CAPITheticAL :: AN INTRODUCTION
Big ideas. Big future.
Big ideas. Big future.
Canberra Design Plan; Walter Burley Griffin.
"Canberra is Australia’s national capital. Discussion about a new capital began in the 1890s, before Federation, with many towns and cities across the continent fancying their chances and promoting their wares. But Section 125 of the new Constitution changed all that—the capital would be in NSW, at least 100 miles from Sydney. The ‘Battle of the Sites’ was on in earnest in the ‘Mother Colony’ amidst lengthy, sophisticated debate about the kind of capital city that should be created.
Extensive surveys were conducted during 1909-10, and once the broad Federal Capital Territory borders were established, the land ceded from NSW and the new Territory created on 1 January 1911, the decision was soon taken to hold an international competition to design the new capital. The competition was launched on 30 April 1911 – hence our launch of this competition 100 years later. Walter Burley Griffin (working closely with his wife and professional partner, Marion Mahony Griffin) was announced as the winner a year later, on 23 May 1912, and on 12 March 1913, the wife
of the Governor General of the time, Lady Denman, ceremonially pronounced that the ‘place shall be called Canberra’. This date is now celebrated each year as Canberra’s birthday – and it will come into sharp focus in the Centenary year, 2013.
As Canberra recognises a succession of centenary moments in the build-up to 2013, it is timely to consider the factors and influences that led to the city’s creation. The CAPITheticAL competition invites designers from a broad range of disciplines to review Canberra’s history and imagine
how an Australian national capital might be created in the 21st century. We expect proposals to demonstrate an awareness of the national capital’s rich history.
Canberra has undergone many changes over the last century and surveys reveal that, despite the odd grumble, the overwhelming majority of Australians like their capital and enjoy visiting, working, living and bringing their big ideas here. CAPITheticAL seeks to revisit the kind of lively dialogue that was happening one hundred years ago, and to see how that dialogue plays out in the 21st century.
It seeks to provoke the very best thinking and practice around 21st century planning and design, noting how closely the team led by Romaldo Giurgola responded to the Griffins (and their visionary plan) when designing the new Parliament House—which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013." (CAPITheticAL Competition Brief, pg. 2)
Extensive surveys were conducted during 1909-10, and once the broad Federal Capital Territory borders were established, the land ceded from NSW and the new Territory created on 1 January 1911, the decision was soon taken to hold an international competition to design the new capital. The competition was launched on 30 April 1911 – hence our launch of this competition 100 years later. Walter Burley Griffin (working closely with his wife and professional partner, Marion Mahony Griffin) was announced as the winner a year later, on 23 May 1912, and on 12 March 1913, the wife
of the Governor General of the time, Lady Denman, ceremonially pronounced that the ‘place shall be called Canberra’. This date is now celebrated each year as Canberra’s birthday – and it will come into sharp focus in the Centenary year, 2013.
As Canberra recognises a succession of centenary moments in the build-up to 2013, it is timely to consider the factors and influences that led to the city’s creation. The CAPITheticAL competition invites designers from a broad range of disciplines to review Canberra’s history and imagine
how an Australian national capital might be created in the 21st century. We expect proposals to demonstrate an awareness of the national capital’s rich history.
Canberra has undergone many changes over the last century and surveys reveal that, despite the odd grumble, the overwhelming majority of Australians like their capital and enjoy visiting, working, living and bringing their big ideas here. CAPITheticAL seeks to revisit the kind of lively dialogue that was happening one hundred years ago, and to see how that dialogue plays out in the 21st century.
It seeks to provoke the very best thinking and practice around 21st century planning and design, noting how closely the team led by Romaldo Giurgola responded to the Griffins (and their visionary plan) when designing the new Parliament House—which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013." (CAPITheticAL Competition Brief, pg. 2)
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