In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the opening of Sydney Opera House, the Australian Institute of Architects and the Opera House are presenting an Architecture and Design Symposium on Friday 25 October.
The unique one-day event curated by University of Technology Sydney’s Professor Anthony Burke will bring together Danish and Australian architects and designers on one stage to discuss the contemporary role of architecture and design in shaping our collective cultural imaginations and the cities in which they thrive.
‘With the Sydney Opera House as a rich source of inspiration across two unique cultures, the symposium will bring together Danish and Australian architects and designers known for award-winning designs of substantial cultural institutions, contemporary materials research, cultural policy and navigating urban politics, to look at how design shapes our cultural aspirations and our identity.
‘From its very inception, the Sydney Opera House was always going to be a world famous building, a symbol for an international audience of contemporary Australian culture, something that defined the city. The arts, media and government came together in their ambitions for this project, and as a consequence shaped the identity of an ambitious and confident young nation. In selecting Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the Danish cultural project became intimately bound to the Australian one, two cultures in one design,’ Professor Burke said.
Speakers at the Architecture makes the City symposium include:
DENMARK
Jan Utzon – Utzon Architects
Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen – NORD Architects
Dan Stubbergaard – COBE
Jakob Fenger and Bjørnstjerne Christiansen – Superflex
Mette Kynne Frandsen – Henning Larsen
AUSTRALIA
Richard Johnson – Johnson Pilton Walker
Camilla Block – Durbach Block Jaggers
Gerard Reinmuth – Terroir
Rachel Healy – City of Sydney
John Choi – CHROFI
Matthew Bennett – Bennett and Trimble
This is a rare opportunity to hear from some of Denmark’s most exciting architectural talents, including Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen from NORD Architects and Mette Kynne Frandsen from Henning Larsen.
Johannes Molander Pedersen and Morten Rask Gregersen established NORD in 2003 as founding partners, and since then have engaged in a broad range of assignments within architecture, urban development and societal innovation.
NORD Architects is particularly recognised for its work on public institutions, such as Copenhagen Centre for Cancer and Health, House of Natural Sciences and Vardheim Healthcare Centre – projects that redefine how architecture performs within the realm of public service.
Mette Kynne Frandsen has been part of the management team at Henning Larsen Architects since 1998 and was appointed CEO of the company in 2003. Under her leadership, Henning Larsen Architects has grown into a leading architecture company. Mette has strengthened the company internationally by expanding its network of clients and partners. Today, Henning Larsen Architects has offices in Saudi Arabia, Norway, Turkey and Germany.
Sustainability is central to Henning Larsen’s projects – both climatically and socially. A recent project is Discovery Centre in Damascus, the cornerstone of a training program designed to give Syrian children the opportunity to meet and discover the world through play.