Following the Australian Institute of Architects' National Awards in November, industry leaders will gather to address the flaws in the design competition system today and what needs to happen for reform.
Read up on the provocateur and nine respondents below:
As a founding director of Durbach Block Jaggers, Camilla Block brings decades of experience to the practice, with contributions across all project stages, from broad site strategies to detail resolution - and, crucially, design competitions. One of the firm's recent competition wins is the renewal of Powerhouse Ultimo (with Tyrrell Studio, Youssofzay and Hart, Akira Isogawa, Yerrabingin, Finding Infinity and Arup). Block is the provocateur for the ArchitectureAu Asks symposium, posing the question, "the competition system is under scrutiny - how could it be better?"
John Wardle is a Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medallist and the founder of Wardle, an award-winning practice whose portfolio spans domestic dwellings, university and healthcare buildings, museums and large commercial offices. Among the firm's competition-winning schemes are the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre and the Batman Avenue Bridge (with NADAAA and Oculus).
In 2013, architect and urban designer Felicity Stewart won an international competition for a new Green Square Library and Plaza (with Studio Hollenstein). She now leads the Sydney studio of Stewart Architecture as a director. Stewart prides herself on her commitment to inclusive city-making, and is dedicated to defending the public interest and creating innovative design solutions that enhance urban life.
Phil Harris is a founding director of Troppo Architects, and has led the practice's involvement in information and cultural centres, public realm, and village centre projects nationally. The practice received the Global Sustainable Architecture Award in 2010 and the Institute's Gold Medal in 2014. Their competition-winning schemes include Henley Square (with TCL), affordable eco-housing at Whitmore Square, and a design for a new city in the NT's Top End.
Along with her husband Lindsay, Kerry Clare co-founded Clare Design in 1979. The pair were together awarded the Institute's Gold Medal in 2010. Their practice's award-winning work includes diverse projects from self-sufficient houses to major urban and public buildings, including a competition-winning design for the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) (with Architectus).
Having joined Kerry Hill Architects (KHA) in 1999, Patrick Kosky has held the role of director since 2014 and currently jointly leads the Australian studio. Under his directorship, the firm has been successful in design competitions in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, including the Walyalup Civic Centre and EQ West development. Kosky was an inaugural member of Western Australia's State Design Review Panel and has participated as a juror on multiple awards juries.
With more than 30 years' experience working as an architect abroad, Kevin Lloyd is one of the most experienced designers in Hassell's Sydney studio. His award-winning portfolio includes the redevelopment of Herston Quarter, a mixed-use and health precinct in Brisbane. Hassell has won numerous design competitions across Australia and abroad.
Bradley Mapiva Brown is the founder and managing director of Bagariin Consulting, a design-focused practice based in Ngunnawal Country in the ACT. He is currently leading the National First Nations Engagement Framework for the National Gallery of Australia's competition project to revitalise the Sculpture Garden (with CO-AP), developing cultural design principles, FPIC/ICIP protocols and national yarning circles. He serves as deputy chair of the ACT Heritage Council and collaborates with government, cultural institutions and design studios to advance ethical, place-based practice.
As director of Susan Dugdale and Associates, Sue Dugdale is based in Mparntwe/Alice Springs, where she works with her team to create better outcomes for the community, the town and the environment. The firm's work has won numerous awards and has been twice featured in the Venice Biennale - in one instance, as the result of a competition.
Marika Neustupny is a founding director of NMBW Architecture Studio, whose projects have been awarded, widely published and exhibited in local, national and international contexts. NMBW's designs been awarded first place in numerous design competitions, such as the recent NSW Pattern Book Design Competition (with Other Architects and Tarn) and Reimagining Where We Live design ideas competition (with BoardGrove Architects, BLOXAS and Glas Landscape Architects). In parallel with practice, Marika has been working in architectural design teaching and research for over 25 years, and holds a PhD from the University of Queensland.
Tickets are now on sale for the full-day ArchitectureAu Asks symposium on 7 November in Canberra. Architects can earn 3.5 formal CPD points. To find out more about the event and opportunity to purchase a ticket bundle with the National Architecture Awards, visit here.
ArchitectureAu Asks is a Design Speaks program organised by Architecture Media and supported by premium partners Bondor Metecno and Planned Cover, and hotel partner Ovolo Nishi.
