conferences

I spent a lot of time this week in darkened spaces listening and learning.

First seminar was to do with the new building code provisions for bushfire resistance. Not as onerous as the media would have you believe. Like most things it comes down to basic common sense. Importantly, as a designer it verifies my belief that the land informs the design response. With the new provisions, it is important to identify and assess the vegetation and terrain as it relates to fuel load and thereby, the threat. With this the Bushfire Attack Level is established and depending on this value, the construction measures needed to resist ember attack and the fire front itself. If anything, it seems that vegetation management, including the planting of low flammability buffers and judicious removal might be more important than the building itself. Bottom line is, if you are going to live in the bush then you need to understand and live with the bush. Arguably, non-indigenous Australians have never really connected with the bush, but these days with the bush becoming vast, treed dormitory, the connection is even more nebulous.
Fires will occur and the survival of beings and buildings depends on being aware. The knowledge gained from this event will be put to good use. One comment, though. I wonder if the BAL assessment shouldn't be done earlier in the process than at building permit stage when a planning permit is required.

The second conference was Parallax the AIA national architecture conference. Congratulations to all concerned with particular applause for the creative directors and of course, the speakers. It's great to come away from such events energised and keen.

Too much to write about just now but I was especially struck by Biljoy Jain from Studio Mumbai. One point he made about the sacredness of water for Indians is so pertinent to our situation in Victoria where water is far from sacred and has been commodified. Perhaps if we revered water our situation would not be as dire. Studio Mumbai's hands-on work and carefully crafted insertions into the natural world are admirable.

Veronika Valk (Zizi & Yoyo) from Tallinn was also impressive especially the work for the public realm all designed to give joy and introduce light (sometimes literally) into the depths of those harsh northern winters.