The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing + Ideas has been shortlisted for an IDEA Award. The prestigious Interior Design awards receive hundreds of submissions each year and showcase the best of Australian design. The Wheeler Centre was entered into the Institutional Interior category. The winners will be announced at a gala party held in November. Congratulations to all designers involved in this project.

peckvonhartel hosted a cocktail party at the newly designed American Club in Sydney on Wednesday August 18. The event followed on from Melbourne celebrations in February to recognise the company’s 30th Anniversary.

Long-time friend and colleague, Tony Shepherd, Chairman of Transfield Services, was guest speaker for the evening. He spoke highly of Robert and Yvonne’s efforts over the past three decades and praised the ongoing work that is produced by the company.

peckvonhartel starts approximately 250 new projects each year in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra; the success of the company is testament to the efforts of pvh’s six Principals and the dedicated team across three office locations.

peckvonhartel Senior Architect, Dominic Pelle, was awarded the ACT Future Leader of the Year Award at the Property Council of Australia ACT Awards Night and Gala Ball, held at the National Convention Centre on Friday August 6.

Since graduating as an architect in 2003, Dominic has already achieved an impressive number of professional successes, and has acted as a mentor and leader to other young professionals in the property industry.

Dominic has worked on several significant design projects, including the Hospital of Hope Timor Leste, a new hospital complex in Dili, and a series of projects across Australia for the Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

He was Project Architect on the rectification and refurbishment of two frequently-flooded buildings in Charleville, the Charleville Hostel and Radio Station.  He is currently working on two projects of national security significance and is upgrading security for the Australian Parliament House.

"It is pleasing to see young professionals such as Dominic contributing in a positive and meaningful way to the broader industry in which he works," said the Chairman of the Training Fund Authority, James Service, when presenting the award.

Click here for Property Council announcement

peckvonhartel hosted its 2010 Conference in Melbourne on Friday August 6. The day consisted of a series of presentations, management and strategy exercises that allowed team members from all three office locations to interact and share ideas in a relaxed environment. During the day, we were delighted to have furniture supplier, Wilkhahn, host lunch for us at their Melbourne CBD showroom.

In recognition of peckvonhartel’s 30th anniversary, the conference was followed by a 1980’s themed dinner at D.O.C. restaurant in Carlton. Decked out in retro constumes, it was a fantastic evening and a great opportunity for staff to celebrate the 30 year milestone.

Bringing everyone together is not only a great way for the team to get to know each other, it is also an important exercise to strengthen the National structure of the company.

peckvonhartel has entered into the Campus Design Ideas competition for the University of Canberra, hosted to improve the campus landscape in order to reflect the institutional notions of sustainability, education and healthy lifestyle.

Located in the nation's capital, a city distinguished by its design and landscape, the University of Canberra pride's itself on being internationally recognised for its research-led education in public administration and services and aims to draw students and researchers from around the world.

Competition objectives were to create a heartland precinct that is striking and stimulating; to establish a physical identity and presence for the University that makes clear the primary entrances, pathways and landmarks; and to select a site or sites for three key potential future University buildings: the Chancellery, Library and Great Hall.

With the University goals and objectives in mind, peckvonhartel responded to the competition with a proposal that sees the City-Campus and Belconnen links developed as a continuous network of new development beyond a simple landscape gesture.  Strategies for renewable and low energy usage were implemented with the proposal of a solar tower thermal plant on University Hill to the North.  Water and waste management was also considered in the existing and new buildings.

Landscape Character - Pattern

Landscape Character - Plan

Urban Connection

University Green

Critical Mass

Campus Concourse

Siting of Key Buildings

University Hill

Click here to see the winning entries 

peckvonhartel is delighted to welcome new Senior Designer, Malin Paulsson. Malin is based in our Canberra office and brings a wealth of knowledge to the pvh team. Originally from Sweden, Malin undertook her architectural studies at both Kingston University and the University of Cambridge in the UK.

With over ten years experience, Malin has worked on a variety of projects both in the private and public sector. Most recently, she was with RMJM in Singapore where she primarily worked on delivering large scale residential projects for clients India. We are excited to have her on board!

peckvonhartel has been commissioned to upgrade the American Club at level 14, 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney.  The Project Brief was to create a space that enabled the American Club to maintain the high standards and array of services that the Club prides itself on while at the same time reduce the floor area occupied from three floors to one.

The core design challenge for the team was to meet the needs of the client within the new compact floor plan.  This was achieved through smart design; incorporating a series of acoustic operable walls and mobile furniture solutions.  At the same time the designers worked to ensure they maximised the inherent benefits of a space that provides a floor to ceiling glass façade, which hosts sweeping views to the east over the adjacent botanical gardens and Woolloomooloo beyond.

The American Club space includes a lounge and bar area, two dining areas, and a business centre - all of which have been designed by peckvonhartel.  The project is now in its final construction stages and the Club is set to re-open on the 19th of July.

Grasshopper is possibly Sydney's hardest to find laneway bar.  Located on Temperance Lane, which runs off George Street, it's not visible from the main street.  Tucked away in a service lane Grasshopper offers an intimate alternative to the gigantic offerings down the road.

peckvonhartel acted as interior design consultants to Grasshopper creator's Martin O'Sullivan and Belinda Lai, the pair are industry veterans in Sydney having also established popular eatery The Lincoln and managed the 7 metre bar for the City of Sydney.

The top level of Grasshopper is a restaurant with an open kitchen; the ambiance is intimate with low lighting and close tables.  The downstairs bar is wallpapered with vintage kung fu images, the room is filled with 70s-era armchairs and lamps, the tunes are classic and beer is served by the bottle.  Grasshopper is a cosy and welcome addition to the Sydney bar scene.

peckvonhartel has entered into the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Competition; the competition was to submit conceptual designs for the new Passenger Clearance Building, which is to operate at 15,000 passengers per hour at peak times.

The ideas competition was devised as road infrastructure on mainland China has reached saturation.  To support the existing land-based transport situation between Hong Kong, Macau, New Territories and Pearl Delta, a new sea bridge linking Macau and Hong Kong is proposed with further sea bridges to connect Hong Kong to the New Territories in the north.

A new artificial island is anticipated east of Chek Lap Kok airport, this will serve as a transport interchange for all trucks, buses and cars travelling between these areas.  The island will provide customs and immigration facilities as well as exchanges for trains to the airport and to Hong Kong and New Territories.

A key constraint of the competition brief was to accept the island's profile, size and configuration as a given and to design only the facilities noted above.  Initial analysis of the information supplied in the competition brief indicated that the Passenger Clearance Building was to be positioned under the flight path into Chek Lap Kok.

peckvonhartel's entry challenges this strategy, reconfiguring the island to allow the building to be re-positioned between existing flight paths.  This approach reinforces the pattern of development instigated by Norman Foster, the initial designer of Chek Lap Kok airport.

pvh entry (including above image):

To view the winning entries click here

peckvonhartel has successfully been appointed to design the new 32,000m² fitout for the Australian Taxation Office in the Adelaide CBD.  peckvonhartel has formed a partnership with local firm Hardy Milazzo to deliver this project.

The fitout will be located within the soon to be constructed Tower 8 Building, which is part of Adelaide's impressive City Central Development, the largest ever urban development in the Adelaide CBD.  Tower 8 offers over 36,000m² of leasing space with project costs of approximately $200m; the City Central is a development by Aspen Group, and when complete will be a landmark development in the Adelaide CBD.

The new Leo's Fine Food & Wine supermarket at 1 Summerhill Road, Glen Iris, opened its doors on Wednesday May 26th.

peckvonhartel acted as the lead designers for the 10,000m² site that is situated behind the Hartwell Shopping strip on Toorak Road.  The site used to act as the City of Boroondara public carpark until the council tendered the sale of the property, which was won by Le Max Group.

Le Max Group engaged peckvonhartel to convert the site.  One of the challenges faced by peckvonhartel was to retain 143 existing public carpark spaces over and above the development requirement for carparking.  The end result is the new Leo's Supermarket building, as well as a lower level carpark off Somerset Road and two carparking levels above the rooftop of the supermarket.

Leo's Fine Food & Wine concentrates on gourmet and creative style foods, whilst also fulfilling the basic supermarket requirements.  Other supermarket locations include Kew and Heidelberg.

Mai Thy Nguyen joins the Sydney team as Project Architect.

Mai Thy has ten years experience in Architecture and has worked in Canberra and Sydney on both residential and commercial projects.  Her previous work experience in Canberra on projects such as the CSIRO Library and the ANU Research School of Physical Science will greatly complement the work that the peckvonhartel team is currently undertaking.

Mai Thy graduated from the University of Canberra with a BArchitecture and a BApplied Science in Environmental Design.  Prior to joining peckvonhartel, Mai Thy acted as a Project Architect for Snell Architects in Sydney working on various residential buildings.  We are excited to have Mai Thy on board and look forward to the design comprehension she will bring to peckvonhartel.

After much success on the Federal Government's Building the Education Revolution projects, which includes Chapman, Curtin, Redhill, Gilmore, Campbell, and Farrer Primary Schools, peckvonhartel has been hand picked to design the Calwell Primary Library and assist Project Coordination in the delivery of the project.

Calwell is an elevated suburb in South Canberra, about 25km from the pvh office, with views to the north over the Tuggeranong Valley, and views to the South West towards the Brindabella mountain range.

pvh Architects have developed a connected concept where the library becomes a focal learning resource space to the existing classroom buildings.  The proposed building will contain a diverse programme including a library, a multi purpose room, a computer classroom, a learning assistant unit classroom, and service spaces.

The project is now at a design development/ spatial planning phase with some challenging creative design input from our Interior Design team.

peckvonhartel is delighted to welcome new Senior Interior Designer, Karen Clutson.  Karen is based in our Canberra office and brings a wealth of knowledge to the pvh team.  With over 10 years experience, Karen originates from the UK where she previously worked as Design Manager for a Financial Services provider, delivering both administration and retail environments for the company (via external design companies) and lecturing part time at a business school in London.

Karen graduated from the University of Teesside with a BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design.  Her portfolio of work includes the Marriott Hotel and the Lanesborough Hotel in London, as well as apartment buildings and private residences throughout the UK.

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has recently won a National Award for Excellence from the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).  The Awards celebrate Australia's contemporary knowledge, skills and innovation in the urban development industry.

Senior Principal of peckvonhartel, Yvonne von Hartel AM, is Chair of the Building Committee of the MCEC that oversaw the design and construction of all artwork and facilities.

The new centre opened in June 2009 and is the first convention centre to be awarded a '6 Star Green Star' environmental rating.  The award was presented in recognition of the Centre's outstanding environmental features, mainly the use of radiant slab heating and cooling; solar panelling; a black water treatment facility; the use of low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); an abundance of natural light; and an extensive waste separation program.

peckvonhartel hosted a lunch with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia for the New South Wales Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad Hazzard.  The lunch was held on 24 March and attended by Hon. Mark Birrell and Brendan Lyon from IPA, senior Victorian officials, leading Australian business people, and peckvonhartel staff.

In a wide ranging discussion, the issues confronting NSW were discussed in an open and contributory way.

peckvonhartel celebrated its 30th Anniversary on 22 February 2010 with a cocktail party at the newly designed Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing + Ideas in Melbourne.  The fantastic evening was a great opportunity to reflect on past and present achievements and to celebrate the ongoing success of the company.

The company was incorporated in February 1980 when Robert Peck and Yvonne von Hartel started the new Australian practice Robert Peck and Company in Melbourne.  Thirty years later, the practice now has six Principals and offices in three cities - Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.  Operating on a national basis, peckvonhartel starts approximately 250 new projects each year.

Guest speaker, Minister Peter Batchelor MP, whose portfolios include Infrastructure, Major Projects and Transport, spoke highly of the designs that have been completed by peckvonhartel; including works for the National Library of Australia and the office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Canberra, 333 Collins Street and the Westin Hotel in Melbourne.

The Minister highlighted the significance of peckvonhartel's more recent major projects, such as The Wheeler Centre itself and the Victorian Desalination Project at Wonthaggi, due for completion in December 2011.

Principal's Marten and Rachel Peck reflected on the past movements of the company and talked about exciting future prospects.  Thinking Back, Looking Forward was chosen to represent peckvonhartel in its 30th year, signifying the way in which the company approaches projects.

The Melbourne celebration was the first in peckvonhartel's 30th year, with festivities in Canberra and Sydney to follow.

A formal proposal to develop the $300 - $400m Mildura entertainment and convention centre has now been put forward to the Victorian Government.

peckvonhartel was approached to design the state of the art entertainment complex that expresses the unique tri-state character of Mildura.  peckvonhartel has designed a master plan that includes a 220-room hotel, convention centre, health resort, and restaurant areas.

The new complex is expected to drive tourism to the Mildura region.

Friday, February 12th, marks the opening of the newly designed Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, located in the south-west wing of the State Library of Victoria.

Melbourne was officially awarded the title of the second UNESCO International City of Literature in 2008 and a key component of this bid was the development of a literature 'hub'.  The Victorian government enlisted peckvonhartel architects, in association with AMW, to finalise the realisation of the space for its new use, beginning the design project in June 2008, and committing $13.6million for the refurbishment of the building.

The Wheeler Centre is a long-term commitment to literary development and endeavour in Australia.  It houses office accommodation and support infrastructure for key literary organisations such as the Victorian Writers' Centre, Melbourne Writers' Festival, and Australian Poetry Centre; and performance and multipurpose spaces to support event and festival programming for the broader literary community.

peckvonhartel is pleased to welcome new staff members Lindsay Holland (Design Architect) and Tamara Hansen (Senior Interior Designer) to the Melbourne office.  We are happy to have them on board with us; their past experience and knowledge is sure to benefit the pvh team! 

As a Trustee of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Yvonne von Hartel AM has overseen the opening of the new Melbourne Convention Centre, which has been fully integrated with the Melbourne Exhibition Centre to create the most versatile and advanced convention and exhibition centre in the Southern Hemisphere.  The new centre contains a 5,000 seat Plenary space and sets new world benchmarks as the first convention centre to be awarded a '6 Star Green Star' environmental rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.

The Victorian Government and AquaSure have reached financial close on the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant PPP. The success of the project allows the consortium – comprising of Thiess, Suez Environment, Degremont and Macquarie – to commence construction – and provides a very strong signal of the ongoing value and efficacy of the PPP model.

The project is the largest PPP to be procured anywhere in the world since the global financial crisis. The Victorian Government provided both a guarantee over the syndication of debt – and were also prepared to act as a gap lender to the project, had sufficient debt not been available through capital markets.

Rachel Peck and Lisa Capezio were invited by Luc Fabrizio, Schiavello Canberra, to Derby Day in the Schiavello marquee. It was a great day, and we look forward to designing the Schiavello marquee next year!

peckvonhartel is delighted to acknowledge the selection of Principal Rachel Peck as a participant in the Rudd Australia 2020 Summit.

She will join the Productivity Agenda section of Summit in Canberra on 19th and 20th April 2008.

The Productivity section is to be Chaired by the Hon. Warwick Smith and covers Education, Skills, Training, Science, and Innovation.

For further information see www.australia2020.gov.au