Life of Guangzhou - Australian Architecture and Design Creativity on Show

Following successful exhibitions in San Francisco, Seattle, Hong Kong and most recently during the visit of the Australian Minister for Trade, Mr Simon Crean, in Kunming, the "Out From Under" Australian Architecture and Design Exhibition opened at South China University of Technology (SCUT) Wednesday.

Curated by Australian architect Anthony Burke, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology in Sydney, and a former professor at the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley, "Out from Under" highlights the vibrant design culture of Australia and showcases responses of young Australian practices to new and innovative materials and practices. The exhibition was an initiative of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects International, with the support of the Australian Institute of Architects (Hong Kong Chapter) and MAP architects and planners. "Out from Under" is presented in Guangzhou by the Australian Consulate-General in Guangzhou and South China University of Technology.

"This Exhibition gives Guangzhou the opportunity to see creativity and innovation of Australian architects," the Australian Consul-General, Mr Sean Kelly. said today when opening the Exhibition. "The iconic "Water Cube" Olympic Aquatics Centre designed by Australians for the Beijing Olympics and the other futuristic designs throughout the Exhibition demonstrate very clearly what Australia has to offer."

Australian Consul-General Mr. Sean Kelly speaks at the opening.

The wooden models

Following the opening Australian architects and local professionals participated in the Australian Architecture and Design Seminar, hosted by South China University of Technology. Seminar participants from Australian included PTW (designers of the "Water Cube"), Woods Bagot, Denton Corker Marshall, Map Architecture & Planning Ltd., Advance, Cundall Hong Kong, IAPA and several other Australian Institute of Architects members. Local participants included Guangdong Provincial Department of Construction, Foshan Urban Planning, Dongguan Urban Planning, Guangdong Architecture Design and Research Institute, Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architecture Designing, Guangdong Urban & Rural Planning and Design Institute, Guangdong Urban Development and Research Institute, Compilation and Research Centre of Guangzhou Urban Planning, Urban Planning Association of Guangzhou, Guangzhou Design Institute of Urban Planning and Exploration Survey, Guangzhou Architecture Design Institute for Civil Architecture, Guangzhou Urban Planning and Design Studio, and the Shenzhen Architecture Design Research Institute.

Australian Consul-General Mr. Sean Kelly and Vice Chancellor of SCUT Mr. Qiu Xueqing gave speeches at the opening of the exhibition. Managing Director Mr. John Bilmon from PTW architects, the Australian designer for the Water Cube Olympic Aquatic Centre, Ms. Fiona Nixon, Chairperson of Australian Institute of Architectsinternational, Mr. Sandy Edge, Principal of Woods Bagot, and Mr. Greg Gong, Director of Denton Corker Marshall Pty Ltd gave presentations at the seminar.

The Exhibition will be displayed at the Yifu Exhibition Hall of the South China University of Technology from 3 to 10 June 2009.

(Photographed by Jessie Hwang)

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