Last Sydney Twilight Skyscraper Walks
Don’t miss out on the final twilight walks for 2008 on Tuesday 2nd, 9th and Wednesday 10th December starting at 6.00pm from Customs House, Circular Quay.

These walks largely follow the route of the Sydney Skyscraper Walk and provide information on many of Sydney’s most important contemporary high-rise buildings including the Deutsche Bank Building by British architect, Sir Norman Foster.

Architecture Harbour Cruise
Experience the city and harbour foreshores on Saturday 6th December from aboard the aboriginal boat the ‘Deerubbun’.

The ninety-minute harbour cruise will be led by architect Nick Hollo, who will give you an insight into the architecture surrounding the foreshores of Sydney.

The boat departs at 12.45pm from Eastern Pontoon, Circular Quay.

Book online now by going to the bookings column or call 02 8297 7283.

We’ve no doubt that 2008 will be an exciting year for the AAA and to kick things off we are announcing online bookings for all of our tours.

So start 2008 off by learning more about the who, what, why, when and where of Sydney architecture with these tours (click a link below for more info and to book a ticket):

• Sydney Twilight Skyscraper Walk – Tuesday, February 19
• Surry Hills Walk – Sunday, February 24
• Sydney Twilight Skyscraper Walk – Tuesday, February 26
• Sydney City Skyscraper Experience – Saturday, March 1
• Architecture Harbour Cruise – Saturday, March 1

Here is a link to all tours that you can book online.

There’ll be more changes to the site shortly as we get our new tour section operational. Stay tuned.

First exclusive Building tour
Angelo Candalepas (pictured above front right) led a tour through his nearly completed office building at 61 York Street. Participants were able to explore one of Sydney’s newest workplaces that incorporates unusual elements like the external balconies, that are large enough to use as meeting spaces, but are open to fresh air and the sounds drifting up from the city below. Yes that is Stella’s thumb in the image.

LAST Twilight Walks
The last of the summer light is nigh don’t miss the final twilight walks on Wednesday 19th and Wednesday 26 March starting at 6.00pm in front of Customs House, 31 Alfred Street, Circular Quay.

These walks largely follow the route of the Sydney Skyscraper Walk and provide information on many of Sydney’s most important contemporary high-rise buildings as well as important interventions like the extensions to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

FIRST Castlecrag tour
Ben Gerstel will lead the first 2008 tour of Castlecrag on Saturday 15 March at 2.00pm departing from the Castlecrag Shops Quadrangle, Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag. This tour looks at a number of interesting houses as Ben also explains Walter and Marion Mahoney Griffins plans for this suburb in the bush. Book here.

NEW Col Griffiths tour
Colin Griffiths spent his first 30 years of architectural practice working as Harry Seidler’s right hand man. In this new tour he is focussing on the skyscrapers that pre-dated the modernist buildings he helped design. The tour include some of Sydney’s finest office towers of the 20s, 30s and 40s. If you didn’t think there were any of these left, Col has a surprise or two in store for you. Friday 11 April at 1pm, departing from Railway House, 17 York Street, Sydney (next to the entrance to Wynyard Station). Did we mention you can book online

Surry Hills
If you haven’t had a chance to take the AAA’s most popular tour, perhaps the change to a Sunday afternoon may provide the opportunity. Join in and discover architectural gems like the Readers Digest Building and learn about one of Sydney’s fascinating suburbs on Sunday 30 March at 2.00pm on the corner of Elizabeth and Cleveland Streets, Chippendale. Reserve your place

Residential Bus tour
Book ahead for the first residential tour of 2008, that will include new houses by Vivianne Marston, Stephen Varady, a new apartment complex by Frank Stanisic and the classic Seidler house led by Penelope Seidler. Saturday 19 April starting at 9.30 am. Book here.

Architecture Harbour Cruise
The next harbour cruise will be on Saturday 5 April with an architectural commentary from architect and harbour expert Nick Hollo. Secure your spot on the boat here

Seidler’s masterpiece is a complex of buildings on the cliffs at Milsons Point.

Inside are his own offices and an apartment building that is topped by a spectacular penthouse. Both buildings are open for an AAA tour led by architects who worked with Harry Seidler on Wednesday 9 April starting at 6.00pm in front of 2 Glen Street, Milsons Point.

Sydney’s first skyscrapers were built during the 20s, 30s and 40s. In a new AAA tour Colin Griffiths will lead a walk around some of these forgotten treasures on Friday 11 April starting at 1.00pm in front of 11 York Street (next to Wynyard Station entrance).

Book online now by going to the bookings column or call 02 8297 7283.

The AAA’s next Surry Hills tour is on Sunday 27 April at 2.00pm starting on the corner of Cleveland and Elizabeth Street.

A review by a participant on this tour late last year is available on here. It not only describes this popular tour, but gives it a complete rap, describing the tour leader Terrence Yong as EXCELLENT.

In the two hour walk you will discover architectural secrets like the modern gothic Readers Digest building by architect John James.

Book online now by going to the tours column or call 02 8297 7283 to book on the phone.

The AAA’s second exclusive building tour is of 77 King Street that has been given a new façade and refurbished floors. Burley Katon Halliday reworked this aging 70s commercial building together with Built. On the top of the 23 level building is a double height floor, opening onto spacious balconies overlooking the city.

David Katon, one of Sydney’s leading designers will lead this one off tour of the soon to be completed building and will explain the inspiration for the multi-faceted façade, how the floor plate was extended around the perimeter and give an insight into the unusual restroom finishes.

Book online >

The AAA’s 2008 Annual General Meeting is scheduled to happen on Tuesday 13 May 2008 (6.00 pm followed by drinks) at The Seidler Apartment, Level 5, 2A Glen Street, Milsons Point.

Here are the relevant documents:

Notice of Annual General Meeting
2007 AAA Annual Report
AAA Committee Nomination form
Minutes of the 2006 AAA AGM

The meeting will be followed by drinks, all members are welcome.

The AAA’s annual fundraiser is called BLUE.

This year two of Sydney’s design leaders Sam Marshall and Liane Rossler are opening their distinctive house in Sydney’s Queens Park for the event on Tuesday 17 June.

Funds raised will go to the ‘First teach the young to do no harm’ campaign to establish a curriculum to teach Australian children about sustainable architecture, our architectural heritage and the design process.

23 drawings have been donated by some of Australia’s leading architects.

They include some real collectables, for instance Penelope Seidler has kindly donated one of the late Harry Seidler’s last drawings of the Ian Thorpe Aquatic centre.

Pritzker prize winner Glenn Murcutt has provided a sketch of a new house and Richard Johnson this year’s RAIA gold medallist had contributed a detailed pencil drawing.

The other drawings are from: Angelo Candalepas, Nick Hollo, Lawrence Nield, Camilla Block, Colin Madigan, Lindsay Clare, Donovan Hill, Neil Durbach, Sean Godsell, Alex Popov, Peter Stronach, Peter Stutchbury, Peter Tonkin, Stephen Varady, Colin Griffiths, Gerard Reinmuth, Abbie Galvin, Richard Goodwin, Pem Gerner and James Grose.

The AAA thanks Vince Frost of Frost Design for providing pro-bono design services associated with BLUE.

Book a ticket online here

The successful BLUE fundraiser on 17 June saw the launch of a new box of cards (pictured right) produced by AAA with the generous assistance of Frost Design.

The idea for these cards arose when some of Australia’s leading architects donated drawings and images to assist the annual fundraiser.

By reproducing the images we are able to extend the fundraising effort aimed at developing a curriculum to teach Australian children about sustainable architecture, our architectural heritage and the design process.

There are 24 cards in the box with drawings and images from: Glenn Murcutt, the late Harry Seidler, Angelo Candalepas, Richard Johnson, Nick Hollo, Lawrence Nield, Camilla Block, Lindsay Clare, Donovan Hill, Neil Durbach, Sean Godsell, Alex Popov, Peter Stronach, Peter Stutchbury, Peter Tonkin, Stephen Varady, Colin Griffiths, Terroir, Abbie Galvin, Richard Goodwin, Col Madigan, Pem Gerner and James Grose.

Boxes can be purchased for $65.00 (+ $10 Postage and handling) each by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling 02 9211 2021.

All proceeds from the sale of these cards goes to the AAA Fund established when the AAA was included on the Federal Government’s Register of Cultural Organisations, the only architecture organisation represented in the cultural sphere.

Jean Nouvel, one of the world’s leading architects and winner of the 2008 Pritzker Architecture prize, will give the next AAA Black talks.

He will be talking at the NIDA Theatre in Sydney on Thursday 9 October and in the RMIT Capitol Theatre in Melbourne on Friday 10 October.

Talking about his current work, Mr Nouvel will show the ‘iconic tower’ he has designed for Fraser Property’s Broadway site in Sydney, that includes innovative green walls that will help transform the Sydney skyline.

Acknowledged by the Pritzker jury for his ‘courageous pursuit of new ideas and his challenge of accepted norms in order to stretch the boundaries of the field,’

My interest has always been in an architecture which reflects the modernity of our epoch as opposed to the rethinking of historical references. My work deals with what is happening now – our techniques and materials, what we are capable of doing today.’
- Jean Nouvel

Book your ticket now:

Sydney – Thursday 9 October
Melbourne – Friday 10 October