Conference in the Making

The 2014 National Architecture Conference will be in Perth, 8–10 May. Under the banner of Making, it will examine the expanding role of the architect in contemporary practice. Co-creative director Helen Norrie previews the agenda.

Sam Crawford, Adam Haddow and I are the creative directors of this event, which will be held in Perth on 8–10 May. Under the banner of “Making,” we will be examining the expanding role of the architect in contemporary practice, looking beyond the customary definition of “architect as maker” of singular buildings to consider the architect as the “maker” of environments and connections that extend the bounds of traditional practice. We will investigate how, in an increasingly complex cultural and professional environment, there are opportunities for architects to expand their role from the designer of objects and spaces to that of a “navigator,” with the capacity to steer processes and deliver alternate outcomes.

2014 National Architecture Conference creative directors (L—R):  Helen Norrie, Sam Crawford, Adam Haddow.

2014 National Architecture Conference creative directors (L—R): Helen Norrie, Sam Crawford, Adam Haddow.

Image: Philippa Nicole Barr

Making will be explored through four sub-themes: Making Culture, Making Life, Making Connections and Making Impact. We have invited four local architects to develop the theme for each session and facilitate the dialogue between speakers and audience.

Sydney architect Andrew Burns will draw on his own practice interests, particularly his recent experience designing Australia House in Japan, to develop the stream Making Culture, which explores the process of making architecture as an act of cultural production.

Making Life will be hosted by Elizabeth Watson-Brown, who, after twenty-one years directing her own practice, which was highly regarded for exemplary place-responsive and socially responsible design, has become a design director for Architectus in Brisbane. Making Life considers how architecture forms the framework and infrastructure of the life we share, from the intimate to the urban, and draws together projects and practices in diverse communities that offer new modes and ways of living, in the broadest sense.

Collaboration and communication is at the heart of Making Connections, and Emma Williamson from CODA in Perth will examine practices or projects that involve teams of designers from a range of disciplines within the architecture and allied design field. This will provide an opportunity to showcase Western Australian design as well as other collaborative practices and projects across the region, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationships the architectural profession constructs beyond the discipline itself.

Tim Horton, a key thinker on design, innovation and governance practice, and the former Integrated Design Commissioner for South Australia, will host the discussions about Making Impact, investigating the politics of architecture and examining the potential for architecture to “perform” or lead policy rather than simply react to it.

We are interested in revealing architectural excellence grown in different economic, cultural and political environments, looking to practices in Australasia, Asia, Latin America and Africa rather than Europe and North America to interrogate ways of “making” that can shed light on our own condition. The anchors for each session will be charged with the role of seeding the discussion of these ideas, through a presentation of their own work and a critical engagement with the visiting international guests.

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