National President’s foreword: Architecture Australia, January 1998

The most repeated statement made when I became President, was “we must raise our public profile”. Yet since then I have sat and talked with many editors and journalists, most of whom believe the profession is well represented in media coverage, even disproportionately so considering the small number of architects in the population.

We need to believe in ourselves and take the lead, innovate and offer new services. Too often we sit and wait for the developer, government department or whoever to approach us with all the conditions spelt out and we passively accept them.

Our training and skills equip us to manage the complex issues of building, we can and do combine art and function to produce architecture. I believe architects are more in tune with the community than government or developers and that the public has great confidence in our ability to contribute to our built form.

The 1998 Gold Medallist, Gabriel Poole, is living proof of how an architect wrestles with the complexities of climate, location, materials and budget to produce remarkably innovative solutions.

As recipient of the Gold Medal, Gabriel will be exposed to the public as a positive example of an architect who has dedicated his life to designing a better built environment.

His achievements should also inspire you, his colleagues. Gabriel’s exhaustive thinking extends beyond the form of the building to exploring the economics of shelter and the need to be environmentally responsive.

The decision late in 1996 to publicly announce the Gold Medallist in the first issue of Architecture Australia each year, not only ensures that appropriate recognition is given to the Medallist, but enables us to start off the new year thinking positively about architecture.

Ric Butt FRAIA
National President