Richard Meier launches Australian 2010 speaker series

Esteemed American architect Richard Meier will be the first of the world’s leading architects to visit Australia next year for an international speaker series, commencing in Sydney on 23 February and Melbourne on 24 February.

The legendary New York-based architect will present to audiences as a guest of the Australian Institute of Architects. A holder of the profession’s highest accolades, Mr Meier has received a bevy of awards for his outstanding work – including the Pritzker Prize for Architecture, the Gold Medal from both the American Institute of Architects and the Royal Institute of British Architects, as well as the Praemium Imperiale from the Japan Art Association. In 2009 he was awarded the President’s Medal from the Architectural League of New York.

Since establishing his practice in New York City in 1963, Mr Meier’s work has encompassed major global commissions, including award-winning museums, corporate headquarters and housing and private residences. Some of his most significant works include the:

· Getty Center in Los Angeles;

· City Hall and Central Library in the Hague;

· Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona;

· Stadthaus (Civic Exhibition and Assembly Building) in Ulm, Germany;

· Hypobank Headquarters in Luxembourg;

· North American Headquarters building for Swissair in Melville, New York;

· Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles.

Australian Institute of Architects President Melinda Dodson said the launch of the International Speaker Series in 2009 with Toyo Ito had been a resounding success, with the 2010 series set to showcase more exceptional and inspiring architects for talks across several major cities.

“Richard Meier is a distinguished architect and Pritzker laureate, who has attracted enormous attention over several decades for his extraordinary work. This rare visit to Australia from Mr Meier will, no doubt, draw significant interest from both the public and profession alike, and is an exciting way to commence the 2010 series.”

Details:

International Speaker Series – Richard Meier

23 February 2010, Sydney & 24 February 2010, Melbourne

Tickets on sale: Friday 3 December 2009. For details, log on to architecture.com.au/internationalspeakerseries

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing more than 9500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Visit the Institute at architecture.com.au
Australian Institute of Architects