PDW 2023

Last month was the inaugural Perth Design Week, a project we have been working on for the past year.

Together with Co Creator David Smith, we brought together a series of 60 design talks, exhibitions, discussions and gatherings for design professional and design-curious across the city.

The event was a coalition of the willing - with many people and organisations coming together to help create Perth Design Week. David and I were overwhelmed by the level of support. Sincere thanks to everyone who answered our call to help create the event, and for contributing to make the week a great success.

Here's a few snapshots from the week.

Day 1, Thursday 23 March was about Welcome to Country. The day started with a workshop on Authentic Engagement in Planning and Design. Presented by the Planning Institute WA, this event was a unique experience in cultural exchange and partnership building, giving planning and design professionals insight into the value of engagement with the world’s oldest civilization and culture.

Later in the day the Property Council of Australia held a sundowner on the theme of the importance of Designing and Connecting with Country. Professor Braden Hill, Deputy Vice Chancellor Students, Equity, and Indigenous at Edith Cowan University delivered the keynote address. This was followed by a panel discussion with Dr Richard Walley OAM, Kieran Wong (TheFulcrum.Agency), Leah Bennet (Leah Page Designs), Laura Bowdell (Lendlease) and moderator Damian Fasher (Bridge42). Read the Property Council's recap of their event via link here.

Day 2, Friday 24 March started with Australian Apartment Advocacy's Think Tank event on the future of apartment living. Speakers included John Gelavis (CEO of Master Buildings Australia WA) and Bronwyn Weir (co-author of the Shergold and Weir Report into Building Confidence).

Also on Day 2 we were privileged to have 5 Government Architects from across Australia taking part in a panel discussion for Perth Design Week. Thank you to our WA Government Architect Rebecca Moore for coordinating this very special event with:

ACT Government Architect Catherine Townsend

NSW Government Architect Abbie Galvin

QLD Government Architect Leah Lang

VIC Government Architect Jill Garner

This event was unprecedented in a number of ways. Having all of the Government Architects in Perth. Two GAs being from WA – not only Rebecca Moore but also the NSW GA Abbie Galvin. And, in case you haven’t noticed, they are all women ...

Day 3, Saturday 25 March the focus turned to sustainable home design with a workshop on how to renovate or retrofit your home to make it warmer in winter, cooler in summer and reduce your energy and water bills. Presented by the City of Vincent, this free workshop covered important considerations throughout the design and build process such as: climate, orientation, materials, windows, renewable energy, appliances and water plus the pros and cons of renovating versus building new.

On Day 4, Sunday 26 March the theme of sustainable home design continued with the Home Inspiration Marathon at the State Buildings in the CBD. Seventeen of Perth’s award winning architects presented their work in a whole day marathon of presentations - showing how beautiful, high quality spaces with a smaller footprint can be achieved with environmentally sensitive designs.

Day 5, Monday 27 March started with a discussion on social and affordable housing. Architect and My Home founder Michelle Blakeley explained how actions are needed urgently to bring a redefined Australian dream to fruition - to create a fair and equitable housing system where all Australians have access to safe, secure and affordable housing. Following her presentation, Michelle joined a panel discussion with Peter Lee OAM (Hassell and Foundation Housing), Warren Phillips (Development WA) and Jimmy Thompson (MJA Architects).

At lunchtime on Day 5 the conversation turned to Leadership in Pathways to Zero Carbon, led by architect and climate advocate Ross Donaldson. The construction industry represents nearly 40% of carbon emissions and therefore we must embrace the challenge. Ross explained how we absolutely must be now measuring the whole-of-life carbon in our buildings. If we are not measuring, how can we accurately understand how to reduce the amount of carbon by 50% within the critical timeframe? Following his presentation, Ross joined a panel discussion with David MacLennan (CEO City of Vincent), Rowan Clarke (Director at Hesperia) and Nic Brunsden (A New Normal).

Day 5 continued into the evening with events by Hassell and Woods Bagot, among others.

At Hassell the conversation was about Regenerative Design with a fishbowl roundtable discussion led by Professor Josh Byrne (Dean of Sustainable Futures in the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University), Hon Dr. Brad Pettitt MLC, and Karla Fox-Reynolds (Hassell's Sustainable Design Leader). We were asked how Perth can transition to become a net zero city and the role regenerative design can play.

At Woods Bagot the focus was on Perth's identity. Drawing from both the client and architect perspective, the discussion focused on how design informs and inspires community engagement, and how architecture can provide a platform for the advancement of Perth’s identity. The discussion was led by Kukame McPierzie (Perth Studio Principal), Brad Martin (Development Director, Fiveight), Sean Henriques (Project Director, ECU City Campus) and Rosina Di Maria (Woods Bagot Principal).

Day 6, Tuesday 28 March the program included a conversation on what the city needs for the future when it reaches a population of 3.5 million people. New Committee for Perth CEO Paula Rogers shared her thoughts, followed by a panel discussion with David Hillam, Tim Willing and Sam Reece, facilitated by Claire Tyrrell.

Other events on Day 6 included the Design Engineer Construct Showcase presented by Engineers Australia, Thinking by Design presented by AGDA, and Designing for a Sustainable WA presented by Design Matters.

Day 7, Wednesday 29 March the conversation on density continued at Lawson Flats with Jeremy McLeod of award winning Melbourne based practice Breathe Architecture, Kate Fitzgerald of Whispering Smith, Fiona Plaisted from WOWOWA and Kellie McGivern of Hesperia.

While that evening Dexter Wong presented his thesis on Historical Queer Spaces in the CBD, which shows how a mapping of Northbridge’s history intertwines with queer history. Following the presentation, Dexter was joined in a panel discussion by Kevin Mitchem, Guy Gomez and Grace Webster.

Other events on Day 7 included Designing For Culture presented by Hatch RobertsDay, Contemporary Art in Heritage Places presented by Art Collective, and a student charrette organised by Curtin University and Architectus.

Day 8, Thursday 30 March was the final day of talks and workshops. The program included a conversation on The Future of Work presented by CO-architecture and others, delving into the latest workplace design insights and discuss ways to create a healthier work culture that benefits employees, employers, designers, and property owners.

There were a number of exhibitions on throughout Perth Design Week, including Curtin University School of Design and Built Environment at Brookfield Place and University of Western Australia School of Design at Central Park, showcasing the work of emerging West Australian designers.

Shine at Central Gallery provided a showcase of excellence from the 2022 Creative Industries Graduates at North Metropolitan TAFE. This was a unique opportunity to experience emerging creatives across Art, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Jewellery Design, Product Design and Visual Arts.

The Perth Unbuilt exhibition at the West Australian Museum generated a lot of interest. This exhibition showcased a selection of unrealised designs created by prominent Perth architecture studios. A unique opportunity to explore architectural drawings and renders of what could be.

Icons at Council House was an exhibition of Iconic Australian products curated by Ian Wong. This collection has been successfully exhibited around Australia and Asia but has never been seen before in Western Australia. The collection includes a variety of products designed in Australia including furniture, electronics, appliances and everyday objects. Open weekdays, 10.00am to 4.00pm until 28 April.

Thanks again everyone who contributed to the program and the success of our inaugural Perth Design Week!