events news in all places
Debating architecture 
Melbourne has a series of architectural debates running at the moment. I’m aware of this because I was in one. That is part of the reason it’s been a little quiet here – lots of things waiting to be written, but all for others. That’s what happens in careers sometimes – the hobbies start to take more of a centre stage. I write about architecture a lot and produce it a little.
The others on the panel have had similarly swaying careers, incorporating a bit of this, that and the other. And it’s a truth for many small practitioners, that they’ve diversified in order to stay independent, and to stay known and informed. They’ll find themselves writing, teaching, hosting radio shows, and even hard-coding websites… So in order to keep making their own architecture, they make fewer buildings.
Suzannah Waldren questioning the merits of hairitecture. Instagram by T_Davidge
So it was quite fitting that the moot for the first debate was, “architecture is ALL about buildings”. This and some of the other moots have a slightly chestnutty flavour about them, I think this weekend’s moot is, “Is less more, or a bore”. Perhaps we’d heard these chestnuts to the point that we’ve stopped thinking about them, and they do bear reexamination.
That’s how it felt on Sunday – all six of us had miraculously come up with quite different slants on our respective arguments. Having to knuckle down and come up with seven minute of riveting monologue that pushes an enforced opinion can make one feel a little mercenary. Such is the nature of debates – they present two sides of an argument to the audience jury, with no grey area to take shelter in. It’s a refreshing change in format at a time when most architectural talks allow the architect to take a slideshow down memory lane while regurgitating their own well-polished chestnuts.
What is… debates. Generously organised by Openhaus. Audio recordings may be added to the website after the series has completed.
12.10.12 in events
Venice in retrospect
I must apologise. A student from RMIT asked if I would publish this last October and I said, ‘sure!’ and then I somehow forgot. Although it is about a student’s visit to the 2010 Venice Bienalle, which was a while ago now, it is still relevant. It is about a student who goes to Venice to see the architecture, and instead ends up drowning in canapes and crashing parties. Which all leaves him feeling a bit sick.
I think I know the feeling.
“We soon find ourselves in a brutal conversation with a New York publisher, sparkling rosé in one hand, puff pastry in the other. I notice how quickly the information is exchanged while his eyes constantly check for potential beyond us. Who are you, what do you do, and what can I get from you: speed dating for the professional.”
Sergei Netchaef: Ice Cream (PDF)
[ photo: Sergei Netchaef & Paul Clemence ]
02.06.11 in events
Take a looksy behind closed doors
The nice people at Open House are opening the doors on Melbourne this Sunday. Huge array of buildings old and new – worth getting out of bed for this one. Check the website in case you need to reserve for the one you want.
THE WEBSITE
1. 101 Collins Street
2. Fifteen Restaurant Kitchen Tour
3. T&G Building
4. Collins Street Baptist Church
5. Manchester Unity Building
6. The Melbourne Athenaeum
7. 271 Collins Street
8. St Paul’s Cathedral
9. Melbourne Town Hall
10. Capitol Theatre
11. Russell Place Substation
14. Council House 2
12. Queen’s Hall – State Library of Victoria
13. Storey Hall
15. Melbourne City Baths
16. Treasury Reserve Walking Tour
17. Tasma Terrace
18. Fire Services Museum of Victoria
19A. Radiation Therapy Bunkers – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
19B. Research Labs – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
20. Orica House (formerly ICI House)
21. The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall
22. Federation Square – back of house tour
23. Draw the Line exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre
24. Shrine of Remembrance
25. Denmark House
26. InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto
27. Donkey Wheel House
28. Mission to Seafarers
29. The Harbour Family & Childrens Centre
30. Kangan Batman TAFE
31. The Gauge
32. Central Pier Docklands
State of Design
This starts this week – I have looked through the pickings and list most of the architecture-related ones below. Lots to do. Tried to post in the events forum but it broke under the strain (must fix that..)
www.stateofdesign.com.au/
Venues: Around Victoria
Dates: 15-25th July
State of Design Festival, an initiative of the Victorian State Government, will host over 100 interactive events, exhibitions, workshops and talks from 15 – 25 July! Make sure you pick up your official Festival guide at Melbourne cultural venues, cafes and stores, or download here.
Speakers at the many events include
Nate Archer
Editor, designboom.com (Canada)
Tracking Imagination
Nate tracks and connects cross-disciplinary design output from advertising to technology, sustainability and marketing. As design disciplines converge and overlap with media and technology what are positive collisions Archer sees emerging.
LINK
Leon van Schaik
Innovation Professor of Architecture, RMIT (Australia)
Tom Kovac
Professor of Architecture, RMIT (Australia)
Slow Places / Fast Systems
Professors Leon van Schaik & Tom Kovac ask whether the expectation of the future citizen can be met by the trajectory of the city. They discuss where sanctuary can be cultivated and built form crafted – slow space at a rapid pace?
LVS
TK
Niels Jonkhans
Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna (Austria)
Architecture of Necessity
As in most scientific disciplines, research in architecture is focussed on meeting potential needs for the future. Niels explores some of our more future imminent needs, discussing how his recent academic and realised projects challenge seamingly established methods of architectural design to offer new trajectories and future solutions.
LINK
A few of the manu events include
2040 City – Future Visions
Visions for the future of the city, a free public forum.
Presented by Design Laboratory and Melbourne Conversations
Wednesday 22 July
LINK
AA Round Table 01. Stories of the Recession: Embodied Knowledge / Future Possibilities
A series of robust public discussions, recorded in Architecture Australia
Presented by Architecture Media and the University of Melbourne
Tuesday 21 July
LINK
Abundant Highlights
An exhibition highlighting the breadth and depth of Australia’s architectural practice.
Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects
15 – 25 July
LINK
Architecture Bus Tour
An informative bus tour with architecture and design writer Stephen Crafti, highlighting some of Melbourne’s architectural gems.
Presented by Stephen Crafti
Saturday 18 July
LINK
Art Chat
Don Bates and Peter Davidson, Directors of LAB architecture studio, discuss their experience designing one of Melbourne’s most controversial projects.
Presented by NGV Australia
Thursday 23 July
LINK
Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter 2009 Awards Program
A series of floor talks complimenting an exhibition showcasing entries to the 2009 Victorian Chapter Awards.
Presented by Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter
6 – 24 July
LINK
Baking Architecture
An exhibition of architectural ‘food’ models ‘constructed’ by architects and chefs to create their vision of the future by baking architecture.
Presented by the Australian Institute of Architects, Victorian Chapter
15 – 25 July
LINK
Bendigo Bank Tour
A rare opportunity to learn about and see inside The Bendigo Centre, one of the first Five Star Green Star designed buildings to be built in a regional city
Presented by Bendigo Bank
Saturday 25 July
LINK
Bluestone Lounge Room – Designing the Streets of Melbourne
An exhibition using the outside and inside of the City Gallery to chart the ubiquitous, yet seemingly invisible role of design in public space.
Presented by City of Melbourne
17 July – 30 September
LINK
City Wiki
An interactive installation inviting you to leave your hopes for Melbourne’s future in Higson lane.
Presented by Geyer
17 – 24 July
LINK
Convergence @ Yarra Lane
A group installation that unites elite Australian design practices that will interact, juxtapose, contextualise and ultimately converge within Yarra Lane.
Presented by Michael L Yates & Co
18 July – 17 August
LINK
Culture Shift: An Indigenous Future for Design
A public forum exploring indigenous design.
Presented by INDIGO and Melbourne Conversations
Monday 20 July
LINK
Design for Fire: Challenge Pitch and Forum
A Melbourne Conversation dedicated to uncovering innovative design solutions that can help communities deal with extreme fire events.
Presented by Design Research Institute at RMIT and Melbourne Conversations
Friday 24 July
LINK
Design Guidelines for Licensed Venues
Launching a world first publication to help designers, planners, architects, decorators and licensees improve safety in licensed venues through innovative design approaches.
Presented by Responsible Alcohol Victoria, Department of Justice
Tuesday 21 July
LINK
Design Laboratory: Built Systems 2040 City
An exhibition documenting the work of five design labs from the disciplines of Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture, as part of the Design Laboratory 2040 City project.
Presented by RMIT University, School of Architecture and Design
16 – 25 July
LINK
Design Reporter
Design Reporter will work with local and international writers to propose an intelligent, inclusive and broad form of design journalism that attempts to position design as a part of everyday life, connected to other ideas that are prevalent in society today.
Presented by Chase and Galley
15 – 25 July
LINK
Melbourne Open House
A rare opportunity for free entry to Melbourne’s most significant buildings, many of which are rarely open to the public.
Presented by Melbourne Open House
19 July
LINK
Richard Canny ‘A Local Car for the Silent Highway’
This 2009 Alfred Deakin Eco-Innovation Lecture presents Richard Canny and his compelling demonstration of the near future of the family car.
Presented by The Deakins 09
Wednesday 22 July
LINK
Road Trip
A self guided, online tour investigating the designers’ intent behind ‘freeway architecture’.
Presented by Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design
15 – 25 July
LINK
Sculpted Packages – Reshaped
Contemporary practitioners working in architecture, textiles and fashion experiment with traditional Japanese Shibori techniques to produce a series of packages newly arrived in the post, torn open, and scattered about the space.
Presented by S!X, assisted by Leah Muddle, Milly Sleeping
16 – 18 July
LINK
Sense of Place
A presentation on new dialogues for urban design.
Presented by the Retail Design Institute in partnership with Design Victoria
Wednesday 22 July
LINK
Shelter Stories: Visualising our Urban Future
Visit this outdoor, temporary installation seeking to respond to the global challenge of slums and visualise the future urbanisation of humanity.
Presented by Architects Without Frontiers
15 – 19 July
LINK
Space re Place
An exhibition on new design philosophies, to illustrate, through various stages of abstraction, the work of designers and their collaborators surveying space (re)appropriation and (re)invigoration.
Presented by Melbourne Collective Design for Change
18 – 31 July
LINK
The Garbage Warrior: Michael Reynolds Public Talks
A rare opportunity to hear the Garbage Warrior speak about Earthships and his sustainable principles during his first visit to Australia.
23 & 25 July
LINK
The Nascent Present
The Advanced Architecture Polarity at RMIT traverses multiple theoretical, material, processual and intentional domains, united by a view of the present as both resilient and plastic and so subject to a continual re-making.
Presented by Architecture Program, RMIT University
15 – 25 July
LINK
What House is That?
The launch of Heritage Victoria’s new interactive website on housing styles What house is that? Online.
Presented by Heritage Victoria
Friday 24 July
LINK
What Makes Architecture Public?
This panel discussion will bring a range of opinions to the table, while locating the private financing of public infrastructure within a global setting.
Presented by URO media
Thursday 23 July
LINK
Too Much of Everything
A group exhibition exploring a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to design practice.
Presented by ffiXXed
16 – 25 July
LINK
Transformative Surface
Transformative surface is a fluctuating landscape that continually remakes in response to its environment.
Presented by Craig Douglas, Bridget Keane, Rosalea Monacella and Grace Tan
15 – 25 July
LINK
UK Overgrown
A photographic exhibition exploring the eternally tenuous relationship between man and nature.
Presented by Adrian Lander Photography
17 – 25 July
LINK
Urban [Di]versions
A set of design interventions, which occupy the surfaces of Melbourne’s hidden or ‘leftover’ spaces.
Presented by RMIT University, Urban Interior Research Group
17 – 25 July
LINK
LOTS MORE AT THE WEBSITE http://www.stateofdesign.com.au/