Questioning resilience in architecture with RAA

The Regional Architecture Association (RAA) announces its second event for 2025, VITAL - Questions of Resilience, to be held in Dungog, Worimi/Gringai Country in the NSW Hunter Valley. 

Established in 2021, the Regional Architecture Association (RAA) is a member-based organisation for architects practising outside our capital cities, providing a vital support network for regional practitioners, and advocating for a better built environment. 

The RAA produces two to three live events each year and these have become widely known for connecting architects to communities, industry and decision-makers, while shining a light on the diversity of regional practice, its issues and its people. All RAA events are open to associated disciplines and community members as well as members.

The VITAL program looks at both the conceptual and practical elements of what we design and what we build with, for greater resilience and community. 

Creative Directors Janne Ryan (Ideas curator) and Peter Salhani (Architecture journalist) have cast a broad net in bringing together ideas and speakers with direct connections to the region and beyond, through projects of social and economic change. 

Hear from architects, thinkers and activists working for a more sustainable construction economy at the supply chain level.

VITAL kicks off on Thursday 19 June with a series of hands-on fringe events. First up is a farm tour at The Ryan’s Farm, where Carbon Fix is running a regenerative land project. Lachlan Pierce, an architecture graduate turned land regenerator, will explain how over 3,000 trees were planted using science, geometry and design principles. 

You’ll also hear from Co-Creative Director Janne Ryan about Forest of Dreams, an art project exploring the impact of dense planting on soil health. 

Later, Caroline Pidcock invites guests to visit her Dowling Street studio and home, before heading to the Royal Hotel for welcome drinks, dinner and live music by Maitland musician Dave Wells.

Friday 20 June is the main day of talks, held at the 1939 Royal Hotel in Dungog. Jason Elsley of Derive Architecture & Design will present the Murrook Culture Centre, a project developed with the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council that’s won major awards for public and sustainable design. 

Dr Sarah Breen Lovett from the University of Newcastle will introduce FAST SLOW, a housing project that blends prefabricated structures with low-carbon earth building to create thoughtful, affordable homes. Caroline Pidcock will also speak about resilience in architecture and how design can help create a regenerative, low-carbon future.

Other speakers include Warren Haasnoot from Curious Practice, who will share his work on reviving a Dungog high-street site with a sensitive, modern upgrade. Weather watchers can join former ABC weatherman Graham Creed for a walking talk on local weather patterns and climate change. 

In the evening, guests are invited to Dungog’s historic James Theatre for a relaxed dinner and a screening of Wilding, the documentary based on Isabella Tree’s bestselling book.

Saturday 21 June wraps up with two more fascinating tours. Master builder Shane Hannan will guide visitors through his hempcrete house, built with natural materials sourced from the Hunter Valley. 

He’s currently working on the University of Tasmania’s new Hobart campus, which will be the largest commercial hempcrete project in Australia. Then, head to Australian Sustainable Timbers for a behind-the-scenes look at their mill, where sustainably harvested native timbers have been used in major projects like Marrickville Library and the Sydney Opera House.

In the lead-up to the main event, two online sessions offer a chance to engage from anywhere. On 28 May, Professor Anthony Burke will explore how architecture can support resilience and renewal in regional communities. 

Then on 4 June, architect Alastair Flynn (Woods Bagot) and Klara Marosszeky (Australian Hemp Masonry Company) will dive into the use of hempcrete in the University of Tasmania’s Forestry Building redevelopment. Both sessions are free to join online and provide a great preview of the big conversations happening at VITAL.

Tickets available via Humanitix here.

Image: The Royal Hotel Dungog, where the event will be held / supplied