Sustainable cities and architecture

Melinda DodsonFrom the president

Melinda Dodson FRAIA

As I write this my presidential year is drawing to a close, and what a privilege it has been. The Australian Institute of Architects is a collegiate organisation that gains its strength from its dedicated staff commitment and the enormous contribution of its volunteers.

I first joined the ACT Chapter Council in 2004, followed by the National Council in 2006, and in that time, my understanding of the strength and value of our Institute has grown enormously. 

Our Institute has continued to perform well during a challenging 2009. Continued engagement and support from our members, from our Corporate Partners and from our industry partners has been extremely valuable in ensuring that our member services remain effective and that we continue to extend our reach to the wider community and government, all as we promote the value of architecture as well as our members.

This significant achievement in a difficult economic environment is a reflection of the commitment of our people, the strength of our member cohort, our focussed advocacy and communications campaigns, and the demand for our diverse range of Institute and subsidiary services.

It is worth taking this opportunity to reflect on a number of Institute achievements in 2009:

  • Successful introduction A+ Membership and associated member benefits, accompanied more recently by the launch of the public awareness campaign,
  • Launch of the Achievement in Architecture Awards in Brisbane,
  • Paralax National Conference in Melbourne,
  • Venice Biennale Creative Director appointment: Now+When, by John Gollings and Ivan Rijavic,
  • Re-launched, rebranded Institute website,
  • Host to the UIA Council meeting in Sydney, with their President Louise Cox, whom we are most proud of,
  • Launch of the Dulux Study Tour alumni, and
  • Launch of the Gallery of Australian Design (GAD) in Commonwealth Place, Canberra with patron Michael Bryce and partners AILA, the NCA and the Museum of Australia.

This list is but a small window into the excellent progress we have made against our strategic goals, and position us strongly for the future. From a governance perspective, our CEO, COO and Board have driven the alignment of our financial and strategic management such that we are now able to track the effectiveness of our many initiatives. In years to come you can look forward to this Annual Report expanding beyond financial reportage to include a more fulsome ‘scorecard’ of the Institute’s performance.

For me, as for many of you, sustainable cities and architecture remain the most pressing issues. The next ninety months are critical. GHG and carbon emissions must be dramatically cut and “this means reinventing how we think, organise our lives” and design our cities (CABE). Yet the environmental precipice we stand at may still appear disconnected from our presently unsustainable cities, lifestyles and resource consumption. To turn this around requires vision, leadership and effective action, and as leaders of a GHG-intensive industry, architects have a responsibility to act. Through the creative process, we can provide architectural solutions that sustain long-term human health and wellbeing.

Initiatives close to my heart continue to include:

  • Launch of the Leadership in Sustainability Prize
  • International Architects Blueprint for Action on Climate Change 
  • Second Plank Report: which (with our ASBEC partners) which profiles the enormous benefits from reducing energy in existing buildings
  • Improved sustainability curriculum in architecture schools through our pilot program with UNSW
  • Advocacy for a National Framework of Sustainable Communities Measures and Targets with our BEMP partners

Our endeavours focus on the successful embedment of sustainability into all architecture, and the continued raising of the bar by which we measure sustainability excellence. It is my belief that architects, more than any other profession, can help paint a positive vision of a post-carbon world.

As President, I chair the Sustainable Communities Taskgroup - a subgroup of the National Sustainability Committee. In 2009, it has focused on better understanding how our sustainability initiatives align with our public policy objectives: our 30 Month Sustainability Plan. Furthermore, by reviewing the implementation of an exemplar projects program, we have the opportunity to illustrate, through our architecture, to government and to the community, the value of delightful alternate compact housing models, close to amenities and which use markedly less resources!

I hope the diagram above gives you an insight into the enormous attention being given by our Institute to integrated sustainability, and rightly so, given the critical importance of this issue. I am sure our collective understanding of sustainability has moved well beyond mistaking it for austerity, or worse still, the absence of joy in our buildings and our urban spaces. It is a natural part of the advancement of architecture.

As I hand to your 2010/11 President Karl Fender, the great shape that the Institute is in reassures me. My sincere thanks goes to the Institute's staff for their support and assistance, and to those members who volunteer their time and expertise so generously to Institute activities.

We can each make a difference through our own architectural practices and projects, however our efforts are amplified by the Australian Institute of Architects, which provides a strong collective voice and services for members all in the pursuit of the advancement of architecture.