Renowned architects Stuart Vokes and Aaron Peters will join the School of Architecture, Design and Planning in Semester 1, teaching Master of Architecture students in Architectural Practice: Design (ARCH7043).
With the concept of tabula plena as a focus for the studio, they’ll ask students to consider how Brisbane’s Kurilpa Hall and the state heritage-listed Kurilpa Library might be adapted so they can continue to play a role in the local community.
“In an increasingly globalised world, finding local themes and local relevance seems to be more important than ever,” said Peters.
“We’ll be asking the students to consider a more situated form of practice, looking closely at existing buildings, occupancy and culture.”
The title of the studio, tabula plena, is taken from Graeme Brooker’s book 50/50 Words for Reuse and is a response to the concept of tabula rasa, or a utopian blank slate, which was favoured by the Modernist movement. Instead, tabula plena asks that we consider what is already in situ and the abundance of existing material and buildings.
“Brooker argues that the material on the site contains within it the stories and narratives for reuse – we find that a timely provocation.”
ARCH7043 requires students to produce an architectural design that creatively responds to a contemporary scenario involving social, technical, cultural and environmental challenges.
Kurilpa Library and Hall sit adjacent each other on Boundary Street in Brisbane’s West End – not far from the Vokes and Peters studio. The architects describe the street as “a notorious and culturally charged remnant of colonialism.”
“We wanted to work with interesting buildings, and both the hall and library have distinctive, contrasting qualities,” said Peters.
“The hall is a beautiful structure in its own way, a kind of Mediterranean, expedient modernism. We were also attracted to the clarity of the library’s design. Its footprint is small; it has an intimate atmosphere and an imposing street presence. We find those qualities compelling.”
The architects are co-directors of their Brisbane-based practice Vokes and Peters, and alongside their residential and commercial work they are well known for their Garden Variety talk series, industry engagement and architectural media contributions. They describe their studio as pursuing “a form of practice that blends local and exotic themes,” resulting in architectural designs that are both familiar and uncanny.
“In our experience, this is how building traditions sustain themselves and maintain currency,” said Peters.
“We’d like to be a part of maintaining and renewing living building traditions in Brisbane, as an antidote to Brisbane becoming another generic, global metropolis.”
Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi, Head of the School of ADP, said he was delighted to welcome Vokes and Peters to teaching in Semester 1.
“Vokes and Peters’ award-winning Brisbane practice is renowned for designs that respond thoughtfully to the surrounding environment and cultural narratives, alongside sustained research into suburban Brisbane,” he said.
“They bring a wealth of knowledge and practice experience that will engage and guide our students as they address a contemporary scenario that tackles real-world challenges.
“We know that students benefit greatly from learning with current practitioners, and I am excited to see what our ARCH7043 students produce this semester.”
Associate Professor Antony Moulis, fellow course coordinator said that experiencing the value of exemplary design and forming industry connections were key opportunities for UQ architecture students.
“The Vokes and Peters practice studio sits as a strong foundation of UQ’s professional architecture degree,” he said.
While both are busy practicing architects, Vokes and Peters are not new to teaching, having previously taught, guest lectured and been guest critics in the School and at other institutions. Many of the students they’ve taught over the years have now become peers or colleagues.
They place great value on contributing to architectural education alongside practice, having learnt from practitioners during their own studies. When they were students themselves, they also worked full-time in architects’ offices, which they describe as “profoundly formative.”
“It’s how we first met and began collaborating. Those experiences taught us that an architectural education requires exposure to different kinds of architects, both practicing and academic,” said Vokes.
“Teaching is an opportunity to be a part of a different conversation. It challenges us, forces us to articulate what we’ve been doing.
“We’re always excited to meet new people and be surprised by their creativity and ingenuity.”
