31 October 2008

UQ graduates and staff are turning heads at the Place Makers exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art, which showcases sustainable Queensland architecture at its best.

Place Makers is the largest contemporary architecture exhibition staged in an Australian art museum and includes over 40 significant projects that have been realised over the last 20 years.

Of the 22 Queensland architects showcasing their designs, 12 hail from UQ.

Among the UQ contingent is adjunct associate professor Rex Addison and adjunct professors Timothy Hill, Brian Donovan, Michael Rayner, and Shane Thompson.

Projects by current UQ lecturers, Professor Brit Andresen of Andresen O’Gorman Architects and Associate Professor Peter Skinner, are also on display at the gallery.

Architecture Program Director at UQ Dr Antony Moulis said the strong representation of staff, former staff and graduates in the exhibition reflected the important role the University had played in the development of Queensland architecture.

The school currently houses 400 architecture students and 13 full-time staff.

"Over many years we've educated a generation of architects in terms of sustainable approaches to design and response to climate and our academic staff have been key generators of knowledge in this area," he said.

Architectural research at The University of Queensland is based around three main themes: architectural design and sustainability, the history and theory of architecture, and Indigenous environments.

Place Makers will run until November 23 and features a series of lectures and documentaries on exciting new developments in Queensland architecture.

The exhibition coincides with the Queensland government’s release of Heat, a publication that highlights innovations in environmental architecture.

Media: Jason Tin or Cameron Pegg at UQ Communications (07 3365 2049, c.pegg@uq.edu.au)