Howard Tanner, National President of the Australian Institute of Architects, opened this year’s National Architecture Week in Canberra with a ‘build best, build once’ sentiment that lamented the tendency to “rebuild constantly”.
Tanner highlighted the importance of government compliance and planning in creating cities ?that would retain their original purposes and be worthy of ongoing maintenance.
“We want important buildings of lasting value [and] sustainable designs that last well,” he said.
National Architecture Week honoured the High Court of Australia, the launch venue, with an award to commemorate its win last year of both the National and ACT 25 Year Awards for Enduring Architecture.
“[It] is one of our nation’s most outstanding examples of modern architecture,” the judge said. “It ?is a building with extraordinary symbolic and ceremonial power and is remarkable in its evocation of democracy, the rule of law and the role of this peak institution within the national capital.”
Architecture Week is held around Australia in October to celebrate the contribution of architecture to our built environment and our communities. On Thursday night the 2008 National Architecture Award Winners will be announced in Adelaide, in which Canberra has a number of contenders.
Architecture Week events include:
Nationally and Internationally significant Australian Architecture
An exhibition of significant Australian buildings will be on display at the High Court of Australia from Monday 27 October. The exhibition includes the High Court of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia, along with other significant buildings from around Australia featuring images of each of the buildings and information on each of the buildings.
Architecture Week @ the Canberra Centre
27 October — 31 October. Over the two days the Institute of Architects will hold exhibitions, a series of talks, architectural models will be on display and the opportunity to talk to an architect.
Architectural Lake Cruise hosted by Annabelle and Roger Pegrum
Friday 31st October - Saturday 1st November. This guided Tour will explore the architecture on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin and provide some insight into the planning of Canberra as the Nation’s Capital.
