Australian Institute of Architects’ 2022 Gold Medal-winner Sean Godsell will highlight the importance of local cultures in developing world-leading architecture in his sold-out address next month.
The internationally renowned Australian architect will speak at the State Library of Queensland on November 9, providing insight into his work, experience and concept of architecture.
Mr Godsell was awarded the Gold Medal, the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour, in May for a lifetime of work as a true master craftsman and for his commitment to excellence.
Mr Godsell is expected to laud the role of architects in maintaining local character in an era of globalisation.
“In the past twenty years or so, globalisation has caused architecture to become homogenous, where the very cultural considerations that make architecture possible – history and tradition and local conditions have become abstracted and amorphous,’’ he said.
“With each project we strive for clarity, coherence and integrity. We don’t subscribe to architecture that is desperately interesting for its own sake.
“We do strive to make each building somehow a little better than the previous one and, most of the time, we manage to achieve this goal.”
The Gold Medal recognises architects who have served with distinction and designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction to advance architecture or endowed the profession.
The jury noted Mr Godsell’s exemplary commitment to “excellence in design, detail and resolution”.
In the address, Mr Godsell will also speak to the role of architects in creating solutions to the challenge of climate change.
“As a profession, our global response to climate change is most meaningful when handled locally rather than by cure-all panaceas that, in the case of architecture, more often than not, result in formulaic outcomes,’’ he said.
“I think that architects are great creative problem solvers, whose contributions to society resonate throughout our built environment.”
The Gold Medal tour is supported by the Institute’s National Corporate Partner, Bosch.
For more information about the 2022 Gold Medal Tour with Sean Godsell, please visit architecture.com.au/prizes/gold-medal/.
Media contact: Rosanne Barrett on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects
M. +61 (0) 425 420 024 | rosanne@barrettcomms.com.au
