At the culmination of another year as gold partners of Australian Design Review’s 30UNDER30 program, we reflect on the wealth of experiences, conversations and connections that this year’s edition brought forth.
Across a series of events, workshops, and discussions, the 2024 cohort of young architects and designers left us inspired and hopeful that tomorrow’s built environment will be more inclusive, equitable and sustainable.
The program provides mentorship and career development in the architecture and design industry, bringing together game-changers, industry leaders, practice founders, product manufacturers, suppliers and sponsors to highlight and empower young architects and innovators of the future.
“We’ve proudly sponsored this program because we’re committed to supporting the industry’s emerging talent. Our aim is to foster a community that’s not just supportive but also genuinely encouraging,” says Tegan Schwarz, General Manager Marketing at Tongue & Groove.
“These remarkable 30UNDER30 individuals represent the next generation of designers, and they hold a significant place in our industry’s future. It’s crucial to provide them with the encouragement and support they need as they embark on their exciting journey in these formative years.”
The pinnacle of the 2024 program was an incredible 3-day creative retreat to Bali where participants embarked on a transformative journey of inspiration, collaboration, and growth. The retreat offered a unique opportunity for the selected cohort to immerse themselves in an environment designed to spark creativity, expand perspectives, and foster deep connections.
“Australian Design Review‘s 30UNDER30 Architects and Innovators of the Built World retreat in Bali was an experience I will never forget,” says Rebekah Spark, Tongue & Groove’s Victorian State Manager.
“Being surrounded by these incredible young creatives was so rewarding and empowering. The gorgeous Potato Head Beach Club and Eryka Badhu concert were also unforgettable highlights of the experience.”
We wrapped up this year’s 30UNDER30 with a vibrant panel discussion at our Melbourne showroom, where we teamed up with Australian Design Review to engage with leading creatives and unravel their material explorations, inspirations and challenges.
Moderated by Spark, ‘Master of Materials’ brought together the local architecture and design community on Thursday 11 July for a lively discussion with panellists Nancy Beka (Studio Edwards), Jessamy Ferguson-Smith (HDR), and Manuela Millan (Cera Stribley).
Speaking to the importance of repurposing materials in innovative and non-traditional ways, Beka displayed samples of materials from recent Studio Edwards fit-outs, including fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) used in a rooftop, recycled Airstep carpet underlay fixed to steel partitions with magnets to help with the acoustics, and even cloth from a damaged sail mast.
“A lot of the time in our studio, we’re looking at materials that might already exist, if we’re not going to innovate something completely from scratch,” she explained.
Ferguson-Smith spoke to the challenge of pushing the boundaries of materiality within a healthcare space, highlighting the importance of striking a balance between innovation and responsible design in a space dedicated to vulnerable populations.
“But there are new products out on the market. They’re constantly improving materials to be more durable or have better long-term effects in terms of sustainability. We have to have that foresight to go: ‘Can I push this client in a way that’s actually going to better them? Is this really going to bring great value to the project?’”
Millan highlighted a circuitous case study at Cera Stribley involving mycelium, where after much trial and error, she and her team created a panel with acoustic properties by baking blocks of organic mushrooms sourced from a nearby farm.
The stimulating hour-long discussion spanned a variety of topics and viewpoints around materiality, innovation and sustainability, ending in a Q&A session with the audience.
“I was thrilled to be on the panel for the Master of Material discussion. Thought-provoking and informative, it was great to learn from other designers in the industry and hear their processes with how to innovate in the fields they are working in,” said Beka.
At the close of another rewarding 30UNDER30 program, we are incredibly excited to see this year’s cohort achieve great things in the built environment and look forward to next year’s entries!
