Media Release
Sydney Design Week 2024
How can design push boundaries to support sustainable models for living, connection and culture? Sydney Design Week 2024 brings together visionary designers, architects and artists who are creating space for alternative futures. Powerhouse has today unveiled the Sydney Design Week 2024 program presented from 13–19 September.
Titled ‘In Between Worlds,’ Sydney Design Week 2024 will feature events across the city. Programmed by Creative Director Keinton Butler, Senior Curator at Powerhouse, in collaboration with Amaia Sánchez-Velasco from GRANDEZA STUDIO, festival highlights presented at the University of Technology Sydney will include keynote discussions by Academy Award-winning production designer Colin Gibson on how he imagines real world prototypes for the future, architect and artistic director of the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale Sumayya Vally who will discuss designing for belonging and international architecture practice Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)’s managing partner – architect David Gianotten who will share insights into the changing role of architecture.
At Parramatta Town Hall, Moroccan-British artist Hassan Hajjaj will explore his maximalist approach to image making while international space architect Melodie Yashar will present her perspective on the ethics of space settlement. MAIO co-founder and architect Professor Anna Puigjaner will delve into the reimagination of domestic spaces and the idea of design as a tool for social transformation.
Parramatta will be the home for food events that display alternative methods of documenting culture and storytelling through cuisine. Sydney food creative Karima Hazim and Sumayya Vally will prepare a traditional Lebanese Sunday breakfast at Baba Ghanouj Parramatta, highlighting how family recipes capture snapshots of significant milestones and cultural shifts. Professor Puigjaner will collaborate with Powerhouse’s Vitocco Kitchen program manager Xinyi Lim on a special culinary event in Parramatta Square, sharing global food stories and bringing the act of cooking into the public domain.
The Australian Production Design Guild will take audiences between worlds at a familyfriendly weekend event at Powerhouse Castle Hill. The program includes all-ages design workshops facilitated by leading designers including award-winning production designer Jacinta Leong, behind the scenes tours of Powerhouse Castle Hill’s state-of-the-art research, conservation and collection storehouse and insights into the magic behind production design.
Sydney Design Week 2024 is presented with the support of the NSW Government, Principal Partner Holdmark Property Group, Foundational University Partners University of Technology Sydney and Western Sydney University, Festival Partner City of Parramatta and Accommodation Partner Ace Hotel Sydney.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said, ‘Powerhouse is proud to present Sydney Design Week 2024. For nearly three decades, this annual event has brought together the world’s most influential designers and creatives to spotlight design’s essential role in bringing communities together. I’m excited to see how this year’s program will amplify the rich and diverse stories of our communities and cultures through disciplines including food, film production and space exploration.’
Sydney Design Week Creative Director Keinton Butler said, ‘Creativity and imagination have become critical tools in helping us to think differently about how we live, as we face an increasingly divided, inequitable future. This year’s design week program highlights leading designers and architects who are challenging the status quo, to reimagine more resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Beyond Architecture
David Gianotten of OMA shares insights into the global architecture firm’s groundbreaking community-led projects and signals the changing role of the architect.
Friday 13 September 2024
6–7pm University of Technology Sydney
Free, registration
Building Worlds
The Australian Production Design Guild takes us ‘In Between Worlds’ for a family-friendly workshops, tours and insights into the magic of production design.
Saturday 14 September 2024
10am–3pm Powerhouse Castle Hill
Free, registration
Recipes as Archives
Join architect Sumayya Vally and food creative Karima Hazim for a Sunday breakfast featuring traditional Lebanese recipes that celebrate family, food and culture.
Sunday 15 September 2024
10–11am Baba Ghanouj Parramatta
Tickets $15
Places of Belonging
Architect and artistic director Sumayya Vally and poet Sara Mansour discuss how places can be designed to bring communities together.
Sunday 15 September 2024
2–3pm University of Technology Sydney
Free, registration
Future Prototypes
Academy Award winning production designer Colin Gibson discusses how he imagines and creates real world prototypes for the future.
Monday 16 September 2024
6–7pm University of Technology Sydney
Free, registration
Space Architectures
Space architect, technologist and researcher Melodie Yashar talks about space settlement and designing resilient homes for off-world living.
Tuesday 17 September 2024
6–7pm Parramatta Town Hall
Free, registration
Sydney Design Week Urban Kitchen
Chef Xinyi Lim and architect Anna Puigjaner prepare local ingredients to tell global food stories in a temporary kitchen in Parramatta Square.
Wednesday 18 September 2024
11.30am–1.30pm Parramatta Square
Free
Collective Care
Prof Anna Puigjaner on her approach to creating new architectural models for the practice of collective living and care that are re-imagining how we live.
Wednesday 18 September 2024
6–7pm Parramatta Town Hall
Free, registration
Maximalist Identities
Artist Hassan Hajjaj discusses his maximalist approach to making images that pushes the boundaries of portraiture, art and cultural commentary.
Thursday 19 September 2024
6–7pm Parramatta Town Hall
Free, registration
Media Contacts
About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.
About Holdmark
Holdmark is a privately-owned property development and investment group that has transformed many of Sydney’s urban landscapes to quality living, working and retail environments. For more than 30 years, it has designed, developed, built and managed highly regarded mixed-use precincts creating true urban communities.
About University of Technology Sydney
UTS is a leading university of technology located in the heart of Sydney’s innovation precinct. With more than 40,000 students, UTS has a distinct model of learning, strong research performance and a leading reputation for industry and professional engagement. Underpinned by social impact and a continuing commitment to sustainability, UTS is rated the No.1 ‘young’ university in Australia in the QS and Times Higher Education rankings.
About Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University prides itself on challenging the traditional notion of what a university should be. We put students at the heart of everything we do. Embedded in the communities and region we serve, our University is fundamental to the economic, cultural and social life of Western Sydney – one of the fastest-growing, most economically important and most culturally-diverse regions within Australia. We have a network of sites and teaching campuses across Western Sydney and beyond. Western Sydney University has 50,000 students, 3,000 staff, and a strong cohort – both locally and globally – of more than 200,000 alumni. The University has a long and proud history of increasing higher education participation and opening up educational opportunities to students who have the drive, ambition and dedication to succeed, particularly for individuals from diverse and lower socio-economic backgrounds. At the forefront of education innovation, our programs are designed to help address Australia’s current and future workforce needs, with our expanding short courses and microcredential offerings helping people rapidly upskill or reskill in their careers and stay competitive in a fast-changing workplace. The University has been named number one in the world for its social, ecological and economic impact in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings for the second year in a row. We are globally focused, research led and committed to making a positive impact on the communities we engage with.