The Design Council, the British Government’s advisor on design has today announced a pioneering new partnership with the Integrated Design Commission (IDCSA) of South Australia, which recognises the role of good quality, well-designed places in improving quality of life and stimulating economic growth.
As part of the agreement, the IDC will draw on the expertise of the Design Council to demonstrate the value of design review in improving the quality of major projects and producing well-designed places. The partnership with the IDC is the first of its kind, and marks the start of a stronger international role for the Design Council.
The partnership will create the first international Design Review process endorsed by the Design Council. The Design Council team are developing Design Review guidance and visited the IDC SA this week to train staff and panel members. In South Australia, Design Review will be lead by the South Australian Government Architect, Benjamin Hewett, who also leads the IDC SA.
This is ahead of a joint meeting of Australian State Government Architects later in the year, to be hosted by the IDC SA in Adelaide. One item on the agenda is to discuss more effective ways to promote “world class urban design and architecture”; a priority agreed by the Australian Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in December 2009, and reflected in the Australian National Urban Policy released earlier this year.
Welcoming the agreement, David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council said: “Design crosses boundaries and borders and is the creative force that turns new ideas for a better world into a reality. This new partnership between the Design Council and the government of South Australia will spread the many benefits of good design to communities and improve our everyday lives.”
The South Australian Premier, Mike Rann applauded progress made by the IDC to pioneer the first formal process for Design Review in Australia, and this further move to make a strategic agreement with the Design Council. The Premier commented:
“In the global contest for talent and resources, Adelaide is regularly acknowledged as one of the most liveable cities in one of the liveable countries in the OECD. How we design, plan and build our public spaces, our buildings and products, contributes to our exceptional quality of life. From its inception 175 years ago, Adelaide has exemplified great city planning. From hosting the first Town Planning conference in the early years of the Australian Federation, our unique connection to nature, and our commitment to sustainable development through our 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, this agreement with the UK’s Design Council represents a unique design partnership across cultures, time zones and latitudes.”
Mike Rann David Kester
Premier, South Australia Chief Executive, Design Council
Further information
In Britain, please contact: Nigel Campbell, Head of Communication, Design Council on 020 7420 522 / 07825 442 339 / nigel.campbell@designcouncil.org.uk
In Australia, please contact: Sonia DeNicola, Public Engagement Officer on 61 8 8226 2626 / 61 402 275 050 / Sonia.denicola@sa.gov.au
Background Information
1. In April 2011, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Design Council merged to form one world class centre in architecture and design. CABE’s role in the built environment is now carried out a one of three-delivery focussed business units at the Design Council.
2. The IDC SA is Australia’s first multi-disciplinary adviser to government across the fields of Design, Planning and Development. The Commissioner for Integrated Design, Timothy Horton, spearheads the broader mission for design in South Australia. The IDC SA is lead by the South Australia Government Architect and Executive Director, Benjamin Hewett. The IDC SA provides support to the Commissioner, strategic advice to government and is staffed by both design professionals and staff with policy expertise, and Among its current work, the IDC SA is developing a national pilot in partnership with 3 levels of government for design-led renewal of Australian cities (www.5000plus.net.au)
3. Design Review is a process of peer review for assessing the quality of schemes coming forward for development. CABE/Design Council CABE has run a National Design Review programme in England for over ten years in order to provide high quality independent design advice for significant developments. The schemes have ranged from housing and commercial development to public buildings and open spaces.
The service covers all aspects of individual schemes, including the quality of the architecture and landscaping, sustainability and its fit with the local community.
Design Review panels are experts in their field coming from a range of industry backgrounds, including architects, landscape architects, urban designers, engineers, planners and developers.