Mode Design News

03rd October, 2008 More New Faces at Mode Design

We are pleased to welcome Ross Newton to Mode Design’s Brisbane office to provide IT support for infrastructure linking Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Darwin studios, as well as extended capabilities in Graphic Design.  Ross is currently completing his Bachelor of Information Technology at the Queensland University of Technology.

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23rd September 2008, More New Faces at Mode Design

Please join us in welcoming Cherie Hawkins to Mode Design. Based in Darwin, Cherie is an Interior Designer with experience in major commercial, retail, and residential projects.

She holds a Bachelor of Interior Design from Charles Darwin University, and has a particular interest in hospitality and corporate fit outs. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

18th September 2008, New Faces at Mode Design

Please join us in welcoming Lauren Fuller to Mode Design.  Based at our Sunshine Coast office as a Student Architect, Lauren shares our passion for producing places that are not only environmentally sustainable, but more responsive to the context of today and tomorrow.

1st September - Michelle Hu Joins Mode Design

Michelle Hu has recently joined the Brisbane office to support the marketing department and provide additional national capacity for the practice to actively develop leading edge sustainable design opportunities.

A recent graduate from the Queensland University of Technology in Business, Public Relations and Advertising, Michelle’s background includes internships in public relations, as well as in marketing and development for a local non-profit organisation.

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14th July 2008 - Cool house for hot clime big winner at RAIA NT Architecture Awards

A small-budget big-innovation house in Batchelor which ‘pushes the boundaries of affordable housing to new levels’ has emerged as one of several top winners at the 2008 Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) annual Northern Territory Architecture Awards – taking out three major awards.

At a special ceremony at the NT Museum, the Burnett Award for Residential Architecture - Houses, an Award for Small Project Architecture and the People’s Choice Award were presented to the ‘Batchelor Pad’ by The Architects Studio Pty Ltd/Mode Design Corporation.

Presenting the award, jury chair Robert Cheesman said the architects “had accepted and resolved an extremely challenging, some might say impossible, brief”. This included the “restraints of a stringent budget (around $160,000), environmentally sustainable built form and spacious living environment”. Despite this, the “design achieved big results for minimal cost – a high value for dollar outcome with special quality”.

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07th July 2008 - Oxenham Apartments at Danby Lane Receives 2008 UDIA Suncorp Queensland Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing

UDIA judges commended the Oxenham Apartments for demonstrating excellent planning, urban design, and innovation in its delivery.  In particular, the judges noted its strong emphasis on delivering an affordable housing solution for an otherwise disadvantaged component of the rental market.

Developed by the Brisbane Housing Company, this sixty-seven unit affordable housing development provides high-quality environments for residents, while containing development costs in terms of initial capital outlay, maintenance/operation, and life-cycle effectiveness. The project delivers an environmentally-sensitive built form which also provides for a balance between community interaction among households and privacy for individuals, and ensures social sustainability through integration into the surrounding mixed-income neighbourhood.  

The Community Centre provides a multi-purpose hall accommodating 300 people, which can be opened up along both its lengths to street frontage and/or the accompanying amphitheater which can accommodate a further 150 people.  This seamless transition between the internal and external spaces, offers truly flexible functionality.  Complimenting the central hall/amphitheatre are three meeting rooms with independent facilities for more intimate community activities.  A spacious foyer, administration, kiosk and ticketing facilities further enhance the utility of the centre.

In our Brisbane office, Cameron will contribute his nine years of experience to residential, commercial, cultural, education, and community projects.

Laura has joined the Sydney studio after completing her postgraduate degree in entertainment design, retail and interiors last year at the Politecnico of Milan.

Joining the practice in 2003, Andy contributes ten years of experience in retail, commercial, educational facilities, and residential projects.  Andy’s particular expertise lies in creating highly-functional and flexible spaces.

With over eight years with the practice, Greg contributes expertise in environmentally sensitive design as a Green Star Accredited Professional.  He supports the firm in finding the optimal balance between economic, social and environmental goals in development, including providing for long-term reductions in the operational and lifecycle costs of developments.

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16th March 2008 - Spreading Awareness for 'Earth Hour' 2008

At 8pm on March 29, cities around the world will turn off their lights for one hour to show that it's possible to take action on global warming.

All households, communities and business are being invited to turn their lights off for one hour at 8pm on March 29, 2008.

We will be posting information about Earth Hour on our staff intranet, as well as our website to encourage others to participate.

We've registered our commitment to Earth Hour and would encourage you to do the same by going to www.earthhour.org. The site features a range of tips on how you can make changes to reduce your day-to-day energy usage as well as providing plenty of information on the event itself and all related media.

We also encourage you to turn off your lights at home on the night.

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14th December 2007- Smart State Starts at Prep

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts Rod Welford announced last week that Queensland's first intake of 33,000 Prep students finished school this year better prepared for lifelong learning than any children in the state's history.

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15th October - Which Way? Directions in Indigenous Housing Conference
Indigenous community members from around the nation, academics, health professionals, government specialists and architects will join forces in Alice Springs on 26-27 October to address the urgent need to improve the standard of social housing for indigenous people across Australia in urban, rural and remote areas.  

Rhonan O'Brien, Managing Director, and Peter Fletcher, the Darwin-based Director of the Architects Studio/Mode Design Joint Venture, will be attending as part of our commitment to exploring multidisciplinary solutions to the housing challenges facing Australia and providing culturally-appropriate design for indigenous communities.

Key issues will include home ownership, appropriate housing design and construction, ongoing maintenance and upgrading of existing housing, and the direct impact of housing on the health and well-being of indigenous peoples.

 
Coppabella Sports and Recreational Facilities
Mode Design’s Sydney Office has been commissioned to design a sports and recreational facility for residents of the local mining accommodation centre.

The project will include a 25-metre lap pool, multi-purpose court for tennis and basketball, and gym facilities, as well as outdoor recreational facilities.  The contemporary design will focus on environmentally sensitive design principles responsive to the climate of Queensland’s Central Highlands.  Strategies will include examination of opportunities for passive solar control and cooling, including thermal mass, sun screening, and building orientation, specification of environmentally friendly materials, natural ventilation and lighting, and water harvesting/polishing.

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18 September 2007 - From the Story Bridge to the Harbour Bridge

Mode Design is delighted to announce the launch of our new Sydney office which will enhance our ability to service our clients nationally.

Managing Director, Rhonan O'Brien, notes that this is a natural progression for the firm.

"We have been servicing clients in Sydney for the last four years, so a physical presence makes sense considering our commitment to meeting our clients' needs over the long term, wherever their projects are located," he said.

With the new resources in Sydney, our group now offers 40 experienced professionals in master planning and urban design, architecture, interior design, and graphic design.

The studio at 35 Buckingham Street is located just a few minutes from Central Station in the rejuvenated Surry Hills neighbourhood, and features innovative breakout areas for collaboration with clients and consultants.  Please contact Craig Brown on (02) 8396 9500 or sydney@modedesign.com.au <mailto:sydney@modedesign.com.au> for a tour and coffee at our new space.

We would like to sincerely thank our clients, consultants and friends who have made this exciting new venture possible.   

We look forward to welcoming you to our Sydney office!
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1 August 2007 Woodside Community Centre
Mode Design has been commissioned by the Pine Rivers Shire Council to lead design development for this prominent site in the North Lakes residential precinct.   The new community centre will provide a focal point for community and sporting groups, and incorporate environmentally sensitive design concepts such as rain water harvesting and maximum use of natural lighting and ventilation.

25 July 2007 Nambour Selangor Private Hospital Redevelopment
The Nambour Selangor Private Hospital is celebrating completion of Stage One of their new multi-million dollar redevelopment.  The Miles Savil Wing is a 27-bed rehabilitation ward extension featuring a central light court which provides natural daylight to ward beds on the inner side of the corridor.  Mode Design would like to congratulate Ramsay  Health Care and the Nambour Selangor Private Hospital on their continuing  success.

17 July 2007 New Faces at Mode Design
Sara Miller has joined Mode Design as Marketing Manager.  Sara has specialised in professional services marketing in built-world industries, most recently with Mithun, a leading multidisciplinary sustainable design firm in the U.S.  She brings particular expertise in communicating the benefits of placemaking and environmentally sensitive design to both community and private industry groups.   

Robert Shipley has joined Mode Design's documentation team.  Rob brings more than nine years of experience in documentation process and control for public and private clients, and has a strong interest in urban design.
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