The inaugural Regional Architecture Conference will be held on 6 and 7 September 2013 at the Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns, Queensland.

Under the theme ‘Spirit of Place’, the event focuses on the unique opportunities available to architects practising regionally.

Creative director of the conference, Stephen de Jersey, who is also a practicing architect in the regional city of Townsville, says that this event will give architects a chance to pick up from where the 2012 National Architecture Conference – Experience left off.

“That successful and acclaimed event started many conversations and we want these exchanges to continue, to evolve,’ says de Jersey, adding that distance as a problem has been dramatically reduced with the advent of immediate communications systems and cost effective travel.

“Regional communities can now be serviced in a multitude of different ways; however, in many respects, responding directly to the uniqueness of a regional place is becoming increasingly at risk.”

To him, exciting and inspiring the practice of architecture in regional Australia is of paramount importance and the main aim of the conference.

The conference will feature a set of keynote speakers whose work responds to this mandate:

  • Robert Morris-Nunn – Circa Morris Nunn Architects, Tasmania
  • Hua Li – Trace Architecture Office, China
  • Alice Hampson – Alice Hampson Architect, Queensland
  • Fernando Menis – Fernando Menis Architects, Spain
  • Thomas Bailey – Room 11, Tasmania
  • Jorge Gracia – Gracia Studio, USA/Mexico
  • Stuart Harrison – Harrison White Architects, Victoria
  • Kevin Low – Small Projects, Malaysia
  • Don Watson – State Library of Queensland, Brisbane
  • Bronwen Kerr and Pete Ritchie – Kerr Ritchie, New Zealand
  • Adrian Iredale – Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects, Perth

A range of associated tours and events that explore the locality of the Cairns region is also included in the two day conference.

Spirit of Place is hosted by the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, which initiated the regional conference program to provide a focus on issues specific to regional members including: the unique challenges of practising in regional areas, working with regional communities, tourism projects, resource industry projects, working in remote locations and emerging demands from accelerated growth in regional towns and cities.

As the first in a biennial program of Regional Architecture Conferences, the event is expected to provide considerable opportunities for the Institute’s regional members.

The conference will take place on 6-7 September, with the opening night on Thursday 5 September. All conference registrations include a ticket to the opening party.

Early bird registrations for the Conference close at midnight Wed 17 July. For more information, please visit http://wp.architecture.com.au/spiritofplace/.