Contemporary artist Dani Marti collaborated with us on a large-scale work that forms a backdrop to the foyer at the Dock 5 apartment tower. This work is the result of an original piece constructed by hand of woven high grade marine rope, a subsequent casting process that led to a rubber mould from which a series of glass reinforced concrete replica panels of extraordinary detail were created. We also worked with Dani at our Westfield Sydney City project to create an installation at the entry located at 100 Market Street.

Simon Perry was also commissioned by Westfield to work with us to create a series of bronze entry gates to the new retail laneway. The “Eyelash” is both an integrated sculpture within the space, and a working gate preventing access to the shopping centre when closed.

Celebrated artist Peter Hennessey has contributed to two major Wardle projects. ‘Sky Voyager’ sits in Westfield Sydney City as a strong visual statement creating intrigue and interest to connect the commercial and retail spaces, expressing humankind’s ingenuity and ambition. ‘Spiral Uplift’ adorns the entry space within Spire Apartments in Brisbane. The 12-metre stylised floral vine is a complex, detailed work which may be interpreted as a dance between nature and modern technology.

Designing Bendigo Law Courts has opened our eyes to a very different type of collaboration. Working closely with the local Dja Dja Wurrung community and Dja Dja Wurrung artist Racquel Kerr, this in-depth consultation shaped the design of the building and influenced our thinking on landscape and urban design. A beautiful and evocative line-drawing of Bunjil, the ancestral creation being, by Kerr has been incorporated into the facade of the building. Depicted in flight, Bunjil’s wings illustrate major meeting places and mountains on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, embedding the stories and histories of the land and people into the design. The collaboration encouraged us to develop our Reconciliation Action Plan. 

On Top of the World is a program that was devised by John Wardle and Spacecraft’s Stewart Russell in 2013. It’s a series of roof terrace events where people from across the visual arts are invited to speak.
Each guest speaker designs a flag with Stewart which is then raised with much fanfare at the start of the event. The evenings are a way of bringing together clients, collaborators and friends of the practice to learn from each other’s discipline and take a moment to appreciate perspectives in art through the medium of a single flag.