The Institute’s National Office recently conducted a review of the National Seminar Series (NSS).  The conclusion was that SA attendance figures made live delivery of NSS unviable.  This is extremely disappointing, but not unexpected in light of the very low attendance at recent NSS events.  The live stream option remains for SA members, although the number of SA members who access of this service is also extremely low.  The SA Chapter is exploring whether a remote video presentation supported by a local speaker can be offered.  This will again be dependent on attracting enough participants to make delivery viable.  Please let the me know if this is something that you would support.

In spite of this, the SA Chapter continues to maintain an active and diverse range of activities.  On the advocacy front the Chapter is participating in the ongoing planning reform process, participation in the Architect/Builder Liaison group and advocacy to the SA Government regarding procurement and the importance of architectural services in achieving quality outcomes and economic growth for South Australia.  The Adelaide Design Alliance, which is being developed to support and facilitate export of design services, is also continuing to gain traction, with a number of practices actively participating.

Coming events include:

• a discussion curated by the How Now is Soon team exploring outcomes from the National Conference
• a forum to explore how to build contact between academia and the profession to promote research activity that will strengthen and support architectural thinking and practice
• the second Architecture on Show event, which will focus on the Nightingale residential development model and feature James Legge from Six Degrees.  This will be complimented by a professionally focused event co-presented with ACA will be held on Friday 29 July
• a panel discussion regarding Design and Construct procurement.

Last and definitely not least, the presentation night for the 2016 SA Architecture Awards program are rapidly approaching.  We have received a record number of entries, making for a strong and diverse program.  It is fantastic to see such excellent and thoughtful work being produced in what continues to be a challenging market.

This year the dinner is being held at the Adelaide Oval, which was a star performer in the 2015 awards.  Seating is strictly limited and once the tickets are sold we cannot accommodate any more people.  About 70 tickets remain so, if you haven’t secured yours as yet make sure you do so as soon as possible.

The Awards program will be used as a vehicle to promote debate within the profession and raise public awareness of the value of architecture.  Follow on events include:

• Exhibition of the Awards entries at Adelaide Airport from 4 July
• A Lightning Presentation in late July (date tbc) to highlight projects from the Awards Program and promote discussion regarding what constitutes design excellence and how it is achieved
• A site tour of the Colorbond award winner will be hosted by BlueScope
• SPACE: Tours through Architecture, which is a new open house style program, and will provide tours through award winning projects.

These activities are offered in addition to regular offerings such as the President’s Breakfast series, Co-opertition , the Student Mentor Scheme and PALS.

We look forward to engaging with our members, design and construction sector stakeholders and the public through these varied activities.  However, as with NSS, the success of these programs relies on participation by the profession – as organisers, presenters and attendees.  It’s up to you whether you want to be part of a strong and vital architecture community.

Nicolette Di Lernia, Chapter Manager

The SA Chapter Council held its third meeting on Monday 30 May. A summary of the meeting is available for members below:

• Institute CEO Jennifer Cunich attended the meeting and provided the Council with an overview of the recent AGM meeting, IT system updates and meetings held with the other Chapter Councils over the past three weeks she has been in the role. Click here to read more from the CEO.

• A number of suitable options for the new SA Chapter premises have been inspected and the Council supported a proposal for the National Council June meeting. A reference group is being established to progress the selection process.

• The Council was informed that the National Seminar Series (NSS) will longer be held live in SA due to poor attendance, which makes these events financially unviable. Chapter Manager Nicolette Di Lernia is discussing alternative delivery methods for the NSS events in the Chapter with the National CPD Coordinator. David and Nicolette will also be organising a meeting with the Architects Board of SA to discuss CPD in South Australia.

• Chapter President David Homburg has attended multiple meetings and events over the past month, these include:

• meetings with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Department of State Development, Government Architects Network Australia, NSW Architects Board and the Office for Design and Architecture SA
• workshops with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure regarding medium density design guidelines,
• Adelaide Design Alliance activities including a meeting with the City of Charles Sturt and a meeting with potential Chinese aged care developers for the Australia China Aged Care Consortium with Walter Brooke and Swanbury Penglase Architects
• attendance at events including the Adelaide Design Alliance, President’s Breakfast and Co-Opertition
• judging for the Gavin Walkley Memorial Grant in Architecture and Emerging Architect Prize.

• The Council had a discussion about the outcomes from the lunch with the Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis as outlined in the Chapter President’s article, on 30 May 2016 (click here). This meeting involved members from HASSELL, Taylor Cullity Lethlean, Swanbury Penglase, Woods Bagot, Greenway Architects, Thomson Rossi, ARM Architecture and DPTI. The Council endorsed the forming of a working group to advise and formulate recommendations to the Industry Participation Advocate Ian Nightingale.

• The focus of media engagement over the past month has been to profile individual architects, as a way to put a ‘face to architecture’ in South Australia. This has involved direct submissions to the Sunday Mail Home Magazine’s My Place feature, and the City Messenger’s Eating Out column. These opportunities provide a very broad audience for our members to talk about how accessible and relevant design is to the way we live, work and play; and architects as important members and contributors to our society, with a particular focus on residential design and the City. The interviews will be published throughout the year. The Iconic Buildings in Adelaide segments on Afternoons with Sonya Feldhoff, 891 ABC continues to have a very positive response with listeners.

• Standing reports were given by EmAGN, SONA, and the Planning Reform, Export (China), Education, Residential and Communications task groups.

SA Chapter Council

Chapter President
David Homburg, HASSELL

Immediate Past President
Steve Grieve FRAIA, Grieve Gillett Andersen

Chapter Council members
Vanessa Amodeo, SkyCity Expansion Project
Sally Bolton, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
David Brown, BB Architects
Anthony Coupe, Mulloway Studio
Tony Giannone, Tectvs
Adam Hannon, Cox Architecture
Sean Humphries, Black Rabbit Architecture + Interiors
Eddy Lukac, Sole Practitioner & Archicentre
Leah Salamon, wiltshire + swain
Dino Vrynios, Grieve Gillett Andersen

EmAGN Chair
Candy Aung, Grieve Gillett Andersen

SONA representatives
Jordan Bails, University of SA
Chantelle Fry, University of Adelaide

During the latter half of last year, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) began changing the way that they procure building projects. In part the changes were driven by DPTI’s desire to get more time and cost certainty on projects, and in part to manage other project risk more effectively.

The first real manifestations of this change were seen on health projects, where the familiar Managing Contractor procurement was replaced with a Novated Design and Construct process part way through the design phase of those consultancies.

The CBD High School tender then saw a similar model, along with a relaxing of the Lead Professional Services Consultant role to include engineering businesses – in short, the lead consultant need no longer be the architect.

With the Association of Consulting Architects (ACA) and Consult Australia (CA), the Institute began an engagement process with DPTI to a) better understand what was driving the change and b) offer industry input into shaping any new procurement process. We are concerned that there will be a diminished role for architects as well as an implications for our business operations.

It would be fair to say that there are still a number of issues that need to be bedded down through further engagement.

In parallel with this, the Institute and the ACA have held meetings with the Industry Participation Advocate, Ian Nightingale, regarding the issue of procurement.

That work culminated last week in a lunch initiated and hosted by the Treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis. It was attended by myself, several other architects and an ODASA representative – seven architecture and landscape architecture practices in all – along with Ian Nightingale.

The discussion focussed on a recent statement by the Treasurer where he said “While the Industry Participation policy has been highly effective, we want to make it stronger. That is why I have instructed the Industry Participation Advocate to require that design professionals engaged by government agencies seek to meet local procurement objectives in project briefs”.

The central point made by the Treasurer at the lunch was that architects make decisions at the outset of projects that have a profound influence over whether South Australian products are used on building projects – think facades, where a design using precast is 99% likely to support local industry versus a curtain wall which is most likely to be sourced off shore. We are therefore pivotal to the success of any Industry Participation policy in the built environment.

It is a point first raised by Professor Laura Lee in her period as Thinker in Residence, and one that I and others have been personally making for a number of years now. It was therefore pleasing to hear it from the Treasurer.

He also discussed his view on the ‘social licence’ that Treasury should have, and that project decisions and tender assessments should not put least cost ahead of overall economic benefit to the State – another position that we have been advocating for a number of years.

And he expressed his view that local projects should be delivered by local practices.

The outcome of the lunch was an agreement to work with the Industry Participation Advocate to come up with a recommendation to the Treasurer on how on how design, specifications and procurement policy could be used better to support the Government’s objective of boosting economic benefit to the State through a greater use of local supply inputs and ultimately local jobs.

This was one of the most productive and engaging government meetings I’ve been to in my six years on Chapter Council. The relevance of our profession in the built environment was front and centre in the discussions, an advocacy position that Chapter Council has been driving for some time now.

It is a significant development for us, and it will be a topic of focus at tonight’s Chapter Council meeting.

We will be seeking views from members on how we can develop a recommendation to the Treasurer. We look forward to your input.

David Homburg, SA Chapter President

The SA Chapter has recently partnered with 891 ABC radio to produce a new  segment on Afternoons with Sonya Feldhoff.

This segment involves interviews with our architect members taking a walk through Iconic Buildings in Adelaide. Twelve buildings were selected with recording commencing in May. The interviews will be on air every fortnight until August.  To launch the program, two live public interviews were conducted at Adelaide Writers Week  with Lu Balsamo on the Adelaide Festival Centre, and WOMADelaide with Guy Maron on the Bicentennial Conservatory.

Tune in to Afternoons with Sonya Feldhoff on 891 ABC Radio, between 1-4pm on Tuesdays to listen to the interviews.

The Grand Lodge of Freemasons

As it approaches its 100th anniversary, step inside the hallowed halls of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Adelaide. Built in the 1920s, the lodge is five storeys of ornate architecture.

“It’s in a style that is known as the inter-war free classical style,” heritage architect Bruce Harry told 891 ABC Adelaide’s Sonya Feldhoff. No doubt controversial in its day, the architects did away with the traditional style of British freemasons and moved towards an American, new-world design.

Read the article on ABC News online.

The Colonial Mutual Life Building

The Colonial Mutual Life (CML) building of Adelaide has transformed several times in the past eight decades, but it is its heritage-listed facade that holds the most interest.

“It was built in 1934, right in the middle of the Great Depression,” architect Kerstin Bruneder told 891 ABC Adelaide’s Afternoons program. Ms Bruneder said the building was constructed in a Romanesque-style and was the tallest building in the city for 35 years.

Read the article on ABC News online.

The Torrens Drill Hall Building

The prestigious white Torrens Drill Hall is celebrating its 80th year this year. To mark the occasion, 891 ABC Adelaide took a tour of the site, which was previously used for a quarry and rubbish dump.

Today the hall still houses some of South Australia’s historical war treasures. Two smaller buildings — a hall and a storage shed — were originally built on the site, before the current building opened on September 22, 1936.

Read the article on ABC News online.

Adelaide Stock Exchange Building

Dwarfed by surrounding high-rises, Adelaide’s Stock Exchange building makes up in history what it lacks in size.

Opened in 1901, the Edwardian/Federation-style building was the operational home of the exchange until 1991. It then remained unused until it was bought by the State Government in 2007, restored, and reopened in 2009.

Read the article on ABC News online.

Christopher Smith art deco home in Prospect

An art deco house in Prospect, built in 1938 by renowned style architect Christopher Smith, remains a highlight of the Adelaide suburb.

David O’Loughlin, owner, convener of the Art Deco Society of Adelaide and Mayor of Prospect, took 891 ABC Adelaide Afternoon host Sonya Feldhoff and heritage architect David Brown for a tour. Prominent in the interwar years of the 1920s and 1930s, art deco became popular due to its simplicity of construction — square blocks with decorative shapes added on.

Read the article on ABC News online.

The Marine Terraces of Grange Beach

Built in 1884, The Marine Terraces at Grange Beach are the only three-storey Victorian-styled terraces ever built on Australia’s coastline.

The block of eight are only one-third of what was originally planned for the site, with dreams of a 24-terrace site not eventuating. Developers built the Grange Jetty, pub and terraces with a spur on the Port Adelaide rail line to help deliver Adelaide’s rich to their beachside residences.

Read the article on ABC News online.

The SA Chapter works directly with a wide range of media sources to create regular talking points and a broader discussion about the value of architects and architecture in the community through local and national media.

If you are interested in contributing editorial or have a good story idea, please contact Vanessa Thamm, Communications Officer by email vanessa.thamm@architecture.com.au or on 8402 5911.

Read through recent articles about our members and their work:

2018

June

Meet Studio Gram Fritz Magazine

May 

Architects want more say in approving new homes in Adelaide amid concern of design problems Adelaide Now

April 

City of Adelaide Prize – The Adelaide Review

March

2018 Design Forecast – The Adelaide Review

Feb

Art Deco Style on the Market. News.com.au

ABC Radio : Mario Dreosti on Adaptive Re-use

I recently had the pleasure of presenting the Institute’s annual student awards at the University of Adelaide.  These prizes recognise excellence in academic achievement across the five years of the program.  A similar prize program was awarded to students at the University of South Australia in December 2015.  Both Universities also offer student prizes sponsored by industry and bequests.

We extend our congratulations to all those students who were recognised in this way.  The recipients of the SA Chapter prizes were:

UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE

Micah Cruz – Level I Bachelor of Architectural Design Compulsory Courses

Isabelle Chua – Level II Bachelor of Architectural Design Compulsory Courses

Louisa Rebellato – Level III Bachelor of Architectural Design Compulsory Courses

Rhiana Lee Bell – Studio Cultures: Architecture (M) and Studio: Urbanism (M)

Minh Tuan Nguyen – Studio: Architecture (M)

Minli Xie – Final Architecture Project (M)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Barton Phillips – Documentation and Technical Studies – Year 1 DBAE

Cameron Stevenson – Communication – Year 2 DBAE

Janai Lemar  – History and Theory – Year 3 DBAE

Maegan Scott – Environmental Studies – Year 1 DMAE

Adrian Conterno – Integration of Research and Design – Year 2 DMAE

The SA Chapter also launched the Student Mentor Scheme for 2016 last week.  This program matches 3rd, 4th and 5th year students with architects and provides an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and experiences for all involved.

Students are the future of the profession.  Supporting and nurturing students and new graduates is important if we want a strong, informed and connected profession.  However, students are graduating into an increasingly complex professional environment with varied procurement and contractual models.  Rapidly evolving technical systems, material options and documentation platforms are also a reality.

This fluid professional environment make mentors and networks that support a culture of life-long learning highly valuable.  Thank you to all of those involved in the Student Mentor Scheme and other activities that build a strong community of practice.

As an extension of the popular FORM section of The Adelaide Review, FORM Journal is the newest stand-alone publication from Opinion Media.

This annual design review will showcase the most current projects built over the last 12 months in interior design, architecture, graphic design, urban planning and landscape architecture in South Australia and be a unique print offering within the state.

Determined to be an almanac of the most innovative and exciting schemes, the magazine will illustrate the vibrancy of Adelaide’s design community, and act as a cultural document for local, national and international audiences.

The inaugural edition of FORM Journal is programmed for street release in October 2016, and is positioned to support The Adelaide Review’s commitment to be the voice for design and architecture in South Australia.

CALL OUT FOR PROJECT SUBMISSIONS

The SA Chapter is seeking submissions from our members to feature in the FORM Journal.

Projects must highlight, celebrate & represent innovation within the architecture profession, be completed within 2015/2016 and demonstrate one of the following themes: collaboration, gathering places or medium density housing.

Please email the project/s name and relevant theme to Kara Growden kara.growden@architecture.com.au by Monday 16 May.

Practices will then be required to submit the following information below by Friday 10 June 2016:

• 500 words describing the project, scope, brief, scheme, how it address the theme and any awards won
• 3-5 images of the project
• names of the architect/practice, interior designer, engineer, or other design team members
• date of completion

If you have any questions, please call Kara on 8402 5911

This is an opportunity not to be missed!

Highlights from Chapter Council

The SA Chapter Council held its second meeting on Monday 18 April. A summary of the meeting is below:

• The SA Chapter staff presented a 2016-17 Strategic Plan for the Festival of Architecture and Design. The Council agreed that FAD would be a key public engagement strategy for the SA Chapter in 2017, and supported the proposed project delivery timeline, cost and time implications to the deliver the program in October 2017. A summary of the key developments are outlined below, and a copy of the Strategic Plan is available upon request.

› The Festival will be presented in October 2017 (tentative 4-8 October 2017) by the Institute (SA Chapter)
› A new Creative Director team will be appointed through an application process in mid-2016
› An Advisory Group will be appointed to provide strategic advice, increase funding and promote the Festival to a broad outreach of fields
› Presenting Partners will contribute $3,000 funding towards the delivery of the Festival and be involved on the Executive Committee.

• The Institute has been invited to contribute submissions for The Adelaide Review FORM Journal, which will showcase innovative projects in architecture, interiors, graphic design, urban planning and landscape architecture. All members are invited to submit projects to be considered for the publication. The Council decided to focus submissions on three key themes: Collaboration, medium density housing and gathering places. To submit a project for the FORM Journal, please click here.

• The Council reviewed potential properties available for lease for the relocation of the SA Chapter premises, presented by Chapter Manager Nicolette Di Lernia. Further inspection of the properties is currently being conducted and we will be seeking feedback from the members.

• Taskgroups have been established in areas of Planning, Export (China), Education (Primary), Education (Research), Residential, Procurement and Communications. Each Taskgroup is chaired by a Chapter Council member and consist of a wide range of members across the profession. If members are interested in joining one of the Task groups, please contact Kara by email kara.growden@architecture.com.au who will put you in contact with the Chair.

• Chapter Councillor Dino Vrynios, was appointed last year by the Council as the National Conference Fringe Program Curator. The program was developed to provide a local perspective of the people and projects that have transformed Adelaide. Events include the five precinct tours, the Conference Opening Party, and collaborations with JamFactory and City Brief guide. EmAGN Chair Candy Aung and SONA representatives Chantelle Fry and Jordan Bails have worked together with their Committees to present the SONA/EmAGN Bar Tour, Upscale and Emering Architect Prize Breakfast.

SA Chapter Council

Chapter President
David Homburg, HASSELL

Immediate Past President
Steve Grieve FRAIA, Grieve Gillett Andersen

Chapter Council members
Vanessa Amodeo, Renewal SA
Sally Bolton, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
David Brown, BB Architects
Anthony Coupe, Mulloway Studio
Tony Giannone, Tectvs
Adam Hannon, Cox Architecture
Sean Humphries, Black Rabbit Architecture + Interiors
Eddy Lukac, Sole Practitioner & Archicentre
Leah Salamon, wiltshire + swain
Dino Vrynios, Grieve Gillett Andersen

EmAGN Chair
Candy Aung, Grieve Gillett Andersen

SONA representatives
Jordan Bails, University of SA

The SA Chapter has been made aware of a current EOI that asks for architects to provide concept designs as part of the submission.  A response has been provided to the organisation calling the EOI, advising that the Institute does not support the request for free design services on the grounds that:

• This is a request for a significant amount of intellectual property and attracts liability whether the architect is paid or not.
• The provision of free design services limits the benefit that can be provided by an architect by constraining their access to briefing information and the client/users.

We have offered to assist them in developing a more suitable methodology for procuring architectural services.

Provision of free design services in a bid to win a project devalues the profession.  Architects’ ability to generate highly resolved, unique responses to specific criteria is the essence of what we do.  It is also what adds value to projects.  In addition to this, provision of free services may be in contravention of Registration requirements.

The decision as to whether to respond to requests for free design services is ultimately one for each practice to determine.  However, when making this decision we ask that members consider whether undertaking a project for a client who clearly does not value or understand what we do as architects is going to result in a commercially successful or professionally rewarding relationship.  The wider impact on the viability and standing of the profession also needs to be considered.

As Jon Clements noted in a previous discussion on the same subject, he is not aware of any architect who has built a successful practice on the basis of giving away their services.

It’s probably of no surprise that my column this week is focussed on the National Conference How Soon is Now that concluded here in Adelaide on the weekend. From my perspective, it was a great success, and many of us involved have had feedback to that effect.

First and foremost, the main themes that ran through the various presentations– Building Resilience, Transforming Populations, Creating Equity and Advocating Futures – were very pertinent to what we are experiencing here as a profession and what we are doing as a Chapter.

The SA Chapter Council has been touching on these themes, looking at new ways of how architecture can operate in and influence a changing world. Our key focus has been on creating a profession that has much greater relevance to our society (more on that topic later in this article). So for me one of the big take outs was the affirmation that we are on the right track as a Chapter.

Second, many attendees were impressed with the sophistication of the approach that we’ve put in place here in South Australia around our built environment, and the projects that it is delivering.

It is underpinned by the Office of Design and Architecture SA (ODASA). ODASA and its programs such as design review and integrated design had its origins in the Professor Laura Lee’s Thinkers residency and the Integrated Design Commission that followed.

It is something that the Chapter was actively involved with from the beginning of Professor Lee’s residency, and we remain actively involved through regular dialogue with ODASA. It is something about which we can be proud, both as a Chapter and as a design community.

And third, many people, particularly first time visitors, were pleasantly surprised about our city. Its scale, intimacy, activity and quality were certainly unexpected bonuses to the conference itself.

Many of us had conversations that started with “I didn’t realise.…” or “I had no idea that…. “, to which my response was often ‘that’s why we live here…..”. Despite the economic challenges, there’s plenty to love about this place.

So all in all, as well as being able to participate in some stimulating discussions, we, in our own understated Adelaide way, have been able to introduce many people to a place they knew little about, or had become unacquainted.

I’d like to thank our Chapter staff and members who put time into organising and hosting conference events for their efforts.

Finally, back to the topic of relevance.

A big theme that came out of the ACA survey on the state of the profession that was published in last week’s e-News was the topic of relevance. Many lamented the diminishing relevance of our profession and wanted to know what was being done about it.

Let me state clearly that this is THE focus of our Chapter Council. As I’ve stated on many previous occasions, almost all of what we are doing is in some way to support of increasing the relevance of what we do as architects.

So if you are of the view that we are missing the mark in some way, want to know more detail about what we are doing, or best of all, want to help, please get in contact with the Chapter office. We need and indeed welcome your feedback, in order to hone the work that we are doing, bring value to our members and strengthen our profession.

David Homburg, SA Chapter President