Procuring Innovative Architecture

The case studies in this book describe how clients’ promotion of innovative communities of practice has led to important collections of architectural works. The book provides an assessment of the effectiveness of their approaches. Architects and clients will understand what to look for as they construct their careers and their portfolios with innovation as a goal.
It is taken for granted nowadays that supporting innovative architecture benefits society. In countries as diverse as Austria, Australia, Belgium, England, Japan, South East Asia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the USA, retailers, institutions, local and regional government and transport authorities have established substantial bodies of work by new and emerging architects. This books looks at what their goals are and how they have achieved them. Is it possible to promote sustainable communities of innovative practice through such patronage? Can innovation be ‘kick-started’ by importing visionary works?

Leon van Schaik is Professor of Architecture (Innovation Chair) at RMIT, from which base he has promoted local and international architectural culture through design practice research.
Geoffrey London is Government Architect for Victoria, having previously been Government Architect for Western Australia and Professor of Architecture at the University of Western Australia.

Introduction Part 1: Asia and Australasia 1. Introduction 2. RMIT procures 3. RMIT philosophy 4. RMIT Ginger Groups 5. Artpolis 6. Malaysia 7. Singapore Part 2: Europe 8. Introduction 9. Barcelona 10. Ticino 11. Belgium 12. Graz and Ljubljana 13. London Part 3: USA 14. Introduction 15. Colombus Indiana 16. Los Angeles – Dirty Realism 17. University of Cincinnati 18. Ivy League Disney Land Part 4: Western Australia Case Study 19. Introduction 20. Office of Government Architect (OGA) 21. OGA 22. Processes 23. Evaluation by Small and Medium Firms 24. Evaluation by Large Firms 25. Evaluation by Developer and Bureaucrats 26. Evaluation Seminars in London and Perth Compared 27. Do’s and Don’ts Part 5: WA: Curating the City 28. Deep Urban Knowledge. Conclusion