Melbourne Demolition Atlas Workshop

About the workshop

Melbourne Demolition Atlas Workshop is an exhibition and discussion on demolition created by ACAN. ACAN opposes the prevailing assumption that demolition and rebuilding are the only viable options. Instead, it advocates for the immense potential of preserving, adapting, and transforming existing structures to meet future needs.

Held in the Old Microbiology Building at the University of Melbourne — slated for demolition under the Estate Master Plan — the exhibition presents architectural drawings and photographs that highlight the social and environmental value of this and other significant buildings. Designed by renowned Melbourne architect Frederik Romberg (of Grounds, Romberg, and Boyd), the Old Microbiology Building serves as a case study in the broader conversation on heritage, sustainability, and the built environment.

In addition to the exhibition, ACAN will host a discussion exploring various demolition narratives from across the city, featuring insights from researchers, practitioners, and writers. Attendees are also invited to contribute to the Melbourne Demolition Atlas, an ongoing project documenting threatened and demolished buildings across the city. Part of a growing international series — including demolition atlases in Sweden, the UK, Finland, and Switzerland — this initiative preserves the stories of lost spaces and informs the conversation about the future of our built environment.

About the presenter

Associate Professor Peter Raisbeck, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning

Associate Professor Peter Raisbeck conducts research and teaches in the fields of architectural design and practice. He has had over 20 years of professional experience as an employee and contractor in architecture and project management. Between 1992 and 1997 he was a director of Raisbeck and Klempfner Pty Ltd. Following this in 1998 he completed an MBA in finance at Melbourne Business School where he was subsequently appointed the Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for the Strategic Management of IT. Following this, he worked in business development and consulting roles for a number of Internet start-ups and was briefly the development manager for the CRC for Construction Innovation.

Peter’s research interests reflect his diverse experiences but he is nonetheless focused on the points of convergence between global finance, construction management and architectural design and practice. He believes that architects must grow their profession by understanding that research, practice and theory are inextricably linked together.