Dear Subscriber,

From creativity and community to research and design thinking, there’s plenty to explore in this edition. We look back on a wonderful 2026 GB-Art Show and the more than $6,500 raised for Hear and Say, while our Landscape Architecture team considers the important role nature can play in supporting wellbeing and rehabilitation within correctional environments. We also share the latest progress, ideas and conversations from across GB-A.

Kavan, Phil, and Craig

Above: Recently installed in our Brisbane studio, Walking on Country by First Nations artist Ailsa Walsh of Wulkuraka Designs reflects the enduring connection between people, place and Country. Created as part of our Reconciliation Action Plan journey, the artwork encourages us to listen, learn and recognise the stories, knowledge and memories held within the landscape.

GB-Art Show 2026 Raises Over $6,500 for Hear and Say

What a night! Our 2026 GB-Art Show transformed our Brisbane studio into a vibrant pop-up gallery celebrating local artists, creative expression and the power of community. Together, we welcomed 167 guests, showcased the work of 13 talented artists, sold 725 raffle tickets, generated more than $3,500 in artwork sales, and raised over $6,500 for Hear and Say's Loud Shirt Day campaign.

Thank you to everyone who attended, exhibited, sponsored, donated and volunteered to make the evening such a success!

Read More >

Architecture

The Architecture team is moving through a busy period of project delivery, with critical end-of-year milestones approaching across a diverse portfolio spanning education, community, corrections, justice and infrastructure.

In Brisbane, projects at Sunnybank Hills State High School, Siena Primary School and Roma State College are progressing through different stages of construction, while across Victoria and Tasmania, projects range from police stations, courts and youth justice facilities to schools and a surf club. Regular site visits are keeping our teams closely connected to projects as they take shape, while CPD has also been firmly on the agenda in the lead-up to registration renewal in the new year.

Interiors

The Interiors team has been focused on creating enduring, people-centred environments that balance functionality, identity and longevity. From developing design principles and standardised guidelines through close client collaboration, to shaping culturally responsive justice environments in New Zealand, the team has continued to deliver thoughtful design solutions grounded in place, purpose and user experience.

Across our interior projects, there remains a strong focus on timeless design, natural materials and creating seamless spaces that connect interiors with both architecture and landscape.

Landscape

The Landscape Architecture team has been supporting several projects currently under construction, working closely with contractors and consultants to help bring design outcomes to life. Alongside project delivery, the team has been engaging with suppliers to explore new products, materials and systems, strengthening our understanding of what is available and how it can be applied across our projects.

These conversations, combined with ongoing involvement during construction, are helping the team make more informed specification decisions, with a continued focus on durability, performance, sustainability and design quality to create considered and enduring landscape outcomes.

The Psychological Benefits of Nature in Correction Environments

While mental health challenges affect people across all parts of society, they are especially pronounced within prison environments. Landscape architects have tremendous agency to influence the psychological experience of these environments and support rehabilitation. A subtle spatial decision or thoughtfully selected material in a prison landscape can coax attention away from feelings of anxiety, shame and depression, towards moments of fascination, reflection and contented calm.

Read more about how nature can be used as a tool for rehabilitation >

International Corrections and Prisons Association Conference, Belfast

At this year’s International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) Annual Conference in Belfast, GB-A Director Kavan Applegate contributed to two presentations exploring the future of correctional environments. The first, "An Architectural Response to Aristotle's Prison" with Professor Alison Liebling from the University of Cambridge and the second "Partnership in Practice: How Early Collaboration in Projects Protects Correctional Environments Under Capacity and Budget Pressure" with Karen Sanderson from GHD New Zealand. The presentations examined how evidence-based design can support dignity, relationships and rehabilitation, and how early collaboration can help protect these outcomes as correctional systems respond to increasing capacity, budget and operational pressures.

Architects Australian Architecture Conference, Brisbane

This Saturday, 31 October, GB-A Associate Director Craig Blewitt will join WorkflowMAX at the Australian Institute of Architects Australian Architecture Conference 2026 for a fireside discussion exploring a challenge familiar to many architectural practices: breaking growth ceilings. Drawing on more than a decade with GB-A, Craig will share insights into how greater visibility across project performance, reporting and costing can support more informed decision-making and sustainable practice growth. The conversation will also explore the role technology can play in helping practices better understand performance, navigate change and make confident decisions as they continue to evolve.