Architecture Australia is known for celebrating large-scale structural feats. Design feats are almost always better recognised when the size factor shifts upwards, with the never-ending ‘height-race’ leading to an ongoing trend of the next biggest thing.

Some of Australia’s most iconic buildings are also the country’s biggest. The Sydney Opera House leaves an extensive shadow over Sydney Harbour, while Melbourne’s internationally acclaimed AAMI Stadium cuts a massive figure across the city’s skyline. Across the country, big architecture seems to impress, but bigger isn’t always better.

Recognising the smaller things in life, the Australia Institute of Architecture’s 2012 National Architecture Awards have shone the spotlight on two very deserving Small Projects.

According to the AIA, projects to be considered in the category are ‘those considered to be “small” in terms of area or budget as determined by the Jury. Projects are recognised that have been constrained by space or cost restriction, but have achieved a level of invention, creativity and craftsmanship beyond these constraints.’

The Architecture authority has rewarded Real Studio: Queensland University of Technology and Coniglio Ainsworth Architects for their outstanding efforts in this sector for their work on Murphy’s Creek BNT and Cultural Centre Amenities, respectively.

Both developments rest on foundations of cultural and locational contextualisation, with clever design and innovatve character setting them apart.

Murphy’s Creek acts as a camp sit facility and includes an animal shelter, hitching rail, feed room, tack room and first aid space. The jury called it “an example of community engagement that showcases how built environments can add value to the economic, environmental and social landscapes of Australia.”

Cultural Centre Amenities is equally praised, with the jury saying “this modest project evokes a sense of surprise and delight and adds a vibrant, unexpected layer to the Perth Cultural Centre Precinct.”

With abundant natural light and a strong visual connection to the outdoor landscape, this particular development belies its size.

Developing small is fast becoming a reality in a country starting to feel the density squeeze. With highly liveable coastal cities, it is only expected that a density crunch would become apparent, and it is important for the industry at large to understand the importance of small-scale thinking and how projects of this size can be successfully delivered.

There will perhaps be no greater time to discuss architecture in Melbourne than next week when the Melbourne Architecture Annual (MA|A) runs its course.

The week long festival, as a part of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Victorian Chapter’s National Architecture Week festivities, centres on exploring the state capital and encouraging communication between the industry and the public.

This year’s theme ‘Community & Architecture’ epitomises this notion of cross-spectrum interaction and community. According to the MA|A, ‘through a program of exhibitions, installations, films, tours, talks and workshops based around Federation Square and Melbourne, the week-long festival aims to engage a public discussion about architecture.’

The decision to host the festival at Federation Square is due to the iconic architectural nature of the space and comes in celebration of its 10^th birthday.

Questions up for discussion throughout the week will include ‘how do we interact, connect and benefit from the creation of spaces?’ and ‘how to we create community with our neighbours, friends, our work colleagues and the idea of the city?’

These questions are particularly relevant given the current social, political and environmental state of the city. Not only is Melbourne a city that has strongly backed the green building movement, but it is also a city facing a major population boom.

Urban planning is in the forefront of industry minds, and creating a conversation with the city’s inhabitants is key to understanding how people will interact with a new and improved Melbourne.

The week’s events will include behind-the-scene tours of Federation Square and a discussion of its future, workshops at ACMI, the panel discussion ‘Community and Architecture: Cultural Appropriations’ concerning the role of architects in terms of health, LEGO for little architects and many other events.

Melbournians are not quick to shy from discussion, and this particular platform has a strong history of success in breaking down the barriers between the architecture industry and the public. Beyond that, it also breaks down barriers when it comes to project delivery and foresight, offering a prime opportunity for industry professionals to get an up close and personal insight into the people they design and build for.

At long last, the names of the shortlisted finalists for the highly acclaimed architecture competition to redesign elements of Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station have been released.

The competition garnered so much national and international attention and interest that even Minister for Major Projects Dr. Denis Napthine admitted to being surprised. Napthine did, however, admit that developing a competition in order to garner mass appeal was a major goal for the competition founders.

“This competition has always been about finding the best local and international talent to re-invigorate Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Street Station precinct and looking at this shortlist I think we’ve managed to do that,” he says.

The shortlisted entrants mimic this appeal for international and national collaboration, with the successful tenders coming from a majority of collaborating parties. They are as follows:

• Ashton Raggatt McDougall of Melbourne
• John Wardle Architects + Grimshaw of Australia and the UK, respectively
•  HASSELL + Herzog & de Meuron of Melbourne and Switzerland, respectively
•  NH Architecture of Melbourne
•  Eduardo Velasquez + Manuel Pineda + Santiago Medina of Columbia via the University of Melbourne
•  Zaha Hadid Architecture & BVN Architecture of the UK and Melbourne, respectively.

The shortlist includes some of the most acclaimed and popular architects both nationally and internationally.

“The short list covers some of the world’s best architects such as Hassell + Herzog & De Meuron and Zaha Hadid, renowned local firms Ashton Raggatt McDougall and NH Archtiecture and emerging talents Eduardo Velasquez, Manuel Pineda and Santiago Medina from Columbia,” says Napthine. “Between them, this group is responsible for some of Melbourne and the world’s most renowned buildings including Hamer Hall, Beijing’s National Stadium used in the 2008 Olympics and Rome’s Museum of XXI Century Arts.”

It is due to this ‘starchitect’ interest that competition jury chair and Victorian State Government architect Professor Geoffrey London is confident that the redeveloped icon will become a major success.

“Given the complexity and scale of the design challenge, the high overall quality of submissions made the jury’s task of short-listing a difficult one,” says London. “However after carefully applying the competition evaluation criteria, the jury is confident that the six short-listed teams represent the strongest propositions for the redevelopment of this precinct, much-loved Melbourne icon and intensely used transport hub.”

London admits that the entire jury looks forward to seeing the evolution of these six contending concepts as they evolve over the next few months.

With the final stages of the competition well underway, it will now be a waiting game to see which of these highly acclaimed design teams will come out on top and win the $1 million prize pool.