A multimedia walking tour celebrating the development of Melbourne’s Yarra River precinct since the 1980s will be launched by the Premier of Victoria at lunchtime today. Transforming the Yarra traces the story of the visionary work of architects, urban designers, planners and politicians in revitalising the Yarra River as a hub for recreation and culture.

Photograph by Tim Griffith

Architect Evan Walker became the state’s planning and environment minister in 1982. Another architect, David Yencken, was made head of the planning department. Together, they earned high regard as the visionary planners of the blueprint to realise the Yarra River waterfront’s potential.

Encouraging Melbourne’s confidence about the possibilities for urban change, Denton Corker Marshall’s innovative ideas for public spaces, plazas and promenades were a significant contribution to this vision.

From October 14th – 17th, over 200 exhibitors will gather under the roof of Vancouver’s new convention centre for Western Canada’s  residential design event: Interior Design Show West (IDSwest). In addition to highlighting interior designers, architects, and design-focused products and services, this year’s show will also feature presentations from Canadian Design Celebrity Sarah Richardson, host of Sarah’s House on HGTV, as well as a student design feature, a ‘made in BC’ complete living unit, a local design challenge, and the second annual installation of Designing Inside the Box.

From what began in 2004 as Design Vancouver, IDSwest has grown into one of the West Coast’s largest design events. Featuring some of the top architectural, interior, and landscape design firms in the country and numerous retailers showcasing quality products and services, the show provides a forum for both trade and consumers alike to explore design in a contemporary context through public workshops, presentations and innovative special features.