The annual Housing Futures conference is returning to Melbourne in 2019, with architects, designers and thinkers coming together to discuss the future of housing at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on 26 July.
Each year Housing Futures presents an international line-up of practitioners and academics at the top of their fields who speculate on the ways architects, designers, planners, developers and policymakers can create the cities of tomorrow.
Katelin Butler, editorial director at Architecture Media (the event organizer) said, “Reconsidering the status quo is leading to a plethora of alternative housing models and new trajectories in residential architecture.”
The speakers announced for this year’s event are drawn from around Australia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
Keynote speaker Maggie Ma will discuss Hong Kong’s housing affordability crisis, sharing works by her practice, Domat,
for people living with limited means, including modifications to subdivided homes and new social housing developments.
“Due to constraints of the projects, options for design are often limited, as well as being morally debatable,” she says. “At the same time, can we ignore the situation, or say it is not our responsibility as an architect?”
From the UK, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris director Simon Allford will present a keynote address on a series of projects, large and small, that explore the potential for a mix of uses.
Karen Alcock, MA Architects principal (Melbourne), will present a keynote on apartment design. “How can architects, developers and governments work together to change the focus of apartment development to achieve the best outcome?” she asks.
A number of case studies will be presented by both architects and clients. The Fulcrum Agency’s Kevin Wong will present alongside client Gregson Lalara, a Traditional Owner of the Groote Archipelago and founding chairman of the Anindilyakwa Housing Aboriginal Corporation (East Arnhem Land). Koos de Keijzer, DKO Architecture director, will present Arkadia, Sydney with client Pedro Pan, the development manager at Defence Housing Australia.And Architectus design strategy leader Elizabeth Watson Brown will present 443 Queens Street Brisbane with Cbus Property’s Michelle Fitzgerald.
Stuart Harrison of Harrison and White (and the ABC’s Restoration Australia) will chair a panel discussion with the keynote speakers to close the day.
Housing Futures is part of Design Speaks, a series of talks, seminars, forums and conferences on architecture and design. It is organized by Architecture Media with Planned Cover as major partner and Allegion as supporting partner. Attendees can earn five formal CPD points from the Australian Institute of Architects. designspeaks.com.au