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Asia Pacific Architecture Festival

Calling all architects, design enthusiasts, students and more. Asia Pacific Architecture Festival is back at State Library and around Brisbane in 2023. Over two weeks, 9 to 23 June 2023, enjoy workshops, forums, conversations and more, all unpacking why design matters.

See the full program

Events

See what's on at State Library to enhance your festival experience. 

low set house with breeze block
Booked out
Create your own breeze block

Sat 10 Jun · 1–5pm + 1 more events

Get a taste of architectural design and make your own breeze block book ends. Suitable for ages 16 and up. Breeze blocks are enjoying renewed popularity with architects and builders as both aesthetic and practical solutions for providing comfort in our subtropical climate. Using a vector drawing program, workshop participants will design a custom breeze block or one inspired by historical images drawn from State Library's collections. We'll take you through the traditional manufacturing method on a reduced scale. You will then cast your breeze block using a plastic mould built on a 3D printer. There are no special skills required, just bring your creativity, ideas, and enthusiasm to each of the fortnightly workshops to bring your breeze block to life. This is a 2-part workshop running on 10 & 17 June (you need to be able to come to both dates as the second session builds upon the work of the previous). Requirements Participants must be over 16 years of age. Enclosed, flat footwear must be worn at all times. Please become a State Library member before you arrive. If you already have a State Library member account, make sure you know your login details as you may be required to login during the workshop to access State Library computers, and to make bookings for equipment. Before you book Please read The Edge booking terms and conditions. You’ll find answers to age restrictions, what to bring, what to do if you’re running late, refunds and more. Please contact us if you need support to participate in this event and consult the requirements above before making your booking. To find out more about what else is on offer, read up on our Fabrication Lab and community maker space. You can also subscribe to be the first to know about our future events. This event is part of Asia Pacific Architecture Festival 2023.
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accessibility in the home
Booking required
Accessibility design forum: you CAN ask that!

Tue 13 Jun · 2–4pm

Join us for a thought-provoking forum on accessibility design, featuring a diverse panel of experts who have lived experiences of accessibility challenges and solutions. Hear from those who have faced accessibility barriers first-hand and learn how to integrate accessibility into design from the start of the process. You'll be able to ask the panellists straight-forward questions about their experiences, providing a chance to explore the barriers and opportunities that exist in creating inclusive environments. Then, pitch your big ideas on how to integrate accessibility into design from the start of the process to the panellists. Afternoon tea provided. About the facilitator D r Beth O'Brien Beth O'Brien is a disability advocate and speaker and also works as the Director, Student Wellbeing at the Queensland Department of Education. Born with a rare form of dwarfism, Beth is a full-time electric wheelchair user. With a PhD in Social Psychology, Beth has always been interested in human behaviour and understanding the impact of biases and representation on authentic inclusion. In her advocacy work, Beth has been involved in discussions with key business leaders about creating inclusive spaces; highlighted through media appearances the importance of normalising disability; and spoken about the importance of inclusive work and education environments at conferences with other high-profile advocates. At her appearance at the Disability Royal Commission in 2020, Beth advocated for a systemic shift in the way workplaces plan for and respond to supporting employees with a disability. Beth regularly appears on ABC News Breakfast to provide her perspective and insights on current political and social events. Beth is also the co-founder of consultable, which works with businesses to grow their capability and confidence to create and maintain accessible services, experiences and physical and digital spaces that cater to the diverse needs of people with disability. About the p anellists U ncle Willie Prince Uncle Willie Prince is an Aboriginal man born in Wakka Wakka country in Cherbourg, and has cultural and spiritual connection to the Kalkadoon clan group in Mt Isa, Qld. Willie was removed from his family and community as a young child, growing up in institutions but went on to achieve independence, a career, and a place for his voice in the disability community. Uncle Willie worked at State Library of Queensland for 33 years and also had a distinguished career in the world of disability sports. Today he proudly advocates for Aboriginal People with a disability. L orraine Mulready Lorraine is a retired occupational therapist. She worked for 42 years in hospitals, rehabilitation settings, the community and in private practice. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in early 2000’s and continued working until retirement in 2021. She completed a Masters degree by research in 2015. Lorraine is wheelchair dependent, and lives independently. She applies her training and experience to her own situation and is keenly interested in the lived experience of all people dealing with a disability. Karni Liddell Karni was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 12 months. Specialists told her parents she would not walk or crawl, and was unlikely to reach her teenage years. Defying all odds, she went on to become a champion swimmer, breaking her first world record at 14 and winning bronze medals in the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996 and the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000. She is currently the diversity and inclusion manager of the Queensland Public Service Commission and a Queensland ambassador for the national disability insurance scheme. Brendon Donohue Brendon Donohue, a 28 year old who has been blind since birth, is one of the 450,000 Australians who live with blindness or low vision and experiences first-hand how frustrating it is for blind people to navigate a world primarily designed by and for sighted people. Brendan lives independently in South Brisbane and experienced the impact of 2022 floods firsthand, he felt alone and forgotten while the flood waters were rising. Kathryn Lyons Kathryn Lyons is a passionate leader, mentor, advocate, change agent and ambassador focusing on universal inclusion for all. A visitor of The Edge for several years, Kathryn has overcome major barriers through her complex disability, a progressive degenerative unidentifiable connective tissue disorder. As an entrepreneur and innovator, Kathryn co-created Accessibilit-t, focussing on finding inclusive solutions within society. Accessibility at the event Please contact us if you need support to participate in this event. We will have Auslan interpreters at the event. To find out more about what else is on offer at The Edge, read up on our Fabrication Lab and community maker space. Subscribe to be the first to know about our future events. This event is part of Asia Pacific Architecture Festival 2023.
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A photo of people meeting at The Edge
Made Today: Hack the evening

Thu 15 Jun · 6–8pm + 1 more events

During Asia Pacific Architecture Festival we will showcase the potency and potential of these maker meet ups and the creative resources available to the public at The Edge. Experience community members riffing on their current projects and aspirations, and join in to collaborate on a new project, get hands-on with new technologies and hear from our guest speakers about creative outputs in the realm of making and design. Thursday 15 June: Creative electronics Featuring local maker and creative technologist Steph Piper. Here we’ll work with community members to brainstorm and collaborate on an interactive project idea. About Steph Piper GlowStitch LEDs are a new way of adding lights to crafting and sewing projects. They are fully machine sewable and are easy to use for beginners with no coding or soldering required. Hear the story from Steph Piper about product development and crowd funding, and pick up a free sample pack to play with on the evening. Based in Toowoomba, Steph is the community engagement coordinator at University of Southern Queensland, running its library's maker space. She is a creative technologist and creates edutech products on weekends that are sold globally. Thursday 22 June: New technologies and design Focusing on the cutting edge of design, and chatting with the designers about some of the work on display that feature innovative and interactive experiences including artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality, and the role they play in place making and design. About Waldemar Jenek Waldemar's research explores how to teach architecture students about technologies such as augmented and virtual reality to design interactive media (architecture) structures in an urban environment. Event is free to attend. No booking required, drop in.
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Contact us

Got a question? Email our friendly team to find out more about the Asia Pacific Architecture Festival.

The Architecture Symposium, Brisbane

The 2023 Architecture Symposium program in Brisbane will celebrate architecture’s pivotal role in the culture, sustainability and economy of the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Pacific is a rich collage of cultures and languages. As a collective we share commonalities in our histories and challenges in the past, present and future. How can architecture and design celebrate and amplify the region’s myriad traditions, environments and continual evolution? Speakers from Australia and abroad will discuss projects, processes, research and ideas that relate to architecture’s role in the culture, sustainability and economy of the Asia Pacific region.
Frame Holiday Structure by Palinda Kannangara Architects