Design and architecture - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Call for entries | Announcements

Events

Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards - Brisbane

18 March 2010

The Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards will include the Glenn Murcutt Student Prize, Neville Quarry Architectural Education Prize, Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture and Dulux Study Tour winners. As an effort to highlight the achievements of people in architecture more firmly, the Australian Achievement in Architecture Awards will bring together a suite of existing annual architecture prizes. GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art).

IES The Lighting Society - International Lighting Design Awards 2010

19 March 2010

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) is devoted to the advancement of the art and science of lighting and the dissemination of lighting knowledge. 2010 will see the national awards (selected from the 2009 state-judged awards) announced in Melbourne at an exclusive dinner event on the Yarra river. Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne.

2010 Semi-Permanent - Sydney

19–20 March 2010

The 2010 Semi-Permanent design conference will feature speakers including: Craig Schuftan, author and broadcaster from Sydney and author of The Culture Club (a radio segment about the history of art and ideas in rock and roll – on triple j since 2002); Melbourne born Ashley Gilbertson, an award winning photo-journalist who currently resides in New York; and T-world, a magazine focused on T-shirt culture. The exhibition Mixed Business is a group show presented in conjunction with We Are The Image Makers, the Opening Hours, and Stupid Krap.

L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) - Melbourne

14–21 March 2010

The LMFF program is primarily made up of public events such as the L'Oréal Paris Runway, Fashion Collections presented by the City of Stonnington, SIDEWALK, Independent Runway, LMFF 2010 Business Seminar, the Herald Sun Marketing Breakfast, and Metamorphosis presented by Sportsgirl. In addition, there will be invitation-only events hosted exclusively for industry. Tickets go on sale when the program is officially launched on February 10, 2010. Various locations.

Penthouse Mouse - Melbourne

6–19 March 2010

Penthouse Mouse (PHM) is a pop-up shop that transforms deserted spaces into a temporary art and design hub. Marking the beginning of the L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, this temporary pop-up shop seeks out deserted urban spaces and transforms them into a temporary art, fashion and design hub.  In previous years PHM has popped up in Collingwood in a derelict warehouse, it even took over the old Fun Factory in The Capitol, South Yarra. This year, two levels of the Old Naval and Military Club, is the space for  a formidable front line of emerging designers and artists. Former Naval and Millitary Club, Coates Lane.

John Goulder, 11.12 Furniture - Perth

5 February – 28 March 2010

11.12 Furniture is the culmination of an intensive working relationship for the designer and for FORM. The exhibition features 11 new works made over 12 months in Midland Atelier, alongside key icon pieces. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of one of Australia's foremost creatives. Form Gallery.

Re-source: prospects for contemporary jewellery and object making - Perth

9–11 April 2010

The 14th Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group of Australia Biennial Conference brings together practitioners, educators, collectors and critics to discuss the theme Re-source. The three main themes of the conference will be Unearthing the Past, Materials Exploration and Prospecting Future Directions to further enhance and encourage a vibrant creative industry in jewellery and object making in Australia and beyond.

National Gallery of Victoria: Together Alone: Australian and New Zealand Fashion - Melbourne

1 October 2009 – 18 April 2010

This free exhibition will showcase the work of eight independent contemporary designers from Australia and New Zealand—Akira Isogawa, Toni Maticevski, MaterialByProduct, Romance Was Born, Doris de Pont, World, Nom*D and Zambesi. The exhibition will include over 40 works from the NGV Collection, spanning the last 10 years. Ian Potter Centre.

DesignTECH - Sydney

26 December 2009 – 18 April 2010

The DesignTECH exhibition, presented by the Board of Studies NSW and the NSW Department of Education and Training, showcases outstanding projects from the 2009 Higher School Certificate Design and Technology course. Products range from fashion and furniture to recreational, musical and safety equipment. Examples include a fold up kayak which converts to a shelter, a floating feeder for orphaned whale calves, an electronic signaling system for motor bike riders, a waterbike for sit down water skiing and a number of design award winners. Powerhouse Museum.

Studio Furniture 2010 - Bungendore, New South Wales

23 January – 21 April 2010

In association with Australian Wood Review magazine and Craft Australia, 70 pieces of furniture from 66 individual wood workers and furniture makers were selected to make up an extensive exhibition following an Australia-wide competition. Entries for the competition include stools, chairs, lounges, hall, bedside and coffee tables, cabinets, sideboards, mirrors, lamps, chests of drawers, bookshelves, boxes, desks and a dining suite. Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, Bungendore.

Australian Interior Design Awards - Sydney

23 April 2010

The Australian Interior Design Awards recognise and celebrate interior design excellence via a credible, industry-based program, which is backed by the Design Institute of Australia, the professional body representing Australian designers. Celebrate the achievements of Australia’s visionary interior designers and architects at the 2010 Australian Interior Design Awards. Sydney Town Hall.

DesignEX - Sydney

22–24 April 2010

Celebrating the living, multi-faceted world of design, the annual three-day show in its 22nd year, designEX is expected to spur professionals from all walks of the commercial and residential interior architecture and design industry into action. More than 300 interior design and architecture exhibitors will showcase their newest developments.

Form & Function - Sydney

22–24 April 2010

Form & Function is an exhibition for the building, architecture and construction industries. Form & Function is co-located with designEX, the largest interior architecture and design event in the Southern Hemisphere, and the 2010 National Architecture Conference. Along with seminars and exhibitions, there will be hundreds of products and services on display. Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

2010 National Architecture Conference extra/ordinary - Sydney

22–24 April 2010

Extra/ordinary will dwell on the culture of the extraordinarily ordinary. As an antidote to the incessant abstractions of globalisation, it will be gathering together those who have an enthusiasm for engaging with the contingency of the everyday: inventing new ways of operating; embracing collaborative approaches and initiating direct action on the ground. Producing outcomes that are innovative and utilitarian, provocative and pragmatic. Resolving ordinary problems in extraordinary ways. Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.

agIdeas 2010 - Melbourne

26–29 April 2010

2010 marks the 20th year of agIdeas international design week, which presents a series of events for designers. The program includes an International Design Forum conducted by some of the world's leading talents in design and creativity, a Design Course Expo where tertiary college information booths provide details of design career options, opportunities for design students and graduates to have their work exhibited at Melbourne Museum, insights into the ways leading design studios approach their work, and full-day workshops with internationally acclaimed designers. Various locations.

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, Fifteen years of innovation - Sydney

3–7 May 2010

Rosemount Fashion Week (RAFW) presents a selection of Australia and the Asia Pacific's best designers and their collections to some of the world's most significant members of the fashion industry. RAFW is an exclusive industry-only event, made accessible to registered buyers, agents, media, stylists and other fashion industry representatives.

Out of the vaults—Modern architectural drawings and plans - Sydney

3 June 2010

View a selection of delicate and outstanding architectural plans by leading modern architects. Curator Jennifer O'Callaghan will talk about the Mitchell Library's vast architectural collections—which number more than 113,000—and show some highlights including Jørn Utzon's drawings of the Sydney Opera House and a selection of Glenn Murcutt's award-winning designs. Shakespeare Room, Mitchell Library.

The Melbourne Design Market - Melbourne

11 July 2010; applications close 31 May 2010

Around 50 stalls are carefully selected for the Melbourne Design Market to balance homewares, fashion, furniture, graphic design, designer gadgets, gifts and jewellery for the thousands of people who flock to this feel-good event. As a stallholder, there is a significant opportunity to launch new products and ideas to the public and to those from business and industry looking for designers and new products. Federation Square undercover car park.

Victorian Government State of Design Festival - Melbourne

14–25 July 2010

The State of Design Festival is a key element of the Design Victoria Strategy. The festival was developed to increase the awareness of the value of design. Design for Everyone is the festival's public program. In 2010, it will communicate the importance of design to a broad public audience. The State of Design Festival increases the awareness of the value of design and showcases how design generates innovation, promotes sustainability and adds value to business and society.

10th Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class - Riversdale, New South Wales; Sydney

11–25 July 2010

Since the inception of this two week residential design studio program, participants from 46 nations have attended. Participants are primarily practising architects, with some professors, academics, recent graduates and a few senior students. The program includes extensive site investigations, intensive studio tutoring, progress design critiques and after. Glenn Murcutt is known for his 'singular practice' acclaimed through the award of the 2002 Pritzker Prize.

Featured projects

Swanbourne Beach Café - Perth Western Australia

March 2010

On the existing Main Beach, a new contemporary skillion shaped Café Restaurant is nearly completed. The building's main dining area faces the ocean views from its hillside location, with large expanses of glass bi-folding doors. The use of energy efficient materials such as Metecnospan roofing together with large internal volumes, plus adequate roof overhangs will shade the western sun, and help create a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Project design by DMBD.

House re-Growth Pod

February 2010

The House re-Growth Pod is a completely self contained concrete service pod. In the short term it acts as a habitable starting point for the building of a new home, which can then be built upon. The units can be prefabricated, delivered and connected to services rapidly allowing families to begin the process of re-building without displacement from their communities. It is a permanent and cost effective housing unit that has been used to assist in the rebuilding of the fire devastated townships of Victoria.

LightCycle competition

February 2010

LightCycle is a biannual sustainable light fixture design competition curated by Electrolight. In 2009 entrants were asked to create a sustainable light by replacing a compact fluorescent lamp (used in the 2007 competition) with a 1m strip of LED. The exhibition formed part of the 2009 State of Design Festival and was held at Guildford Lane Gallery in Melbourne's CBD. The website provides photographs of entry finalists and artists' statements for the 2007 and 2009 competitions.

Riddel Architecture transforms Laurie West's contemporary furniture showroom - Brisbane

January 2010

Queensland firm Riddel Architecture has resurrected a piece of Fortitude Valley's architectural history with 620 Wickham St. Originally designed by architect Karl Langer in 1953 to house Laurie West's contemporary furniture showroom, the original architecture gradually became hidden over time. The project was one of true, accurate restoration. Riddel Architecture researched every detail of the original design, hunting down working drawings, held at the John Oxley library. Karl Langer used natural daylight to light interiors, gardens and water inside and out to provide the character which seems so current.

Koda Lighting, Nimbus LED

January 2010

A new product from Koda Lighting, Nimbus LED lighting is one of the world's most efficient and environmentally friendly LED lighting currently available. Nimbus features include 50,000 hours of life and installation is possible in any surface, indoors and out.

Call for entries

Powerhouse Museum International Lace Award - national

Expressions of interest by 29 March 2010

The International Lace Award encourages contemporary lace in fashion, the built environment and digital multimedia. The Award defines lace as an openwork structure whose pattern of spaces is as important as the solid areas. Approximately 30 works will be selected for consideration for exhibition in July 2011. The selected entrants will have time to develop their proposed work from May until November 2010. Prize money winners will be announced at the opening of the exhibition in July 2011. The overall winner receives $20,000, and five winners will receive $4,000 each across the categories of Traditional techniques, Fashion, Built environment, Digital multi media, and Tertiary students in Australia and New Zealand.

Evolve Awards Design Competition 2010 - national

Entries by 30 June 2010

Designer Rugs are launching the inaugural design competition for interior design professionals. Six winning designs will be made into rugs, each limited to an edition of 30, and will form part of Designer Rugs' ID Collection 2010-2011. The competition is open to full time professional architects, interior designers or interior design industry professionals in Australia or New Zealand. Graphic designers can only apply if they are employed full time in the interiors sector.

craft + design enquiry online journal - national

Entries by 30 June 2010

This open-access, peer reviewed, online annual journal from Craft Australia focuses on research in the craft and design sector. Volume 3, 2011 will be on The Carbon Issue - sustainability in craft and design and is calling for papers. Volume 1, 2009 on Migratory Practices is online now. Volume 2, 2010 will be on Cultural Exchanges in Craft and Design.

Announcements

Mt Franklin Visitor's Shelter awarded Small Project Architecture award

February 2010

The Mt Franklin Visitor's Shelter, in the ACT, was designed to commemorate the history of the former Mt Franklin Chalet destroyed by bushfires on the same site in 2003. The design responds to new circumstances and requirements, providing interpretive information and amenities for day visitors to Mt Franklin and space for exhibiting historic artefacts from the former Chalet. The design makes reference to the lightweight construction traditions of the High Country employing galvanised 'iron' and timber. Winner of The Australian Institute of Architects Award for Small Project Architecture (ACT),The Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture (ACT. Architect: David Morris, University of South Australia.

Short list for the 2010 Australian International Design Awards

25 January 2010

Celebrating the best of Australian and International design, the short list for the 2010 Australian International Design Awards has been announced. There are 177 products short-listed including a recreational sport plane, a sheep drencher, flame retardant underwear garments and high-tech medical instruments. Presented by Standards Australia, the Australian International Design Awards is Australia's premier design assessment program, recognising Australian and international design and innovation excellence.

For more on Australian Design, see our Australian Stories on Design and Architecture.

Key online resources

• architecture.com.au projects
• Careersindesign
• FORM, Western Australia
• The Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW
• Review of the National Innovation System
• State of Design Festival
• The Art & Design Education Resource Guide

Collection resources and online publications

• Art Deco Buildings of Australia
• Federation houses
• Architecture Media, incorporating Architecture Australia, Artichoke and Landscape Architecture
• Architectural Product News
• Monument
• Indesign
• Powerhouse Museum
• Collections Australia Network
• National Library of Australia Pictorial Collection

Institutions and government organisations

• NSW Government Architects Office - Government architects since 1816
• University of Sydney
• University of Melbourne
• RMIT University
• University of Technology, Sydney
• University of NSW
• University of South Australia
• Newcastle University
• University of Adelaide
• University of Queensland
• Curtin University
• University of Tasmania

Peak bodies and associations

• The Australian Institute of Architects
• Australian Architecture Association
• Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
• Historic Houses Trust

People

• Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate 2002 - Glenn Murcutt
• Submissions from Australia to the Venice Biennale

Featured websites/projects

• Macquarie Lighthouse