Deicke Richards Architects

As individuals, families, businesses and communities adapt to the challenges of climate change, peak oil and increased population growth, the way we design our cities at all scales from buildings to ‘burbs must also change. Just how they should change, though, is far from agreed. Subtropical Cities 2008 will draw together the collective experience and creativity of contributors to built form from across Australia to share, debate and explore these issues, and Deicke Richards will be right in the thick of it as sponsors, participants and presenters.

Coordinated by the Centre for Subtropical Design, the theme for this year’s conference is From Fault-Lines to Sight-Lines: Subtropical Urbanism in 20-20, alluding to recent trends towards broader urban planning and a sharpened focus on ecological sustainability. The conference follows on from the first, highly successful Subtropical Cities 2006, where 46 speakers presented on issues in landscape and urban design, architecture, concluding with a panel debate on the provocative issue: Why is there so little subtropical design in cities?

Conference chair Professor Helen Armstrong (QUT) is looking forward to the opportunity this year to define a clearer vision for subtropical cities:

The Conference will offer an exhilarating setting to share and debate ideas; ideas about what subtropical urbanism could be by 2020.   Will it aspire to a new resilient urban form? Will it still maintain a centrality of landscape?   Will it still focus on ecological paradigms? … We urge you to share your knowledge and ideas and look forward to meeting you on the Brisbane riverside.

Deicke Richards’ directors and associates are pleased to have the opportunity to be a conference sponsor, and support its aims of promoting appropriate and sustainable design. In particular, Director Peter Richards has a long-standing relationship with the Centre for Subtropical Design, dating back to its establishment in 2004.

Subtropical Cities 2008 will run from 3 – 6 September, 2008 at QUT venues throughout Brisbane.

To register or for more information visit http://www.icebergevents.com/subtropicalcities2008/.

Posted on 24 June 2008