‘The landscape is always full’

Breadth and depth were each in evidence in the ambitious program of The Architecture Symposium: A Broader Landscape, which was curated by Kerstin Thompson and Philip Arnold. The pair brought together diverse speakers to explore how we understand landscape, both in its own right and as the context in which we situate our buildings. Overall, the program looked at ways Country could take centre stage – and examined the necessity, motivation and thoughtfulness of our professional interventions.

The first day was divided into four sessions, each with several speakers and a provocateur who began proceedings with a pre-recorded challenge. These were intense and covered extensive ground, as did much of the day. Landscape as “Belonging” was first, with provocateur Dr Danièle Hromek from Djinjama Indigenous Corporation setting the scene with a powerful call to consider oneself as part of Country, a relationship akin to family. Rachel Neeson and Stephen Neille then presented the careful evolution of their Kamay Botany Bay National Park Masterplan, rebalancing the storytelling of this important place and demonstrating a deep understanding of the complexities of building in this landscape. Kaylie Salvatori of COLA Studio followed with a profoundly personal reflection on healing Country in urban spaces, a process well demonstrated in the vibrant life of her South Eveleigh Cultural Garden. Megan Baynes of the City of Hobart continued this theme, mixing personal awareness with poignant observation (“don’t just build in the pretty parts”). Richard Weller then appeared in a thematically appropriate dark video, proposing that critically understanding the wider “problems” of a place is more useful when designing than simply divining a “sense” of a site from visible features.

The audience at The Architecture Symposium: A Broader Landscape.

The audience at The Architecture Symposium: A Broader Landscape.

Image: Anna Kucera

Jane Irwin was the provocateur for Landscape as “Un/Natural,” asking if we can truly engage if landscape stops being natural as soon as we are involved. Anthony Gill and Andrew Burges each presented new projects that, while undoubtedly unnatural, successfully mediate and frame wider landscapes; both spoke candidly about the steep, continuing learning curve of practicing architecture in this context. Next up was Nicole Larkin’s research on ocean pools, a refreshing (and literal) deep dive into beautiful imagery and detailed analysis. The Springvale Community Precinct by Rush Wright followed. It involved a bolder intervention that was, at times, a jarring contrast to those of earlier speakers – but it was also grounded in the trees and stories of its site.

Michael Wright presented the bold interventions at Springvale Community Precinct.

Michael Wright presented the bold interventions at Springvale Community Precinct.

Image: Anna Kucera

Landscape as “Climate” was introduced by Daniel Barber, who challenged speakers to make visible the relationships between comfort, climate and carbon. Louise Wright of Baracco and Wright led with the Garden House project, an ethereal skin that explored the minimum that might constitute a house, sharing space with landscape rather than keeping it out. Graham Burrows of JCBA followed with Gillies Hall, a large student accommodation that remained attuned to the session’s provocation thanks to a conscious embrace of mass timber, Passivhaus principles and user agency. Kerry Clare spoke of the finely-tuned buildings that Clare Design have consistently produced, beginning well before climate was of broad professional concern; co-presenter Ché Wall seemed an indispensable ally in the many battles required to achieve these results.

The final session, Landscape as “Resource,” started with provocateur Joan Ockman highlighting architecture’s responsibility to landscapes of material extraction and disposal. The rigorous research of Amy Seo and Shahar Cohen from Second Edition demonstrated both the scale of the issue and some optimism for the future of our industry – these skilled designers eschewed easy answers and searched for responsible practice. The day concluded with three projects in quick succession: Gilby and Brewin’s Spring Bay Mill was an exemplar of creative rehabilitation, deliberately giving time and visibility to a healing process. Officer Woods likewise demonstrated the need to minimize materials that cause community harm, its proposal for the Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre in Cockburn thoughtfully embracing constraints and finding rare beauty in the required turtle-shaped form. Guillermo Fernández-Abascal and Andrew Daly concluded the presentations with Murrin Bridge Preschool and Community Hub, where a process of community consultation led to a proposed arrangement of simple forms that ensures landscape is integral, not an optional extra.

The second day of the symposium included a tour of Bundanon Art Bridge and Museum.

The second day of the symposium included a tour of Bundanon Art Bridge and Museum.

Image: Linda Cheng

The second day’s visit to Bundanon Art Museum and the Bridge was a rare opportunity to immediately see the ideas of a symposium put into practice, a confident demonstration that true engagement with a broader landscape in no way restricts creative practice. It’s difficult to imagine a more sensitive setting than this one, given its complex ecological, programmatic, historical and architectural contexts. Undaunted by the prospect of fire, flood or the work of a Pritzker Prize laureate adjacent, Kerstin Thompson began her tour with an enthusiastic focus on big moves toward site rehabilitation, such as strategically relocating the car park, rather than starting with the evocative structures she and her team designed. But evocative they are, the crisp bridge components stretched over the valley, contrasting the weighty gallery bunkered into the hill: stereotomic versus tectonic. After a day in a lecture theatre, the site visit – including a memorable lunch overlooking the Shoalhaven from the Boyd Education Centre – was a gift for the senses.

The tour included lunched served at the Boyd Education Centre.

The tour included lunched served at the Boyd Education Centre.

Image: Linda Cheng

In architectural practice, the danger of adopting a broad outlook can be paralysis: challenges can appear impossible, resulting in the impulse to “not want to design anything, anywhere, ever again,” as Jennie Officer remarked. But she went on to remind us that architects are uniquely placed to help, to question everything, to notice and to show good manners to places and people. Likewise, this symposium struck an optimistic tone, its practitioners consistently using awareness and curiosity to drive better outcomes. Refuting the greedy myth of terra nullius, Megan Baynes gave us terra fuit semper plena. “If you think of the landscape as already full,” she said, “then everything is completely different.” With this broader understanding we can see a landscape full of challenges – but also respect, healing, creativity and joy.

The Architecture Symposium: A Broader Landscape is a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media, publisher of ArchitectureAU.com, and supported by major partner Planned Cover, and supporting partner Moddex.

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