The Architects Association’s Jiri and Sasha Lev have concluded their Australian tour.
Informal discussions with architects and associated professionals across Australian states brought forth a wide collection of varied and often unexpected topics.
With architecturally educated urban planners in Geelong we discussed the disconnect between Australian architecture and urban planning, and compared this with the integrated profession of urbanism as a design discipline practiced in Central Europe.
The odd absence of urbanism in Australian city making was debated again in Adelaide with local architects, developers and thinkers.
The shortcomings of modernist architecture and planning became most starkly obvious visiting Alice Springs and its town camps, where design failures have contributed to tragic outcomes.
In Brisbane, early career architects shared the challenges associated with transitioning from junior corporate to sole practice, especially while required to provide for young families.
Beauty is not a subjective value. It can be tested empirically and as simply as by observing which buildings do people take photos of or draw. Without doubt modernism has run its course and the amount of it which our cities were capable of absorbing without widespread cultural devastation has been reached, which most architects and general public now understand. Therefore the task ahead is not only that of course correction, but also of recovery and restoration.
In Sydney, with an eclectic group of architects at various professional stages, the broadest range of topics was covered, including architectural philosophy, education, and indeed our own need for un- and re-learning: We all have been taught to put originality above order, individuality over harmony, personal opinions over universal beauty.
There are virtually no classical or traditional schools of architecture left in Australia, though we have powerful connections and access to top-tier international partners who can assist us in the quest at hand.
We discussed the opportunities in architects also acting as developers, creating precedents for high quality new traditional projects.
A Perth architect and a mother of five described her awakening from career-centric social conditioning and shift towards a more fulfilling role as a devoted mother, with architecture becoming a vital creative outlet – a sentiment shared by many other women architects.
Artificial intelligence was discussed frequently. AI’s ability to speedily produce expedient, run-of-the-mill designs will displace architects previously responsible for them. Meanwhile, the fact that AI-generated art and music can easily surpass the works of ‘popular artists’ further highlights the notorious lack of substance in such ‘art’. However AI tools, when used properly, can contribute positively to legitimate intellectual or creative work.
Further meetings and discussions are ongoing via videoconferencing.
Ideas and suggestions collected during this period will serve as a base for the upcoming inaugural convention.
We warmly invite architects, academics and related professionals interested in traditional architecture to join us at the inaugural general meeting scheduled to take place in Sydney on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
Founding membership intake is open. Enquire here.
Save the date and reserve your flights. A detailed program will be announced in the coming weeks.
