Chilean architect and 2016 Pritzker laureate, Alejandro Aravena, will be travelling to Sydney in July for a presentation to be given as part of a talk series hosted by Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA).
Aravena, who also won the 2017 Gothenburg Prize for Sustainable Development, is a partner and executive director of multi-disciplinary architectural practice, ELEMENTAL. Described by Aravena as a “do tank”, Elemental is a collaborative initiative with a focus on tackling the social, economic and environmental challenges posed by the 21st century. The firm’s architectural and built work gives economic opportunity to the underprivileged, mitigates the effects of natural disasters, reduces energy consumption, and provides welcoming public space.
The Innovation Centre UC (Chile) by ELEMENTAL. Image: Nico Saieh
In response to being named laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2016, Aravena emailed:
“Looking backwards, we feel deeply thankful. No achievement is individual. Architecture is a collective discipline. So we think, with gratitude, of all the people who contributed to give form to a huge diversity of forces at play. Looking into the future we anticipate Freedom! The prestige, the reach, the gravitas of the prize is such that we hope to use its momentum to explore new territories, face new challenges, and walk into new fields of action. After such a peak, the path is unwritten. So our plan is not to have a plan, face the uncertain, be open to the unexpected. Finally, looking at the present, we are just overwhelmed, ecstatic, happy. It's time to celebrate and share our joy with as many people as possible.”
Children's Bicentennial Park (Chile) by ELEMENTAL
In his Sydney presentation, to be held on 24 July at the University of NSW Kensington campus, Aravena will talk about ELEMENTAL’s approach to design as well as his own independent works and philosophies. An application has been lodged for this event to attract formal CPD points.
More information and bookings here.
