A national prize named after Australia’s internationally renowned living architect, Glenn Murcutt, will be launched in Melbourne at the opening of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ (RAIA) 2007 National Architecture Conference.
The 2007 RAIA BlueScope Steel Glenn Murcutt Student Prize will be launched at Melbourne’s landmark Eureka Tower to kick-start the RAIA Departure Lounge conference, running from today until Sunday at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centres.
More than 1200 architects and architecture students from around Australia and overseas will converge on Melbourne for the conference, with key speakers including top Australian architects Chris Bosse of PTW and Ian McDougall of ARM (master planner of Melbourne’s Docklands site), as well as international speakers from Norway, Spain and Japan.
The conference will also feature a presentation by the RAIA’s 2007 Gold Medallist Enrico Taglietti. The Gold Medal is a high honour to be bestowed on an Australian architect and recognises a lifetime’s achievement and contribution to the profession.
Key issues being discussed at the conference include cultural conditions in Australia versus nations such as Japan - whether Australians are experiencing a cultural lag and how is this affecting Australian architecture and architectural process; the revolution in computer software, opening up Matrix-like possibilities for design and architecture across Australian architectural practices; and who holds and drives the urban smarts in Australia, government or the private sector.
Launching the conference, Creative Director Timothy Hill said that the practice methods used by or forced upon Australian architects refract through the entire profession and the whole society. This conference gives architects the time to speak plainly about what is known to be crucial but in the past have been uncertain about broaching.
Launching the RAIA BlueScope Steel Glenn Murcutt Student Prize, Bluescope Steel Specifier Market Manager said that BlueScope Steel is a long standing supporter of excellence in student architecture and it is excited about promoting through the Glenn Murcutt Student Prize.
The prize is open to all students of RAIA-recognised architecture courses who have completed an RAIA/SONA recognised Australian architecture course in 2005, as well as undergraduate students enrolled in an RAIA/SONA-recognised Australian architecture course during 2006.
Submitted entries must demonstrate excellence in response to place, technology and Australian culture. The winner will receive $8000 and a trip to the 2007 National Architecture Awards, to be held in Alice Springs, where they will be presented with their prize.
Diary details:
- What: RAIA National Conference, Departure Lounge
- When: Thursday 19 April – Saturday 21 April inclusive
- Where: Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centres
- Format: Friday 20 –Saturday 21 April: Departure Lounge (reflective sessions) and Towards Integrated Practice (technical sessions).
- Highlights include: Spanish uber-architect Benedetta Tagliabue will address cultural issues, collective belief and urban smarts; SBS broadcaster Jenny Brockie will facilitate a session addressing key issues for the profession.
The RAIA National Conference is held in conjunction with designEX, the Interior Design Awards and Form & Function, a premier trade exhibition for the building and architecture industry offering new products and services for major building projects.
It is supported by the RAIA’s Principal Corporate Partner BlueScope Steel, Major Corporate Partner Fielders, Supporting Corporate Partner Adobe and Event Sponsors NATSPEC, Fabio Ongarato Design, Dulux, Form & Function and Graphisoft.
