- From Thursday 23 March 2023 to Thursday 30 March 2023
- Celebrates good design, and features many free events
- Covers a wide range of challenges in architecture and design
Perth is set to see its very own Design Week (PDW) begin on Thursday 23 March this year, running through to Thursday 30 March.
The seven day programme is a celebration of good design, highlighting and acknowledging local design leaders and the fruits of their labour.
Featuring many free talks, exhibitions, tours, workshops, walks, and more, the public is invited into the world of design professionals and across all disciplines, from architecture to interiors, landscape, and more.
The new event concept was brought together by architect Sandy Anghie and designer David Smith and is based on successful Design Weeks across the country and the world.
“We believe Perth will whole heartedly welcome and embrace the festival,” said Anghie.
“We’re releasing the program as it stands right now which comprises exciting and inspiring events, but we’ve been inundated with businesses, organisations and institutions eager to take part in the festival, so the list of participants, events, talks and exhibitions continues to grow.”
“Whether you’re a design professional, design student, or just design-curious, there’s an abundance to explore.”
Co-creator Perth Design Week, Sandy Anghie
David Smith said Perth Design Week is an opportunity to recognise the design community and its incredible diversity, comprising people across many disciplines including architecture, interiors, landscape, planning, fashion, graphic design, service design, and product design.
“It’s about design at all scales but all working to a common goal – to improve how we all live and work.”
Co-creator Perth Design Week, David Smith
“We’ve engaged some wonderful designers and organisations for our inaugural program and we’re confident there’s scope to grow and expand PDW each year. My hope is that having seen the possibilities and the culture of endless capacity for creation, the public will increasingly demand better projects, outcomes and more human-centred design as we look to the future,” said Smith.
The buildings that never were
Perth Design Week also features the Perth Unbuilt Exhibition, a unique look into what Perth could have looked like.
Great cities of the world are defined by their architecture; it has been said we shape our buildings and then they shape us.
The exhibition looks at a selection of unrealised designs created by prominent Perth architecture studios which were never constructed.
Architectural practice is at the mercy of larger societal forces, for every building constructed, several designs are not. Creative incompletion is part of the architectural practice – every architect has unrealised passion projects.
Some of our most prominent architects will discuss projects which remain unbuilt and how they might have shaped a different identity for Perth.
Icons of Australia and sustainable design
Among the other events throughout the week: Icons – Australian Design, as curated by Ian Wong, will feature some of Australia’s greatest icons of design which we may well take for granted these days.
World-first innovations include the Kambrook Powerboard and the Nylex Esky.
In an all-day marathon, Perth’s award-winning architects will discuss the topic of sustainable home design.
Australia has the largest homes in the world, and WA among the largest homes in the country, with new houses over 40% bigger than they were 40 years ago. Over the years consumers have been convinced they need four bedrooms, a home theatre, a butler’s pantry, a mudroom and more, However with the ever diminishing size of households, an increasing proportion of single person households, and a rental supply crisis, does this make sense? Would we be better off in less space with better and more sustainably designed homes?
This is exactly what these architects are doing. It is a great opportunity for people to find out how beautiful, high quality spaces with a smaller footprint can be achieved with environmentally sensitive designs. With opportunities for the architects to take questions from the audience, the general public is welcome to attend the Home Inspiration Marathon
For full details, head to the Perth Design Week website.
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Disclaimer: The Property Tribune will be moderating one panel during the Home Inspiration Marathon.
