17 April 2012

Conversations on Architecture at Decorex Cape Town

Decorex Cape Town takes place from 26 to 29 April at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and bookings are now open for ‘Conversations on Architecture’ which will be hosted at the event. 

Under the banner of ‘Architectural expression in the 4G Phase: Exuberant – Experimental – Explicit’, the conversations will explore contemporary issues in the built environment, locally and globally. 

Sara Shafiei and Ben Cowd of the Saraben Studio in Leicester, UK, will explore the theme of Craft and Exuberance, highlighting key work emerging from a young generation of digitally enabled designers and researchers.

On the local front, Porky Hefer will talk about living, not working. “I’ll be touching on how I left advertising to do what I love. I’ll speak about my light designs and weavers’ nest tree-houses, about the links between biomimicry and vernacular architecture, and about crossing disciplines to achieve things,” he says. 

Haldane Martin, Elle Décor Designer of the Year 2010 and widely respected for his work both locally and internationally, will illustrate the use of digital design and manufacturing combined with handwork to echo the beautiful, complex, organic forms found in nature. 

Robert Silke, design director at Louis Karol Architects, will be presenting the question: ‘Do architects dream of electric buildings?’ and his hopes and fears for the application of virtual architecture in post-industrial Africa. 

Alexandra Parker of the Architect Africa Film Festival will look at the role of film and television in shaping urban representation and will screen some of the short films made by students for the Cement & Concrete Institute-sponsored Moving Space Competition. 

Decorex Cape Town’s Conversations on Architecture will run through the morning of 26 April 2012. The programme has been assessed and validated by the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) for CPD points and carries a 0.5 CPD credit. A ticket for the conference includes entrance to the exhibition. Bookings can be made via the website at http://www.decorex.co.za/exhibitions/decorexcapetown/.