13 August 2018

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Practice Forum – Implications of recent tribunal decisions on DA assessments

A Practice Forum is being held on Wednesday, August 15 to discuss the implications of recent tribunal decisions on DA assessments, in particular recent RAMPAT decisions that have seen the interpretation of the Interim Planning Scheme change around “acceptable solutions”. Come along and hear from local government and planning experts and get insight and understanding into this issue.

Open House Launceston

We’re bringing Open House to the north in collaboration with Junction Arts Festival! If you are able to help as a volunteer or tour guide at one of the 16 buildings or 3 events on Saturday September 8 in Launceston, then we would love to hear from you! If you want a trip to Launceston to see Australia’s oldest working textile mill, see an ‘eye catching’ clinic and surgery, theatre treasures such as the National and the Majestic – killed when TV became king but living on as working printing houses and haberdashery stores – or just to help celebrate good design and craftsmanship, then plan a trip to Launceston.

Jennifer Nichols
Executive Director, Tasmanian Chapter
Australian Institute of Architects

30 July 2018

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Congratulations to all those worthy winners of the 2018 Tasmanian Architecture Chapter. I can safely say we held a very unique and successful awards night, courtesy of our creative directors, Bek Verrier and Liz Walsh, and the hard work of our chapter staff – thank you all. Our awards insert in the Sunday Tasmanian meant a run of 42,000 copies went out to the public the next morning, and with the People’s Choice Prize announced last week our state awards activities are done for 2018. I look forward to success for Tasmanian practices on the national awards stage later in the year. 

I would like to draw members attention to the following vacancies in our committees: Education Committee – general committee member vacancy; Practice Committee Chair – to commence at the start of 2019; and the Acumen Review Panel – which is a national panel. Please remember this is your organisation, and to ensure your opinion is heard and your experience and insights shared I encourage you to step up and fill these positions. I particularly encourage those of you who have been in practice for a few years now, so that we can reflect the diversity of the profession and benefit from new contributors. The Chapter is in the process of creating terms of reference for the committees and we will keep you informed as we introduce them. Please send an expression of interest to Jen Nichols, or give the office a call for further information, and encourage your peers to do the same as well.

If you would like to keep up with the detail of committee work, here is the link to monthly one-paragraph reports submitted to Chapter Council, giving a synopsis of what the committees are currently covering.

I would like to draw your attention to the draft of the City of Hobart Transport Strategy 2018-2030, recently issued to the public. It is an easy read, so please do make yourselves familiar with its content and more importantly please send comments by e-mail with ‘COMMENT: The City of Hobart Draft Transport Strategy 2018 – 2030’ in the subject line, to Jen Nichols for us to include in feedback to the CoH.

City heights are in the news again and we look forward to the official release of City of Hobart Council determinations in this regard in due course.

Finally, with the winter solstice behind us and increasing daylight hours soon tempting us out on other activities, now might be the time to concentrate on upping your CPD points for the year and ensuring you keep accurate records for any future audit of your activities by the Board of Architects. The new audio-visual equipment is up and running, allowing us to offer livestream for all CPD events from the Hobart presentation. These recordings will be available for two weeks after the session and can be booked online in the same manner as face-to-face CPD events. As ever, the Chapter has a swag of excellent CPD on offer, still at the affordable price of $15, thanks to our Tasmanian Government grant.

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

02 July 2018

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The Tasmanian Heritage Council formally marked their 21st anniversary with an event at Government House last Tuesday, which Jen and I attended. Their Chair, Brett Torossi, launched a booklet, “The Voice – Reimagine Tasmanian Heritage“, which is a toolkit for the community to use to tell the story of worthy buildings. Do get hold of a copy to read and begin applying in order to record a rich collection of stories about building and places of note within our Tasmania built heritage. The Governor applied The Voice’s story telling methodology beautifully to bring the history of Government House alive for us. 

Our 2018 Awards Exhibition opened in Hobart on Wednesday June 20 and is on display at Brooke Street Pier. It was great to enjoy the company of so many of you who attended. Thanks to our sponsors and chapter staff for making the evening happen. And thanks to Associate Professor Greg Nolan for opening the Exhibition and to Shamus Mulcahy of Bence Mulcahy, Bee Newman of Next 50 Architects and Beck Lauer, NAWIC President, for sharing insights into their experiences and deliberations as jurists, in conversation with me. We’ve received 1200 votes so far in the People’s Choice Prize, and I encourage you all to share the website with your friends and family.

With the exhibition came a flurry of media attention with Thursday’s coverage in The Mercury, my early morning interview with Ryk Goddard on ABC Radio Hobart, and Jen and myself featuring on Wednesday evening’s Southern Cross television news (click here to view the segment at 9:21 where Jen and I have swapped personas!).

Lastly, I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the Awards Presentation Dinner on Saturday to celebrate your successes!

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

18 June 2018

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We’re in the midst of the 2018 Awards program and, after a successful launch in Launceston, the exhibition will travel to Hobart, with the opening this Wednesday at Brooke Street Pier. We’re looking forward to seeing you all there.

The People’s Choice Prize is also up and running and we’ve already had a great response so far. Voting is open to all (however you need to reside in Tasmania to be eligible to win prizes), and we encourage you to share far and wide!

We’d also love to see you at the awards presentation dinner on 7 July. The evening is set to be a celebration of the best of Tasmania’s architectural talent, expertly curated by Liz Walsh and Bek Verrier. It’s going to be a unique experience and we’re very much looking forward to it – the link to book tickets will be released shortly.

This year, we’re also excited to bring Open House to Launceston, in conjunction with Junction Arts Festival. We’ll be running the program on Saturday, 8 September, so keep an eye out for the program, and also have a look through the full Junction offerings – there are some great things happening in the north!

Jennifer Nichols
Executive Director, Tasmanian Chapter
Australian Institute of Architects

04 June 2018

With the year flying by, it was lovely to see such a strong turnout for the Launceston exhibition opening on Friday, showcasing the full suite of entries in the 2018 Tasmanian Architecture Awards at Design Tasmania. The exhibition was officially launched by the Building and Construction Minister, the Honourable Guy Barnett MP, with the People’s Choice Prize introduced by Launceston Alderman and our Institute Ambassador in the north, Janie Finlay. Todd Henderson from Cumulus Studio, our 2018 jury chair, and I had a chat about their deliberations and experiences while on the awards trail, and I was delighted to present the Board of Architects’ Professional Studies Prize 2017 to Kwan Chak Law – keep an eye out for him in the future! If you couldn’t make it to the opening, make sure to visit the exhibition while it is in Launceston, and cast your vote in the People’s Choice Prize – there are a host of wonderful projects in contention.

We’ve been advertising the awards program more widely in the public realm; you may have heard me speaking with Belinda King on ABC Northern Tasmania on Tuesday morning (listen here at 2:01:35), or on Friday on The Long Lunch with Mike Dunphy on Launceston’s City Park Radio, building the profile of Tasmania’s architecture. We have also had a very successful meeting with Minister Barnett, and we hope to continue this relationship.

I’m heading off to Queensland for another busy week with the National Council meeting, followed by the National Architecture Conference: edge, on the Gold Coast. I hope to see many of you there!

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

07 May 2018

Last weekend the Tasmanian Architecture Awards Jury travelled 1200km criss-crossing the length and breadth of the state over two (long) days to visit 19 projects – a gruelling but worthwhile undertaking. Our thanks to those of you whose projects were scrutinised and to your clients for their understanding of the logistical challenge and helping make it happen. You are a star Fiona and Todd for driving everyone safely – and thanks to the jury, our staff and to all of you for the time commitment it involved.
 
Members will have noted that the new Minister of Housing, Roger Jaensch has announced some initiatives in response to the recent Emergency Housing Summit. At the April Chapter Council meeting we held a constructive discussion with the MBA and PIA representatives who attended the summit. With Parliament’s commencement of sitting this week, the AIA is one peak body invited to submit comment on a Draft Residential Housing Supply Bill 2018 to be introduced, and we will reflect aspects of concern that have been raised. The turnaround of this submission is extremely short – many thanks those who are assisting with this submission.
 
There have been some major changes in the structuring of the University with the School of Architecture now becoming a discipline of Architecture and Design within the School of Technology, Environments and Design (TED). Kirsten Orr is Head of School of TED with Associate Professor Greg Nolan moving into the role of Head of Architecture and Design. A revised curriculum is being developed for 2019 and the Chapter values the close contact we are retaining with UTAS staff as this process moves along.
 
We welcome Ishka Heart as the UTAS SONA rep and look forward to her input in the Chapter and to welcoming SONA members. Should you wish to know the make-up of our Chapter Committees click on the link here.
 
I encourage you all to trial the new online Acumen Practice Notes. They have been reviewed and refreshed and your feedback will be valued on the online tool which is the first aspect of the Institute’s website to be updated.
 
Finally if you’re not already registered for edge (the 2018 National Architecture Conference), PALS, our CPD courses or attending our more social events such as the wonderful Parlour event held by The Findlay Project featuring Jude Abel and Liz Walsh in conversation last night – then get onto it and do yourself a favour – there is plenty to do and it’s well worth your while!

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

13 March 2018

This week will see the election results finalised, and we congratulate the incoming Liberal government on its success. The Institute will continue working with the major parties and all stakeholders to promote the value of architects and good design, the importance of coordinated strategic planning and the work we, as architects, do in the community. The Institute is providing input to the Department of Premier and Cabinet in regards to the Emergency Housing Summit and the continuing strain on the rental market in Hobart. Architects have relevant skills and design solutions, and it is important that our voice is included in the discussion around this issue.
 
New and re-elected chapter councillors began their term at the Chapter Council meeting last Tuesday, and I’d like to thank Genevieve Lilley and Gaetano Palmese for stepping up to the role, along with Sophie Bence, Cath Hall and Paul Wakelam, who are continuing to provide valuable input with their re-election. I would also like to thank outgoing councillors, Daniel Lane and Ceridwen Owen for all their hard work.
 
International Women’s day was celebrated on Thursday, with The Findlay Project hosting a fundraising table at the Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s breakfast, along with NAWIC hosting an afternoon tea at Brickworks Design Studio.
 
I’d like to congratulate Jason Licht on being selected as a participant of the 2018 Dulux Study Tour. We’re looking forward to hearing about his travels when he returns. And congratulations as well to Carly McMahon, Liz Walsh and Bek Verrier who were also short-listed.
 
The upcoming Tasmanian Architecture Awards presentations to the jury are to be held at the IMAS lecture theatre, Saturday, March 24; it’s a wonderful chance to hear about the wide range of architecture that is being produced in the state, and I encourage all to attend. I’d also like to encourage those eligible to nominate for the Emerging Architect Prize, and recent graduates and students to submit work for consideration in the SWT Blythe Student Prize. Details are below in the newsletter.

The Tasmanian Mentoring Scheme is again calling for mentors and mentees – it’s a wonderful chance to be involved and the time commitment is up to the individual. Please get in contact with Bron at the Institute (Bronwyn.Hill@architecture.com) if you would like more information.

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

14 February 2018

As the Tasmanian election campaign rolls on, the Institute has identified its main priorities for the architectural profession in addressing the key challenges we are facing in our cities and towns.
 
Developed in consultation with Chapter Council, we have identified strategic planning, development and rapid change, economic growth, heritage and the built environment, housing affordability, health/ageing demographic, education and climate change as critical issues where the impact of decisions in one sphere often result in broad ranging ramifications across the others.

The chapter has recommended the introduction of a statewide architecture and design policy for high-quality urban design, as well as architectural input into future development, in the form of a State Architect or effective procurement and design review through an appropriate advisory body, design review panels or other methods, comprising suitably qualified and experienced architects and interdisciplinary experts.
 
The policy platform has been distributed to the Liberal Party, Labor Party and the Greens and is available on the Institute’s website at http://www.architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/tas-advocacy/institute-of-architects-tas-2018-election-policy-platform.pdf?sfvrsn=0.
 
Members are encouraged to use the policy platform to discuss the parties’ policies with their local members or aspiring members and push for the best possible outcomes in our built environment.

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects

From the Chapter President

2018 is well underway and likely to be another action-packed year. I hope all members had a wonderful break and have begun the new year refreshed and recharged.  The chapter office has had a busy start to the year. We said farewell to Dale Campisi at the end of 2017 and Lara Maeseele welcomed her third child – a baby girl (Ella Lara) and is now on maternity leave. In her absence, Katie Katos has taken on the CPD role and we have welcomed Fiona McMullen to the office, to take on finance and provide advocacy support to Bron Hill. With Jen still on a well-deserved break, I would like to thank Katie, Bron and Fiona for so ably running the chapter office in her absence.

Chapter Council election results have been announced. Congratulations to Sophie Bence, Cath Hall and Paul Wakelam who have been re-elected, and to Genevieve Lilley and Gaetano Palmese who will be joining Chapter Council.  I look forward to starting work with you at our March Chapter Council meeting. Thank you to all of the candidates for stepping up in the elections to work on Chapter Council for the next two years.

Thank you also to the outgoing councillors, Daniel Lane and Ceridwen Owen for your commitment over the past two years. And, my thanks also to the ongoing councillors. It is always a big commitment giving up one’s time to volunteer on Chapter Council and we greatly appreciate members’ willingness to do so. 

The Institute is also pleased to announce Vanessa Bird (Victoria) and Justin Hill (international) as our new nationally elected National Councillors. They will join newly elected Chapter Presidents Jenny Culgan (NT), Paul Trotter (Queensland) and Amy Muir (Victoria) on National Council from March.

With the Tasmanian election campaign now in full swing, we have identified our priorities and have distributed our policy platform to the parties. We are also finalising a survey for the parties or for individual Institute members to discuss with MPs or aspiring MPs.

The awards program is also getting underway – entries for the 2018 Tasmanian Architecture Awards close on March the 2^nd.  If you haven’t started your awards submission yet, now is the time to dive into it. My best wishes to all entrants for a successful outcome.

Meanwhile, I look forward to another year of working with you all to achieve the best possible results for our profession.

Yvette Breytenbach RAIA
President, Tasmanian Chapter,
Australian Institute of Architects