Sydney Architecture Festival 2010

SAW Bike Tour

 The Situationalists Internationale drifted through the city randomly, deliberately disrupting ways of walking in the city; organised spontaneity. This two-wheeled urban derive will drift along Sydney’s industrial western edge before trespassing through the back streets of Ultimo, Chippendale, Redfern and Surry Hills. The route and the conversation will be structured around a number of contemporary architectural and urban projects, contested sites and politicized themes. We will sniff out recent projects by the following architects: PTW, Harry Seidler, Rod Simpson, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Smart Design, Bligh Voller Nield, Mac Interactive, Engelen Moore, 6 Degrees, Domenic Alvaro, Neeson Murcutt, SJB and fjmt.

This tour is 4-4.5 hours duration.  You will need to be a confident cyclist. 

SAW 2

“Utzon” is at once an in-depth and textured portrait of enigmatic Danish architect Jorn Utzon, as well as the story of the 20th Century’s most ambitious architectural project. 

You will discover the influence of towering 20th Century figures like LeCorbusier, Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen, Mies van der Rohe and even Picasso on Utzon’s ideas, his interest in Antonio Gaudi’s working methods and the ways in which his work was utterly contemporary yet drew many of its ideas from the architecture of the ancients. 

Using discarded drawings and models, Utzon’s design for the performance spaces, glass walls and interiors will be discussed and you can judge for yourself how much we lost when he was forced to leave the building half finished.

SAW 2 finishes with the recently completed Opera House refurbishment, a decade long collaboration between Utzon, his architect son Jan and Sydney architect Richard Johnson.

Coffee at the Opera Bar afterwards (not included in ticket price)

SAW 1

This walking tour trespasses joyfully across disciplines and genres, seeking out the architecture and public art that materialises contemporary conditions and attitudes; projects that respond to the culture, history and environment of Sydney and not just imported formulaic codes. As we meander through the old city, the influence of Aboriginal occupation, landscape and colonial settlement will be discussed in relation to the city’s growth. Uncovering art and architectural projects large and small we will zoom in on two contemporary iconic structures; Renzo Piano’s Aurora Place office and apartment buildings and Denton Corker Marshall’s Governor Phillip and Macquarie Towers.

Coffee in Piano’s foyer afterwards (not included in ticket price).

Sydney City Walk 

23 & 30 October

Sydney's central business district from Martin Place down to Circular Quay changed dramatically after World War II. This guided walking tour examines many of the buildings in the cbd and trace the development of modernism and the high rise tower. 

From Harry Seidler's iconic Australia Square tower, the tour also includes Sir Norman Foster's Deutsche Bank Place, Governor Phillip Tower by DCM and architects Jackson Dyke, to provide more new classrooms for the Conservatorium of Music. 

Bookings: Australian Architecture Association

Surry Hills Walk 

6 November

Surry Hills Walk starts by visiting a crossroads that is edged by an almost complete history of Surry Hills building types from the tiniest terrace houses, through factory buildings to funky warehouse conversions to contemporary apartment buildings. Other highlights include turning an electricity substation into a smart apartment building, and the massive redevelopment of St Margaret's hospital into one of Sydney's trendy living quarters.

Bookings: Australian Architecture Association