Architectural Flash Mob (sold separately)

HOME OPEN SATURDAY 6TH FEB 3:15PM - 4:00PM

465 CANNING HWY, MELVILLE

"An inspired design by one of Perth's most acclaimed architects, Geoff Warn, of Donaldson and Warn (Geoff was appointed WA Government Architect in November 2013), this stunning house was created around 25 tonnes of massive steel beams recovered from the demolition of a huge 1950's warehouse. The beams have been allowed to rust to an amazing natural red colour. The beams form the skeleton of the building and are exposed inside and outside the house..."

See you all there.

http://www.realtyone.com.au/for-sale/melville/465-canning-highway/299894

Sustainable House Open Day 2013

Don't get creepy...get access!

Sustainable House Open Day is on for another year. This years event continues to showcase the country's most environmentally sustainable and innovative homes that invest in renewable energy, recycling and other practices designed to reduce their carbon footprint.


Houses are open ONLY on Sunday 8th September from 10am - 4pm.
Entry to houses is FREE. No need to register, simply turn up and enjoy!
Download the house address list for WA: WA-open-House-List.pdf

Pictured: www.wisionhouse.blogspot.com.au

CALL OUT FOR PROPOSALS Go Away and Come Back: an exhibition of architecture, travel, research, experience.

 

Image: Detail Opportunistic,

2012. R. Creagh.

Go Away and Come Back:

an exhibition of architecture, travel, research, experience.

What does it mean to return home after focused travels? What meaningful contribution can be made when returning with understandings found elsewhere or between places? Go Away and Come Back: an exhibition of architecture, travel, research, experience spirals around these questions proposing an investigation through the work and travels of established and emerging architects.

Architectural pilgrimages, study trips and grand tours have a significant place in the historical understanding of architectural education. Now, the internet grants access to the other side of the world from a home interior. Is the value of study trips questioned by the proliferation of online architectural media? With the increasing convenience of travel has the status of the grand tour shifted within the education of architects? Has inexpensive digital photography diminished the way experiences are recorded? Given the change in global economics, and a shifting emphasis away from old colonial centres, is there still relevance to the overseas internship?

Go Away and Come Back is a proposed peer reviewed exhibition of research works. The visual enquiries  are invited that draw on exhibitors’ travel documentation and reflection to further understandings of the nexus of architecture, experience, research and travel. In a contemporary world of globalisation and mobility, submissions are invited that challenge assumptions about both travel experiences and architectural research through grounded enquiry and engaging mediums.

 Call for proposals now open.

A maximum single A4 page written expression of interest, including a brief biographic statement, should be received before Monday 24 June, 2013. An additional reference image may be included at the applicants’ discretion. Please email to Robyn Creagh r.creagh@curtin.edu.au or Shannon Lyons  s.lyons@curtin.edu.au

Successful applicants will be invited to attend a series of optional workshops in Perth. As part of the curatorial review and development of the research works, at key points in the lead up to exhibition an interdisciplinary selection of creative practitioners and scholars will provide mentoring and critique. The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue of works and scholarly essays.

Iwanoff House-Open: 53 Shannon Road Dianella (Not Marsala House)

UPDATE: 53 Shannon Road Dianella (Not Marsala House)

Open 11am -7pm. Thursday till Sunday.

The Iwanoff Project will celebrate the residential architecture of an Iwan Iwanoff home and showcase a collection of contemporary and vintage Australian design from March 7-10 in Dianella, Perth W.A. The property will be open to the public to view a unique "open for inspection" event over 4 days. aestheticalliance* will fit-out the interior of this signature Iwan Iwanoff brutalist/modernist home with a curated collection of contemporary & vintage furnishings. The property itself goes under the hammer from the 16th of March. 

For further details:

http://www.facebook.com/TheIwanoffProject

or

http://weloveperth.net.au/the-iwanoff-project/

"I would put solar panels on it…if I was stupid."

If there was only one talk about Architecture which I could afford to attend each year  - I would choose a 'Klopper Talk'. 

My first attendance at a Klopper gig was in 2008 or 2009!? The timing doesn't really matter because what is said often stretches between the far past and the ponderings of the present (...timeless perhaps). I remember it as physically image-less presentation and would also allege, slightly inebriated, spoken word performance. It was a cryptic but cutting Bob Dylan like rambling in front of a typical black clad archi-crowd for which I am yet to have witnessed an equal.

So it was with much excitement that I ditched work commitments and attended the Brownbag Talk No.8: 

Brian Klopper - Culture of Culture. 

"What is an architect to do? For that matter - a poor student…Do you give the client or the lecturer exactly what they want because they are paying for it with their money and their marks - not their marks - but they've got control of them? Or do you work for some higher authority like prosperity or as the muse of God? And is it alright to deceive people to get the right solution? Is it ok to use any material or structure or finish to achieve the end you seek? If it looks like a marble column is it alright that is not a marble column? Is it  your role to educate the public to appreciate good architecture (and anyway what is good architecture)? Is it something in the latest European style? Are the practical matters of organisation and environmental modifications necessary evils attached to the more mystical matters of art, beauty or message? And the answer to all this? Well for all complex human problems, as you know, there is one single answer - and its wrong. 

…of course Im not going to give you the answer. You must decide for yourselves."

Image: http://perthsbest.wordpress.com

A Library on Fire.

Ever wondered how a library accommodates all the new books without ever having to under go physical expansion?

The spatial resolution exists in the form of a metal skip bin. 

Recently an exhaustive process of 'weeding' has  been undertaken to accommodate the introduction of new literature for a future school of medicine. Items of low usage were recently targeted and removed in a blitz of up to 8000 casualties. This perpetual process does not account for the fact that many of the items removed were in formats of slide film and videotape - that are only accessible on equipment available in the library itself - and therefore not typically borrowed out nor registered as in demand. Extra shelf space does express the complete waste of children's books potentially gifted to community services or the loss of one-off architectural editions which have now all gone to ground without being offered to the respective resource centres for use in their own collections.

Was there any way that these items of knowledge could have be saved?
The heavy pad locks used to secure shut the bin lid suggests not. 

So for now we can all visit the skeletal metal monument to lost recordings currently erected on Level 5, search the catalogue for what will never be known or simply wonder aloud just what the '10 Favourite Buildings' of Ignasi Solà-Morales might have been from the few ghost catalogue entries which remain. At least when we are all done and disappointed we can still self-loan the 'Invasion of the Space Lobsters'  - 813.54 INV.

Image: www.dtravelsround.com

Sustainable House Day

If you can find the energy between Interior: A State of Becoming events then some of Australia's greenest homes will open their doors to the public for the eleventh annual Sustainable House Day on Sunday 9 September - showcasing the country's most environmentally sustainable and innovative homes that invest in renewable energy, recycling and other practices designed to reduce their carbon footprint.

When: Sunday 9 September, 10 to 6pm

Where: Australia-wide

Web: http://www.sustainablehouseday.com/western-australia.php

Image: Naked hippies frolic in a Gay Head meadow, summer 1970. Photography by Peter Simon.

Interior: A State of Becoming

Interior: A State of Becoming Public Events are now open for registration! Come see the exhibition, watch keynote presentations by Beatriz Colomina and Charles Rice, attend a master class with Jon Goulder, or enjoy a Sunday sesh of seven significant local design practitioners. The symposium itself will host 35 national and international speakers presenting and discussing research that examines significant issues in relation to Interior Architecture. 


An Interior Affair: A State of Becoming (exhibition opening)
Thursday 6 September, 6 pm at FORM.

An international exhibition exploring the world of the interior as a state of constant and dynamic 'becoming'.  Guests are invited to preview the creative works that challenge our preconceptions of 'the interior' through a diverse range of research projects prior to official speeches beginning at 6:30 pm.

Entry free of charge.  RSVP by 5 September to rsvp@form.net.au or (08) 9226 2799


Interior: A State of Becoming (symposium)
Friday 7 & Saturday 8 September, 9 am to 5 pm at State Library of Western Australia.

The two day symposium on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 September consists of a series of presentations and forums that draws on national and international research to exam significant issues in relation to Interior Architecture.

One day registration: $250 or $135 unwaged/concession, two day registration: $550 or $270 unwaged/concession.  Registration includes morning & afternoon tea, lunch, two keynote presentations and pre-event drinks.  Proof of concession required.  Register online here before 31 August.


Charles Rice presents Atrium Effects with Bob Stewart from Zenith (keynote address)
Friday 7 September, 5:30 to 8 pm at State Libary of Western Australia Theatre.

Charles Rice, an architectural historian, theorist and critic is Professor of Architectural History and Theory and Head of the school of Art and Design History at Kingston University, UK. His speech: 'Atrium Effects: John Portman and the Emergence of Interior Urbanism' looks at the experience of being 'inside' a city, in particular being in atrium spaces which Rice finds compelling not simply because they can be so spectacular (and also incredibly banal) but because they defy the terms by which urban space is normally critiqued. For Rice, Interior urbanism is a new kind of spatial development in the city.

Entry: $40 or $30 unwaged/concession.  Register online here before 31 August.

Beatriz Colomina presents Unbreathed Air with Bernie Tan-Hayes from Mondoluce (keynote address)

Saturday 8 September, 5:30 to 8 pm at State Libary of Western Australia Theatre.

Beatriz Colomina is Professor of Architecture and Founding Director of the Program in Media and Modernity at Princeton University. Her speech 'Unbreathed Air, 1956: Alison and Peter Smithson's House of the Future' looks at this playfully seductive house that takes advantage of all the latest technologies to deal with the most basic of all emotions – fear.

Entry: $40 or $30 unwaged/concession.  Register online here before 31 August.

Master Class with Jon Goulder

Sunday ‎9 September, 8:30 am to 5 pm at Midland Atelier.

Jon Goulder's Master Class is the opportunity for those interested in working hands-on alongside design practitioners, academics, students and with technical support, to collaborate in the processes of design and making from concept development to prototype and full scale construction.

Limited to first 20 registrants. Entry: $220. Refreshments provided.  Register online here before 31 August.

7x7 Practice: A State of Becoming

Sunday ‎9 September, 6 to 9 pm at State Library of Western Australia Theatre.

Seven significant designer practitioners with local, national and international experience across a breadth of design disciplines including architecture, furniture design, interior architecture and graphic design have been invited to speak for 15 minutes. Each presenter will use a series of slides as a vehicle to discuss their work, key inspirations, key projects as they address the theme: 'Practice: a State of Becoming'. The Bar and breaks between speakers will provide opportunities for questions, discussions and mingling.

7x7 SPEAKERS:
LEE JACKSON - extraordinary design practitioner
EVAN REEVES - Associate and Senior Designer (Award winning Venn) at Geyer
FELICITY LAM - Senior Interior Designer at Schin Architects
PENELOPE FORLANO - Academic and award winning furniture designer
JON GOULDER - Award winning designer and maker at FORM and Midland Atelier
SIMON PENDAL - Award winning architect and co-founder of Pendal and Neille
TANYA SIM - Award winning Managing Director Block Branding

Entry $10.  Register online here before 31 August.

Registration information: if you are NOT ATTENDING THE SYMPOSIUM but would like to attend the PUBLIC EVENTS, please select 'not attending symposium, take me to the other events' and make your event selection there.

Curtin Open Day 2012: a SWOT analysis

Strategic Objective: Answer the question 'what is Architecture?' in five minutes or less.

Strengths:

- five or more years experience in impromptu presentations
- your folio (useful as a presentation aid, or distraction)

Weaknesses:

- the proximity of the IA table (when you are explaining the difference)
- Stephen Neille standing next to you while you explain what architecture is

Opportunities:

- teenagers who actually seem interested in what you have to say

Threats:
- disinterested teenagers
- cross-examining parents

Crisis management case study scenarios:

"What is Built Environment?"
Subtext: This is not the sign I was looking for.

"So...what's architecture?"
Subtext: Is this the one about dinosaur bones?

"I need a career!"
Subtext: I/my parents think I should have something to occupy my life, or I/my parents need/want me to have money.

"Oh, you've graduated!  Do YOU have a job?"
Subtext: As if anyone with a job would be here on a Sunday.

"How much do you earn?"
Subtext: N/A

Sarah McGann sends someone over to you to talk about 'the social side'.
Subtext: You had too much fun at university (?)

"It's long and um... hard."
Subtext: Oops.

Suburban Odyssey

Yesterday KvV and I visited the Shaun Tan exhibition, ‘Suburban Odyssey’ at the Fremantle Arts Centre (runs until July 15).  Having marveled at the illustrations of the picture books, ‘The Rabbits’ and ‘The Arrival’ in a coffee table sort of attention span, I really appreciated seeing the evolution of his works.  The major works are of suburban landscapes, from early pieces of realism and portraiture to suburbia as magic-realism and then the working sketches of his later work illustrations.

So our fascination with suburbia, have we seen it all before?  Not as Tan manages to capture suburbia.  I found this quote from a love-in, online review by The West Australian, "These are serious paintings of Australian suburbia, bringing to life that which is usually pictured as dull and monotonous.  Many Australian artists celebrate the boredom of the suburban landscape, but Tan is able to breathe magic into the streetscapes of Perth".

I would agree with the sentiment but I feel that the best descriptive word would be his ability to capture a ‘benign’ suburbia.  Is this suburbia in its best version? There are no seething, bleak undertones, think Tim Burton’s ‘Edward Scissor Hands’ or David Lynch’s ‘Blue Velvet’, just a perspective that some of it’s implied rules are strange (homogeneity, 9-5, crows).  Whilst BENIGN doesn’t have the charisma of AMAZING, the intellect of DELIGHTFUL or the nous of CLEVER, it is used in its ability to convey a kind, generous, gentle disposition.  The magic realism of his stick figure series of paintings (definitely worth the short trip) promote the idea that alien landscapes (or objects & creatures as seen in his later works) can be both strange and benign, which is surely if you took this idea further a message of tolerance?  Maybe I have run away with that thought, but to see these layered paintings and different techniques; pencil, gauche, acrylics, pastels and layered cardboard, wood, cloth & plaster, was a nice interlude for a Thursday.  

Teaser pictures below.

exhibition intro

working perspective

layered painting

LOW CARBON, LOW COST HOUSING: IS IT POSSIBLE? a Dutch answer from the field.

Presenter: Rein Buur
Date: Thrusday, May 31
Time: 11:30-12:30pm. Please join us for morning tea at 11.00am
Venue: CUSP Shed, CUSP Office, 3 Pakenhan Street, Fremantle

The financial crisis is hitting hard in Europe, especially affecting the building sector. Consumer confidence is low and lending criteria for home loans have become very strict. The economy is stagnating while the ambitions for sustainability are still high. One of the biggest challenges in the Netherlands is thus to make sustainable houses affordable.

Solutions are not only to be found through technological innovation, since most of the technology is already available. It is important to incorporate green technology into the design from the start. In addition, supply chain integration and applying Lean principles contribute to a more efficient building process. This can be achieved by offsite production, using BIM to reduce failure costs, and the willingness of companies to share knowledge and profit.  These ingredients are the key to create a budget for sustainable houses.

An example from the field is a residential project in Amsterdam (460 houses), called ‘Co-Green, Stadstuin Overtoom’. The focus of this project is more than low carbon low cost housing alone. Another aspect is closed-loop design, meaning that demolition material is re-used. Finally, the transition of a post-World War II suburb with social problems brings the challenge to create a better living environment.

All in all an interesting answer from the field to make cities more resilient.

About the presenter:

Rein Buur

Rein is an architect from the Netherlands. He has over 12 years experience in designing residential projects. First at KOW Architecture in The Hague, as senior architect responsible for the business unit residential buildings, and now working at Groosman Partners in Rotterdam. He is currently visiting Western Australia with his family, having a sabbatical leave.

PS 12.01 - Richard Weller and Anthony Duckworth-Smith present Macro/Micro Cities: Summaries and Reflections

Prof. Richard Weller expands the remit of his 'Boom Town' research to a federal level, and suggests Australian organisations (primarily government) need to plan effectively for the global population expansion which will, according to Weller's sources, see the world population plateau at 10 billion people as the population increases, becomes urbanised (for economic reasons) and reproduction lessens as a priority.

Read more >>

WA Architecture Awards: Presentation to Juries - Live blog

We 'live blogged' the event on our Facebook page.
Here it is, as it happened:
  
9:06 Interior 9am - starting the Presentation to Juries liveblog.

9:19 Interior LM "what are you two vegemites doing here?"

9:21 Interior Bollig Design Group - Augusta Margaret River Shire civic administration (interior category). Smooth presentation to start the day, building had strong regional elements.

9:24 Interior PDFs need ctrl+L-ing.

9:27 Interior DMG - Crown Mansions: Opulence is the theme.

9:28 Interior presenting 'the shots'.

Read more >>

Brown Bag No. 3: vittinoAshe

Presenting: Marco vittino and Katherine Ashe of vittinoAshe

When: Friday 2nd September

Location: 201:413

Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm

Affirmative Architecture: Resonations and Reservations from AJH, KvV & FJE

Notes, reflections and sketches from the Affirmative Architecture symposium. We haven't covered everything, just a few things that resonated with us, and a few more that didn't.

Read more >>

'review RAVE 4 RAVE review' - Session 2: Mock Presentation

Come Join in for 'review RAVE 4 rave REVIEW'
Session 2 Mock Presentations
Friday 12th August
5:30pm Pinup, Layout
6:00pm Start

SONA MERGE Film Night

SONA & MERGE present
Infinite Space: The Architecture of John Lautner

Sunday 14 August
3:30 pm for 4 pm start
Ace Cinema, Subiaco

$15 (incl. drink)

Let HG know if you want to buy a ticket!

Reflections on Advocating Architecture: PS11.03

Last night I (and quite a few others from the BCC) attended the Perth Samplings 11.03 talk, organised by the Office of the Government Architect. The speakers were Carly Barrett, Jennie Officer, Beth George and Andrew Murray. The title was Advocating Architecture.

There are three ways which I think that title can be taken; promoting a certain activity within the profession (i.e. some activities that architects do is 'architecture', and some is not, e.g. management, or for promoting quality), and promoting the importance of architecture to the rest of society. It could also be taken as a label 'architect as advocate', so an architect who is prepared to promote a cause publicly (i.e. specific ideologies within the profession).

I thought all the speakers did an excellent job - the talks were engaging and interesting, and were generous in content. So, considering the talks against the possibilities I have outlined;

Read more >>

Finding Urban Space for Children - Candidacy Presentation - Courtney Babb

On Friday in building 201 at Curtin Uni Courtney Babb will present the topic of his PhD research project: Finding Urban Space for Children. Courtney was recently awarded candidature, and this session is an opportunity for the BE research community to find out what he’s up to and support him at this early stage of his research. This session may also be of interest to anyone beginning their HDR studies or approaching candidacy. Here’s a brief statement from Courtney on the thesis research:

“My PhD is focussed on better understanding the relationship between children and the built environment, in particular their independent mobility and active travel. I will do this by designing a children’s walkability audit that measures elements within the built environment that are important to children’s travel behaviour. A key objective of the research is to investigate how measures can be developed to reflect the subjective nature of some relationships, such as the perception of safety. The research draws upon post-positivist planning theories and participatory methods to develop the audit.”

Friday 17 June. 11am. Room 649. Building 201. Curtin Uni.
3rd in the "Four from the BODY" series of BE Fortnightlies.