What happened to Architecture Week?

The SA Chapter used to deliver an Architecture Week every year in October but has not done so for several years. Why? Architecture week is meant to focus on delivering events and activities that connect with the general public to allow them to better understand the profession and its work. Instead the week was too focused on delivering member based events that failed to connect with the public. Therefore we made a decision to abandon it in favour of creating Place SA.

Of late however we have seen some changes within the profession. The first being a renewed focus on design and its value and secondly, the beginning of a transition toward younger members that are moving into higher levels of authority as we face a generational handover within the profession due to our baby boomers retiring. This has been amplified by the proliferation of new practices started over the last two years, a trend not seen in any other state.

As a result we have seen the opportunity to create a Festival of Architecture and Design, which we are looking at commencing in October this year. This would be an annual event that would both lead into and carry us beyond the Institute’s 2016 National Conference to be held in Adelaide. Plans are currently underway to deliver an exciting 5 day festival full of events, all of which will be designed to engage with the general public.

We already have a venue booked for our event hub, a brand designed and we are building a website. Over the next few months you will see a lot more about the Festival. We have a very enthusiastic core group of members wanting to help deliver this fantastic new initiative.

If you would love to be involved, please contact us at the Chapter on 8402 5900 or sa@architecture.com.au so we can get you on board in the early stages. The Festival stands to be the most significant initiative our members have delivered to the general public in many years.

– Richard Hosking, SA Chapter Manager