MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 26 October 2009
‘When’ Venice calls for Australian cities of the future
A national design competition by Australia’s Creative Directors for the 2010
Venice Architecture Biennale opens tomorrow, and invites architects to
unleash their imaginations in addressing issues of Australian Urbanism.
Australia’s two-part ‘NOW + WHEN Australian Urbanism’ exhibition in Venice next year will
highlight three Australian urban regions as they are ‘now’, before dramatically representing
futuristic urban settings as they may be ‘when’ we reach 2050 and beyond.
Profiling Sydney, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise through stereoscopic visuals, the NOW
component will show contrasting views of these cities from macro-scapes at 20,000 feet to
‘helicoptering’ views of urban and architectural icons at close range.
WHEN is daring to imagine Australian urban spaces in 40 years’ + time, with the intent of
‘catapulting urban debate into eye-popping visceral entertainment set in a soundscape’.
Liberating architects from current planning and design constraints and encouraging
speculative, futuristic visions, the Designs for Australia’s cities 2050+ competition is being
held to source material for the WHEN part of Australia’s exhibition.
The creative team behind NOW+WHEN, John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec, see urban
transformation in Australia 2050 and beyond being driven as much by political and economic
imperatives as they will be by technology and design. Rijavec and Gollings are keen to see
designs which reflect these circumstances.
“We’re especially interested in really imaginative designs with a strong theoretical basis which
both integrate cultural influences and exploit the creative potential of architecture,” said Mr
Rijavec.
The directors will be looking for designs which apply to the city as a whole rather than infill or
minor precincts, and address fundamental issues of Australian Urbanism such as density,
sustainability and the effects of global warming.
“Ultimately we want participants to show us what we are likely to become and how our cities
will accommodate us as they develop in the matrix of world urbanism and what will be the
nature of our inevitable cultural transformation,” Mr Rijavec said.
A shortlist of entrants will be selected to develop their designs further, from which a group of
finalists will be announced and whose work will be exhibited at the Australian Pavilion in
Venice next year.
All competition information is available at architecture.com.au/nowandwhen
The Australian Exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale is a major project of the
Australian Institute of Architects. The Institute thanks its sponsors Austral Bricks, Virgin
Atlantic Airways, Zip Industries, Autodesk and Architecture Media. The Institute also
recognises the significant contribution of Network Venice practices and donors, and gratefully
acknowledges the help and support given by the Australia Council for the Arts, including the
use of the Pavilion for this exhibition.
Australian Institute of Architects | Media Unit
Ms Trish Croaker
mobile - 0408 756 163
trish.croaker@raia.com.au
Ms Kirsten Trengove
mobile - 0439 555 427
kirsten.trengove@raia.com.au
The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing more than 9500
members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment
by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Visit the Institute at architecture.com.au .
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