Above: Federation square and Flinders street station. Image credit: Production Perig / Shutterstock

Where: RMIT Capitol Theatre

When: 29 September – 2 October

Free event, bookings available via 03 9658 9965 or email conversations@melbourne.vic.gov.au

The three day Urban Built Heritage International Conference will examine the role of historical buildings in the contemporary architecture landscape, exploring the topic from an international perspective with a focus on Asia and Australia, and Melbourne in particular. The conference provides a platform for global practitioners and academics in urban design, architecture and heritage building preservation to converge with their Australian counterparts and discuss key issues relevant to the future of urban built heritage in our cities.

Melbourne is currently experiencing an exciting era of development, both in striking new contributions to its architectural landscape and in major infrastructure, with planning underway for a controversial East West link that will see the loss of heritage buildings in its path. The Urban Built Heritage International Conference seeks to address these imminent changes to Melbourne’s built environment, questioning the relevance of current heritage and planning legislation and highlighting the need for greater cohesion between the development sector and heritage groups.

RMIT Capitol theatre will host the conference’s opening event, entitled ‘Urban Heritage/New Architecture – Where to Now?’ The panel of local built environment specialists includes Rob Moore, of City of Melbourne’s design division, Dr. Kate Shaw, Australian Research Council Future Fellow at the University of Melbourne, and David Rolls, group executive of commercial development, Mirvac. The open discussion will explore the relationship between old and new architecture, touching on issues of urban sustainability and inviting the audience to participate in the commentary.

The Urban Built Heritage International Conference is presented by the Australian Institute of Art History, along with Melbourne University’s Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. The event is supported by the City of Melbourne and the Future Leaders and Knowledge Melbourne.