RAA is known for its distinctive in person events, which reflect the true diversity of regional practice as well as its relevant and informative online CPD sessions.
Shoalhaven River - Corroboree led by Ghadungal Marring - Dharawal Country - Image: Tom Roe
RAA In Person Events
RAA ‘s in person events encompass so much more than architects talking to other architects. The problems and issues faced by regional practitioners are distinct from those of our city colleagues and RAA events act as forums for discussion and engagement as more and more people seek a lifestyle away from urban centres. These events set out to inspire, showcasing how architecture can truly benefit and engage regional communities and culture, whilst also contributing to the local economies where they take place.
The main day for a RAA event is always on a Friday, with fringe events taking place on the Thursday and Saturday either side.
All events cover formal CPD with performance criteria being addressed from the AACA National Standard of Competency for Architects 2021.
RAA events are open to associated disciplines and interested community members as well as RAA members.
RAA Online Events
RAA’s series of regular online events are hosted by fellow members, industry experts and others and are planned around current and relevant issues based on member input. All events cover formal CPD with performance criteria being addressed from the AACA National Standard of Competency for Architects 2021.
RAA Commitment
In support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Regional Architecture Association remains dedicated to providing education around First Nations building practices. The organisation is seeking to establish itself as a leader in its commitment to First Nations deep understanding of Country and how this can inspire and inform regional architects. The organisation acknowledges our Traditional Custodians hold enduring knowledge about our flora and fauna and where we should live and therefore build. There is a lot to be gained by seeking to better understand the land we inhabit.
Upcoming Events
In this presentation, Wayne Black, Architect & Accredited Expert Determiner, will explore various ADR methods and demonstrate how a Dispute Resolution Specialist (as a non-lawyer) can assist in resolving disputes without legal proceedings. By leveraging industry expertise and conflict resolution skills, such specialists provide a valuable alternative to litigation, offering efficient and tailored solutions for construction and architectural conflicts.
3D printing has seen a rapid rise in popularity, moving beyond plastic objects to fabricating entire houses. While numerous completed projects are emerging worldwide, including in Australia, there is still limited guidance on how architects can translate their designs into this innovative fabrication technique. What are the opportunities, challenges, and essential do’s and don’ts of 3D printing houses?
We all know Canberra for its iconic buildings, however CONTEXT will look to reveal some largely unknown elements; it will bring to the fore its creative underbelly and unexpectedly vibrant art and design community that thrive beneath its formal surface.
2023 Paul Pholeros Foundation Architecture Scholars Isabella Reynolds and Michi Playford will present their research topics for this session.
The Paul Pholeros Foundation was established in 2018 to honour the life and work of Australian architect and humanitarian Paul Pholeros. We work to improve people's living environments through investment in skills and knowledge development.
This session will lead to an understanding of the concept of circularity in design and construction. Attendees will learn to identify and explain the three key principles of circularity, define a ‘Circularity Score’ and identify high performing products. An understanding of how to apply this knowledge to projects will also be gained.
This event will see creative directors Janne Ryan and Peter Salhani consider regional renewal through the lens of architecture and its role in galvanising our communities into the future.
EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE FOR RAA’S AUTUMN EVENT - ‘CONTEXT’ WILL TAKE PLACE IN CANBERRA 20-22ND MARCH 2025 - JOIN US! more information here.
Past Online Events
Bianca presents CSA’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape project as an example of ‘best practice’ in designing with Country.
Participation in this event will give the attendees a better understanding of the range of factors to consider in forming fee proposals, tools and information to aid client fee negotiations and benchmarking practice overheads.
At EKD Architects, we believe architecture is more than just buildings - it's about empowering communities and creating lasting impact. Join us for an insightful session where Mike will dive into how architects can play a pivotal role in community-led projects across rural Australia, while also addressing key challenges like obtaining funding, recovering costs and avoiding white elephants.
Savage Design draws on a century-long relationship with metal; from smithing, to a quarter of a century of precision contract manufacture, to custom milling and to one-off prototyping, to inform its own approach to product design. This CPD was an exploration of brass and stainless in particular; the materials and the technology of production, as well as the pros and cons of various coatings, treatments and maintenance regimes.
Mudgee based builder Justin Penney will discuss what rammed earth is, his history using it and cover some practical considerations and limitations to those looking at specifying it.
To embody integrity and value, a product – much like a piece of architecture – must consider its place. For Tait, designing and manufacturing in Australia, specifically for Australian environments, has been the heart of the business for over 30 years.
In this demonstrative presentation Marcus Piper will share his screen and wealth of experience using Adobe Creative Suite to provide small practices and in-house design teams with a broad-but in-depth understanding of producing print and screen ready promotional documents efficiently and to industry standard.
This session will focus predominantly on Adobe InDesign but also cover font management and selection, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and preparing files for print.
Beaumaris is a bayside suburb of Melbourne about 20km from the city centre known for its mid century architecture. Beaumaris Modern is a not for profit community group that was started in 2017 with the aim of celebrating, educating about and promoting the area’s mid-century architecture.
Drawing on his own experiences, Mick Moloney of Ballarat based practice Moloney Architects will delve into his adventures in architectural marketing, revealing both victories and failures.
Bobbie & Owen’s story begins with two pushbikes, Australia's latitude 25 and student naivety as they set out to find Australia’s architecture in 2017. That was the start of Dogspike aka. The Grand Section as they filled gaps in their knowledge through full immersion. Holes in knowledge have been launching pads for inquiry, each question below is one of these starting points... and it is just starting to get real spicy after having moved to Mparntwe, central Australia in 2023. Things are heating up...
NOTE DATE CHANGE TO 15TH MAY
This session will present an overview of the importance of collaboration between practitioners and industry suppliers, in this case aluminium windows, door and facades.
As with all aspects of the construction sector, the specification of level entry thresholds in Australia involves compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC). As is also standard, compliance of these products can involve either Performance Solutions (which vary according to the specific job) or the more prescriptive and standardised Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) solutions.
As we get even closer to the MiCRO event in Mudgee, this is the second of two related online events, expanding further on the rather large subject of all things MiCRO. This second session unpacks the trials and triumphs of modular building and tiny homes based on the extensive experience of Jackson Dannock of Made by Bare and Brent Dunn of TAKT Studio for Architecture.
As we get close to the MiCRO event in Mudgee, there will be two related online events, expanding further on the rather large subject of all things MiCRO. The first of these will unpack small scale regional practice, concentrating on a hybrid / remote working model.
Trent is a frequent collaborator with indigenous creators due to his immense respect for cultural heritage. In this session, Trent will speak about the project he undertook with Nyikina man Johnny Nargoodah ‘Ngumu Janka Warnti (all made from rubbish)’.
The aim of this presentation is to give architects and designers an understanding of where American hardwoods come from, what they are, what their environmental credentials and impact are and how to use them and specify them realistically.
This CPD runs for approximately 1 hour, including time for Q&A, and will be hosted by Jeff Trevarthen, Danpal’s NSW/ACT Specification Consultant. Learning outcomes are: PC12, PC39 and PC45.
In collaboration with acclaimed legal firm Lander & Rogers, this exclusive event is designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to navigate complex risk scenarios.
This presentation will summarise fundamental statutory payment entitlements and obligations of those providing architectural (and related) services within the NSW building (including residential) and construction industry. Circumstances where architects are “the payee” and “the payer” will be explored.
Ben Guthrie of Image Makers Association Australia discusses best practice agreements between architects and photographers.
Andrew's specialties are Section J (BCA) Compliance Assessment; Energy Auditing; Carbon Accounting; ESD Consulting. Energy Efficiency Consulting.
‘Changes in NatHERS assessments’ - Matthew Graham of Graham Energy
‘Are you ready for this?’- Dave Howard from Partners Energy outlining the changes to the NCC coming into force in October 2023 and asking some questions about the likely impacts of the changes.
Past In Person Events
For me, the main word I would use to describe the event was “refreshing”. It was a time to stop, remove my mind from checklists, controls, and to-do lists, and take stock of what we do as architects.
Having been the convener on more than one occasion I can assure you it’s not an easy task, so even before this wrap up wraps up, I extend a huge thanks to the creative director Louisa Gee and the Regional Architecture Association (RAA) Committee for facilitating a warm, seamless and informative gathering where we learned a lot about community through many people’s “story”.
For those of us who have the pleasure to live on Bundjalung land in far northern NSW, it is quite the trip to get to Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. You start to wilt by about Armidale and feel decidedly weary by Tamworth when you realise that you are still three and a half hours away. But, gosh it was worth it.
Bark Architects founders Lindy Atkin and Stephen Guthrie hosted the inaugural Queensland event for the Regional Architecture Association, 'Light- the essence of architecture.'
Taking place in July 2023 in Noosa, ‘Light’ coincided with 25 years of their practice and was held on Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi Country at their adaptive reuse 'Art Room' project and Studio.
‘Light’ set out to inspire and explored the allure of creating lightness in architectural design, with eight practitioners sharing their personal perspectives, focussing on evocative space, lighter footprints on the land, and the agility of regional practice.
In the spirit of creating community through architecture, ‘Light’ also offered fringe activities like yoga, art, photography, music, and exploring Sunshine Coast houses.
BEGINNINGS was an exploration of First Nations culture and customs through a series of yarning circles and workshops, curated by Renee McGuinn and Wes Hindmarsh in association with Raymond Timbery, Uncle Steve and members of Gadhungal Marring, Dharrawal Traditional custodians.
Architects, landscape architects, interior designers, object, and furniture designers, all got together for two and a half days and learned the songs and stories of the first nations people, their culture, and the land we all live on. While the stories inspired each and everyone of us, it also sparked conversations among us and contemplation in our minds.
Over two and a half days, starting with art and photography workshops and a wonderful Welcome to Country, moving through sunrise yoga to ten varied and engaging speakers and ending with an expansive day of house tours – the RAA has well and truly made an impression on Queensland. And who could forget the food!
After uniting dozens of regional architects, designers and their building industry colleagues, the RAA looks back on SITING as a formative springboard to galvanise a movement for working with allied disciplines in designing not just in, but for regional areas into the future.
Over three days in mid-November the Regional Architecture Association brought together over 50 delegates, fantastic local food and some serious inspiration in Moruya on the NSW South Coast for our ELEMENTS event.