Droga Architecture Residency

The Australian Institute of Architects’ latest Droga Architect in Residence has arrived in Australia to commence the three-month residency.

Nick Wood, Founder and Director of How About Studio, will present a range of talks, lectures and workshops around the country in addition to a research project focusing on the role of the awning in inner urban environments.

Wood’s work explores the intersection between art and architecture, with an investment in the fabrication process of combining craft and digital technologies to create new and engaging experiences. He has worked with large cultural institutions and international arts festivals to create a diverse portfolio of high quality interventions. Wood has been a visiting critic at a number of London schools and teaches at Brighton University.

In selecting Wood for the program, the jury, chaired by Brit Andresen, noted ‘Nick is a non-traditional maker, combining a sense of community purpose and a fascination with the material world in a unique way’.

‘Nick’s proposal to look at the Sydney awning ties a practice based approach to research into an identifiable Sydney urban element, and invites a reconsideration of policy and discussion relevant to projects such as the Sydney Light Rail corridor and Parramatta Road upgrade. 

‘The Nick Wood project for the public realm will find a good level of interest from “build” architects, architecture students and installation artists as well as from local authorities that focus on streetscape quality and community engagement.’

On Friday 16 October, Wood will join award-winning practice, Sibling Architects, for a free event to discuss overlapping themes in their work supported by carefully selected reference material at the new MPavilion in Melbourne.

Wood will be documenting his residency and research project on his blog, The Awning Project, at theawningproject.tumblr.com

Now in its second year, the Residency invites international architects to participate in a three-month program encouraging the exploration of new approaches, the exchange of ideas, international collaboration and cross-fertilisation.

The first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Residency is the inaugural program of the Australian Institute of Architects Foundation and is named after cultural philanthropist and supporter of the Institute, Daniel Droga, who generously gifted his award-winning Droga Apartment in Surry Hills for use as an architect residency.

For more information about the residency visit wp.architecture.com.au/foundation/residency-program/