Conrad Gargett present the Piano Mill
Urban Taskforce and Northrop welcomed Bruce Wolfe, from Queensland architects Conrad and Gargett, to discuss the Piano Mill project, voted BEST CULTURAL BUILDING IN THE WORLD At the World Architecture Festival 2018 Bruce is both the Developer and the Architect of this amazing building. The Piano Mill houses sixteen pianos along with sonic periscopes and the building itself becomes a large musical instrument. Special music has been composed for the building / instrument and the reused pianos reflect the many pianos that European settlers brought to Australia. Attendees heard from Bruce how the project evolved and was constructed and were shown video of performances. While the Piano Mill won the Best Cultural Building in the World ahead of concert halls, galleries, libraries, theatres and museums from 81 countries, it’s global fame is balanced by its very local Australian character and setting in a bushland site.
Time: 5.30 pm – 7.00 pm Bruce Wolfe
Bruce Wolfe is a highly respected architect and leader within the industry. Formerly Conrad Gargett’s Managing Director before handing over in 2017, Bruce’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in upholding the practice’s design legacy and driving its growth. During his 20 year tenure, Conrad Gargett evolved from a Brisbane-based firm of 27 to a multi-studio practice of over 150 team members across Australia, with an ever-expanding portfolio of global and award-winning projects. Bruce is renowned for his inspirational work on some of the most prominent, innovative projects in Queensland, including the internationally awarded Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Guided by his astute design sensibility, appetite for idea exploration and commitment to collaboration, Bruce facilitates shared vision through design. He places people and sustainability at the centre of all his work, and is inspired by his ability to make a difference to the way people live, now, and in the future. He is Immediate Past President of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, with a number of industry accolades and titles to his name.
Conrad Gargett:
Conrad Gargett is an Australian architectural practice sought after on a global stage. To each project, they bring unrivalled vision, innovative design and world-leading expertise built upon their vibrant legacy creating award-winning architecture and design for over a century.
As a practice, Conrad Gargett invests in possibility. They nurture curiosity and capability in their people to envision, explore and extend the possibilities of design. They also apply cutting edge technologies to facilitate the highest quality solutions.
Their innovative and informed design approach engages with the client’s needs and aspirations while being guided by social responsibility. Research and collaboration are core to Conrad Gargett’s methodology as they encourage and nurture curiosity and exploration. This process provides richness and rigour, breadth and depth, while giving equal value to the subjective and objective while also grounded in empirical evidence.
