Designer of Sydney Games venues at PIA convention

The architect whose firm designed the master plan for the Syndey 2000 Olympics sports facilities is arriving to address the 70th annual national covention of the Philippine Institute of Architects (PIA).

Philip Cox, considered Australia’s No. 1 architect, will be joined by another highly respected colleague, Mark Neasbey, director of The Australian Center for Value Management Pty. Ltd. Cox will talk on "Urban Renewal," Neasbey, on "Asset Management – An Alternative."

The PIA convention will be held Feb. 26 to March 1 at the Westin Philippine Plaza, focusing on the theme "Architect’s Visions: Diversity of Practice and Opportunities."

Other speakers and their topics are: Singapore Minister for Housing Tony Tan, "Housing A Nation," Malaysian architect-banker Ruslan Khalid, "Diversity of Practice," Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, "Seeing Place, Finding Opportunities," historian-columnist Ambeth R. Ocampo, "Turning Heritage into Opportunities, and Jimmy Cura, "Marketing, the Lynchpin of Success."

Former Finance Secretary Ramon del Rosario Jr. will keynote, while Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II will open the trade exhibit on Feb. 27, assisted by Sharon Cuneta, also at the Westin.

Cox is the urban planning expert behind the award-winning master plan for Shanghai, China. He is author of books on historic architecture, besides being an avid painter and art collector.

His firm, Cox Associates, did the master plan for the Sydney Games sports facilities, the aquatic center for swimming events, and the support stadium for the major athletics venue. Among the other Australian landmarks his firm was involved in the Sydney Exhibition Center, the National Athletics Stadium in Canberra, the National Maritime Museum and the Yulara Tourist Resort at Ulura (Ayers Rock). The company has been steadfastly promoting Australian design while pursuing new attitudes and techniques toward that goal.

Neasbey, an expert in asset management, will suggest in his talk a role for the architectural profession in achieving better long-term value in buildings and infrastructure. In a synopsis of his paper, he notes that the functionality, efficiency, and value of the physical asset are determined largely at the concept and proof of concept stages.

He, therefore, underscores the importance of understanding the intended lifestyle of the asset – what it is to be used for, how it is expected to function, how usage will change over time, the performance of its various components, what its impact will be on the enviornment and what will happen at the end of its economic life.

"This is even more important in the context of the economic and social challenges facing the Philippines," he stresses.

For more information, call the PIA secretariat at 634-1762/63, or the convention hotline, 890-5318/19, or log on to www.piaarchitects.com.