dhurga language group who lives and works in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. Through working on and with Country over the past two decades she has developed a deep appreciation for First Nations stewardship and philosophy. In her work, Siân explores how we can learn from and improve the way we approach designing to be more respectful, inclusive, collaborative and considerate of Country.
Siân's involvement with the revival of cultural burning practices over the past ten years has provided her with opportunities to learn how stewardship and reciprocity can be applied in a contemporary context improving the health and wellbeing of Country, kin and community.
Wendy Lewin is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and currently heads her own architecture studio. The studio undertakes projects spanning multiple sectors including residential, commercial, cultural and educational facilities.
Since graduating from Sydney University she has held lead positions in private practice and is the recipient of state, national and international awards for her built work and contribution to architecture, education and and the profession. She contributes to the discourse on architecture through her varied advisory and curatorial roles, national symposiums, national and international exhibitions including as co-creative director for the 2008 Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale and ‘Australia Now’ – Architecture for DFAT in Tokyo 2018.
John Wardle has an international reputation as a design architect. His process builds upon ideas that evolve from a site’s topography, landscape, history and context.
As the founder of Wardle, which has studios in Sydney and Melbourne, John is attuned to the importance of detail. It is through the detail that the nature of material, the fit to function and the experience of occupation is expressed.
The work of Wardle is tailored to place and highly experiential in nature. Diverse in scale and typology, the practice portfolio spans domestic dwellings, university buildings, museums and large commercial offices.
Dan Etheridge brings over 18 years of experience in the public interest design field to his role as director of Living Lab Northern Rivers. Dan co-founded the Tulane City Center, a community design centre in New Orleans, to support resident driven recovery and rebuilding programs after Hurricane Katrina. He also co-founded and directed the Public Interest Design Student Leadership Forum at the University of Texas Austin.
Dan has consulted for clients such as United Houma Nation and ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science on projects related to community design, disaster recovery, and collaborative processes.
