To mark the culmination of their three-year tenure as Rothwell Co-Chairs, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Momoyo Kaijima and Yoichi Tamai of Atelier Bow-Wow brought together collaborators, scholars and practitioners for an evening of fast-paced presentations and reflective conversation on Urban Rural Commons. Through seven Pecha Kucha presentations and a panel discussion, the event traced how drawing, collective care and shared spatial practices can open new ways of architectural thinking across Japan and Australia.

Reflecting on their exploration of the Urban Rural Commons theme, Professor Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Professor Lee Stickells, Dr Amina Kaskar, Ms Elena Tory-Henderson, Ms Hannah Martin, Professor Ashley Dunn and Yoichi Tamai presented key insights from their research and practice, the challenges they encountered, and the ways these learnings continue to shape their work.

Yoshiharu spoke about architecture’s role in reconstructing the commons in contemporary society and the importance of "transforming human resources into resourceful humans".

Lee described learning about satoyama as "more than a setting; it is something continually made and remade through human labour, ecological processes and collective care". 

Amina explored architecture as "an infrastructure for relationships, coordinating shared work, sustaining relationships, supporting ecological systems, and creating conditions for people to act together".

Following the presentations, Momoyo Kaijima facilitated a panel discussion that drew these contributions together, expanding the conversation from individual to shared reflection. The evening closed with Yoichi Tamai’s memorable invitation: "Keep moving, keep drawing!"

This event was made possible through the generous support of alumni Garry and Susan Rothwell.