2 speakers take the stage to explore the place of architecture in your city, your neighborhood and your home.

In Australia, the contribution of architecture to everyday life may seem small, with only a fraction of housing (an estimated 5%) designed by architects, and a perception that architectural design is out of reach to all but a wealthy few. But is there more to the role than meets the eye?

There are architects working in unexpected ways to improve our quality of life – not only through innovation in environmental sustainability, but also community advocacy and collaboration. Meanwhile, the pressures of housing affordability and climate change call for radical changes in our built environment, so just what CAN architecture contribute?

• Peter Maddison // host of TV series Grand Designs (Australia)
• Dr David O’Brien // architect and educator, working in remote Australian indigenous communities
• Kon Karapanagiotidis // CEO, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre + Kendall Strong // pro bono architect
• Norman Day // architect and writer
• Gilbert Rochecouste //  director, Village Well
• Paul Coffey // architect and carpenter
• Tania Davidge // openHAUS
• Emily Ballantyne Brodie // Urban reforestation
• Nonda Katsalidis // Unitised Building + Fender Katsalidis
• Rob Stent // director, Hayball
• Tamsin O’Neill // editor of Green magazine
• Marcus Westbury // columnist for The Age and founder of Renew Australia