In June of 2024, NH Architecture launched the exhibition ‘Brand New’ exploring the evolution of architectural design process. It contended with the proposition “How do we make something Brand New?” as part of the studio’s 20th anniversary as a practice.
The exhibition interrogated this question through six legacy projects most notably, the rejuvenation of the historic Queen Victoria Market, the new urbanism of Gurrowa Place, and the renewal of Arts Centre Melbourne, all of which mark the next phase for the studio. The exhibition offered a unique opportunity to delve into the architectural strategies, tactics, and tools we use to tackle these large-scale legacy projects, from the meticulous preservation of heritage elements to innovative design solutions.
Our work has developed a reoccurring resonance and formal expression which allows for a fleeting moment of reflection. The flashing radiance of Myer’s golden skyline; the view across the waters of the Birrarung through the folded glass facades of Melbourne Convention Centre; a big-box retailer with a roof adorned by an abstract expressionist painting; and the strident geometries of Margaret Court and Kia Arenas broadcast to a global audience, all confirm our desire to celebrate both place and people. Equally, each urban outcome has respected the dignity and importance of the local, the actual and the incidental, the bend in a site boundary, the overlay of a statutory setback or the input of engaged stakeholders are all embedded in our built outcomes.
The NH studio is a place of creativity through collaboration and exchange. It provides agency for ideas both temporal and ephemeral with outcomes not limited to a single dogma. This makes defining the first 20-year life of the practice as elusive as capturing the single outline of a speeding bullet train. What has remained constant however is our studios privilege to work on country, across many urban contexts, and within the ever-evolving collective culture of Australian Architecture.
The next phase of the NH Studio is already in progress. The rejuvenation of the historic Queen Victoria Market, the new urbanism of Gurrowa Place and the renewal of Arts Centre Melbourne will be revealed over the coming years as part of Naarm’s continuing evolution and reimagining. In short, we will continue to seek optimism through design.
The future is a great experiment, and we intend to be there.
The cabinets exhibited as part of ‘Brand New’ from left to right, top to bottom: Arts Centre Melbourne, Tarakan Street Social and Affordable Housing, Sunshine Mental Health & Wellbeing Centre, Queen Victoria Market and Gurrowa Place, Merrifield City and Stony Rise Road.
