Change. Architecture. Discuss. April 2016 A discussion paper on the future direction of architecture and the built environment sector in NSW and beyond Prepared by the NSW Architects Registration The Board wishes to thank those who helped to Board and released in 2016. The NSW Architects provide review and comment in the preparation Registration Board is an independent statutory of this document, especially Professor Roy Green, authority responsible for the administration of the Richard Thorp AM, Peter Salhani, Louise Cox AM, Architects Act 2003. The Board is fully funded by NSW Government Architect Peter Poulet, and Pro- the registration fees from individual architects, and fessor Gerard Reinmuth. We gratefully acknowl- architectural firms or corporations. The Board’s key edge those who contributed images including role is to protect consumers of architectural ser- Hassell, PTW, COX Architecture, Architectus, the vices by promoting a better understanding of ar- University of Sydney, and the University of New chitectural issues in the community; informing the South Wales. public about the qualifications and competence of individuals or organizations holding themselves Board Staff out as architects; accrediting architectural qualifi- Registrar and lead author, Tim Horton cations for the purposes of registration; ensuring Dep Registrar, Examinations, that architects provide services to the public in a Education & Scholarships, Mae Cruz professional and competent manner; and disciplin- Finance and Compliance Lead, Nadine Roberts ing architects who have acted unprofessionally or Projects and Communications Lead, Di Snape incompetently. Finance and Administration, Helen Eichperger Legal and Administration clerk, Gabrielle Shina Cover photo: The Goods Line, Ultimo designed by Aspect Studios with CHROFI Architects for the Level 2, 156 Gloucester St Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Image: Pho- Sydney NSW 2000 tos by Boaz. Unless otherwise noted, photos by T. +61 2 9241 4033 Stephen Pierce or Tim Horton. architects.nsw.gov.au Contents INTRODUCTION 1 THE SECTOR IN PROFILE 6 THE SECTOR IN CONTEXT 10 DESIGN AS THE FOUNDATION 29 DOMAINS OF CHANGE 36 CAPABILITIES FOR CHANGE 41 FIELDS OF GROWTH 49 WHAT’S OUR ROLE? 51 REFERENCES 63 1 Introduction 1 One thing we all know is that change structure is expected to occur in this is constant. Over time as our needs region in coming decades. The scale change, the environment we design of this need is driving the globali- and build for ourselves needs to sation of services skilled in design, change with us. Today, the greatest planning and development. change is coming from the speed with which we are urbanising. In Change in our own local communi- 1950, just 30% of the world’s popu- ties may be less dramatic, but still lation lived in cities. Just a hundred be familiar to all of us. We see it in years later, that will reverse, with the move to smaller homes for small- around 30% of the world’s popula- er families, or in single older people tion living outside of cities by 20501. who are living longer but looking for What’s more, the fastest growth is care and support as they age. Or in expected to occur in less developed taller buildings that can still promote nations, whose infrastructure needs close, healthy communities. This are greatest. Many of these are in change can be left to happen over our own region of the asia pacific, time, or be curated through design so it’s no surprise that around half of and with planning. Understanding the world’s investment in buildings, change helps us to better respond, transport, energy and other infra- plan and assist any transition. “...The current process of change has been called many things; the global economy, the information revolution, the age of com- plexity. Whatever we call it, this break with history has shaken the foundations of our economic and social lives, laid during the industrial revolution, and it has rendered vulnerable the various structures so carefully built upon those foundations, including the structures of the professions and the universities.”2 — PROFESSOR THOMAS FISHER — 2 McKinsey tells us that winning sup- the existing character of a place, port for change3 is part of making a close to where we live. Each of these city great. But architecture also of- artist impressions illustrate a precise, fers something more. It gives physical 3-dimensional form and scale. Unlike form to investment, planning policy the way we describe a new tax pol- and business models. And because icy, child care regulation or fisheries architecture uses visual means to initiative, the tools of communicating communicate, it is unique in its abil- change in the built environment en- ity to foster community confidence in sure it’s grounded in a place, and is the opportunity of change by show- anything but abstract. ing how we can do something better. Architecture’s tools of trade include But a better built environment is drawings, models, visualisations and about more than just how our build- simulation. All bring to life a kind of ings look. It includes better perform- positive progress in the world we ing workplaces that aim to be more build around us. We might see this productive, collaborative and inno- in the ‘artist impression’ prepared as vative; better public spaces that are part of a new light rail project; a re- safe, friendly, and vibrant; better hos- vitalised town centre, or a proposed pitals where we go to get well; better apartment building designed around homes more adapted to our needs. “..a better built environment is about more than just how our buildings look. It includes better performing workplaces that aim to be more productive, collaborative and innovative; better public spaces that are safe, friendly and vibrant; better hospitals where we go to get well; better homes more adapted to our needs” 3 As US architecture critic Paul Gold- good design, and support design berger says, “We build, in the end, be- quality. What’s more we understand cause we believe in a future - nothing the consequences of poor design, shows commitment to the future like and of standards poorly applied. architecture. And we build well, be- cause we believe in a better future”4. This work explores how and where But do we? When Galaxy Research architecture is, can and might help polled 2,500 Australians aged 18-64 to transform our cities, towns and re- years in June 2015, almost 97% be- gions. It explores the social, techno- lieved that cities and towns are better logical and economic shifts that the to live in when public buildings and sector is exposed to; the policy con- public spaces are well designed. 96% text in which the sector is positioned; of us believe that homes and apart- and it offers some thoughts on where ments provide a better living expe- fields of growth for the sector may rience when they are well designed, lie. We explore some key drivers of and 66% believe it is very important change, look beyond current occu- that buildings of all kinds integrate pations in an attempt to define the with the community, particularly at underlying capabilities that are the the street frontage5. The research sector’s strengths, and sketch out an shows that Australians appreciate integrated strategy for transforming “When Galaxy Research polled 2,500 Australians aged 18-64 years in June 2014, almost 97% believed that cities and towns are better to live in when public buildings and public spaces are well designed.” 3 4 architecture for the future. We want its people. Governor Macquarie har- to better support growth in architec- nessed our natural capital; quarried tural services in the region, and fos- Sydney sandstone from under us, ter transformation in the domestic tested our clay to make bricks, and market, with new pathways for the ground our abundant harbour oys- next generation of architects, digital ters for lime mortar. He surveyed, and designers, coders and entrepreneurs set the standard for measurement of to shape where and how we live. In roads and our early land economy. short, this work seeks to leave the And, importantly, he harnessed the reader with a better understanding human capital needed to transform of architecture’s potential; now, and materials, exploit technologies, apply in the future. standards, build and develop. At the centre of his program, Macquarie ap- And why now? 2016 is a milestone pointed Australia’s first Government year in New South Wales. Two hun- Architect, Francis Greenway. Two dred years ago, we decided that wat- hundred years later, we ask; what’s tle and daub was no way to build a next, and are we ready for it? What nation. The early European settle- are the new standards, materials, ment in Sydney Cove was in decay, technologies, and capabilities need- and struggling to meet the needs of ed for the future we want? 5 Who is the client base for architectural services? The 2 client base is split between residential building (36.3%), commercial/industrial building The sector (37.3%), public works (18.8%) and non-building work (7.6%). in profile — ARCHITECTS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA — 5 Traditionally, the economic contribu- signed by US architect Frank Gehry in 6 tion of architecture has been based association with Daryl Jackson Robin on the construction value of a proj- Dyke, contributes around $46m annu- ect, or the property valuation of a ally to the local economy, and that na- built asset. It’s true that architecture tionally, “archi-tourism” can be valued is a value-add embedded in construc- at around $827m6. tion and property more generally. But new research also shows we can mea- You may be able to value an icon and sure the social value of architecture, the economic and social value it gen- as well as the contribution made by erates, but can you place a value on the sector to industry innovation and the sector that created the icon in the STEM education in the expanding first place? field of tradeable urban services.