spring 2013 BY DESIGN Sydney’s planning future REVIEW Reflections on Public Sydney: Drawing The City DRAWING ATTENTION The language of architecture DESIGN PARRAMATTA Reinvigorating public places In the public interest Documenting, drawing and designing a city 7. Editor Laura Wise [email protected] Editorial Committee Chair Contents Shaun Carter [email protected] President’s message Editorial Committee 02 Noni Boyd [email protected] Callantha Brigham [email protected] 03 Chapter news Matthew Chan [email protected] Art direction and design 12. Opinion: Diversity - A building block for Jamie Carroll and Ersen Sen innovation Dr Joanne Jakovich and Anita leadinghand.com.au 06 Morandini Copy Editor Monique Pasilow Managing Editor Our biggest building project Joe Agius Roslyn Irons 07 Advertising [email protected] Subscriptions (annual) Review: Reflections on Public Sydney Andrew Five issues $60, students $40 12 Burns, Rachel Neeson and Ken Maher [email protected] Editorial & advertising office Tusculum, 3 Manning Street Drawing the public’s attention: The Language of Potts Point NSW 2011 (02) 9246 4055 20. 16 architecture Adrian Chan, David Drinkwater and ISSN 0729 08714 Aaron Murray Published five times a year, Architecture Bulletin is the journal of the Australian Institute of Architects, James Barnet: A path through his city NSW Chapter (ACN 000 023 012). 18 Dr Peter Kohane Continuously published since 1944. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in articles and letters published in From the Government Architect: Architecture Bulletin are the personal 19 views and opinions of the authors of Non-autonomous architecture Peter Poulet these writings and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Institute and its officers. Material contained in this publication is general comment and is not intended as advice 20 Design Parramatta Kati Westlake on any particular matter. No reader should act or fail to act on the basis of Patrons any material herein. Readers should consult professional advisers. The Architecture Bulletin thanks Australian Institute of Architects NSW its Patrons for their support Canberra at a crossroad Brian Binning Chapter, its officers, editor, editorial 24 committee and authors expressly Gold Patron disclaim all liability to any persons Hassell in respect of acts or omissions by any such person in reliance on any of the Silver Patrons Review: Angus Hardwick and Marly Swanson Wood contents of this publication. Bates Smart share their experience of this year’s student Print and paper Cox Architecture 26 Printed by Rostone Print using Group GSA architecture congress – Nexus 2013 soy-based vegetable inks on FSC mixed source certified paper, Bronze Patrons manufactured to ISO 14 001 fjmt (Francis-Jones environmental accreditation using Review: A Country of Cities: A Manifesto for an elemental chlorine-free (ECF) pulps. Morehen Thorp) 27 Urban America (book) Richard Dinham Plates and paper offcuts from the Lend Lease Design printing process are recycled. Mirvac Design Tanner Kibble Denton Architects 28 Obituary: Ross Langdon Supporter Buzacott Architects Technical Sponsor On the cover: City icon; in 2013 Sydney Opera House Architectural Window celebrates 40 years of influencing and shaping public life. Systems Image: Brett Boardman. Architecture Bulletin Spring 2013 1 chapter news architecture student (local or international) festival continued to build on past years with Chapter Manager’s report This year’s Sydney Architecture Festival increased and it is anticipated that by the end of or graduate of an architecture course many excellent events. Jointly run by the was in full swing across the city from 1 – 10 the year more than 4,000 architects, members undertaking ‘work’ for a practice in Australia Institute and the NSW Architects Registration This year New South Wales was fortunate to November with many of the city’s cultural and non-members, will have attended at least is considered an ‘employee’; as such there are Board, SAF’s fundamental purpose is to host the National Architecture Awards at the institutions hosting a variety of architecture one Institute event during the year. It is very statutory obligations placed on the employer, advocate the importance of good architecture Sydney Opera House to coincide with 40th and design-focused events, including talks, pleasing to see members actively interacting for instance, the obligation to pay the and built environments to the community. anniversary celebrations for Australia’s most exhibitions, workshops and tours around the with their Institute and supporting their minimum wage. These are described in the iconic building. Hundreds of people gathered in metropolitan area. Over the past six months the profession. Finally a very happy Christmas and Architects Award 2010, which also covers The public interest the Concert Hall to find out which buildings Chapter has been actively involved in New Year to everyone. , architecture students. were chosen by your peers as Australia’s best in developing more than 20 of the 60 events held president s In determining whether a student or This spring edition of Architecture Bulletin, ‘In 2013. Congratulations to all the winners and during the festival and we would like to thank Roslyn Irons graduate is undertaking ‘work’ for a practice – the Public Interest’, explores the on-going especially to those NSW members who were the many members and students who NSW Chapter Manager message and is, therefore, an employee – the Fair Work vitality of the public realm in Sydney, including recognised this year. The Institute was also generously gave their time to assist in curating Ombudsman will consider issues such as the reviews of Philip Thalis’ and Peter John involved in a one-day symposium on 25 October and staging these events. Thank you also to the State of practice purpose of the arrangement, who derives Cantrill’s epic undertaking Public Sydney: to mark the 40th anniversary of the Opera City of Sydney for their continuing support of benefit from the arrangement, the time length Drawing The City – published earlier in the year House, with Danish and Australian architects the festival and Archikidz. These events could Having had the opportunity to meet with many of the arrangement, and the expectation of to much anticipation. It is a rich story gathering to discuss the contemporary role of not happen without this support. practices over the past few months, my sense is productive and useful output for the employer. comprehensively unpacked from the present design in shaping our collective cultural It has been another very busy year for the that the state of practice in New South Wales As many practices are increasingly right back to the founding of the colony. imaginations and the cities in which they thrive. Chapter. Attendances at most events have continues to be patchy and varied. Some approached by students and graduates Much advocacy from the Institute in the practices appear particularly busy while others seeking unpaid internships I alert you to your last few months has been around the public struggle. This seems consistent across all obligations under the law in this regard, and interest, be it on contentious and important Patrons news scales of practice and applies to Sydney-based, to operate within it. Penalties for breaches sites, heritage matters, planning for Sydney’s as well as regional practice. are significant. growth or government policy directions and As a result of this heightened competitive initiatives. It is important the Institute remains environment fees are unfortunately impacted; Ongoing engagement with an active participant with government, allied in some instances to the point where the State Government professions, industry and community in all provision of a quality service to our clients and, these issues, which have a clear dimension of hence, quality built outcomes are The Institute has continued to engage with public interest. unsustainable. This is not healthy for the the State Government on the imminent new profession and collectively diminishes our planning act. I have participated in a number Joe Agius capacity to do our work well. Apart from this, of discussion forums organised by the NSW NSW Chapter President and equally concerning, is the longer-term Department of Planning and Infrastructure structural impact on our profession and its along with other industry stakeholders, the standing. Across the building and construction most recent being on the transition of SEPP Tanner Kibble Denton have completed the Mirvac Design is currently working on a Cox Richardson has made detailed industry architects are among the worst- 65 into the new act. The Institute’s position final stage of the restoration and adaptation number of exciting residential projects submissions on the State Government’s new remunerated professionals. The sustainability on this is to ensure the positive aspects of the of the nationally significant Female Orphan nationally in response to growing demand in White Paper: A New Planning System for of the profession is dependent on our policy are not lost or eroded in transition. School at the Parramatta campus of the the marketplace. These projects are in various NSW and the draft Metropolitan Strategy, collective willingness to tender fees Some proposals arising out of the SEPP 65 University of Western Sydney (pictured stages of planning, from concept design emphasising the need for longer-term appropriate to the task and service. Often review, which was carried out earlier this above), with the project officially opened by through to planning applications and strategic planning balanced by plans to during difficult periods it is those newest to the year, will be incorporated and have the the Governor-General, Her Excellency the marketing. Mirvac Design worked in improve the city. It is important that our profession that are impacted first. This brings Institute’s support. The revised bills recently Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO on 24 collaboration with a number of other profession advocates for the city in the me to the emotive issue of unpaid internships.