arch-peace probono

The highlight of the year has been the launch of the first probono service for professionals of the built environment in Australia. Architects, Urban Designers, Social and Urban Planners, Environmental and Landscape Architects, Engineers and Artists join other professions in offering their services to community and not for profit organizations in the pursuit of healthy and sustainable built environments. Launched at CH2 (The City of Melbourne’s new, landmark environmentally sustainable building) by the buildings coordinator of sustainable design, Mick Pearce, the service got off to a flying start with the announcement of the first international project in collaboration with the Friends of Baucau, Timor Leste.

Teething for the service began with two of our active members taking on a local project with the Collingwood Housing Estate. Karen Tanfield and Peter Johns have been working with the resident group at this high rise public housing estate to develop reconstruction and development plans for a disused underground car park.The Pro Bono Service Working Group has been formed with terms of references and is busy planning for promotion and development of the service over the next twelve months.Special thanks to the Working Group including:

• Kieran McKernan (chair)
• Lucinda Gleadow (secretary)
• Kalliopi Vakras (treasurer)
• Kim Roberts (project assessment panel)
• Edith Wong (website group work)
• Ruth Natalia
• Alif Nadya Inniar Rosa
• Diena Renatta Meiantie

For establishing and steering the pro bono service thanks to:

• Matthew Bond (adviser)
• Peter Johns
• Beatriz C. Maturana (adviser)
• Su Mellersh-Lucas (adviser)
• Anthony McInneny
   

A big thanks for institutional support from City of Melbourne and Clayton Utz
The launch had too many people helping to thank but a big thanks to Rachel Sztanski for making the nights such a special occasion with her performance.