13 November, 2017
Vale Neil Clerehan LFRAIA, 29.12.1922 – 10.11.2017 architect and writer, will be remembered for his extraordinary six-decade career, the buildings he has left us, his wit and his passion as he remained an ‘unreconstructed modernist’. Clerehan was Director of the RVIA Small Homes service from 1953-1961, designing approximately 130 houses and writing weekly articles for The Age newspaper. In 1977 he was amongst the first to become a Victorian Life Fellow of the RAIA, and in 2004 was awarded the AIA’s Victorian Presidents Award for the Hall of Fame. In 2016 his most celebrated house the Fenner House 1964 was added to the Victorian Heritage Register. Our thoughts are with his wife Sonia, his four children and grandchildren.
Neil Clerehan LFRAIA. Photo: Paul Jeffers.
This week we look forward to Peter Elliott’s AS Hook Address hosted by RMIT University, the last lecture of Peter’s National Gold Medal tour, as well as the second in our series of free MPavilion Friday Night Debates. The final debate called ‘Is Affordable Housing Just for the Middle Class’ is on 24 Nov from 6-7pm. All welcome.
We are actively increasing our public engagement through partnering with allied organisations to extend the reach of our message. Last month we partnered with MPavilion on their opening event ‘Grandstand’ with Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten in conversation with our members, and are now working closely with Creative Victoria on the 2018 Hong Kong Business of Design Week to create a reputation for Melbourne as a city of architecture and design.
Every year our Chapter Council and Committees produce numerous submissions to ensure government policies and programs are well informed, with a focus articulating the importance of making our cities and towns equitable, well designed and sustainable. Following the successful National submission to the Finkel Review and Senate Enquiry into non-conforming building products, we have had local representation on the stakeholder reference group to the Victorian Cladding Taskforce ensuring the architect’s voice is understood. We are also represented on Building Regulations Sunset Review at DELWP, as well as Melbourne City Council workshop for their Urban Design Policy refresh for the Central City and Southbank. We are currently working on a response to the Fisherman’s Bend Draft Framework, and a response to the discussion paper ‘Reforming the Victorian Planning Provisions’ through DELWP’s Smart Planning program.
Last week National Council, which I sit on as Chapter President, viewed the soon to be released three-year Strategic Plan, an extension of the work already undertaken over the recent period of renewal and transformation. After a period of research, the Institute is now more focused on delivering the professional leadership and services needed by practitioners. Capacity building, with the focus on members and the profession, will ensure the Institute grows and actively engages into the future.The Institute is one of the oldest institutions in Victoria, older than any political party. This year the Victorian Chapter celebrated 161 years. It is this longevity that motivates us to ensure we plan well into the future, building a stronger voice for architecture and a stronger profession for architects.
Vanessa Bird
Victorian Chapter President