Victoria’s State of Design Festival that runs from the 14-25 July will include a number of appearances by BVN Architecture.

BVN Principal Ninotschka Titchkosky will be particularly busy with numerous appearances during the ten day festival. 

On Thursday 15 July she will be part of the BVN team at the opening of RAISING THE BAR at The Rooftop Terrace, The Order of Melbourne, Level 3, 401 Swanston Street.

The design and construction of this roof-top bar will showcase design and recycled materials.  Ten architects have worked independently but collectively to produce a working bar at minimum cost.  BVN were responsible for a protective canopy, their success will ensure dry heads for wet drinks.

On Friday 16 July- 6.00pm: ABC Radio National will be recording ‘THE OFFICE – WORKPLACE DESIGN’ Forum in the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank, 120 Southbank Boulevard.  Ms Titchkosky will reveal the formidable knowledge base BVN has acquired through developing workplace designs for leading Australian businesses such as NAB’s headquarters in Melbourne’s docklands.

Turning a ‘sows ear into a silk purse’ will be a theme Ms Titchkosky will address at the ‘RETROFITTING THE GRID’ discussion on Tuesday 20 July in The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, when the panel will discuss the sustainability case for retrofitting existing buildings.

The Goods Shed North in Collins Street, which has received a number of awards for rejuvenating a wrecked, industrial building, into a bright, contemporary workplace, is one of the projects Ms Titchkosky will refer to in her discussion.

At the PREMIERS DESIGN AWARDS on Wednesday 21 July, there are ten shortlisted projects being considered for a design award or commendation.

One of the shortlisted projects is the Bendigo Bank Headquarters that was designed by BVN Architecture in association with Gray Puksand.  At its opening Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, ‘It’s a fantastic building’ – it has been widely recognized – not only for its delightful working environment – but also for the positive impact it has had on Bendigo by including elements such as pedestrian arcades that gave new vitality to the surrounding shopping precinct.

BVN Principal, Bill Dowzer, who led the design pointed out that ‘our client’s decision to put the building in the middle of the city brought in a workforce of 1,000 people, which guaranteed regeneration of the surrounding streets and was critical in enabling the building to reach a 5 star sustainable rating by increasing use of existing infrastructure such as public transport.’

He went onto say ‘BVN commends the organisers of the State of Design and the choice of this year’s theme ‘Change by Design’ and we look forward to contributing with informative and hopefully enjoyable presentations’.