MiCRO - exploring the big ideas behind small spaces

DATES March 14-16 2024 

LOCATION Rosby Wines, 122 Strikes Lane, Eurunduree, a short drive outside the township of Mudgee, NSW. 

Mudgee is a burgeoning tourism town that has experienced considerable post-covid growth in terms of population and tourism visitation. It is also home to a growing wine region. MiCRO will be held in the grounds of Rosby Wines utilising the internationally acclaimed Cellar Door and Gallery building by Cameron Anderson Architects which won the James Barnet prize in 2021.

ABOUT THE EVENT
MiCRO is the first in a three-part series of Regional Architecture Association Experiences for 2024 that builds on the association’s history of bringing together people, ideas and inspiration from architecture and associated creative disciplines.  

Dotted across the landscape around Mudgee are a series of small design practitioners and artisans with masterful, yet efficient small scale built projects being a feature of the local accommodation scene. It is this large-scale ingenuity in tiny form that MiCRO will explore.

MiCRO - THE EVENT ITSELF
Beginning with a studio visit to Talerwin Forge run by blacksmith and sculptor Alex Scheibner, site visits to Cameron Anderson and Glenn Murcutt projects, wine tastings, shared meals and more. These opportunities are all part of the RAA’s event strategy, building engagement with local creators and the region’s economy.

​​​​​​​Providing CPD points to our members, MiCRO brings a wealth of speakers to Mudgee – exploring the theme on the grounds of Rosby Wines and Gallery with local food, wines, music and film. Amongst the conversations we will hear about Rosby’s Sculpture in the Gardens event and how they engage with local Council to acquire public art. Key speakers include architect and specialist small space designer Brad Swartz, filmmaker Catherine Hunter who produced the documentary ‘Glenn Murcutt: Spirit of Place’, sole practitioner architect and builder Drew Heath and Sally Sutherland of regionally based practice Source Architects. Justin Penney, builder and owner of Murcutt’s recently completed Strikes 3 project, will contribute to a panel discussion about small practice and the big ideas behind small projects.

As we move into a changing future, it’s imperative we understand how to do more with less and are clever with our resources; MiCRO is an opportunity for us to come together and discuss all things small on the way to making big change. 

ONLINE LEAD UP EVENTS
Prefacing the MiCRO event in Mudgee, the RAA will hold two related online events, expanding further on the rather large subject of all things MiCRO. 

The first, with creative director Cameron Anderson and Sarah Aldridge of SPACEstudio on 21st February, will unpack small scale regional practice, concentrating on a hybrid / remote working model. The second, with Brent Dunn of TAKT Studio for Architecture and Jackson Dannock of Made by Bare on 6th March, will look at the successes and challenges of modular and tiny homes.