A Digital-First “Conversations Through Architecture” Exhibition Launch

Australia–China architectural ingenuity in focus for world-first digital exhibition
The Australian Embassy Beijing, Austrade, The University of Queensland and Swayn Centre for Australian Design at the National Museum of Australia have created a new type of exhibition
experience in response to COVID-19 restrictions.

A unique online exhibition celebrating Australian architects and the contribution they make to global culture, development and engagement has launched as an immersive digital platform.

Please view the exhibition here: https://www.swayn.design/program/living-in-the-city

Opening in October during China’s 2020 Extraordinary Australia festival and closing in March 2021 during Brisbane’s Asia Pacific Architecture Festival, “Living in the City: Australia–China Conversations Through Architecture” will take participants on a journey through 30 compelling architectural projects across the two countries.

Projects are presented in pairs to highlight significant issues such as negotiating the relationship between density and amenity, mixed-use urbanity for growing cities and reprogramming architecture for community benefit.

The exhibition aligns ingenuity and expertise in Australian architecture with the emerging investment in public and community projects by provincial and municipal governments in China.

Featured architectural projects include the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing by Populous.

Paul Henry, founder and managing director of Populous (winner of 2019 Exporter of the Year in the Australian Export Awards), said Australian architecture and design professional service exports such as those highlighted in the exhibition deliver tangible value, particularly through employment.

“The ability of Australian architects to design treasured national projects throughout China, and elsewhere in Asia, provides an opportunity to enhance Australia’s international engagement,” Henry said.

“The power of these soft diplomacy opportunities to build greater regional ties should not be underestimated … every export dollar earned by design services export relates directly back
to employment opportunities for Australian architects.”