StreetChat’s top 10 stories of 2024

From the science of wicking beds to projects from Kalgoorlie and Western Sydney, 2024 was a year of climate action, outstanding projects and award winning products. Let’s look back at the 10 most popular Streetchat stories of 2024.

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10. The Piatto Chair receives a Good Design Award

Piatto Chair received a prestigious Good Design Award in the Product Design category for exceptional design and innovation. The Jury praised the Piatto Chair for longevity, sustainability and visual appeal, noting its “ability to withstand outdoor conditions while remaining movable and adaptable, showcasing a thoughtful approach to public seating.”

9. Coronation StrEat: a repurposed carpark bringing the community together through outdoor dining

Hornsby Shire Council’s Coronation StrEat Precinct, designed by Environmental Partnership and Brewer Architects, created a community space where people gather, rest and enjoy food together in Hornsby, NSW.

8. Midlands Saleyard: Perth’s largest retail park with a nod to its rural past

Hames Sharley transformed an old sheep and cattle saleyard into an expansive retail park. The new homemaker site in Midland, Western Australia, boasts 50,000sqm of leafy retail and commercial areas. 

7. AILA National Awards celebrates sustainability, leadership and connection to country

Forty-three landscape architecture winners were announced in Melbourneat the National AILA Awards. StreetChat spoke to winners Hassell, Four Landscape Studio and GLAS Landscape Architects about what the award means to them.

6. Trend Watch: Māori Kaupapa, designing for Climate

Three designers explored Kaupapa (way) Māori as a solution to our climate crises. Understanding that all of life is connected and that humans are not superior to the natural world, but a part of it is an indigenous approach to design.

5. The multifunctional bollard and Sydney Metro Stations spectacular installations

September’s Trend Watch was so popular we’ve included both stories…

Writing for TimeOut, Winnie Stubbs says “there’s a case for travelling on the new metro line for the aesthetic satisfaction alone.” Revisit the fabulous artwork of Sydney’s newest Metro Stations.

And we high-fived the overlooked bollard which can be multifunctional when it is done right. The bollard can create connection as temporary seating, be an object for play, an artistic statement and importantly, a gentle ‘nudge’ for drivers. 

4. Appian Way Bankstown, a vibrant public domain in Bankstown, Western Sydney

The City of Canterbury-Bankstown commissioned ASPECT Studios to renew the public domain along Appian Way to provide a meeting ground for community and a focus for everyday life.

3. Wicking Beds save water, labour and money

Wicking beds, or self watering systems, are available across our entire planter range. We spoke to Wollongong City Council about their experience with wicking beds over the past five years.

2. Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s revitalised Civic Heart

Aspect Studios revitalised Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s new Civic Centre while celebrating the ancient geological formations and indigenous heritage of this Goldfields region. Plinth-fixed Aria Seats and Benches furnish alfresco and event areas.

1. Western Sydney Symposium tackles climate change

Our recent Western Sydney symposium attracted almost 200 built environment professionals. Six talks and two panel discussions covered diverse topics ranging from Western Sydney’s Urban Heat to innovative materials such as low carbon aluminium.