Now is the time to build better. As southeast Queensland continues to grow, and with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games shining a global spotlight, this is the ideal time for our region to accelerate our own brand of good design through architecture.
Genuine good design is an invaluable investment, as it transfers value from one generation to the next. Queensland architects have worked hard to ensure its citizens have not been deprived of quality design and it brings a value that cannot be measured.
While the Gold Coast is perhaps better known nationally for its mid-century fibro beach homes, there are a raft of talented local architects and emerging practices These include Matthew Eagle, who has carefully distilled history to add a uniquely Gold Coast legacy to his valued contributions to housing. Matthew’s award-winning home designs represent a beautiful balance of economic accessibility and lifestyle aspiration, gracing our streets with the pastel hues of fond architectural memories.
In recent years, Queensland architects have been a dominant creative force in public buildings, evidenced by a high number of national awards, including eight in 2022 alone. Indeed, the Queensland Art Gallery, by Robin Gibson, is the first ever recipient of the RAIA National Award for Public Buildings, and our state is also the home of eight Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medallists, the highest level of recognition an architect can achieve within the Australian profession.
The immediate past president of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, Mark Jones, says contemporary architecture in the region has lifted the landscape. “Many buildings in southeast Queensland designed by modernist architects are both beautiful and functional, while also achieving high environmental standards,” he said. “Art Galleries like QAGOMA and your own HoTA, new hospitals such as those at the Gold and Sunshine Coast, and numerous university buildings contribute positively to urban life and to the beauty of our cities”.
With two universities offering degrees leading to a career in architecture on the Gold Coast alone, and our Olympics events drawing the attention of the world to our public buildings and neighbourhoods, the Gold Coast may need to get used to hearing concepts such as beauty, architecture, modernism, streetscape, and urban
design debated more often in the public forum, encouraging our city to live up to its potential.
Amy Degenhart is the Queensland Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Architects and a long-time Gold Coast local
For further information, please contact: Rosanne Barrett on behalf of the Australian Institute of Architects | M. +61 (0) 425 420 024 | hello@barrettcomms.com.au
