Architects from across the world flocked to submit an expression of interest to the NSW Government’s International Design Competition with 212 entries from Australia, Europe, the UK, Asia, Africa, the US and South America.

The competition has been narrowed down to 12 architecture firms from NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, and three international firms – one from London, one from New Zealand and one which spans Germany, Italy, India and Sydney.

In an exciting development for the competition six architectural teams have also been shortlisted in the student category, including four University of Sydney architectural teams as well as students from Western Sydney University and the University of Melbourne.

An important part of this competition has been attracting innovative student architect and design teams to make sure young people are contributing to the future face of their city.

Finalists include the Spacecraft team behind Block Party project, a co-housing design in Wellington New Zealand. The Spacecraft team designed a four-unit attached development with interesting shared spaces, such as a private street, garden, and easily replicable layouts for efficient construction.

Another finalist out of Western Australia, Officer Woods, was shortlisted for the 2024 National Architecture Awards for their Hope Street Housing project. They created a medium density project consisting of 28 terrace houses and walk-up apartments in White Gum Valley, designed to allow smaller households to share common amenities.

This city-shaping project will not only influence the State’s future skyline but will also help tackle the housing crisis with winning designs gaining access to a planning fast-track.

This means a greater diversity of homes in our housing market which can cater to people at different stages of life.

Housing remains the single biggest cost of living pressure facing people across NSW and without action Sydney is at risk of becoming a city with no grandchildren.

As the competition heats up, finalists will have until mid-October 2024 to submit their designs for Stage 2. Those designs will then be judged by the five-person competition jury, chaired by the NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin.

The designs will be evaluated based on criteria such as liveability, buildability, replicability, cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and their ability to meet the needs of both industry and local communities.

Competition winners will then be announced in November.

Five sites have been allocated to showcase these designs of low and mid-rise housing so that people can see the final product.

To learn more about the Pattern Book Design Competition visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/pattern-book-design-competition.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The Pattern Book Design Competition has attracted some of the world’s best architects and it was extremely tough to narrow down this talented field from 212 entries to 21.

“To address this housing crisis, we want to come up with interesting solutions that will build better and brighter communities.

“After seeing the finalists, I can confidently say the jury have their work cut out for them.

“Well-located and well-built low and mid-rise housing has been central to our planning reforms and this is just the next step in seeing these plans come to life.

“Bold and innovative ideas for terrace houses and mid-rise apartments are critical for increasing the supply of housing in NSW and will help fill the gap between detached homes and high-rise apartment buildings.”

Acting Government Architect NSW Paulo Macchia said:

“The quality of entries submitted during the Expression of Interest stage made the jury’s task of selecting the final shortlist very challenging.

“It’s encouraging to see the innovative and thoughtful submissions and the jury looks forward to reviewing the shortlisted candidates’ detailed designs.

“The competition will support more diverse and contemporary designs for the Pattern Book to suits people’s changing needs – from raising children, to working from home, to retirement.”

Shortlisted finalists in the professional category include:

• Aileen Sage Architects – New South Wales (NSW)
• Andrew Burges Architects – NSW
• Angelo Candalepas and Associates - NSW
• Archier – Victoria (VIC)
• Housing is a Verb – a collaborative team including Other Architects, NMBW Architecture Studio and TARN - NSW and VIC.
• Includesign and Six Degrees - NSW
• Mae Architects – United Kingdom
• Neeson Murcutt Neille – a collaborative team including Finding Infinity and Maryam Gusheh from Monash Urban Lab – NSW and VIC
• Officer Woods Architects – Western Australia (WA)
• Partners Hill – VIC and Tasmania.
• Retallack Thompson Architects – NSW
• Scale Architecture - NSW
• Site Office – a collaborative team including Rashi Shah, Schlaich Bergermann Partner and Christos Diplas – Germany, Italy, India, and Sydney
• Spacecraft Architects – New Zealand
• Studio Workshop and Clare Design - NSW

Shortlisted finalists in the student category include:

• Amanda Eessa from Western Sydney University, NSW
• Chris Stelzer and Illiana Jones from The University of Sydney, NSW
• Cicely Brown, Angus Gregg and Finn Holle from The University of Sydney, NSW
• Georgia Reader, Angela Xu and William Badaoui from The University of Sydney, NSW
• Madeleine Gallagher, Poppy Brown, Kangyun Kim, Paris Perry, John Suh and Catherine Taylor from The University of Sydney, NSW

Stephanie Wills, Lachlan Balia, Maya Welsch, Nathan Arceri from The University of Melbourne, VIC