Produced by Hayball, Exchange: Collaboration, Convergence, Conversations functions as both architectural manifesto and contemporary overview of the Australian architecture firm. While seductive publications have become tools of promotion and legacy building in our profession, this book also provides a more critical and intriguing insight into the motivations and social ramifications of architectural practice in Australia.
The subtitle of the book immediately alludes to this more nuanced approach, identifying three key themes: collaboration, convergence and conversation. From here the book sets out to frame issues that have been developed and grappled with over the course of thirty years – issues that Hayball can now say are formative of its practice. These are listed as “The Rise in Apartment Living,” “Transforming Education,” “Site Responsive Design,” “Future Housing Directions,” “Creating Successful Places” and “Australia in the Asian Century.” Instead of the typical taxonomy of an architecture firm told through the conventions of time lines or program, this format sets up a series of arguments framed by short essays, contributions from different stakeholders and project descriptions. Emphasis is placed on contextualizing these themes in terms of local conditions, programmatic history and contemporary scenarios in governance and social change.
