JOURNAL/ December/2014

The outer façade presents a contemporary interpretation of the heritage context, utilising fine grain architectural sunshade elements to maximise amenity and provide a new public facade for the faculty on Parramatta Road. A State Significant Development Application is planned for March 2015.

James Andrew Milledge BArch FRAIA

Throughout his thirty year career with Bates Smart, Jim Milledge has been a tower of strength, a great strategist and an advocate for good professional practice.

Jim is an extraordinarily competent all-around architect who spreads confidence and energy throughout the firm. He is enthusiastic but careful, frank and fair-minded. Jim values everyone’s contribution. He respects those who achieve things quietly as well as those who move ahead with bold new thinking.

The construction industry is full of strong personalities. There are many people who put great pressure on our teams to perform. We understand this is often needed to achieve goals quickly, but there are times when we need to buy time to do our work properly. Like the good Sydney/Hobart sailor that he is, Jim is afraid of nothing. The more challenging the conditions, the calmer and more focused Jim becomes, and the more determined to steer the right course.

Jim listens to everyone’s views, and then negotiates the time to do things well while maintaining appropriate speed and energy.

In complex and challenging situations, he understands how to engender team play. Jim has been responsible for the direction and delivery of many of our most important buildings, and has driven the high standard of design, documentation and construction which has become a Bates Smart trademark.

For thirty years Jim has been a critical member of the team which has transformed Bates Smart from a firm with a great lineage to one of the region’s leading architectural and interiors practices. He has led our technological advance from the T square to 3d documentation and virtual reality renderings.

Jim is a very fair and ethical leader. He has helped maintain our reputation as an astute, compassionate practice and nurturing employer. Jim always seeks to do the right thing by our clients, treat our incredibly talented team well, and preserve our reputation. Jim commands the profession’s respect as a thoroughly decent person who does things well and treats people as they deserve to be treated.

Jim is a skilled architect, a source of wise counsel, superb at managing difficult situations and people, and most of all a great friend to all of us. We will all miss him very much.

Roger Poole

“A series of playrooms and staff areas are accessed from a naturally lit corridor framing views to the landscape. Clear lines of sight allow for excellent observation between internal and external areas. We worked closely with the operator, Jenny’s ELC, to optimise the spaces in the most operationally suitable way. The internal palette was restrained and calm with fresh white wall finishes with timber trim and floors throughout.

“Creating connections between the built environment and the natural world is fundamental to well being, and we are delighted to be given the opportunity to provide a childcare centre that embraces this relationship.”

The Bendigo Hospital is on track to open in 2016.

The main impetus for creating the Queensland Mind and Neuroscience Institute (QMNI) at USC is demographic data which show that, in Australia, the highest rates of suicide, youth mental illness and aged dementia are unfolding on the Sunshine Coast. USC has committed to making a major contribution to the amelioration of these conditions by establishing a centre of excellence in clinical outreach, support and research into these terrible diseases.

The future QMNI is briefed to be a purpose built tri-function building – combining clinical treatment, teaching and research facilities.

The strategic brief has three main focus points:

• Flexibility
• Expandability
• Evidence Based Design.

The interior is elegant and restrained, allowing the food to take centre-stage. The concept for the restaurant is designed around the idea of chiaroscuro, the use of strong contrasts between light and dark.

The use of deep, sumptuous upholsteries, dark lacquered paneling and rich carpets provide a backdrop to the spot lit white clothed tables creating a sense of theatre.

Guests enter the restaurant via a ramp which creates the optical illusion of guests becoming larger, and the corridor increasingly smaller. At the top of the ramp an automatic sliding panel slides open to reveal the restaurant and the host desk where guests are greeted and escorted to their dining table for the theatre to begin.

Whilst in Melbourne, the restaurant will offer the same unique dining experience to what guests receive in Bray. The Fat Duck menu is an intentional mix of balance and contrasts – old and new, modern and historic. Led by a core team of exceptionally talented front and back of house staff, the degustation menu takes guests on a food journey - a truly multi-sensory experience.

The restaurant launched in February 2015 and will remain open until late July when it will close and the space will be re-designed to host Dinner by Heston.

The project comprises 93 residential apartments, 9 terrace houses, 19 serviced apartments and 4 retail/commercial tenancies.

The recently opened display suite features interiors by Bates Smart. The kitchen and bathroom design capture the luxurious crafted detail of the traditional Balmain terrace house, with use of framed doors, v-jointed panelling, natural stone and bevelled mirror.