From the curator–2014 UQ Architecture lecture series

With the 2014 UQ Architecture lecture series less than a week away we thought we'd talk to series curator, John de Manincor from UQ about the theme of the series and what we can expect from the speakers.

John is Senior Lecturer in Professional Practice and Design at the UQ School of Architecture and a registered, practicing architect and Director of THE ARCHITECTURE OFFICE (AO). He has collaborated with leading local and international architects and from 2006-2013 he led Sydney-based practice DRAW: DE MANINCOR RUSSELL ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP with Adam Russell.

Alongside practice, John has been involved in architectural education for more than 15 years, teaching technology, practice and design at The University of Technology Sydney (UTS), The University of Sydney and The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and has lectured widely in Australia and abroad.

2014 UQ Architecture lecture series curator–John de Manincor

"There are parallels between the various tasks of an architecture school and the role of the contemporary library. They are not places where one finds existing, static information but rather places that generate new knowledge.

UQ has an excellent reputation as a both a teaching and research institution. This year, particularly in our Masters Degree, we are bringing our research to the design studio; asking students to expand upon the various areas of expertise of our staff along with a number of leading practitioners. Our staff and our students are producing new knowledge.

One of the great delights in browsing a library is to stumble across other things you were not actually looking for, you often come away with something new.

This year’s lecture series is entitled “720 +", after the Dewey system code for architecture. With this year’s lecture series we are hoping our speakers will be that other thing … something beyond what is already “in” the library, the “+”.

This series is not about established super-stars but rising ones, engaged in the generation of new knowledge who will give the audience something to think about. We’ve invited speakers who are recognised as leading designers and thinkers, award-winners and provocateurs."

The 2014 UQ Architecture lecture series runs every Tuesday from 25 March to 20 May, excluding 22 April. Tickets are FREE, bookings required.