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RADAR
FEATURES
COMMENT
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| | LETTERS AND FIXES
| Lost In Space |
Am I alone in being entirely underwhelmed
by the RAIA 2002 Convention? From the
outset the program had me struggling to
engage, and leaves me wondering why “the
premier design industry event” barely
managed to raise a pulse.
Despite securing a free media pass I
still feel shortchanged. The prime reason is
the program, which fluctuated wildly. A
few brain snacks were tossed out in
fragmentary fashion, but in three days
of shabby drifting the highlights were
intermittent. The weekday timing and hefty
fee also ensured the event was inaccessible
to the crucial younger crowd. In addition,
a vacuum-packed schedule restricted
key speakers and prevented extensive
discussion. These speakers were granted
free participation only on the day of their
presentation – a bonus in some cases,
but hardly a generous encouragement of
the debate.
As a relatively new European import (and
recent Australian citizen) I’m happy to
concede that perhaps I am observing the
architectural scene from a simplistic
perspective, but the fact that the
conference failed to compel so many of my
contemporaries suggests the RAIA is
running on autopilot in cosy isolation. The
non-attendees I spoke to showed a weary
contempt for its authenticity and a
reluctance to associate. This problematic
relationship deserves close attention, as
both sides seem to be travelling at different
wavelengths, barely coinciding and
stockpiling indifference. Private discussions
remain rife and vicious, but are not
involved. Whilst the profession continues to
play dead there is little hope for
simultaneity of exchange in Australia. By all
accounts previous RAIA conferences were
more successful, but if 2003 offers the
equivalent of an architectural coma I would
rather spend $700 on a pile of books and
three days off-piste with a few friends. With
any luck we could discover a way to shortcircuit
the gloomy inevitability of our own
architectural future.
Catherine Martin, AA Dipl. RIBA
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| Fixes |
• With regard to the review of the Adelaide
Convention Centre (March/April 2002), Lu
Balsamo, of Hassell, points out that Hassell
was responsible for the masterplanning and
detailed design of the Riverbank
Promenade, along with its implementation
on behalf of the Major Projects Group of the
DAIS. We apologise for the inadvertent
impression that Woods Bagot/SOM,
designers of the convention centre, were
also responsible for the promenade.
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