The Living Cities Forum 2019

An annual assembly exploring the role of design, planning and architecture in shaping our society.

Internationally renowned speakers will interrogate the theme Future Needs, addressing the challenges imminently facing our cities, from climate change and population density to social inequality. How do we transform overwhelming predictions into decisive action and build better cities for our future?

The Living Cities Forum 2019 will be divided into two main sessions—titled Tomorrow’s City and Latent Conditions— engaging speakers in individual presentations followed by panel discussions and audience Q&A, providing the local design community with an opportunity to connect with international thought leadership.

Living Cities Forum 2019 speakers are:

• Glenn Murcutt AO, Sydney: Pritzker Prize-winning Australian architect and MPavilion 2019 designer; a national treasure renowned for his unfailing architectural integrity.
• Mabel O. Wilson, New York City: Cultural historian and architect, addressing social inequality in the built environment.
• Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles: Former Los Angeles Times architecture critic and newly appointed Chief Design Officer of the City of Los Angeles.
• Rachaporn Choochuey, Bangkok: Co-founder of innovative Bangkok-based architecture and design studio all (zone) ltd, designing for high-density living.
• Catherine Mosbach, Paris: Founder of Paris-based landscape architecture firm mosbach paysagiste, designing for historical and cultural connection.
• Adrian Lahoud, London: Dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art London; research addressing global emancipatory struggles.

The Living Cities Forum is an annual assembly exploring the role of design, planning and architecture in shaping our society. It returns to Melbourne with an impressive array of international and local architecture and urban design leaders.

This year’s select group of visionary international speakers includes Glenn Murcutt AO, New York City-based designer and cultural historian Mabel O. Wilson, director and co-founder of Bangkok-based studio all(zone) Rachaporn Choochuey, and City of Los Angeles’ first chief design officer, Christopher Hawthorne. More speakers to be announced.

In 2019, the Living Cities Forum will address the future needs of current Australians, future Australians, and the living systems with which they will cohabitate.

By 2050, the population of Australia’s major cities is predicted to nearly double, while global warming and its associated effects will alter our urban and regional environments. How we accommodate this unprecedented population growth and respond to climate change is currently the subject of vigorous political debate.

The Forum’s speakers will identify the key challenges of the next decades, from densification to de-growth, innovation to adaptive re-use, and help us to transform plans into decisive action.

Living Cities Forum in Melbourne is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and Development Victoria and is presented by the Naomi Milgrom Foundation in partnership with Open House Melbourne, Melbourne School of Design, Monash University, RMIT University, Australian Institute of Architects and Planning Institute of Australia.

Please note: Registrations open at 8am for a prompt 8.30am commencement. The Forum concludes at 4.30pm and will be followed by refreshments.