Program

Melbourne Park | NH Architecture with Snohetta and ASPECT Studios | Photographer: Peter Bennetts

Program

Time Activity Location Details
9.00am – 6.00pm The Wellbeing of Architects
[education + practice-] symposium
Collingwood Yards Day 2 – Practice
Full ticket $130
Concession $65
10.30am – 12.00pm Brickworks Diversity in Architecture Brunch
  • Rob Henry (moderator), Executive Director ACT Chapter RAIA and Director of Studio Heim
  • Gunjan Shah, EmAGN ACT Co-Chair
  • Jamileh Jahangiri, Studio Orsi
  • Dinh Huynh, Melbourne School of Design
Brickworks Design Studio
367 Collins Street, Melbourne
Fringe event
Member $65
Register here
10.30am – 12.00pm Fielders Lysaght Generation Exchange Brunch
  • Sean Godsell (Moderator), Sean Godsell Architects
  • Hamish Lyon, NH Architecture
  • Hudson Smith, Phorm Architecture + Design
  • Elizabeth Watson Brown, The Greens Member for Ryan
  • Emily Von Moger, NH Architecture
NH Architecture Studio
7/12-20 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Fringe event
Member $65
Register here
12.30pm – 2.30pm Architecture tours: in partnership with BlueScope, Open House Melbourne (OHM) and The Robin Boyd Foundation (RBF) Architects Own Homes'
Firm Crawl
Walsh Street House RBF
Walking Tour of Melbourne OHM
Four fringe events running concurrently
Member $45 – $65
Register here
2.30pm – 3.30pm Q&A with Gary Rake, CEO of the Australian Building Codes Board Level 2, 41 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 3000 FREE EVENT
*Limited capacity
Register here
4.30pm – 6.30pm Alspec Return to the Centre: The Future of the Australian CBD in partnership with Open House Melbourne
  • Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece, Melbourne City Council – VIC
  • Philip Oldfield, UNSW (Chair) – Sydney, NSW
  • Kellie Payne, BatesSmart – Sydney, NSW
  • Katrina Sedgwick, MAP Co. – Melbourne, VIC
  • Mark Tait, Investa – Sydney, NSW.
The Edge – Fed Square
Cnr Swanston & Flinders St, Melbourne
Fringe event
Member $45
Register here
5.00pm – 6.30pm Robin Boyd Foundation Sunset Cocktails

SOLD OUT
Walsh Street House
290 Walsh St, South Yarra
SOLD OUT
Fringe event
Member $95
SOLD OUT
7.00pm – 9.00pm SMEG Fellows Event: Invite Only The Dome
333 Collins St, Melbourne
Free fringe events for Fellows
By invitation only

Conference: Day 1

Hamer Hall
100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank

Time Activity Location Details
7.30am – 8.15am Conference registration Hamer Hall
100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank
Complimentary tea and coffee thanks to Alspec
8.30am – 6pm Conference Day 1

Keynote Speakers
Paul Monaghan
Dr Dana Cuff
Nigel Bertram
Barbara Bestor
Yasmeen Lari in conversation with Prof Esther Charlesworth
Alberto Veiga

Award Presentations
Gold Medal
The Paul Whitman Gender Equity Prize
The Student Prize
The Leadership Sustainability Prize
The Neville Quarry Education Prize
The Presidents Prize
Hamer Hall
100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank
2 day conference pass
Member $795
Register here
7pm – 10.30pm Bondor Metecno Gala Dinner Regent Theatre – Plaza Ballroom
191 Collins St, Melbourne
Fringe event Member $220
Register here
TimeActivityDetailsMore
7.30am – 8.15amConference RegistrationRegister early and enjoy complimentary tea and coffee thanks to Alspec2 day conference pass
Member $895
Register here
8.30am – 9.00amOfficial Welcome
9.00amPaul Monaghan
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM)
London, United Kingdom

Radical reinvention, adaptive reuse, and advocacy for better cities

From its earliest collaborations at university to now, more than thirty years later, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris has always been based on a firm commitment to an architecture of economy, elegance and delight.

With the significant challenges we collectively face, within our cities and communities, the founding ambitions and aims of the practice seem as relevant as ever. Paul will discuss recent works by the practice including, the adaptive reuse of the Royal London Hospital to create a new Town Hall as well as the practice’s radical reinvention of the BBC’s former site in West London.

He will also discuss his advocacy and engagement with government working to improve the quality of the UK’s cities and towns.

2 day conference pass
Member $895
Register here
9.55am–10.45amDana Cuff
University of California
Los Angeles, USA

Abundant Housing: Architectures of Spatial Justice

Architecture has never been more relevant to the pressing problems of contemporary life.” Evidence supporting this opening sentence of Dr. Dana Cuff’s recent book Architectures of Spatial Justice (2023), is at the heart of her presentation to the Australian Architecture Conference.

Case studies from architectural practices around the world demonstrate that designing housing from a spatial justice perspective leads to abundance rather than scarcity. The role of the architect shifts from designing individual projects, to advancing initiatives that proliferate, generate policy, and lift up goals of equity, all while relying on the profession’s creative capacities.

Cuff’s own innovative design research practice, cityLAB, is but one model pointing the way toward more abundant and accessible housing, but also toward architects’ much-needed engagement with policy and legislation.

11.55am–12.45pmNigel Bertram
NMBW Architecture Studio
Melbourne, Australia

Listening to the City: Doing Less to Give More

The work of NMBW Architecture Studio is a product of ongoing research into local conditions, detailed layers of history, and thinking carefully about what comes before and will come after our involvement as architects.

Nigel Bertram will discuss a series of recent projects – institutional, housing and commercial – that start with different scales of analytical observation, retention, and renovation. The projects include strategies for demolition, retrofit, re-use, temporary works and post-occupancy evaluation. The presentation will show how these works form part of a larger, expanded and multi-disciplinary research agenda concerned with regeneration and celebration of place.

12.45pm–1.35pmBarbara Bestor
Bestor Architecture
LA, California USA

Life After Modernism

Bestor Architecture uses new formal strategies to create density in the 21st Century city. The practice strives to expand the territory of architecture into atmospheric urbanism, encouraging design that deeply alters people’s experience of their own daily lives and neighbourhoods, and the importance of communicating the value of architecture and its contribution, to people, communities, and places. Exploring life under modernism, Bestor will investigate restoration, renovation as well as new work inspired by 20th Century modern and post-modernism goals as it is reinvented for new modes of living and environmentalism. Bestor uses architecture as a tool for creative gathering by building community through scale, program and density. 

3.05pm–3.55pm

Yasmeen Lari
Heritage Foundation Pakistan + Chair of INTBAU Pakistan
Karachi, Pakistan

(virtual presentation)

Enjoy a conversation between Yasmeen Lari and Prof Esther Charlesworth (RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia).

Yasmeen is recognised as the first female architect in Pakistan, and has had a significant impact both in her home country and internationally due to her innovative and socially conscious approach to architecture. She is the RIBA 2023 Royal Gold Medallist. Through a systemic approach, Lari’s work takes into consideration local culture, site-specific opportunities, and challenges.

Born in Pakistan in 1941, Yasmeen Lari moved to London with her family at the age of 15. After graduating from Oxford Brooks School of Architecture, she returned to Pakistan at the age of 23 to establish Lari Associates with her husband, Suhail Zaheer Lari. The couple settled in Karachi. Here, she began to study Pakistan’s ancient towns and the vernacular architecture of earth buildings, igniting her interest in the architectural heritage and traditional techniques of her country.

Esther is a Professor in the School of Architecture and Design where she founded the Master of Disaster, Design and Development degree [MoDDD] and Director of the the Humanitarian Architecture Research Bureau [HARB]. Esther Charlesworth is also the founding Director of Architects without Frontiers [AWF].

4.00pm – 4.50pmAlberto Veiga
Barozzi Veiga
Barcelona, Spain
Alberto Veiga (Santiago de Compostela, 1973) studied architecture at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Navarra and, in 2004, he founded the office Barozzi Veiga, together with Fabrizio Barozzi.
4.50pm – 5.00pmClosing Remarks
6.00pm – 7.00pmSpeculative Futures with Liam Young supported by Dulux

Join us at The Capitol Theatre for an in-depth conversation with Liam Young moderated by Professor Naomi Stead.

Liam Young is an Australian-born film director and architect. Young’s work is situated within the fields of design fiction and critical design. Professor Naomi Stead is an architectural writer, critic, educator and researcher, and director of the Design and Creative Practice Enabling Capability Platform at RMIT.

Fringe event Member $25
Register here
7.00pm – 10.30pmBondor Metecno Gala DinnerJoin us at the Regent Theatre – Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins St, Melbourne for the Bondor Metecno Gala Dinner. The event will include a conversation between the 2024 Gold Medal recipient and past recipients, Maggie Edmond and Ian McDougall, moderator Justine Clark and our MC Adam Haddow.Fringe event Member $220
Register here

Conference: Day 2

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf

7.30am – 8.30am

Registration and Trade Show

2 day conference pass
Member $895

Action Stations Panel Discussions

 

ROOM 1
Landscapes and Architecture

ROOM 2
Neighbours and Connection

ROOM 3
Here and There

9.00am – 10.00am

Towards Zero Carbon

Curated in collaboration with the National Climate Action Sustainability Committee (NCASC)

  • Stefan Preuss (Chair)
  • Davina Rooney
  • Andrew Noonan
  • Shanica Sanraek Hall
  • Jeremy McLeod

Indigenising the Built Environment

Curated in collaboration with the University of Sydney

  • Michael Mossman (Chair)
  • Sarah Lynn Rees
  • Kate Hislop
  • Jack Gilmer

Talking Architecture 

Curated in collaboration with Open House Melbourne

  • Tania Davidge (Chair)
  • Stuart Harrison (Co-Chair)
  • Anthony Burke
  • Leanne Hodyl
  • Lee Yang Yang

Concurrent Sessions

 

ROOM 1
Landscapes and Architecture

ROOM 2
Neighbours and Connection

ROOM 3
Here and There

10.00am – 11.00am

David Kaunitz + Ka Wai Yeung
Kaunitz Yeung Architecture
Sydney, Australia

Kevin Daly
Kevin Daly Architects
Los Angeles, USA

Kathy Waghorn
HOOPLA
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, New Zealand

11.00am – 11.45am

Morning Tea

11.45am – 12.45pm

Louise Wright + Mauro Baracco
Baracco + Wright Architects
Melbourne, Australia

Ganga Rathnayake + Milinda Pathiraja
Robust Architecture Workshop
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Ben Berwick
Prevalent
Sydney, Australia

12.45pm – 2.15pm

Lunch and Trade Show

1.00pm – 2.00pm

Australian Institute of Architects Annual General Meeting
Open for all to attend

2.15pm – 3.15pm

Lynn Wang
Lineburg Wang
Brisbane, Australia

Eliza Higgins + Cyrus Patell
Collective Project
Bangalore, India

Guillermo Fernández–Abascal
GFA2 & University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia

Action Stations Panel Discussions

3.15pm – 4.15pm

Four Decades of Residential Architecture

Curated in collaboration with Robin Boyd Foundation and the National Heritage Committee

  • Patrick Kennedy (Chair)
  • Louise Cox
  • Katelin Butler
  • Kerstin Thompson

Artificial Intelligence in Design and Education

Curated in collaboration with RMIT University

  • Roland Snooks (Chair)
  • AnneMarie Brennan
  • Xavier De Kestelier
  • Alisa Andrasek
  • Liam Young

Empowering the Profession through Legislation

  • Jane Cassidy (Chair)
  • David Chandler
  • Leah Lang
  • John Doyle

4.15pm – 5.00pm

Closing Remarks and Trade Show

5.00pm

Conference Concludes

Time Activity Location Details
8.30am – 5pm Conference Day 2 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf
2 day conference pass
Member $795
Register here
1pm – 2pm Australian Institute of Architects Annual General Meeting Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Convention Centre Pl, South Wharf
Open for all to attend

Day 2 Conference Sessions

Sessions Room 1 Room 2 Room 3
Actions Stations Panel Discussion Climate Action
Curated in collaboration with the Institute's Climate Action and Sustainability Taskforce
Indigenising the Built Environment Communication
Curated in collaboration with Open House Melbourne
Seminar David Kaunitz and Ka Wai Yeung - Landscapes and architecture Kevin Daly - Neighbours Kathy Waghorn - Here and there
Seminar Louise Wright and Mauro Baracco - Landscapes and architecture Ganga Rathnayake and Milinda Pathiraja - Neighbours Ben Berwick - Here and there
Seminar Michael Lineburg and Lynn Wang - Landscapes and architecture Cyrus Patell and Eliza Higgins - Neighbours Guillermo Fernández-Abascal - Here and there
Actions Stations Panel Discussion Heritage
Curated in collaboration with Robin Boyd Foundation and the Institute's Heritage Committee
Artificial Intelligence Legislation

Seminar Themes 

Room 1 – Landscapes and Architecture

Kaunitz Yeung Architects open this multifaceted thematic exploration with dramatic landscapes of vastness and remoteness, providing the critical contextual backdrop for the practice’s work, the arc of which has evolved around a core commitment to participatory design process. Landscape then comes into focus for Baracco Wright both as ecosystem to protect and preserve through skills required now to be taught in the academy to meet the new national standards of competency and as the political and economic conditions that must become more favourable to the application of these skills for ecosystems to be best served. Lineburg Wang’s Lynn Wang then conceptualises landscape anew again, this time as creatively generative proposition of limiting conditions and existing, embedded value to resolve through design.

Room 2 – Neighbours and Connection

Through insights and projects presented by near neighbours on a global scale, this program stream explores the notion of neighbour and offers a window into practice within their diverse locations sited across the Pacific Ocean and north into the Indian Ocean. Bangalore-based CollectiveProject’s Eliza Higgins and Cyrus Patell chart projects in neighbour regions connecting design and place through locally resonant materials. Kevin Daly reflects on housing precarity and associated density tensions within Los Angeles and reflects on the relationship of architects to building endeavour, introducing a notion of the architect as an industry neighbour. Robust Architecture Workshop’s Milinda Pathiraja and Ganga Rathnayake continue this exploration, conceiving of architects as part of a collective and embracing the role of good neighbour through initiatives such as local labour skill building.

Room 3 – Here and There

Three architects expanding notions of architectural practice through genre-breaking work – from product development, events and exhibitions, to counter-mapping and curated voyages – offer a collection of reflections on the theme ‘here and there’ in this program segment. Experienced together, these presentations trace common threads, widening and deepening the reach of architecture through research and contributions across various disciplines, before each veers gently away to explore subtleties of the ‘here and there’ dyad emerging from their work. Traversing practice in Spain and Australia, the academy and the office, the built and the unbuilt, the local and the global, GFA2’s Guillermo Fernandez-Abascal will present contemporary modes of practice. HOOPLA’s Kathy Waghorn shares tools and methods for place advocacy in Aotearoa while pointing to tensions of closeness and distance such as human and non-human life, and Ben Berwick of Prevalent looks to the present here and the future there in mapping points of confluence for architectural research and practice in the context of ESG.

 

Action Stations

Talking Architecture

Architects recognise the significance of good design but conveying its value to a broader audience remains a challenge. This discussion delves into the vital role of effective communication in enhancing public understanding of design’s impact on our lives. By fostering design literacy and encouraging community engagement, we can elevate standards and empower individuals in decision-making processes.

 

Towards Zero Carbon

As the built environment progresses towards zero carbon, architects stand poised to lead the charge. Join the National Climate Action and Sustainability Committee (NCASC) for an ‘Action Station’ session, where industry experts will share insights on navigating the path to net zero carbon. From advocating for sustainable practices to collaborating with industry partners, architects play a pivotal role in driving meaningful change.

 

Empowering the Profession through Legislation

Legislation often feels like a constraint for architects, but proactive engagement can transform it into an opportunity for influence. Explore how architects can actively shape legislative frameworks by collaborating with policymakers during the drafting process. By amplifying architects’ voices in policy design, we can advocate for measures that empower our profession while safeguarding the interests of the community.

 

Four Decades of Residential Architecture

Chaired by Patrick Kennedy, this panel session will explore four decades of Australian residential architecture through the winners of the Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture 1981-2021. This pinnacle prize has been presented by the Institute since 1981 and is awarded to residential house designs that set new benchmarks for meeting clients’ needs, responding to the site, and providing shelter that is at the cutting edge of the discipline. This session has been curated in collaboration with the Robin Boyd Foundation and the Institute’s National Heritage Committee.

 

Indigenising the Built Environment

Explore the intersection of architecture, culture, and community in this enlightening panel session. Dr Michael Mossman presents ground-breaking research on indigenising the built environment, shedding light on the National Standard of Competency for Architects and its cultural considerations. Joined by industry experts, Mossman explores the integration of Indigenous perspectives in architectural education and professional practice.

 

Artificial Intelligence in Design and Education

Join us for an illuminating panel session exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and architecture. As AI continues to revolutionize various industries, architects are harnessing its potential to drive innovation in design, planning, and construction processes. Discover how AI-powered tools and algorithms are streamlining workflows, optimising building performance, and unlocking new creative possibilities. From generative design to predictive analytics, our panel of experts will delve into the transformative impact of AI on the architectural profession.

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The Australian Architecture Conference acknowledges that our meeting in Melbourne takes place on Wurundjeri country. This land has been home to the Wurundjeri people for over 20,000 years.

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