The Architecture Symposium: Beyond the Building, begining this November, will examine how architecture can be a catalyst for transformation at all scales.
Curated by NSW government architect Abbie Galvin and Smart Design Studio founder William Smart, the symposium will bring together Australia’s world-class architects whose public projects have an impact that is beyond the built form itself.
“In this iteration of The Architecture Symposium, we are keen to explore architecture’s potential as a catalyst for change by examining projects that are deepening cultural understanding, responding to environmental concerns and opening our minds to new possibilities,” said Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media, the organizer of the symposium (and publisher of ArchitectureAU).
Phoenix Central Park by John Wardle Architects and Durbach Block Jaggers.
Image: Trevor Mein
In the first session, streaming live on 11 November, delegates will hear about projects and programs that have left a mark in four different cities. Hassell principal Mark Loughnan will present Perth’s WA Museum Boola Bardip, the landmark project designed with Dutch firm OMA; Ingrid Richards of Richards and Spence will discuss the “small but important” Fish Lane project in Brisbane; Jesse Judd and Mark Raggatt of ARM Architecture will present the Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast; and Naomi Milgrim will discuss MPavilion, the architectural commission that has become a Melbourne institution.
Fish Lane by Richards and Spence.
Image: Scott Burrows
The second session, on 18 November, will focus on projects that “have evoked emotive or spiritual responses and left a lasting impression.”
Kerstin Thompson will discuss her firm’s expansion to the Riversdale property owned by the late twentieth century Australian painter Arthur Boyd; Angelo Candalepas will present his firm’s latest ecclesiastical project, the Church of the Living God in Sydney; Camilla Block will present Durbach Block Jaggers and John Wardle Architects’ Phoenix Central Park and Dillon Kombumerri from the Office of the Government Architect NSW will discuss his work developing policies and frameworks around connecting to Country.
The third session, on 25 November, will examine the role of the “micro” within larger precincts or cities. Mark Jacques of Openwork and Amy Muir of Muir Architecture will present Victoria’s Family Violence Memorial; Tim Greer of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer together with Anita Panov and Andrew Scott of Panov Scott Architects will discuss developments at Sydney’s famous El Alamein Fountain; and Jessica Spresser will discuss her eponymous firm’s work on the Barangaroo Pier Pavilion.
Plastic Palace by Raffaello Rosselli Architect.
Image: Jeremy Weihrauch
The final session, titled Making versus Taking, will be all about the ethical questions facing architects. “Architects have a collective ethical responsibility for the public good and our critical thinking skills are needed now more than ever to address the challenges of the built environment,” note the organizers.
Speakers will include Raffaello Rosselli, Raffaello Rosselli Architect; Grace Mortlock and David Neustein, Other Architects and Peter Walker and Keith Westbrook, Cumulus Studio.
The symposium will be presented through Design Speaks’ virtual portal. Delegates will be able to view the sessions live, or watch them on demand up until 21 January 2022.
The Architecture Symposium: Beyond the Building is supported by major partner Planned Cover.
