During the final throes of organizing a Design Speaks symposium co-curated by Kerstin Thompson and Phillip Arnold, I received a call from the Institute with the name of the 2023 Gold Medallist. “I think you’ll be happy,” I was told. And I was – Kerstin had deservingly achieved the highest honour. I immediately called to congratulate her – and to warn her that although it might seem that our time working together would end with the symposium, we were about to embark on another big project: compiling the Architecture Australia tribute to her practice.
Kerstin’s architectural work demonstrates a depth of thought that is not only visible in the drawings and built outcomes, but also astutely articulated in words by Kerstin herself – not always such a natural skill for an architect. Her ability to communicate her approach, ideas and considerations makes her an incredibly valuable mentor, teacher and advocate for architecture. The many anecdotes collected here consistently refer to her generous and collaborative approach, and Justine Clark’s opening essay reflects on Kerstin’s engagement beyond the office, noting that “this is also imbricated with the world of the practice … These activities help make space for the development of ideas that then reverberate between these various worlds.”
Kerstin Thompson Architects’ built work spans all typologies, with four main themes emerging: responding to circumstance; a companionship between new and old; landscape and interconnectivity; and responding to people’s inhabitation of place. In our tribute, four written pieces reflect these themes, with each followed by a selection of relevant projects. The concluding piece shares an engaging written exchange between Kerstin and one of her clients that gives deep insight into Kerstin’s design thinking and general approach – and her offer to let us publish this reinforces her generous spirit and transparency in the way she works.
The Gold Medal coverage sits within the announcement of the Institute’s 2023 National Prizes, recognizing a group of people who are dedicated to advocacy and advancement of the profession; they work beyond the boundaries of practice and seek to have an impact in the broader industry. Congratulations to all those recognized this year.
Alongside the National Prizes, a series of diverse educational projects is reviewed in this issue: a city university student precinct, temporary accommodation for mature-aged First Nations students in Darwin and a regional TAFE building used by both students and the local community. We also review a pair of houses – one in Victoria and the other in New South Wales – that are similarly designed to both occupy the landscape and respect its magnificence and power.
Finally, you might also notice a design refresh in this issue of Architecture Australia. After five years – a testament to the robustness of their design template – we’ve said goodbye to Years Months Days. Our new designer, AKLR, comes on board with fresh energy and enthusiasm. In particular, we’ve briefed them to imbue our special themed issues with greater flexibility and expression. We’re looking forward to seeing how this will evolve – watch this space!
Katelin Butler, editorial director
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