Clarendon Auditorium, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
2 Clarendon Street
South Wharf Melbourne Vic 3006
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Program Info
How might we reconsider existing Australian housing typologies, shifting them away from redundancy and towards retention and renewal? How might we re-evaluate the broader syntax of multiresidential projects – the spatial, social, ecological and financial conditions from which they spring and to which they can contribute? And how might we as designers work together with other disciplines – to reach beyond the bespoke, to open-source our methods and to mainstream our practices? Readymade will examine research projects, built projects and atypical methods and scales of practicing that consider the potential of working intelligently with what we already have.
12.30 pm
Presentation Ingrid Bakker, Hassell (Melbourne, Vic)
1.00 pm
Lunch
2.00 pm
Theoretical Case Study Maryam Gusheh, Monash University (Melbourne, Vic)
2.15 pm
Theoretical Case Study Damian Madigan, University of South Australia (Adelaide, SA)
2.30 pm
Theoretical Case Study Ross Harding, Finding Infinity (Melbourne, Vic)
2.45 pm
How can we make it happen? A panel discussion with Cath Evans, Property Council of Australia, Mathew Aitchison, Building 4.0 CRC, and Kaia McCarty-Smith, Wilderness Building Co, moderated by Laura Harding, Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects.
Together with Patrick Kennedy, Rachel Nolan is a founding partner of multiple-award-winning practice Kennedy Nolan. She is crucially involved in the design direction of the practice, with expertise in creating built environments that are inspiring and memorable.
Fascinated by both the material and the immaterial, Rachel is conceptually driven and pragmatic, focused on creating enduring settings for life.
Jade specialises in interior design, circularity, and innovation at Breathe, where her primary focus lies in creating socially and environmentally conscious designs. Motivated by a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of her projects, Jade approaches her work with a circular design perspective. Driven by a keen interest in sustainable materials, Jade assesses materials and suppliers to ensure they align with the rigorous standards upheld at Breathe. She has experience in creating healthy, non-toxic spaces ranging from multi- and single-residential to workplace and mixed-use spaces.
Since joining Breathe in 2019, Ali has been a driving force behind the front-end design team, leading the way with a focus on urban design, masterplanning and concept design to deliver highly sustainable architecture. Her passion for these areas has allowed her to take on a diverse range of projects, including multiresidential developments, commercial projects, hospitality venues and strategic planning initiatives.
Ali’s grounded belief that humanity and the planet matter drives the design outcomes of all her work. Her commitment to creating sustainable and liveable cities is a driving force behind her work, in which she aspires to deliver on a more and resilient urban environment for thriving communities.
Stephen Neille is a director of Neeson Murcutt Neille, formerly founding director of Pendal and Neille. Stephen studied at The University of Sydney, graduating with First Class Honours in 1988. He was awarded the RMIT 2007 University Research Prize for his PhD design project focused on the interface between architecture, landscape and spatial perception.
Stephen has taught at numerous universities across Australia and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Technology, Sydney. He is a member of the NSW State Design Review Panel.
Dr Tim Greer is a director of award-winning architecture practice Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects. He has an interest in existing urban fabric and the cultural elements it embodies, treating each project as an individual opportunity to create fresh contemporary forms.
Tim is currently an adjunct professor of architecture at Sydney University and holds a Doctorate in Architecture and Design from RMIT in Melbourne and currently sits on the City of Sydney Cultural and Creative Sector Advisory Panel.
Over the past 30 years Adrian has made a significant and sustained contribution to the profession of architecture at state and national levels. His participation in Australian Institute of Architects awards juries, both as a member and chair across Australia, has maintained a high level of critical discourse and clear advocacy for the impact that quality architecture can have in our community.
Board Director and Commercial and Workplace Sector Leader, Hassell
Ingrid has worked in architecture and interior design for more than 25 years and for more than half that time she’s been helping turn Hassell into the competitive, international design practice it is today.
Ingrid has led teams on a large variety of workplace, residential, hospitality, retail and commercial projects and is highly experienced in all areas of project delivery.
Maryam is an associate professor in architecture at Monash University. Her work examines the relationship between architectural practice and the social and political contexts in which the built fabric is designed, constructed and received.
Her interests include culture and identity in architecture, cross-cultural practices and inclusive architecture. Maryam often works at the intersection of academia and industry and is skilled at conceptualising and realising collaborations that span these worlds.
A senior lecturer in architecture at University of South Australia, Dr Damian Madigan coined the term ‘Bluefield Housing’ to describe established suburbs and the way they can support low-rise urban infill through adaptive reuse and additions. Currently working with the South Australian State Government to make his co-location model a new form of permitted infill development, his book ‘Bluefield Housing as Alternative Infill for the Suburbs’ (Routledge, 2024) has been described as “design research at its best.”
Equal parts troublemaker, technical mind and creative, Harding is one of the most enthusiastic, optimistic and cheeky engineers you’ll ever meet.
A rare combination of dreamer and schemer, he thinks big-picture about transforming cities around the world so they become completely self-sufficient. At the same time, he tirelessly works with his team at Finding Infinity to actually make it happen.
Operating across a range of scales from city-wide masterplanning to precincts, building designs and even temporary events, Finding Infinity is doing its best to turn dreams into realities.
Cath Evans is the Victorian executive director of the Property Council of Australia, the leading advocate for Australia’s property industry – the economy’s largest sector and employer. Cath is the principal advocate and lobbyist for the organisation on all matters within the state of Victoria.
Cath has served as director on several boards and is currently chairperson of Wayss. She has also served in an advisory role with the Ministerial Advisory Committee on NDIS and as committee representative with the Law Institute of Victoria.
Professor Mathew Aitchison is chief executive officer of Building 4.0 Collaborative Research Centre (Building 4.0 CRC) and a professor of architecture at Monash University. Building 4.0 CRC is an industry-led research initiative co-funded by the Australian Government and its work is focused on building better, smarter, safer, faster, and more sustainably, particularly in housing.
Over the past decade, Mathew has directed a series of large, collaborative research projects exploring the future of building.
Kaia McCarty-Smith is the founder of Wilderness Building Co, a residential and commercial building practice. Having 14 years experience in the building industry, he was initially critical of what he observed and wondered whether it was possible to do better. After observing the cultural dynamics and environmental problems that beset the industry, he formed Wilderness Building Co to explore what a modern, progressive and environmentally conscious building company could be. With a sharp focus on Passivhaus, reducing waste, adaptive re-use and the retrofit typology, Wilderness Building Co has recently completed Australia’s first net-zero retrofit of an apartment building.
Laura Harding is a Sydney-based designer and critic who has worked with the studio Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects since 1996. Her work encompasses a wide range of urban, multiple housing and architectural projects, many of which have received industry awards. Laura’s architectural writing and criticism has been widely published in a range of architectural journals, news media and monographs, and she was awarded the Adrian Ashton Prize for architectural criticism in 2013.
Jennie is a founding director at Officer Woods Architects, a senior lecturer in the School of Design at the University of Western Australia and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects.
Jennie grew up in the remote Murchison region of Western Australia and particularly enjoys responding to non-standard challenges and issues. She combines several roles in professional life: practitioner, teacher, researcher and advocate.
Nigel Bertram is practice professor of architecture at Monash University and director of NMBW Architecture Studio, established in Melbourne with Marika Neustupny and Lucinda McLean in 1997. The team’s architectural work has been widely published and awarded across categories, including urban design, single and multiple residential designs, small public works and adaptive re-use of existing buildings.
