Two influential Spanish architects have joined the speaker line-up for the 2016 National Architecture Conference, How Soon is Now, taking place in Adelaide, 28-30 April.

Co-creative Directors Cameron Bruhn, Sam Spurr and Ben Hewett, have named ‘guerrilla architect’ Santiago Cirugeda of Seville and self-sufficiency advocate Vicente Guallart from Barcelona as additions to the comprehensive two-day program.

‘We’re very excited to announce two speakers from Spain, who come from opposing ends of architectural practice, but both show how architecture can impact on the creation of our urban environments,’ Sam Spurr said.

‘Vincent Guallart’s engagement across government, academia and commercial practice shows how working within establishments can generate fundamental and ambitious change at the scale of the city. He brought an ambitious and innovative approach to working as Chief Architect of Barcelona and also has a long interest in supporting architectural experimentation.

‘On the other hand, Cirugeda is passionately anti-institutions, whose “bottom–up” practice is formed to empower and support citizens in the construction of their public spaces. Aptly dubbed a “guerilla architect” by Al Jazeera, he utilises the skills and knowledge of architects to provocatively bypass and even harness the bureaucratic laws and regulations that control the city.’

The Spaniards join an already impressive list of local and international architects, educators and influencers who will deliver keynote addresses, panel conversations and project presentations as part of the conference.

Speaker line-up to date:

Santiago Cirugeda – Recetas Urbanas (Spain)
Vicente Guallart – Guallart Architects (Spain)
Amica Dall – Assemble (UK)
Sadie Morgan – dRMM Architects (UK)
Astrid Klein – Klein Dytham architecture (Japan)
Thomas Fisher – University of Minnesota (USA)
Julie Eizenberg – Koning Eizenberg Architecture (USA)
Nasrine Seraji – Atelier Seraji Architects and Associates (France)
Kevin Low – smallprojects (Kuala Lumpur)
John Wardle – John Wardle Architects (Aus)
Sandra Kaji-O’Grady – University of Queensland (Aus)
Tim Williams – Committee for Sydney (Aus)
Greg Mackie OAM – Ideas Wrangler (Aus)
Kerstin Thompson – Kerstin Thompson Architects (Aus)

Early bird registrations close on Thursday 10 March. More details available at wp.architecture.com.au/howsoonisnow

The best new local projects have been honoured in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2016 Central Queensland Regional Architecture Awards announced Friday in Yeppoon. 

The jury awarded Regional Commendations to seven projects (see list below) which will now progress to the coveted State Architecture Awards to be announced in Brisbane on 24 June.

In addition to a Regional Commendation, CQU Health Clinic Extension by Reddog Architects was presented with the J W Wilson Award for Building of the Year.

‘The CQU Health Clinic expansion integrates both the professional requirements of external parties, and a public interface, with the university’s learning objects. Sky-lighting, spatial interplay and a palette of natural colours bring a sophisticated quality to circulation spaces and a fresh sensibility to the healthcare typology,’ the jury noted.

St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, Stage 1 by Bold Architecture + Interior Design was also awarded Regional Project of the Year in addition to a Regional Commendation.

Queensland 2016 Awards Jury Director, Michael Lavery (m3architecture), presented the Regional Commendations to the Central Queensland winners at the Yeppoon Town Hall on Friday 12 February.

Regional Commendations:

On behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects, National President, Jon Clements has expressed great sadness at the death of advocate, humanitarian and Founding Director of Healthabitat, Paul Pholeros.

‘This is a very sad time and great loss for our community,’ Jon Clements said.

‘With his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those living in disadvantaged communities around the world through his award-winning health and sanitation programs, Paul has long been a source of inspiration to us.

‘Anyone who had the opportunity to hear him speak about his work, could not help but be moved, changed in some fundamental way.

‘His exceptional work has made valuable impact in Indigenous and disadvantaged communities across Australia and around the world from Johannesburg to New York and will leave an enduring legacy on those who were fortunate enough to meet him and those who benefitted from his generosity.’

2014 Gold Medallists and friends Phil Harris and Adrian Welke of Troppo added:

‘In the politically charged world of Indigenous affairs, Paul never stepped back from simply telling it straight. As the best architect should be, he was a champion for his client. He was our mentor, our guide, and always our friend, with a twinkle in his eye and a self-deprecating quip at the ready.

‘It is impossible to imagine his lean and taught bower and studio high on Bilgola Plateau – the platform refuge shared with his partner Sandra – without his big presence. It was here, between months on the road, surrounded by bush and a big view, he would recharge, to continue his polite but unwavering 30 year battle against the antipathy and prejudice that precludes our first Australians in sharing our society’s riches of housing, health and education.

‘The torch will be carried on, for he has taught us well – but how well and with what authority is the question, and, for all of us, our individual challenge.’

Richard Leplastrier, 1999 Gold Medallist, shared his thoughts:

‘Dr Phol as he was lovingly known to so many of us, realised from the youngest age as a student that Aboriginal culture and the land was the spiritual backbone of this country.

‘From that time on, he unrelentingly pursued its sustenance through his brilliant work with Indigenous communities. The background financial support for his Healthabitat practices has been provided by a series of small, modest beautiful buildings done by him over the years … thus showing us an exemplary ethic. What an example. What a tour de force. What a life. What a loss. Game set and match Dr Phol.’

A Life Fellow of the Institute, Paul Pholeros, along with Healthabitat, was the winner of the UN Habitat and Building and Social Housing Foundation’s 2011 World Habitat Award.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2007 for ‘service to the community by improving the living conditions and, consequently, the health of Indigenous communities through the design, development and improvement of housing and the surrounding living environment and working with, and creating employment for, local Indigenous people’.

In 2012, Paul and his Healthabitat colleagues were one of six teams that participated in Australia’s exhibition Formations at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Their contribution included a touring team consulting local Venetians about ways to improve their homes and educating the public about connections between housing design and health issues based on their World Habitat Award winning Housing for Health program.

Paul was a speaker at the 2015 Australasian Student Congress in Melbourne, the 2011 recipient of the Institute’s Leadership in Sustainability Prize, winner of a Special Jury Prize from the 2008 National Architecture Awards Jury for architectural contribution to Indigenous housing over 25 years and received the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ President’s Award in 1994 for the publication of Housing for Health: Towards an improved living environment for Aboriginal Australians.