October 2008: NSW Architects Registration Board

October 2008	eNEWSLETTER

Election of Architect Positions on the NSW Architects Registration Board

Every two years the NSW Electoral Commission is directed by the Minister for Commerce to conduct an election for the two elected architect positions on the NSW Architects Registration Board. The Electoral Commission will be calling this election shortly – as soon as we are advised of the timeframe we will include the details on the Board’s website. For more information at this time contact the Registrar.

Review of the Architects Act

Like all legislation in NSW the NSW Architects Act must be reviewed after it has been in operation for five years. The assent date for the Architects Act was 10/12/03; hence the review of the Act needs to be done "as soon as possible" after 10/12/08. The Board has formed a Work Group to work with the Department of Commerce who has the responsibility for the Review. We will be encouraging all architects and consumers of architectural services to consider how the Act could be more effective and contribute to the Review. Keep a look out in future newsletters for ways you can contribute to the review process.

Interested in becoming an examiner for the Architecture Practice Examination (APE)?

We are seeking expressions of interest from architects working in a variety of practices to become APE examiners. Architects must be currently practising and have at least 5 years post registration experience. Examiners are paid a fee and can log formal CPD hours for their involvement. For more information please contact the Board.

2008 Sydney Architecture Festival - feedback

The Sydney Architecture Festival is a joint venture between the Australian Architecture Association, Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) and the NSW Architects Registration Board. Our organisations all have common ground in our efforts to create a better understanding of architecture.

The Festival is supported by the City of Sydney as part of a funding plan for three years and in 2008 the Festival was sponsored by Stockland and SPUN Architects Group. ABC Local Radio was the media partner. Event partners include Customs House, Sydney; the Sydney Opera House; Sydney Harbour Federation Trust; Powerhouse Museum, Historic Houses Trust; and the National Trust of Australia (NSW).

Festival activities were focussed on Customs House Sydney and included city architectural tours, talks, exhibitions and kid’s events. In addition to the activities focussed around Customs House, the headline talk for the Festival – Circular Quay- Gateway to the Future was presented at the Utzon Room in the World Heritage listed Sydney Opera House; six architecture practices were open to the public; and there was free ferry transport and tours of the industrial architectural heritage of Cockatoo Island.

In total, attendance for the 2008 Festival was over 6,000. Postcodes were collected from participants across the activities and indicate that attendees at the Festival came from areas all many areas of Sydney – including the inner west, eastern suburbs, Sutherland, Hurstville, Parramatta and the Hills area.

The success of the Festival indicates a desire on the part of the public to engage with architecture. Next year the Festival will continue its presence at Customs House on World Architecture Day, but plans are afoot to include a number of lead up events with our event partners and the possibility to conduct a number of activities outside the centre of Sydney. The website www.sydneyarchitecturefestival.org will be updated with full gallery of photos shortly.

2008 Sydney Open 2 November

Lace up those walking shoes and experience the buzz on our streets as the HHT open some of Sydney’s best buildings. Sydney Open 08 is your day pass to uncover sites of architectural significance, ranging from award-winning contemporary designs to greatly loved heritage buildings and lesser-known urban curiosities. Explore rooftop vistas, inspiring spaces and exciting design not usually accessible to the public. For more details and bookings go to: http://www.hht.net.au/whats_on/highlights/events/sydney_open_08

October 2008

eNEWSLETTER