Eleven unrealised Australian architectural projects will finally be constructed as part of Australia’s exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, Augmented Australia 1914-2014.

Amongst these 11 unearthed gems are a war memorial, the Jewel Cave Visitor's Centre and an inner-city cathedral.

From a treetop activist shelter 80 metres above ground in south western Tasmania, to a sustainable, lightweight ‘second skin’ that provides an envelope around redundant office towers, the projects span the country and are set to capture the minds of visitors to the world’s largest architecture festival.

Selected by Australia’s creative team, felix._Giles_Anderson+Goad, who were overwhelmed by the talent and ideas behind the submissions, the 11 were chosen from a call-out issued in July for unbuilt contemporary Australian buildings to accompany ten historical unrealised designs.

These projects will be brought to life through three-dimensional augmented models, images, voiceovers and animations.

At the event, visitors will be able to point their smart phone at the trigger images to open up a catalogue of virtual material, allowing them to visualise, walk through and admire the scale and greatness of each project.

“The great part about these contemporary projects is that they are almost completely unknown; however, have been submitted by some of the best architects in Australia,” said the creative team.

“Our concept for the exhibition will bring the projects to life for the first time and allow us to explore the ideas and stories behind their design and inception.”

The team adds that the projects were deliberately chosen to represent all of Australia, believing that this strong selection will cleverly negotiate Rem Koolhaas’ ‘Fundamentals’ theme and offer a true national perspective of the architecture of Australia.

The successful projects are:

• Darwin City Waterfront Signature Restaurant – Susan Dugdale and Associates

• Museum of Contemporary Art – fjmt (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp)

• Caught Unawares – MvS Architects

• (un)Common Earth_National World War I & World War II Memorial, Canberra – MullowayStudio

• Styx Valley Protest Shelter – Andrew Maynard Architects

• Lodge on the Lake – m3architecture

• Jewel Cave Visitor Centre – iredale pedersen hook architects

• Tower Skin – LAVA

• Carlton United Brewery Site, Swanston St Melbourne – ARM Architecture

• Hybrid Cathedral – tessellate a+d

• RMIT University – Sports Centre - Lyons

For full descriptions of each contemporary project, please click HERE.

Geraldine Chua

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