The Australian Institute of Architects welcomes new National Council members, including four new Chapter Presidents.

Joe Agius, Simon Scally, Andrew Williamson and Steve Grieve were inaugurated as NSW, NT, Tasmanian and SA Chapter Presidents respectively at National Council in Canberra on 21 March. WA President, David Karotkin, was inaugurated for a second term.

In addition, Karotkin was elected by National Council as the 2013 President Elect. He will be inaugurated at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 29 May.

Ms Helen Lochhead, NSW Assistant Government Architect and Peter Malatt, Director at Six Degrees in Melbourne, have been nationally elected as Councillors for 2013, while 2013 SONA President Barnaby Hartford-Davis of RMIT University takes over as the student representative.

The new members join existing delegates Shelley Penn, National President; Paul Berkemeier, President-Elect; Brian Zulaikha, Immediate Past President; Jonathan Clements, Hon Secretary and Victorian President; Maggie Edmond, Hon Treasurer; Tony Trobe, ACT President; Shane Thompson, Queensland President; David Karotkin, WA President and Mr Bryan Miller, National Councillor.

National Council is led by National President, Shelley Penn whose tenure will conclude on 29 May at the AGM when current President-Elect, Paul Berkemeier will take over the reins. Outgoing Immediate Past President, Brian Zulaikha will remain on National Council until the AGM.

Joe Agius graduated from the University of NSW in 1992. He joined Cox Richardson in 1993 and was made a Director in 2006. Benchmark projects include the National Wine Centre in Adelaide, the ABC in Ultimo, the Australian Film Television and Radio School in Sydney and the 2008 Beijing Olympics Sailing Facilities in Qingdao. Recent projects include Project Star hotel in Pyrmont, NRP – a neuroscience research facility located at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick, and the new headquarters for the South Australian Film Corporation in Adelaide. Joe has been a member of NSW Chapter Council for three years and involved in a number of programs and committees including, most recently, the Institute’s Architecture Bulletin Editorial Committee.

Simon Scally graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1987 and worked in Melbourne for five years before relocating to Darwin and establishing Build Up Design. Simon has been a NT Chapter Councillor since 2004 and represented the Territory on the National Professional Development Committee, National Public Affairs Committee and National Built Environment Education Committee. Darwin is currently undergoing a period of significant growth; during his period as President, Simon hopes to raise awareness and discussion about options and opportunities this growth presents, in relation to increased urban density and high quality urban design.

Andrew Williamson is a partner at the dynamic Hobart-based studio IDW. After graduating from the Tasmania State Institute of Technology, Andrew spent a number of years in Queensland, working on large scale residential and tourism projects. In 1990, he returned to Tasmania where he has worked on many significant projects, including Kingborough Council Chambers and Hobart Legal Aid Offices. Recently, Andrew has been a member of Tasmanian Chapter Council and Chair of Continuing Professional Development as well as National Continuing Professional Development Committee Representative.

Since commencing private practice in Adelaide in 1981, Steve Grieve has been working with state and local government, developers, community groups and cultural institutions. This has equipped him with broad and detailed knowledge of the requirements of a wide range of clients as well as familiarity with urban design and planning issues. As a director of Grieve Gillett, Steve has been responsible for a broad range of projects in Adelaide and regional South Australia. He has had specific experience in tailoring listed heritage buildings and sites for arts, cultural and tourism usage. He also has extensive experience working with arts organisations, both as an architect and as a board member. Steve has a long association with the Institute: on advisory committees, as a juror and currently on the Awards Task Force committee.

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For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

The ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects is delighted to announce that the 2013 Presentations to Jury will take place at the ACT Chapter Office, 2a Mugga Way Red Hill, on Wednesday March 27 and Thursday March 28. The two day event is open to the public and all are invited to attend this unique event, allowing an invaluable insight into the ACT projects entered into the 2013 Awards.

Day 1 of the presentations will have a strong focus on public, commercial and interior architecture with inspirational buildings being presented, such as the Village Centre at the National Arboretum by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and The East Hotel by Cox Architecture.

Residential Architecture steels the limelight on March 28, with over 16 residential projects vying for the top positions. Gems included on the day include presentations from Jigsaw Housing, Paul Barnett Design Group and Colin Stewart Architects.

The jury presentations officially mark the beginning of the ACT Awards season. The Awards Presentation Night will take place in the magical National Arboretum on June 22.

The full ACT Jury Presentation schedule is available for download on the ACT Chapter website at www.architecture.com.au/act.

The 2013 ACT jury comprises:

MAIN AWARDS, CANBERRA MEDALLION, ART IN ARCHITECTURE, EDUCATION, COLORBOND AWARD FOR STEEL ARCHITECTURE AND INLITE LIGHT IN ARCHITECTURE PRIZE
Andrew Wilson – Consultant (Chair)
Paul Berkemeier – Paul Berkemeier Architects (Interstate & Academic juror)
Robbie Speight – Colin Stewart Architects (Emerging Architect)
Joanna Nelson – Joanna Nelson Architects
Pedro Geleris – Arquitectura Architects
Paul Daley – Sydney Morning Herald Columnist, Author and Playwright (Lay juror)
Warren Overton – Managing Director at Viridis E3 and Director at LAROS Technologies (Sustainability expert)

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For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

Two projects have taken out top honours in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Sunshine Coast Regional Architecture Awards announced tonight.

Cooroy Library by Brewster Hjorth Architects received a Regional Commendation and the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year.

‘Housed in a robust and low energy shell the interior spaces are bright and alive with colour, activity and natural light and support a range of community functions both now and with flexibility for the future,’ the jury commented.

The jury awarded the Sunshine Coast House of the Year Award to Majstorovic Architecture for their Yaroomba House project.

‘Modest and complete, this house design clearly displays the beauty of simplicity. A restrained material palette, exquisite detailing and clever planning combine with practical siting ideas to create a mature architecture.’

Eighteen projects were entered in the awards including a car dealership, a playground and a variety of houses across the categories of commercial, public, residential – houses, residential – multiple housing and small project architecture.

In total the jury awarded seven Regional Commendations in addition to the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year and the Sunshine Coast House of the Year.

Regional Commendations:

Sunshine Coast Regional Jury Coordinator Andrew Cooksley, Principal at ACArch, and Jurors Jo Case, Principal at Jo Case Architect and Amelia Loftus, Principal at Loftus Studio, along with Lay Juror Stefan Prystupa, Engineer at TOD Consulting Engineers, assisted the 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant (Woods Bagot), Deputy Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts), and State Juror, Paul Curran (PUSH), with selecting the winning projects, which now progress to the coveted Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

JURY CITATIONS

Cooroy Library – Brewster Hjorth Architects
Both building and landscape, Cooroy Library effectively inserts a contemporary architectural element into the rural townscape of Cooroy – connecting the main street with the community parklands and cultural arts precinct of the Butter Factory. Housed in a robust and low energy shell, the interior spaces are bright and alive with colour, activity and natural light and support a range of community functions both now and with flexibility for the future.

Calanthe – Tim Ditchfield Architects
Perfectly poised on an acreage allotment, Calanthe is a great example of a modern rural dwelling. The Linear plan is a simple resolution of the circulation and room relationships while embracing the best features of the bushland setting. A regional palette of materials including sand coloured rammed earth and Tallowood timber adds richness to the cleverly-crafted built form.

little cove house – Teeland Architects
little cove house creates a retreat that works within the confines of its site in a developed street. A well resolved plan provides a connection with the street while retaining privacy and living spaces that are strongly linked to the beautiful national park at the rear and west of the site. Skilful detailing of a limited palette of timber, glass and concrete complete this robust and tranquil house.

Peregian Beach Residence – Sparks Architects
A curved form visible from the street hints at the expansive view and cleverly zoned network of spaces within. Serviced by a circulation spine and stair ‘tower’ positioned to the back of the site, the floor plan provides a series of interconnected spaces across three levels, offering varying degrees of connection and separation to both the house, view, and the coastal conditions beyond. The prominent roof structure, bound by siting restrictions, becomes a feature reflecting and reinstating the original slope of the site and driving the aesthetic of the building.

Yaroomba House – Majstorovic Architecture
Modest and complete, the design of Yaroomba House clearly displays the beauty of simplicity. A restrained material palette, exquisite detailing and clever planning combine with practical siting ideas to create a mature architecture.

Currimundi Apartments – Macksey Rush Architects Pty Ltd
This boutique apartment building, sited on the southern shore of Currimundi Lake, enjoys views to the water and Glasshouse Mountains in the distance. Clever planning allows for a variety of user groups including extended families or individual occupation with a future option for a ground floor commercial tenancy. The highly resolved, refined interior spaces are unified with the robust exterior through the use of exterior perforated metal screens.

Elysium Playground and Park Shelters – Cox Rayner Architects
Careful integration has been considered in both the playground and shelters, which act as a series of small interventions across the site. The playground provides a suite of play elements that children can interact with in a number of ways and is both subtly suggestive and intriguing. Materials that will age and require minimal maintenance have been selected to fit contextually with the site.

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For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

Eighteen entries are in the running for honours in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2013 Sunshine Coast Regional Architecture Awards with winners to be announced on Friday 22 March.

The projects include a car dealership, playground and a variety of houses among others entered in commercial, public, residential – houses, residential – multiple housing and small project architecture.

Sunshine Coast Regional Jury Coordinator Andrew Cooksley, Principal at ACArch, and Jurors Jo Case, Principal at Jo Case Architect and Amelia Loftus, Principal at Loftus Studio, along with Lay Juror Stefan Prystupa, Engineer at TOD Consulting Engineers, will assist the 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant (Woods Bagot), Deputy Director, Liam Proberts (bureau^proberts), and State Juror Paul Curran (PUSH) with selecting the worthy recipients of Regional Commendations, the Gabriel Poole Award for Building of the Year and the Sunshine Coast House of the Year.

Projects awarded on the night will progress to the coveted Queensland Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 21 June.

Queensland 2013 Awards Jury Director, Mark Damant will present the Regional Commendations to Sunshine Coast winners at a special Awards ceremony at the Mooloolaba Surf Club, commencing at 6:00pm Friday 22 March. Media are invited to attend.

Projects in the running are:

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For media enquiries and high resolution images contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.

The Australian Institute of Architects is calling on Australians with a passion for promoting Australian architecture internationally as it launches its search for a Creative Director of the Australian Exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. 

From 21 March until 18 April, members of the profession and the public will be able to lodge expressions of interest for the Creative Director’s/Directors’ role.

The Venice Architecture Biennale is the world’s most important forum for the topics faced by architects and society as a whole, and plays an important role in determining the future of our planet. The Creative Director/s or curatorial team is the key creative intellect behind Australia’s participation in the event.

2014 – A new challenge and an even greater opportunity.
The 14th International Architecture Exhibition will be held for almost six months, from Saturday 7 June to Sunday 23 November 2014, twice as long as in previous years.

This extension is a major change to the scope of the event.

In addition, the existing Australian Pavilion is not expected to be available, due to the construction of a new Pavilion in its place. Not having a pre-existing floor-space to fill presents a myriad of possibilities as to how the 2014 Australian presence can manifest on this international stage.

These issues pose interesting challenges/opportunities for the Creative Director/s.

Along with these factors, applicants should consider:

-How they envision Australia’s participation in 2014 and what engaging story they want to tell an international audience about architecture and the built environment in Australia?

-Their response to Rem Koolhaas’s comment ‘Ideally, we would want the represented countries to engage a single theme – Absorbing Modernity: 1914-2014 – and to show, each in their own way, the process of the erasure of national characteristics in favour of the almost universal adoption of a single modern language in a single repertoire of typologies’?

A brief proposal is required that outlines the concept and the relationship to the ‘Fundamentals’ theme. It should also nominate the creative team and support structure and state the experience and capability of the proposed Creative Director/s.

One of the most important events for the promotion of international architecture, the Biennale allows for Australians to demonstrate their unique views and work, which in turn contributes to the advancement of architecture both domestically and internationally. The Australian Institute of Architects’ commitment to an Australian exhibition at the Biennale is substantial and ongoing.

With strong support from the Australian architecture community, governments and sponsors, the Australian Exhibitions at the Venice Biennale in previous years have attracted up to 93,000 visitors. More than 178,000 people visited the three-month Biennale in 2012, which included the participation of 55 Countries and 18 collateral events. Thousands of the world’s most influential architects, designers, urban planners, and critics visit the Biennale, resulting in considerable discussion and commentary in the architectural press and general media.

Expressions of interest for the role of the 2014 Creative Director open 21 March 2013 and close 18 April 2013.

Submission requirements for the 2012 Creative Directors’ role are available at architecture.com.au/venicebiennale from 21 Mar, or by calling the Institute on +61 2 6121 2000.

The exhibition is supported by Austral Bricks, Smeg, Zip Industries, IBL Limited, Café di Stasio, and Architecture Media. In addition, the Institute gratefully acknowledges the support given by the Australia Council for the Arts.

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For media enquiries contact:

Alexandra Cato
National Media and Communications Officer
Australian Institute of Architects
P. + 61 (3) 8620 3813 | M. +61 (0) 416 022 818
alexandra.cato@architecture.com.au

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.