Fringe events at the 2024 Australian Architecture Conference

The 2024 Australian Architecture Conference is drawing close and the Australian Institute of Architects has revealed the full line up of fringe events, alongside the two-day conference.

10:30am-12:00pm, Thursday 9 May

Rob Henry, executive director of the Institute's ACT chapter will lead a panel discussion with Gunjan Shah and Jamileh Jahangiri on the importance of diversity in creating an equal playing field in architecture.

10:30am-12:00pm, Thursday 9 May

The Institute 2022 Gold Medallist Sean Godsell will be joined by a panel of speakers who will share the unexpected twists and hurdles in their professionals journeys and how they've become catalysts for professional and personal growth. Speakers include Hamish Lyon and Emily Von More (NH Architecture), Hudson Smith (Phorm Architecture and Design), and Elizabeth Watson Brown (Greens Member for Ryan).

12:30-2:30pm, Thursday 9 May

These four tours of Melbourne architecture will run concurrently across the city.

Join Open House Melbourne executive director Tania Davidge to explore the history of Melbourne's public spaces. The tour takes in the State Library of Victoria, City Square, Federation Square, Collins Arch and the future Melbourne Arts Precinct and Greenline.

The architects own homes walking tour will involve traversing the banks of Birrarung/Yarra River in Kew to the private homes of some of Australia's most celebrated architects.

The Open Firm walking tour focuses on a cluster of architecture studios around Flinders Lane in central Melbourne who will open their doors to curious visitors.

The Robin Boyd Foundation will also open the Walsh Street House, home to seminal architect Robin Boyd.

4:30-6:30pm, Thursday 9 May

This panel discussion will explore the future of city centres in the aftermath of the pandemic, as well as how rapid adaptations, climate change, significant rises in living costs have also had impacts on CBDs around the country. Speakers include deputy lord mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece, Kellie Payne, director of Bates Smart, Katrina Sedgewick, director and CEO of Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, Mark Tait, group executive and head of developments at Investa, and Philip Oldfield, University of New South Wales.

6:00-7:00pm Friday 10 May

Explore the fields of design fiction and critical design in this in depth conversation between architect and film director Liam Young and architecture critic, writer and educator Naomi Stead.

7:00-10:00pm, 10 May

Following the announcement of the 2024 Gold Medallist at the Australian Architecture Conference, the gala dinner will be in celebration of their achievements, alongside past gold medallists Maggie Edmond and Ian McDougall. Hosted by NSW chapter president Adam Haddow and moderated by Justine Clark, the three visionaries will share their insights in the future of architectural innovation.

The 2024 Australian Architecture Conference takes place in Melbourne from 8 to 11 May. Registrations close 29 April.

See also the full program of speakers and program for the Wellbeing of Architects Symposium.