An inspiring day of talks exploring the South Australian experience of modern architecture and design with presentations by respected professionals, academics and emerging scholars.

The Architecture Museum at the University of South Australia is pleased to present its 2025 Symposium ‘Modernism and the Everyday: A South Australian Perspective’. Join expert speakers as they take you on a journey back to mid-twentieth century South Australia. This symposium will explore the South Australian experience of modern architecture and design to enhance existing historical narratives. Topics will include:

local modernism – architecture, interiors, and industrial design
sustainability and heritage discussions around preserving and reusing modernism
case studies of buildings, objects, places, architects and designers
exploration of imported ideas, theoretical viewpoints, and the reception of modernism.

This free public event is not to be missed.

About the speakers

Convenor: Dr Julie Collins, Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Architecture Museum.

The symposium will comprise 15-minute presentations on South Australian Modernism by a range of experts including respected professionals, academics and emerging scholars.

Program outline:

9.30am Welcome and introduction: Dr Julie Collins

9.45am Session 1: Tim Reeves; Jet O’Rourke; Will Shaw and Perri Sparnon

10.45am Morning tea

11:00am Session 2: Dr Stephen Schrapel and Dr Amit Srivastava; Tin Do; Dr Joshua Nash

12:00pm Lunch break (catering not provided, but there are many good lunch spots close by)

1:00pm Session 3: Dr Nathan Crane; Michael Queale; Dr James Curry

2:00pm Session 4: Glenn Harper; Dr Catherine Howell; Paul Mazourek

3:00pm Afternoon tea

3.15pm Session 5: Dr Louise Bird; Meherzad Schroff; Sam Rosenzweig

4.30 pm Event Closes

Link to full program.

Tickets for this event include tea and coffee served for morning and afternoon teas.

The Architecture Museum Symposium is proudly supported by UniSA Creative.

Image caption: Hardy Residence, Netherby, 1939, Russell S. Ellis, Ellis collection, S89/24/2, Architecture Museum, University of South Australia.

‘Modernism and the Everyday’ is being held at the University of South Australia on Kaurna Country, the traditional country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs, and relationship with the land, and we acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

The symposium is being held in the Pridham Hall function room and we acknowledge the generosity of alumnus Andrew Pridham, benefactor of Pridham Hall.