Dismay at short life for first integrated design commission in South Australia (2009-12) but the benefits flowing on

Tim Horton (right) led the South Australian integrated design commission that worked with government and the design, planning and development sectors, and the wider community, to improve the built environment by promoting a design-led approach.

South Australia’s integrated design commission  – an Australian first –  lasted only last three years: 2009-12.

Launched by South Australian premier Mike Rann, the commission was an advisory team working with the government and the design, planning and development sectors, and the wider community, to improve the built environment by promoting a design-led approach. The program was set up after the research of professor Laura Lee, part of Adelaide’s Thinker in Residence program from 2003  – also ended in 2012.

Led by commissioner Tim Horton, the integrated design commission worked across independent design panels and reviews, and launched initiatives including the zero carbon challenge, a sustainable house design competition, as well as 5000+: a pilot project for city redesign and renewal, focusing on inner Adelaide.

South Australia’s design industry was shocked to hear the integrated design commission would be axed as part of state budget cutbacks. Design Institute of Australia national president Oliver Kratzner said the  Thinker In Residence programme and the integrated design commission “were beacons of enlightened state government. From a design perspective, this is a shameful day for South Australian politics.”

The Australian Institute of Architects South Australian chapter president Nick Tridente said the commission’s 5000+ initiative brought cross pollination to to achieve the best outcomes,  The North Terrace, Adelaide,  project had taken about 10 years to complete “but it’s the first collaboration between everyone (all design professions). Its success is measured by the number of people who use it.”

The South Australian government responded that the role of the South Australian government architect, introduced in 2010, would remain and that the state’s "leadership in good design, integrated planning and quality urban development remains strong”. The urban renewal authority and the requirement for design review panels to advise on large developments would continue.

Tim Horton later reflected that the integrated design commission “remains a remarkable period that still resonates in South Australia – methods and ideas we developed are still visible, great people who were part of it are still embedded in agencies carrying on the work”.

In 2016, the South Australia government office for design and architecture was one of Australia’s largest with a staff of 18. Government architect Kirsteen Mackay had appointed Nick Tridente as associate government architect and John Byleveld, formerly of Hames Sharley, as manager of strategic design.