The Australian Institute of Architects has hailed South Australian premier Mike Rann's recent announcement of an Integrated Design Commission (IDC), and a government architect for the state as visionary.
The Institute's South Australia chapter president, Timothy Horton, said "Before today's announcement, South Australia had lagged behind other states for too long, and had failed to recognise the place for design thinking in
policy. South Australia has been the only Australian state without a government architect to provide strategic advice to the government of the day on the built environment".
Horton believes that the state is now ready to address the transportation and lifestyle needs of its growing population, and to better manage its resources.
He said that at present, local and state government agencies work independently of each other. Individually, agencies set targets with outcomes that address their own charters. Having an authority that can reach across government to optimise these efforts in a co-ordinated way will, according to Horton, produce more liveable, vibrant precincts.
The Integrated Design Commission is expected to deliver outcomes that re-position design as central to the planning and development sector, sponsor intelligent debate on the future of the state and help to deliver a shared community vision for design and development. Greater collaboration between client agencies and design professionals; government and industry; and state and local government is also expected.
