ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE - event wrap by Rebecca Caldwell
Before I dive too far into the dense, syrupy content that is Artificial Intelligence I just wanted to make a small reflection on this gathering. Before the day even started I learned two things:
Regional Architecture Association also known as RAA is said ‘RAARRRGGH’ (like a lion); and,
This is a really warm association of architects for whom connection is seriously valuable - resulting in a wonderful day and evening of conversation and new friendships.
REFLECTIONS fringe event
Our first Thursday fringe event will be a guided bus tour around the main attractions of Cobar, concluding with a longer visit to the Sound Chapel.
The tour will offer an introduction to Cobar’s mining landscape, industrial heritage and civic identity, taking in Fort Bourke Hill Lookout, the Cobar Miners Memorial, Cobar Mining Heritage Park, the Cobar Sign and views to the Great Cobar Open Cut.
We will then spend some time exploring and experiencing the Cobar Sound Chapel, a permanent sound installation artwork by composer / sound artist George Lentz in collaboration with architect Glenn Murcutt.
REFLECTIONS partnership
RAA is pleased to be working with the Cobar Shire Council for our September event, a municipality that has demonstrated a strong and sustained commitment to investing in the community through infrastructure and place-based projects that strengthen liveability, participation, and local identity.
REFLECTIONS fringe event
One of the Thursday afternoon fringe events will be the creation of a communal wall mural displaying the experiences of our collective journeys to Cobar.
As you travel to Cobar we invite you to document your journey through sketches, collage or other creative forms. Your work may capture the physical experience of travel- the landscapes, towns, roads, encounters and discoveries along the way, or it may explore a deeper, less tangible journey.
RAA Honorary Membership Announcement
RAA invites members to nominate individuals who have made a significant contribution to the profession and architecture in the regions, whether in Australia or internationally. Successful nominees will be acknowledged through the presentation of an honorary membership.
FIELD guide, May 2026
Editor of the RAA journal, Field - Architecture Gone Regional, Peter Salhani shares feedback from Issue #1, and ideas for using Field as part of your marketing strategy.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE panel discussion
The final session of the Friday main speaker day at the Brisbane Powerhouse is a panel discussion with a group of experts selected for their diverse perspectives on the future of the profession.
Sarah Aldridge of Byron Bay practice Space Studio will moderate the session which will discuss the future of practice and the profession, looking at climate change, resource security, social capital, and where architects need to position themselves to lead the profession towards a conscious and viable future.
BUDGET NIGHT WIN!
Last night’s Federal Budget saw a win for the advocacy of many of our allied professional bodies, who, along with RAA, have been lobbying government for some time, to make Australian Standards freely accessible to built environment professionals.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE presenter
Stuart Vokes, architect and co-founder of practice Vokes and Peters based in Kurilpa, Brisbane, will discuss the process of delivering projects by both modular and traditional procurement pathways and how this shapes the conversations and design processes informing the outcomes.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE fringe event
On a site visit to One Room Tower on one of two tours being run on Saturday morning, we will explore the notion of ‘productive city’ and how small-scale projects can enhance liveability and resilience in communities. This project by Phorm Architecture in collaboration with Dr Silvia Micheli & Antony Moulis is cross-disciplinary in nature, simultaneously urban artefact and residential utility.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE fringe event
As part of Brisbane’s Architectural Intelligence event, architect, urban designer and teacher Peter Richards will deliver a sketching workshop in Brisbane’s West End on Thursday afternoon. “Sketching is a great way to carefully observe the place you are in and the way that people occupy that place” he contends.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE fringe event
One of Saturday morning's tours at Brisbane’s Architectural Intelligence event will take attendees to architect John Ellway’s Terrarium House, a home created by bringing together layers of memories from the owners’ childhoods and travels.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE presenter
Dr Kirsty Volz of QUT will discuss the breadth of roles in the architectural profession and how we can use our skills as architects to influence design outcomes in the built environment.
Kirsty is an architect and Senior Lecturer in Architecture whose research bridges practice, community and climate adaptation. Her work focuses on housing and place‑based design guidance.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE community dinner
Following our afternoon fringe events or for those just arrived in town, please join us at the Brisbane Brewing Co West End, who will host us for the Thursday Community Dinner (buy your own).
Since 2005, Brisbane Brewing Co has been more than just an independent brewery—it’s been the heartbeat of local beer in Brisbane. They didn’t follow a trend. They started one, opening the doors to Brisbane’s Original Brewpub and putting fresh, locally brewed beer on the map.
ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE presenter
Sam Charles-Ginn, Principal Advisor Urban Design and Architecture will provide delegates with an update from the Office of the Queensland Government Architect.
A registered architect and with broad experience within the built environment industry, Sam advocates for design quality in the urban environment while contributing to community projects as a designer, strategic planner and advisor. He has worked across various community sectors including cultural facilities, education, tourism, land use, and housing.
RAA Intern from the University of Tasmania | Hananeh Shojaee Pour
Hananeh Shojaee Pour is a PhD researcher at the University of Tasmania, working at the intersection of architecture and online media. Her research looks at how architectural practices communicate their work and position themselves through online social platforms.
As part of her internship with the Regional Architecture Association, she is working on a project to better understand the landscape of regional architectural practice across Australia, involving building a national dataset of practices beyond existing RAA members, mapping where they are located, what kinds of work they do, and the communities they serve.
GOVERNMENT + ARCHITECTS: Collaboration for Smarter Regional Public Works - event wrap by Katharina Hendel
RAA’s first Community Conversation event, GOVERNMENT + ARCHITECTS, brought together members, practitioners and government representatives at the Artie Smith Oval Pavilion for an engaging evening focused on smarter regional public works procurement. Hosted in a publicly procured project itself, the event began with a tour of the pavilion and grounds led by Morgen Figgis of Barnacle Studio, followed by speaker presentations and a lively round table discussion.
It was also a fitting occasion to acknowledge the late Wesley Hindmarch, one of the architects of the pavilion. Wesley’s contribution to the built environment as founder of Local Architect South Coast, and to architecture in the regions more broadly, leaves a lasting legacy. His work helped shape a generous and thoughtful civic place that provided a meaningful setting for the evening’s discussion.
POWER OF COMMUNITY - event wrap by Talina Edwards
Attending the Regional Architecture Association’s POWER OF COMMUNITY forum in Yarrayne / Guildford in Central Victoria on Friday 13 March 2026 (for the main seminar day) was a meaningful reminder of the strength that exists when people come together around shared purpose. Held at Guildford Public Hall, the forum brought together voices from architecture, sustainability, energy, research and public leadership to explore the systems — both formal and informal — that support change.
Farewell Wes
The RAA community is deeply saddened at the passing of Local Architect South Coast Founding Director, Wesley Hindmarch. He passed, over Easter, following a long illness.
A Founding Member of RAA, Wesley was deeply committed to regional architecture and believed that good design should be accessible to everyone. Throughout his career, he worked tirelessly to support and advocate for regional practitioners, building strong relationships with local councils in both Tasmania, Victoria and NSW while championing opportunities for architects to work within their own communities.
RAA is Hiring | Administration & Events Assistant
The Regional Architecture Association is seeking a motivated and organised Administration & Events Assistant to support delivery of events, member communication, marketing, general administration and distribution of the journal for our not-for-profit architecture association.