The first five speakers for the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 National Architecture Conference have been announced by the creative directors.
The conference, themed “How Soon is Now,” aims to explore the new ways architecture is currently operating in the world.
“We want to explore the agency of architecture to make real changes in the world, empowering architects to participate in the massive transformations that are occurring to cities, to global as well as local societies and to the sustainability of our planet,” said creative directors Sam Spurr, Ben Hewett and Cameron Bruhn. “The future is right now and we want to present what it looks like.”
The first confirmed speakers hail from Australia and across the globe. They include:
- Amica Dall, director and co-founder of Assemble (UK)
Assemble is an art, architecture, design and research collective. Its work seeks to address the disconnection between the public and the process by which places are made. - Julie Eizenberg of Koning Eizenberg Architecture (USA)
Koning Eizenberg Architecture works predominantly in the neighbourhood context, finding opportunities hiding in plain sight. Its approach is based in observation, empathy, and an acceptance of messy urbanism. - Thomas Fisher, Dayton Hudson Chair in Urban Design at the University of Minnesota and director of the Metropolitan Design Centre at the College of Design (USA)
Fisher has been named a top 25 design educator four times by Design Intelligence. He is also the author of a new book, Designing Our Way to a Better World, due for publication in 2016. - Sadie Morgan, co-founding director of dRMM Architects (UK)
dRMM Architects creates innovative, high quality and socially useful architecture. In 2013, Morgan became the youngest and third female president of the Architectural Association and has also been shortlisted for AJ Woman Architect of the Year Award. - Nasrine Seraji of Atelier Seraji Architectes et Associés (France)
Seraji has received one of the highest honours in France, the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, as well as Chevalier des Arts et des Letters and Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite. In 2011, she was awarded the Medaille d’Argent by the French Academy of Architecture.
The 2016 National Architecture Conference will be held 28-30 April, in Adelaide. Tickets on sale now.
