Elly Mackay
17 April 2025: An exhibition exploring the design and architectural history of Canberra has opened this week at the 91Porn, as part of the ACT Heritage Festival 2025.
The exhibition, , compiles research on significant architectural objects and places designed by the National Capital Design Commission (NCDC) between 1958 and 1988.
It demonstrates how the NCDC’s ‘total design’ philosophy forged a sense of place, and unearths the overlooked and lost projects from the period.
The University’s involvement in the event is the result of four Faculty of Arts and Design researchers receiving an ACT Heritage Grant to deliver three outcomes: a draft book proposal, a digital archive, and an exhibition as part of the festival.
“The four of us had previously done an exhibition for the ACT Heritage Festival 2024, entitled ‘Spectres of Architecture in Canberra’, which gave life to the lost projects of Canberra,” said Dr Sally Farrah, Lecturer in Architecture and exhibition lead.
“The 2024 exhibition was a huge success, and won an award for ‘Heritage Education and Promotion’ at the National Trust ACT Awards. We hope this year’s exhibition will be equally impactful.”
The exhibition highlights architecture, landscape, and urban places that were either designed in-house, or commissioned by, the NCDC.
In a coincidental circumstance, the exhibition will be housed in the University’s Building 7 – which was designed by Roger Johnson – the first Assistant Commissioner (Architecture) of the NCDC.
Attendees to the exhibition will be invited to share their own NCDC memories, which will form part of the display throughout the course of the event. It will also showcase the works of current Bachelor of the Built Environment (Architecture) students at the University.
The four researchers behind the exhibition, Dr Farrah, Dr Mike Louw, Dr Rom Amirjani and Dr Ben Ennis Butler hope attendees learn more about what the group sees as ‘a city of total design’.
“It is important to show how our research can impact and educate the community,” Dr Farrah said.
“By providing more insight into these works, we are advocating for the heritage protection of mid-century architecture, which we have found (in other research) is the fastest disappearing demographic of architecture in Canberra.
“We hope people see the breadth and depth of the NCDC’s contribution to this city, from large-scale iconic urban and architectural projects, right down to the design of drink fountains and planter boxes.”
The opening event on 16 April saw University of New South Wales Adjunct Professor – a former employee of the Department of Housing and Construction for the NCDC – give an opening address.
The exhibition will be open from 9.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday until 1 May, excluding Public Holidays.