28 Jan

Typology display village
In response to the frustration with the limitations imposed by some current planning controls in the ACT, and in an effort to explore housing typologies which will be more in tune with the aspirations of the ACT community, the Chapter has been promoting a concept to design and construct a demonstration project containing several alternative house/unit types not commonly seen in Canberra.

The proposal has received significant support from within Government in the form of LDA, ACTPLA …and also including Minister Corbell himself. The proposal is to design and construct up to (say) 12 to 15 homes, across a variety of types, preferably in a central accessible location to meet the following criteria;

•    To explore suitable new housing types for infill sites,
•    To do so outside of the current regulatory control environment, so as to test and explore the validity of the new typologies.
•    To educate and broaden the Canberra community’s perception of what a house or home might be.
•    To explore avenues for alternative approaches to more affordable housing.
•    To be the basis for consideration and implementation of more flexible planning controls.
•    To promote the value of architecture and design to the community

It is intended to hold some form of design competition to design, build and market contemporary homes that respond to the needs of all levels within the emerging Canberra market without the normal planning controls inhibiting innovation. Part of the competition criteria will be that there will be mandatory involvement of a registered architect.

This will be a rare chance to demonstrate what architects believe the markets are crying out for, at a premium infill site, without being hamstrung by the current planning controls. It time for us to be an agent for change, to push the envelope!

Light rail competition
Some members who may have missed the members Christmas party would also have missed an exciting initiative. The big announcement of the night was the official launch of a design ideas competition for a Canberra Light Rail station with a trip for two to the Venice Biennale among the great prizes up for offer.  The competition is for ACT Chapter members exclusively including architects, graduate architects and students of architecture.

For more information please visit www.architecture.com.au/light-rail-station-competition

Elections
As many of you would be aware my presidential term comes to a close in the near future and for the first time in many years there will be more than one candidate and consequently an election. Combine this with the with the nomination of more people standing for Chapter Council than there are places available it suggests there is an increasing vitality and desire to engage with the profession from within the membership … Long may it continue.

 

Tony Trobe
ACT Chapter President