I recently learnt of this event which may be of interest to my Au/Kiwi AEC readers. The event is open to both Australian and New Zealand architects and particularly topical given the rebuild work generated by recent natural disasters.
I just love the poster obviously inspired by Napier's, post 1931 Earthquake, iconic Art Deco architecture and flight.
Australian Architects “Cross Ditch” for Conference
The NSW Country Division of the Australian Institute of Architects will hold its annual conference in Napier, New Zealand next month.
Running from 1-6 October, Across The Ditch will bring together Australian and New Zealand architects to discuss the need for regional cities and towns to retain their individual character and the alternatives to universal anonymous development in order to ensure their future viability.
With many recent natural disasters in Australia, New Zealand and other countries including Japan, the conference will also focus on how contemporary architects can respond to the challenge of creating new communities while maintaining their regional identity and without necessarily replicating the past.
For more information, and registration details, visit http://www.architecture.com.au or see the details below
Release Details
The Australian Institute of Architects NSW Country Division will hold its 52nd Annual Conference in Napier, New Zealand this October featuring a range of speakers from either side of the Tasman including Chris Kelly (Architecture Workshop - NZ) and Gerard Reinmuth (Current Co-Creative Director of the Australian Pavilion at the 13th international Architecture Exhibition, Venice).
Running from 1-6 October 2012, Across The Ditch will bring together Australian and New Zealand architects to discuss the need for regional cities and towns to retain their individual character and the alternatives to universal anonymous development in order to ensure their future viability.
With many recent natural disasters in Australia, New Zealand and other countries including Japan, the conference will also focus on how contemporary architects can respond to the challenge of creating new communities while maintaining their regional identity and without necessarily replicating the past.
The conference setting of Napier, New Zealand provides a unique insight into such an alternative future that builds on the existing architectural heritage and character of a community.
Napier demonstrates the value of architecture to the sustainable economic development of a community – one which recovered from natural disaster to become one of the foremost regional centres in New Zealand – and the critical role architects and architecture played in this process.
Australian and New Zealand speakers exploring this challenge and providing insight into the contemporary design solutions that can contribute to the sustainable development and well-being of regional cities and towns include:
- Peter Steele, Moreland Foundation( NZ)
- Geoffrey Moyle, Construction Planning & Economics (Aus)
- Ron Massey, Napier City Council (NZ)
- Gerard Reinmuth, Terroir/University of Technology, Sydney (Aus)
- David Trubridge (NZ)
- Ian Athfield, Athfield Architects (NZ)
- Anton Tritt, The Buchan Group (NZ)
- Pip Cheshire, Cheshire Architects (NZ)
- Micheal Smyth, author New Zealand by Design (NZ)
- Christopher Kelly, Architecture Workshop (NZ)
- Mark Eggleston, Shirlaws (Aus)
- Jennifer Hill (NZ)
As a Director of TERROIR and Professor in Practice at the University of Technology (UTS) Sydney, Gerard Reinmuth is Creative Director alongside Anthony Burke for this year’s Australian Pavilion at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition in Venice. Both his professional and academic roles are concerned with questions around the agency of the architect in making our cities and the future of the profession in a globalised interconnected world.
Chris Kelly established Architecture Workshop in Wellington in 1992 and has worked on a range of commercial and public projects across Australia and New Zealand including the Aurora Place Tower and the Macquarie Street residential building in Sydney, and the redesign of the Oriental Bay Beach in central Wellington. In 2011 Kelly was awarded the New Zealand Architecture Medal for the Waitomo Glowworm Caves Visitors Centre.
Across The Ditch will be an opportunity to exchange and share ideas, a step into the future role of architects and their contribution to the community.
A comprehensive social programme accompanies the conference including the farewell Rugby Ball.
For more information, and registration details, visit http://www.architecture.com.au
