Program.
VITAL: Questions of Resilience
19-21 June 2025.
Booking note: Full Event ticket includes Main Seminar Day on the Friday as well as a Fringe Program of optional events on the Thursday and Saturday; these are designed to offer further opportunities to engage with the local area in a fun and relaxing way. Fringe event registration will become available closer to the event and full event ticket holders will be notified.
Please note that event program and details are subject to change.
Tickets: bookings via humanitix
ONLINE LEAD UP TALKS.
In the lead up to VITAL, RAA will hold two online events to introduce the themes being explored and set the scene for the in person experience. Details below.
WEDNESDAY 28TH MAY 1-2PM ONLINE - Designing for Resilience | Anthony Burke
Join professor Anthony Burke in an exploration of resilience and renewal with a Vital twist. In this lecture, Anthony will explore the idea of vitality in Architecture, discussing some of the models of renewal he’s seen come to life through his experiences with home owners across Australia, and opening up space for speculation on ways in which to frame concepts like resilience and consequently the role of architecture in our regional futures. More information and booking available here.
WEDNESDAY 4TH JUNE 1-2PM ONLINE - a Breakthrough in Hempcrete | Alastair Flynn & Klara Marosszeky
Alastair Flynn of Woods Bagot and Klara Marosszeky of the Australian Hemp Masonry Company will speak about the University of Tasmania (UTAS) Forestry Building restoration. Woods Bagot is restoring and redeveloping the former Forestry Building in Hobart CBD as the centrepiece of the University of Tasmania’s Southern Campus Transformation. The project reimagines the site as an inner-city hub learning/collaboration hub, its campus unified by landscape and public pathways through the site. Hempcrete, a carbon-negative construction material, will be used extensively in the University’s Forestry and Timberyards redevelopment. Dungog builder Shane Hannan is working on the hempcrete structures, which will exceed 207 cubic metres, making it the largest commercial use of hempcrete in Australia. More information and booking available here.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON INFO - 19TH JUNE.
LAND REGENERATION TALK WITH CARBON FIX | THE OLD DAIRY
SITE VISIT | CAROLINE PIDCOCK’S STUDIO & HOME
COMMUNITY DINNER (BUY YOUR OWN) & MUSIC FROM DAVE WELLS
This dinner will be at the Royal Hotel Dungog and be followed by a performance by musician Dave Wells.
FRIDAY INFO - 20TH JUNE.
MAIN SEMINAR DAY
The Main Seminar Day will take place at the Royal Hotel Dungog, 80 Dowling St, Dungog NSW.
Registration & Coffee
Session 01
Welcome to Country followed by a welcome from RAA President Tim Lee and an introduction to the day of speakers from creative directors Janne Ryan & Peter Salhani.
Dr Sarah Breen Lovett, architect and professor at University of Newcastle presents the FAST SLOW project as an alternative to high carbon intensity construction for residential architecture.
RAA Technical Member introductions
Morning Tea
Session 02
Jason Elsley of Derive Architecture & Design (Newcastle) presents the firm’s recently completed Murrook Culture Centre, which won the Public category at the 2024 Newcastle Architecture Awards.
Caroline Pidcock of Pidcock talks passionately about her move to the region to explore and advocate for a more holistic regenerative architecture.
RAA Technical Member introductions
Lunch
Session 03
Warren Haasnoot of Curious Practice in Newcastle presents a case study in high street renewal, discussing the DA approved design for a local site (234 Dowling St, Dungog) where a multi-layered adaptation creates a variety of potential new uses for this vintage commercial building; site visit afterwards.
RAA Technical Member introductions
Afternoon Tea
Session 04
Panel discussion and Q&A with all speakers moderated by Janne Ryan and Peter Salhani on the question of how architecture can build resilience in the regions.
Event Wrap Up & RAA Thanks
Walk with the Weatherman - on this winter solstice, take a walk with former ABC weatherman Graham Creed who’ll tell us the secrets of the skies when it comes to the most talked about topic on earth - the weather! look to the skies with us, as we walk our way down to dinner at the James Theatre.
Dinner & a Film
The Spanish Mission-style James Theatre will host dinner followed by a screening of ‘Wilding’. Note: drinks to be purchased at the bar.
SATURDAY MORNING INFO - 21ST JUNE.
SITE VISIT | HEMPCRETE HOUSE
TOUR | AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE TIMBER MILL