Quality design crucial to Adelaide's future

Wednesday, 29 October 2008

A University of Adelaide forum to address the key challenges that confront Adelaide's urban design industry will be held at the National Wine Centre this Friday 31 October.

The Adelaide Forum brings together a panel of high profile architects from across Australia to discuss ways in which designers, the community, politicians and developers can create a city "hungry for design".

Professor Ian McDougall from the University's School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design will facilitate the session in a bid to highlight the difficulties facing local architects.

"Cities either sponsor design, or make it impossible to achieve," Professor McDougall says. "Since 2000, only five national architecture awards out of 154 have been presented to South Australian buildings - and three of these were led by Eastern State architects. It is critical that we create an environment which embraces innovative design."

The panel will discuss the key elements of a well designed city: highly skilled architects, a vibrant atmosphere, innovative outlook, creative culture and financial support.

"World cities like Melbourne, Tokyo and Los Angeles and smaller cities like Dublin, Seattle and Graz (Austria) have all nurtured a sustained culture of design innovation which makes their cities great places to love and also adds to their economic sustainability," Professor McDougall says.

The speakers have been drawn from a range of property and architectural sectors and include developers, architects and government officials.

They include Victorian Government Architect, Professor Geoffrey London, who argues that good design requires diligent processes and can be achieved through appropriate legislation.

"There is considerable evidence that design quality in an urban setting improves amenity, safety, financial returns and civic pride," Professor London says.

The Adelaide Forum is the first of a series of discussion sessions about design in our city, and celebrates 50 years of the University of Adelaide's School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design. It is sponsored by Adelaide City Council.

WHAT: "How to make a city hungry for design"
WHEN: Friday 31 October, 2008, 1.30pm-5.30pm
WHERE: National Wine Centre

Media are welcome to attend. For speaker details, please contact Professor Ian McDougall on 0414 426 623.

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