Atrium Atrium 14 | 2010 14 | 2010
(DE) CONSTRUCTING RESILIENCE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 02 | 03
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Indigenous place/cyberspace: ‘Bower 2010’ 04 Vale: Professor William J (Bill) Mitchell 16 International urban planning & development 08 ABP Recollections: Hugh O’Neill 17 Research & studios investigate communities 10 Graham Treloar Fellowship Winner: 18 Alumni Profiles: Ray Tonkin & Lucinda Hartley 12 Dr Siqing Chen Jon Robinson Celebration 14 Dean’s Honours Awards 2009 21 Accreditation News 15 From the Faculty 22
Dean’s Message
This issue of Atrium is (de)constructing The contributions of our alumni are, resilience. We explore this idea by focusing as always, of particular interest to us, on some of the powerful connections our as we have highlighted in recent issues. staff, students and alumni are making In this issue, we celebrate the achievements in developing resilience in response to of Ray Tonkin, former Executive Director adversities in communities beyond the of Heritage Victoria, in our alumni profile formal university context, both locally on page 12. Mr Tonkin received a Public and internationally. Service Medal as part of the 2010 Australia Day Honours Awards, recognition of his Dr David O’Brien’s widely recognised extensive career at the centre of cultural Bower series of studios continued this heritage conservation and consultation year, with a group of MSD students in this state. travelling to the Northern Territory to construct ‘media boxes’ in two town One of our more recent Landscape camps outside Darwin. Created out Architecture graduates is making her of disused shipping containers, these mark, forging connections between young were designed by Master of Architecture professionals in Australia and Asia. Lucinda student Silas Gibson, following a Hartley is a landscape architect with local close consultation process with the and international development experience, local communities. who has founded [co]design (Community Oriented Design) studio, a non-profit, We profile other research projects multi-disciplinary design studio that provides and studios that are forging significant emerging designers from various backgrounds connections with local and international with a platform to engage with community communities. The Indigenous Placemaking development projects. in Central Melbourne research project led up by Janet McGaw and Anoma Pieris; To complement the recognition of work Peter Raisbeck’s travelling studio to Mexico our alumni, we also bring focus to the focused on recyclable housing; David experiences of our students. Hugh O’Neill O’Brien’s research into post-disaster has provided us with recollections of life housing; and Milinda Pathiraja’s PhD as a student in the Faculty of Architecture research into building initiatives in Sri Lanka in the 1950s, with particular reference to are all defined by their engagement with the international students. so-called ‘vulnerable’ communities and facilitating resilience. A third focus here is then the contribution of members of the staff of the Faculty. Janne Morrison’s article on Jon Robinson’s Atrium 14 | 2010
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retirement dinner in May is an insight and projects across all five disciplines – by the University of Melbourne in 2008. tribute to the career and contribution that architecture, landscape architecture, You can read more about our recent Jon, our former Professor of Property property, construction and urban planning. accreditation success on page 15. and Construction, made to the Faculty The Awards have significant links with and the University which have been most industry and our design community, Our vibrant event culture continued over appropriately recognised by the appointment with various organisations and companies winter with a suite of events, exhibitions of Jon as Professor Emeritus. supporting individual prizes or awards. and conferences presented across the We thank all of our benefactors for Faculty. We enjoyed hosting the UK-based In this issue we also pay tribute to investing in the future of our high- engineer Jane Wernick - one of the creative Bill Mitchell, Professor and Dean at the achieving students. minds behind London’s Millenium Wheel Massachusetts Institute of Technology, - who presented a Dean’s Lecture in early who has made a profound contribution As the opening of the 12th Venice August. The award-winning firm Jane in the fields, first, of computer aided design Architecture Biennale approaches, I note Wernick Associates is responsible for an and, later, urban design. Bill remained close again how well our Faculty is represented extensive portfolio of buildings, bridges, to Melbourne and our Faculty; his influence at this major international event. Of the sculptures and furniture for local and on my own academic career was enormous. 17 projects selected by Creative Directors, international clients. John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec, three The impact of giving is highlighted in a teams are led by members of our Faculty Other event highlights included a special piece on the Graham Treloar Award and and six consist of our alumni. This is an lecture by Juan Pedro Sabbagh of Siqing Chen, 2010 recipient of the Award. extraordinary representation for our Faculty Sabbagh Architects (one of the most To acknowledge the outstanding academic in one of the most important events on the influential architectural practices in Chile), contribution made to the University of international architecture calendar. As part the Practices, Processes & Politics of Melbourne by Associate Professor Graham of one of the chosen teams, for the Fear Indigenous Placemaking symposium, Treloar, the Faculty established an Free City project, I am personally looking the 35TH AUBEA Construction Management endowment fund for the Graham Treloar forward to being in Venice in August Conference. These and other interesting Fellowship. Associate Professor Treloar and experiencing the energy distinctive Faculty events, exhibitions and news played a major role in the Faculty as a to the Biennale. are covered in From the Faculty on talented researcher and an influential pages 22-23. mentor to many young researchers. The recent professional accreditation of our new Master of Landscape Architecture To access our changing calendar of In May of this year, we celebrated the and Master of Architecture programs was exhibitions, public lectures, conference academic achievements of our students and a clear endorsement not only of the quality and activities please visit our website: staff at the annual Dean’s Honours Awards. of our new architectural and landscape http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/events/ This event was a wonderful opportunity to architecture programs, but of the ‘New recognise the work that is being created Generation’ degree structure, often referred Best wishes within our programs, studios and research to as the ‘Melbourne Model’, introduced Tom Kvan Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 04 | 05
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Indigenous Place/Cyberspace: ‘Bower 2010’ Builds Media Boxes In the Northern Territory
LOUISA RAGAS
Communication via the internet is taken for ‘I was lucky enough to have my proposal community, both via the internet and granted, but for many Indigenous communities chosen for further development’, says through having a place where people could it remains something remote and inaccessible Silas. ‘While I was on an exchange in come to run programs and share skills. – rarely part of the immediate environment. January my colleague George Stavrias The centre will be the catalyst for further - who has worked with me on the community development initiatives such A recent ABP project attempts to address development and documentation as media, music and art programs.’ this, and other issues of access and of the design - went to Darwin to visit education, for two communities in the stakeholders for further consultation. Ongoing community consultation has been Northern Territory through a unique building We made adjustments and incorporated integral to the Bower project. Allison Stout, initiative. ‘Bower 2010’ - the indigenous elements such as the library and multi- one of the original students from the 2008 housing project led by ABP’s Dr David purpose room and discussed the best studio, has returned to assist the leaders O’Brien and Hamish Hill - has resulted in site for the centres with community leaders.’ and help with the community consultation. the design and construction of two ‘media The Gudorrka and Knuckeys Lagoon boxes’ in the Northern Territory. Situated in ‘In March I visited Darwin again, further communities were heavily involved in town camps just outside Darwin - one in the refining the design... We were working decision-making around the siting, fit-out Gudorrka Community and one in Knuckeys to a very tight budget and also had to take and construction of the media boxes, and Lagoon - the media boxes provide a focal into consideration the harsh climate and some of the locals were involved in the point for skills training and a place where the possibility of cyclones - everything actual build. This inclusive approach created locals can make connections with people had to be engineered for those conditions. a sense of pride and ownership over the beyond their region through internet access. We also added steel mesh screens over finished buildings. windows and used perspex instead of ‘Bower 2010’ is an architecture studio glass, due to the possibility of vandalism.’ As David O’Brien outlined in the article for Melbourne School of Design (MSD) Consult/Design/Build, in a recent edition students, and part of the MSD’s on-going The media box design is essentially a of Atrium (No.11 2009), ‘the intent (of initiative in the Northern Territory. David and converted 40ft shipping container with the Bower projects) has been to use the Hamish first took a group of MSD students a pre-fabricated carport roof over the construction processes and outcomes to Darwin in 2008, where after consultation top for shade. The shipping container as a way to stimulate further discussion with the community, the students were has had windows cut out, desks installed, with the community groups involved. invited to recycle one of the derelict houses joinery built in and partially lined with Marginalised communities are not used in the Gudorrka Community. a sound absorbing pin-board material. to making decisions about their own The outside of each container has been environments and their shelter. Traditionally The group then used their on-site experience painted by local artists and the surrounds they have had little or no choice. The to design other facilities for Gudorrka and have been landscaped to integrate them process of talking, designing and then the neighboring Knuckeys Lagoon community into their natural sites. building together opens up many - one of which is the ‘media box’ design that opportunities for a more useful dialogue was selected for construction as the ‘Bower ‘I envisaged the ‘media box’ as being which then enriches the ideas, processes 2010’ project. Through the community a secure place that community members and outcomes for the next project and consultation process, Master of Architecture could use computers to access services, so on.’ student Silas Gibson noticed the lack of check banking, check email, search for access to technology within the town camps, jobs and for children to do their homework,’ the high rates of unemployment and the says Silas. ‘Through further consultation need for a space for children to do homework. the design expanded to include space for Out of this emerged his concept for the a community library and a private multi- media box. purpose room to be used for meetings, craft and homework. I felt that such a facility would help community members to improve social networks with people outside the Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 06 | 07
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For Silas the Bower project has been a ‘fantastic experience’, one that has fuelled his architecture ambitions.
The construction process enabled bonds complex issues social, environmental provided an opportunity to meet and to form between the university students and shelter issues in marginalized work with people that I never would and locals, and an understanding of the communities in Australian and abroad. have had otherwise,’ he says. ‘It has complexities of design and development been great getting something built in town camps. ‘So often projects fail Sixteen Master of Architecture students so early in my career, and I’ve made when they are not matched with - Leah Bell, Reza Bolouri, Mel Chan, Amy contacts with the right people in the community needs’, David says. Clark, Beck DeHaas, Jessie Fowler, Court Northern Territory that will make it a Gibbs, Rosie Gunzburg, Alie Kennedy, possible for me to work on similar ‘Working with our partner communities, Chin Lim, Fabian Prideaux, Jingyi Tan, projects in the future.’ as well as agencies such as Darwin Frank Vedelago, Steph Westbrook, Lulu Regional CDEP, Ironbark Employment, Zhai and George Stavrias – were involved The innovative Bower series of design Yilli Rreung Housing and AMITY. Funding in the construction process in Darwin, studios will continue under David has come from the Australian Government along with designer Silas Gibson. O’Brien’s leadership, with another group departments, Department of Education of MSD students scheduled to return Employment and Workplace Relations, Stephanie Westbrook, one of the to the Northern Territory in 2011. and the Department of Families, Housing, students engaged in the project, valued Community Services and Indigenous the on-site experience and how it will The Media Box project was generously Affairs. We have formed a strong team inform her ongoing design work. ‘When supported by an anonymous donor capable of delivering results and value we return from Darwin, we engage in a to the Faculty and materials for the for money. Our ‘media boxes’ are also design component which will result in one Melbourne based training for the project designed to ‘fit into’ the fabric of the of the Bower 2010 group’s designs being were generously supplied by the community and provide space for people chosen to be constructed by students following companies: to get together in a positive environment.’ involved in the next Bower studio,’ she says. ‘This experience will allow me to Bowens The Bower project clearly has distinct formulate and evaluate design decisions CSR benefits not just for the community but with a better understanding of the nuance Litesteel Industries for the architecture students in involved. and specificity that (any) context requires.’ Modwood Technologies Pty Ltd MSD students have shown that they Surdex Steel are keen to get involved in initiatives For Silas the Bower project has been Vinidex Systems and Solutions that extend their design skills and address a ‘fantastic experience’, one that has fuelled his architecture ambitions. ‘It has Atrium 14 | 2010
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1. 2.
3. 4. 5.
1. Bowens 2. Litesteel Industries 3. Modwood Technologies Pty Ltd 4. Surdex Steel 5. Vinidex Systems and Solutions and CSR Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 08 | 09
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The Melbourne School of Design hosts William Cobbett- global expert in urban planning and development
LOUISA RAGAS
The Melbourne School of Design (MSD) slum upgrading and city development The Cities Alliance produced a Medium is committed to bringing international strategies and to providing information Term Strategy three years ago, which is figures in the field of urban planning to and guidelines on the related urban now being rolled out. The strategy was the university, to stimulate thought and problems, policies and implementation based on a critique of current approaches debate on the challenges and successes strategies’, states Professor Richard to international development assistance, of urbanisation and urban planning. Tomlinson, Chair of Urban Planning at and proposed a significant shift away This engagement is critical to our wider the University of Melbourne. ‘Amongst from making a series of individual grants, understanding of urban development others, Australia, Shack/Slum Dwellers and replacing these with comprehensive, and poverty, the creation of habitable International and Habitat for Humanity multi-year assistance, in a number of environments and other critical International are members of the Cities countries. This is based on significant Cities planning issues. Alliance. William Cobbett was also on Alliance impacts in some middle-incomes the team of the African National Congress countries such as Brazil, Philippines, Chile Recently the MSD hosted William that negotiated South Africa’s democratic and - to a lesser extent – South Africa. Cobbett, an expert in the area of constitution.’ The Cities Alliance is now looking to focus international urban development. more on lower-income countries. Cobbett is currently Manager of the Cobbett presented a Dean’s Lecture Cities Alliance, an organisation founded on The challenge of scale in an urbanising Cobbett also spoke to managing urbanisation by the World Bank and UN Habitat. world: Land, services and citizenship. and three key challenges: the challenge He joined the Cities Alliance in 2001 In this fascinating presentation, Cobbett of urban land markets; scaling up the on secondment from the United Nations shared his perspective on the challenges delivery of water, transport systems and Human Settlements Programme in Nairobi, presented by urbanisation, based on the other services; and citizenship that affords where he had designed and launched experience of the Cities Alliance over the all residents rights and renders city the Global Campaign for Secure Tenure. past decade. He described how Latin governments accountable. Much of the America has completed its urban transition issue requires formalising the informal in Cities Alliance is a global coalition of cities - a legacy it is now grappling with and that, for example, when land and services and their development partners committed how over the next 30 years, a similar are provided informally, they will cost the to scaling up successful approaches to transformation will take place across poor more than households with formal poverty reduction. ‘The Cities Alliance sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and services due to criminal landlords and special contribution is to mainstreaming south-east Asia. systems of service delivery. This requires Atrium 14 | 2010
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Recently the MSD hosted William Cobbett, an expert in the area of international urban development.
getting policies right and the appropriate still defining their own career paths. On William Cobbett brought to the MSD policy institutions and processes in place. the day following his Dean’s Lecture Series and the University of Melbourne an Very often this task is avoided because presentation, Cobbett discussed changing international and applied understanding the problems are complex and messy. approaches to international development of how to address urban issues and Without political will, measurable in terms assistance. Of particular interest was his poverty in developing countries. It is this of policies and budgets, and leadership, discussion of the move from international kind of international knowledge transfer the problems are not addressed. Getting development assistance in the form of that will inspire and provoke our own the policies right and ensuring accountable short visits from technical experts from students, staff and community, in regard institutions and processes of governance the North to South-South learning that to understanding the challenges of enables cities to do more than catch up involves a sharing of experience; what has urbanisation and urban planning at local after mass urbanisation and to get ahead worked and what has not worked in urban and global levels. of the curve through, for example, the governance and addressing specific issues provision of serviced sites and other such as slum upgrading. In addition, he Professor Tomlinson continues that, services in addition. He further observed described a process where advisers stay ‘my sense is that there is a hunger among that while academics and the media for extended periods in cities and among Australia students to learn about developing concentrate on mega cities, most communities where they presume to countries. Certainly development subjects urbanisation is occurring in medium offer advice. are increasing in number throughout the and small cities, which is where institutions University and the number included in are weak and resources scarce. Cities that Professor Tomlinson believes that William the urban planning curriculum will likewise work are essential for economic growth Cobbett speaks to a far wider audience increase. This will enhance the internal and without economic growth urban and than urban planners or planning students. development planning specialisation in rural poverty cannot be reduced. ‘His activities and influence are global in the planning program.’ reach among developing countries and Whilst in the Faculty, Cobbett gave countries formerly a part of the Soviet subsequent seminars to the general public Union’, in respect to urban planning, and students, interacted with students city economic development, housing, interested in the field, and contributed municipal finance, the role of NGOs and to urban planning classes. Hosting urban development policy more generally’, inspirational figures such as Cobbett Professor Tomlinson states. can be amazingly powerful for students Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 01010 | 11| 02
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ABP Research and Studios Investigate Communities: Constructing Resilience Through Collaboration and Cultural Representation
LOUISA RAGAS
This year there are a number A recent outcome of Dr Pieris’s and Mexico Travelling Studio. Led by Dr Peter of research and studio activities Dr McGaw’s campaign to further the Raisbeck (Senior Lecturer in Architectural undertaken by staff and students concept of an Indigenous cultural centre Practice), this interdisciplinary studio within the Faculty of Architecture, in Melbourne was the symposium addressed two areas of concern to the Building and Planning involved Practices, Processes and Politics of world today: the need for new housing with communities who are often Indigenous Place-making: A symposium, and the need to dispose of the waste termed ‘vulnerable’ or seek greater held in June. The symposium essentially generated within cities. cultural representation. explored the notion of ‘place’ and its meaning for Indigenous Australians. This intensive design studio explored The challenge for all these research Places are complex entities, not the processes of urbanisation in Mexico projects and studios is to be attuned necessarily defined by physical structure City and Monterrey, with the students to the cultural nuances and challenges or geographic location. Strategies for analysing social and informal housing, of each group or region, and for the eco negotiating sites of difficult memory community development, waste stream and social impact of any design solutions and working with the complexity ecologies, and recycling. Exposed to the to be positive. Community consultation and diversity of Indigenous cultures contemporary architectural culture and and collaboration is a critical aspect of in processes of place-making are discourse in Mexico, the group of MSD each project. Outlined below are just developing across architecture, heritage students had to imagine and investigate a few of these ABP initiatives. management, museology, and other how waste materials can be used for modes of cultural representation. low cost housing in the developing world. ABP’s Dr Anoma Pieris and Dr Janet Working with academic staff and students McGaw, along with Dr Emily Potter and The symposium highlighted some from ITESM Monterrey, the group was Professor Graham Brawn, are currently of these initiatives, in the context of challenged to design urban systems, conducting research into Indigenous a campaign to advance and realise shelters and building elements from placemaking, funded by an Australian a Victorian Indigenous Cultural Education refuse. The students explored the Research Council (ARC) Linkage and Knowledge Centre (VICEKC). It consequences of globalisation on Research Grant. The project – Indigenous brought together international, national waste systems and resource use and Place-making in Central Melbourne: and local Indigenous and non-indigenous investigated the nexus between the Representation, practices and creative community members, academics, disciplines of the designed environment research – will contribute to making a designers, artists and architects, along and a systems approach to place of belonging, gathering and cultural with VICEKC stakeholders, to share understanding waste ecologies. exchange for and with Indigenous experiences and reflections on successful Australians in Melbourne. The research cross-cultural interactions in the realm of Like the ‘Bower’ series of design studios, team is engaged in research aimed at place-making. The symposium followed this studio has amazing outcomes for generating a more inclusive and dynamic on from a public conversation, held at the students involved – not least, creating understanding of Indigenous identity. BMW Edge, Federation Square, in which connections with local people and The project aims to provide a platform possibilities for an Indigenous Cultural exchanging knowledge pertinent to for reconciliatory activities in Victoria, Centre that represents all Indigenous design, low-cost construction, urban with the support of Victorian Indigenous Victorians was discussed. planning and the environment. Communities, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Melbourne City Council, and inform Another ABP initiative making connections Dr David O’Brien’s research project the general public about the need for with communities – in this case, on the Transformation of Post-Disaster Housing: such a cultural facility. other side of the globe – is the MSD The Case of Aceh, Indonesia is focused Atrium 14 | 2010
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on exploring how effective reconstruction to transform their house? Is there scope resulting in minimal transfer of technology architecture from the 2004 Indian Ocean for incorporating disaster risk reduction and skills. There has been little response tsunami has been, using Aceh as a into the transformation process?’ from political and institutional agencies to case study. facilitate adequate skill-building platforms. One of the most important questions is: Milinda’s research looks at whether design David maintains that it is important that what lessons does such transformation professions – architects in particular - the various humanitarian agencies involved offer that can inform future policy and can develop technological and design in any clean up and support effort take practice in the field of post-disaster frameworks which allow the workers in stock of the housing built after the 2004 housing reconstruction? each industrial pocket to move across Indian Ocean Tsunami, as no one project these boundaries, learn from others, has been completely successful. ‘Although Research currently being conducted by and improve their technical and reconstruction agencies constructed vast PhD (by Design) student Milinda Pathiraja economic status. numbers of housing in very trying also investigates urbanization and circumstances, there is clear evidence construction practices and the socio- Milinda’s research, under the supervision that residents have found it necessary economic impact of these factors in of Professor Paolo Tombesi, proposes a to remodel, renovate and transform their specific ‘third-world’ communities.M ilinda model which defines a broad technological house to suit their own and broader is finalizing his PhD thesis on ‘The idea framework at industry level that is both community needs,’ he says. ‘This may of ‘robust technology’ in the definition flexible and adaptable so that it can be well suggest that the reconstruction agencies of a ‘third-world’ practice: architecture, used to expand the training opportunities ‘missed their mark’ by providing ill-conceived design and labour training’. His research available within construction projects. housing types. Indeed, around 30% investigates whether building projects of reconstruction houses are empty! can also be training grounds for technical All these ABP projects are engaged skills in construction and produce sound with diverse communities and facilitating ‘Some of the major issues with the new buildings. His thesis proposes that resilience and cultural representation dwellings are that they are too small for architects can act as industrial policy- on some level. It is just one more way families – people liked living in extended makers by strategically designing the Faculty of Architecture, Building and family groups in bigger houses – and technological configurations into Planning is committed to moving beyond the bathrooms are external, making it construction projects to incorporate the formal university space to connect problematic for female residents who skill-building and enable progressive with communities by transferring and must cover up outside under Islamic training. In other words, can the integration receiving design knowledge that ultimately law…a bit of a hassle if you just want of technological development and broad builds resilience in vulnerable contexts. to go to the bathroom!’ socio-economic growth be facilitated through architectural design strategies David’s ongoing research reveals and that are aimed at connecting construction raises various questions in relation to markets rather than keeping them separated? post-disaster housing initiatives. ‘There are a number of questions agencies need Using Colombo in Sri Lanka, as a to ask’, he says. ‘Why must the beneficiaries case study, Milinda has determined of this housing transform their houses? that the problem lies with a fragmented What needs are not met through the construction industry with little or no standardised house? Can particular house reciprocal connection in training, know- types improve the capacity for residents how, and career development paths, Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 12 | 13
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ABP Alumni Profiles
Ray Tonkin by Louisa Ragas
Cultural heritage is critical to defining ultimately seek out work involved in in heritage conservation in Australia and and celebrating our nation’s diverse architectural history and after doing some to lead a committed and dynamic team at history and character. Acknowledged bits and pieces for the new Australian Heritage Victoria. The inspiration provided as a national leader in cultural heritage Heritage Commission, I was offered work by those people kept me going for many matters, Ray Tonkin recently received for the relatively new Victorian Historic years. Also, the opportunity to relate to a Public Service Medal at the 2010 Buildings Council. The rest is history.’ the broader community and to assist it Australia Day Honours Awards: a fitting in achieving goals was (and still is) very In his Heritage Council farewell speech acknowledgment of his incredible public important to me. When I started working entitled ‘Thirty years in harness’, Mr service to the recognition, management in heritage conservation in the mid to late Tonkin reflected on his career and drew and promotion of Victoria’s non- 70’s it was not seen to be a real job and focus to the achievements and progress Indigenous cultural heritage. nor was there a professional group Heritage Victoria has made since the working exclusively in this area. Ray Tonkin has held an outstanding 1970s. The transformation of this There now is.’ leadership role in heritage conservation organisation and the government and and consultation for over three decades, community views around cultural heritage While the achievements are significant, most notably as Executive Director of has been immense. Mr Tonkin also believes that the future Heritage Victoria, a role he retired from of heritage conservation in Australia ‘The Historic Buildings Register, in June 2009. depends on certain barriers being broken established in 1974, contained 370 down. He identifies three challenges Mr Tonkin managed Heritage Victoria places - virtually all buildings constructed which require ongoing focus and for the unprecedented period of 22 in the nineteenth century. By 2009 the development: the drawing together years and was Executive Director of the Victorian Heritage Register supports of the identification and management Heritage Council and its predecessors. over 2000 places (including buildings, of the cultural heritage of indigenous and He skilfully balanced the requirements landscapes, shipwrecks, objects and non-indigenous Australians; improved of government, a statutory authority trees), the Heritage Inventory of historic heritage place management; and the and the general public, whilst developing archaeological places contains need to continue the development of a state heritage protection system that 7500 entries.’ a sound national system of heritage has the most comprehensive listing in Indeed, Heritage Victoria is now a protection. Australia. He was central in engineering sophisticated operation, employing the extraordinary growth and profile of Although he has retired as Executive around 60 professional staff, and is Heritage Victoria and in championing Director of Heritage Victoria, Mr Tonkin acknowledged as an important arm various policies and projects across remains passionately engaged with of government in Victoria. In his stirring the field of heritage conservation various cultural heritage issues. He sees farewell speech, Mr Tonkin outlined the and consultation. the challenge of dealing with ‘intangible growth of interest in heritage issues and heritage’ – essentially the customs and Ray Tonkin’s early focus on architecture the changing nature and definition of practices of our society - as one critical and heritage was consolidated at the cultural heritage. He noted that: issue that will occupy the community University of Melbourne where he ‘The community has become increasingly in the future. received a Bachelor of Architecture in attached to its heritage places and 1971 and a Master of Urban Planning ‘Intangible heritage has become a individuals and groups (including local in 1982. He commenced his architecture significant point of discussion in government) invest considerable degree in 1966 with ‘a vision that I would international heritage forums and the resources in planning and other forums spend the rest of my life designing debates will inevitably find their way to arguing for preservation and conservation. houses (didn’t we all?)’. our shores’, he says. ‘I doubt very much If in 1978 I had suggested to a number that the traditional techniques of listing The inspiration for his future career came of municipalities that within 30 years they and permitting can effectively deal with in fourth year when George Tibbits ran would be spending well over $100,000 this aspect of our heritage, but I do see the subject Australian Architecture. ‘This per annum each for specialist heritage that this is an area that is shared between opened my eyes to the history of local advice they would have laughed at me.’ indigenous and non-indigenous communities. architecture and introduced me to Mr Tonkin’s own career highlights centre Perhaps this is a key to my first challenge.’ architectural history research,’ Mr Tonkin on the milestones that Heritage Victoria recollects. ‘George was inspiring and Ray Tonkin’s farewell speech achieved during his leadership: remained so, for me, until his death. I hold is the inaugural Heritage Council him responsible for many of the advances ‘I was privileged to be at the centre address. You can read his address that came in heritage conservation in this of the great development of heritage on the Heritage Victoria website - state through his mentoring of so many conservation in the community’, he says. http://heritage.vic.gov.au/Publications/ students who were equally inspired by ‘In particular, to have the opportunity Heritage-Council-address-2009.aspx him. I guess it was inevitable that I would to help establish Victoria as the leader Atrium 14 | 2010
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Lucinda Hartley
University of Melbourne, GradDip She has now returned to Australia, but In 2010 [co]design studio partnered with Landscape Architecture, 2002 - 2004 continues to maintain an involvement Global Citizens for Sustainable Development Australian Institute of Landscape with projects in the region through [co] (GCSD), a Bangalore-based NGO working Architects Victorian Student Prize 2004 design studio, a community based design to increase the dialogue between young Cement Concrete and Aggregates organisation. At [co]design, her current people across cultures, for WE BUILD, Australia National Student Prize 2004 focus is on WE BUILD, India - a collaborative a program that will bring young people Asialink Weary Dunlop Fellow 2008 project to develop a sustainable living from Australia and India together to work Endeavour Executive Award 2009 precinct for rural-urban migrants in Bangalore. on hands-on building projects in Bangalore.
Lucinda Hartley is a Landscape Architect A highlight of her career so far has been ‘The WE BUILD project specifically aims with local and international development working with different cultures ‘it reinforces to develop a sustainable living precinct for experience across Australia, Asia and Pacific to me that there are no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ rural-urban migrants who face barriers to including positions with UN, AusAID and ways of going about problem solving, but shelter, sanitation and housing. [co]design Habitat for Humanity. Lucinda founded [co] differences that we can all learn from’ she studio are working with GCSD to develop design (Community Oriented Design) studio, says ‘acknowledging that there are cultural a masterplan and design drawings for the a non-profit, multi-disciplinary design studio differences is a good place to start, and site. The project works under the premise that provides emerging designers from then being patient and taking time to talk, that migration and the surrounding issues architecture, landscape architecture, reflect and understand each other. I find are fuelled by global forces, and there planning, urban design, engineering design is a powerful tool to work across should therefore be a global response. and more with a platform to engage cultures and working visually can often help While the WE BUILD project has tangible with community development projects. to overcome language/cultural barriers.’ outcomes such as improving educational She also represents Asia-Pacific on the opportunities for 1000 families, it also Youth Advisory Board of UN-Habitat. Through [co]design, Lucinda is currently aims to bring together young people focusing on building connections between from Australia and India in a cross-cultural Lucinda initially moved to Vietnam in 2008 young professionals in Australia and Asia. dialogue which will spark future projects to work with the Asian Coalition of Housing ‘Design education is still quite euro-centric, and long-term change.’ Rights on resettlement and upgrading yet young professionals often find of slums and informal settlements. As themselves working in Asia without any For more information an Australian Landscape Architect, she preparation in cross-cultural communication. on [co]design studio visit: found that this was an opportunity to [co]design studio is a design organisation www.codesignstudio.com.au explore linkages between professional that offers young professionals from Australia design and community development, and and Asia the opportunity to work together Updates on the WE BUILD project: to build linkages between organisations on grass-roots community projects. This www.codesignstudio.posterous.com in Australia and Asia. is not about Australians working overseas or vice-versa, but about learning to work Contact Lucinda: together as global citizens.’ [email protected]
“The ‘WE BUILD’ project specifically aims to develop a sustainable living precinct for rural– urban migrants” Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 14 | 15
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Celebrating the Career and Contribution of Jon Robinson
Janne Morrison
24th May, 2010, was a cold, wet night It was noted that Jon was twice awarded faze Jon and he would always deal in Melbourne. However the warmth was the Peter Barrington Gold Medal for with any incident in his usual calm style. soon felt in University House when a large research in real estate, authored Property In meetings, Jon was a ‘no nonsense’ group of academic colleagues, former Valuation and Investment Analysis (Law type of person who would not prolong students, alumni, industry professionals Book Co, 1989) and over 60 papers unnecessarily lengthy discourse, but and members of professional institutes in international conference proceedings who could manage to successfully sum gathered to join Jon and members of and journals. Close associates Peter up a debate and move on to the next his family celebrate his long and Williams, Garry Martin, Jeremy Pike, and item. Despite Jon’s busy work schedule, outstanding career. Nigel Flannigan gave eloquent, moving he would always make himself available and, at times, witty reminisces of their to the many staff and students who The Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, dealings with Jon. Such personal and sought his wise counsel – often well Building and Planning, Professor Tom heartfelt words highlighted the very after the end of the normal working day. Kvan, welcomed those gathered and down to earth side of Jon’s character spoke of Jon’s contribution over the last and indicated how generously he gave Jon also had a great sense of fun and it 30 years, acknowledging that he had his time to colleagues, students and was always a good time when he would been instrumental in the development friends. Of course, no reflection of Jon rally together a group of staff to join him and delivery of Property & Construction could proceed without recognizing his for ‘a bowl of soup’ at University House education within the University of interest in sport, and in particular his where convivial conversation could range Melbourne, and in the wider academic beloved Geelong Football Club!! from the state of the economy to cricket, and business community. football, red wine or hearing tales of his I felt very privileged to work alongside intrepid walking trips. The Dean outlined that Jon was Jon since his appointment to the Chair a graduate of Melbourne, Sydney of Building in 1996 and was constantly Jon’s love and devotion to his wife and Reading (UK) Universities, and both inspired and amazed by his Liz and his sons were another facet was a lecturer and senior lecturer at unending tenacity for his work. Jon’s of his persona that I greatly respected. the University of Melbourne in the 1970s amazing memory for facts, his analytical and 1980s before resigning to return thought processes, his work ethic and The evening culminated with the Dean to private practice. In 1996 Jon was his gentle and quiet way of achieving announcing the award of the title of appointed to the Chair of Building at so much for Property & Construction Professor Emeritus – a title I am sure all the University of Melbourne and taught were facets of his personality respected will see as very appropriate for a person in the Property and Construction program. by so many. No drama ever seemed to of Jon’s calibre. Atrium 14 | 2010
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
MSD Accreditation News
LOUISA RAGAS
The Master of Architecture degree, offered ‘We are thrilled that these national agencies, degree in landscape architecture and by the Melbourne School of Design, recently who are responsible for monitoring standards, the three year program is for students received professional accreditation by the have recognized the University of Melbourne’s with a non-cognate background. The first Architects Registration Board of Victoria ongoing commitment to ensuring the year of study in the 300-point Masters is and recognition by the Australian Institute highest standards of architectural education carefully structured to allow students from of Architects (June 2010). and to the production of excellent graduates diverse backgrounds including fine arts, prepared to face the challenges of science and humanities to develop the This formal accreditation is an endorsement contemporary architectural practice required knowledge and foundations in not only of the quality and innovation of anywhere in the world,’ says Professor Goad. design, history and the physical systems our new architectural program, but of the before joining the 200 point Masters ‘New Generation’ degree structure, often In our Master of Architecture program, students in later years. referred to as the ‘Melbourne Model’, architectural design is conceived in introduced by the University of Melbourne broad terms as the creative invention The Master of Landscape Architecture was in 2008. It is also a fantastic endorsement of architectural futures, integrating aesthetic, professionally accredited by the Australian of the Faculty’s new 300-point Master of technological, programmatic, environmental Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Architecture introduced this year, specifically and social issues in the production of in May this year and is recognised by the designed for people with non-cognate buildings for the 21st century and beyond. International Federation of Landscape degrees wishing to gain a qualification Intensive design studios make up 50% Architects (IFLA). Graduates will have in architecture. In effect, this makes of the course, leading to a research thesis. completed the educational requirements architectural education incredibly accessible The studios are both project focused and for membership of the AILA and may apply for a broad range of people. research-led, with an emphasis on rigorous for graduate membership as the first step analysis and the creative production of ideas. towards full professional registration. In the formal accreditation report, the panel noted that: The program will continue to emphasise Jillian Walliss, Program Coordinator of the required scope of architectural the Master of Landscape Architecture, ‘The philosophy underpinning this new competencies, ensuring our graduate believes that the successful accreditation structure and its development is strongly are innovative leaders in their professional visit validates the extensive work invested supported. This is perceived as capable careers. The degree will be reviewed again in curriculum development and program of bringing greater diversity to architectural when the first cohorts complete the changes over the past three years and education in Australia, than is available at Bachelor of Environments (Architecture also owes much to the introduction of the present. There is also perceived to be the major) + Master of Architecture (200-point) Melbourne School of Design. ‘The MSD capacity to produce graduates capable of and the Master of Architecture (300-point) has offered many new opportunities for leading architecture’s changing needs into in 2012. the landscape architecture program’, the future, having an understanding of she says. ‘These developments combined architecture within the wide environment Our newly created Master of Landscape with Federal government changes - such and contextual milieu.’ Architecture has also recently received as the introduction of CSP places and the professional accreditation, further endorsing availability of Austudy to postgraduates Professor Philip Goad, Director of the the innovation and quality of our curriculum - means that Melbourne University now Melbourne School of Design, believes and the University’s ‘New Generation’ offers a more equitable and quality graduate that the accreditation of the new Master degree structure. education in landscape architecture.’ of Architecture for three years by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria The reinvigorated Master of Landscape For full program details of: and the Australian Institute of Architects Architecture course, first launched in 2008, The Master of Architecture visit: is a fitting endorsement of a new approach like the Master of Architecture, offers both www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/architecture/ to architectural education in Australia. a three year (300-point) and two year (200-point) program. The two year program The Master of Landscape Architecture visit: is for students with an undergraduate www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/landscape/ Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 01616 | 17| 02
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Vale: Professor William J (Bill) Mitchell B Arch (1967) D Arch (1997) 15 December 1944 – 11 June 2010
After graduating from the University of Having worked briefly at Yuncken Freeman, His publications were many, in addition to Melbourne in 1967, Bill Mitchell remained Bill departed Melbourne to take a course the journal papers and his weekly columns, a close friend of the Faculty and strong of study at Yale where he earned the Master he published eleven books between 1977 supporter of the University. He applied of Environmental Design in 1969. This and 2010, several of which have been to enter the University from his secondary brought him to work with computational recognised as the definitive texts on their school, Coburg High, in 1963 and was approaches to design in their early forms subjects. He was so prolific and energetic admitted to study medicine. Fortunately, and his first book appeared in 1977, and it was this that made the end so for the field of architecture and urbanism, Computer-Aided Architectural Design, in puzzling. As Bill’s health failed slowly over Bill decided belatedly to enter a course of which he surveyed the field comprehensively the past four years, several people remarked study that aligned with his strengths in art and set out to explain both practice and that this could not be possible; with boundless and literature, asking to speak with the research at the time. Having embarked intellectual energy, Bill could only keep going. Dean, Professor Brian Lewis, who admitted myself to understand the subject as an And this was true, it was his body that gave him to architecture with permission to undergraduate at the time, this book set up, not his mind or ideas. A prolific author, pursue studies in Fine Arts as part of the out the reality and potential of the field. his last book was published just as he course. Starting his studies in the Tin Sheds, entered his final, intensive and debilitating he followed the School of Architecture (as He never allowed his connection to period of treatment. it was at that time) in its move the following the University of Melbourne to diminish. year into the new building where we are now A regular visitor after he went overseas, On a personal note, I had the very good accommodated. Bill’s student record shows Bill was appointed a Nell Norris Visiting fortune of getting to know Bill very well, that he performed consistently well across fellow in 1981 and 1982 with the express first as an undergraduate in England in the five years of study, being awarded prizes purpose of advising us on how to prepare 1977, then in UCLA where he was Head each year in a range of subjects, with and enter the CAD and CAAD fields. of Department, later as a partner in a regular prizes for design including a final He returned to receive his Doctor of software start-up in California, then as prize for the best final year thesis and a Architecture (honoris causa) in 1997, an academic; throughout this he was a first place in design. the same year in which he was awarded generous mentor and selfless in his access recognition by way of the Appreciation even in the most difficult of times. He has Bill was born in Horsham, Victoria; his Prize from the Architecture Institute of left many, many good friends around the parents, both teachers, moved the family Japan. He returned as the Miegunyah world; Bill is survived by his wife Jane to Warrnambool and then Bendigo before Fellow in 2007 and spent a week with Wolfson and son Billy of Cambridge, MA; arriving in Melbourne (first Coburg, then our students and colleagues, sitting in on daughter Emily and son-in-law Seth Rooder Malvern), where his father was appointed reviews, delivering lectures and consulting of Brooklyn Heights, NY; his mother Joyce principal. In an appreciation of her childhood broadly across curricula. Over the years of Berwick, Vic; his sister Mary Close and days with her brother, Mary Close recalled he was called upon many times to advise brother-in-law John Close of Kallista, Vic; the exploration of mine shafts, long treks on opportunities in hiring and to provide and his first wife, Elizabeth Asmis of in the bush, his attention to family and his advice on academic matters. Chicago, IL. compassion and humour. This portrait of his early exploits evoke the same Bill I met Bill wrote prolifically, consistently with a A memorial service to honour his life as a student in 1977 and the same Bill I clarity of style and word that laid out the and work was held on Thursday 19 August had the honour of knowing for thirty years most complex of subjects in accessible in the Woodward Conference Centre, as business partner, mentor and friend. He terms. As Professor George Stiny, friend and University Square, Carlton. never changed – he was brilliant, enquiring, colleague at UCLA and MIT, noted recently, inspiring, joyous and warm-hearted and Bill had a remarkable ability to convey the Tom Kvan his compassion and interest in our Faculty most complex issues in just the right sized Dean never faltered. steps so that we could all grasp the marvel yet not be left bewildered by the technicalities. Atrium 14 | 2010
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Faculty Recollections
hugh o’ neill
Dad back from New Guinea where he had We locals, about half the group of thirty, John Adam and Colin Munro combined been working on radar and the war was were confronted by Rupsuk, who it was said extra-curricula activities in music, sport over. Aged twelve, I got a hundred per cent had eleven children back in India, Solomon and theatre with revue performances for geometry and was allowed to help select David, later a Tamil Tiger, from Ceylon, Ajit and production. Brian Lewis regarded works for an exhibition of satirical linocuts Bhogal in a turban, Tiew Fong, Hok Pok participation in Faculty football and the by Eric Thake at East Kew Central School! Wong and several others from Hong Kong, Revue as prerequisite for professional life! Our close neighbours were setting off to Malaya and Singapore. Uldis Merrits, Zigurts Japan where Macmahon Ball was to Kapelis and Orestes Yakas, recent arrivals My older brother had friends who were represent the ‘British’ on the Allied Council. from Europe, would disappear early after active in community and politics. With He’d already been to Jakarta reporting to the regular esquisse on Fridays to earn Prime Minister Robert Menzies’ support Foreign Minister Evatt on the confrontation a living and support their families. they set up the Australian Volunteer between the returning Dutch, and Indonesian Graduate Scheme to Indonesia in 1953 – revolutionaries. Down the street Chinese Peter McIntyre, an exciting young principally under the inspiration of Political market gardeners lived and grew their practitioner, was our tutor for some twelve Science Professor Macmahon Ball. When vegetables on the river flats, selling them hours a week under design lecturer Fritz I decided to seek employment in Jakarta from their horse-drawn cart. Janeba who had come from Vienna in 1939 as a public servant, friends and mentors and settled in Warrandyte. He had worked said “professional suicide”! However When we enrolled in Architecture in in Peter Behrens’ office and told us great encouraged by Professor Lewis, those 1951 there were very few ex-service stories about the origins of modernism. two years designing public housing and repatriation students left in the rebuilt army teaching in Jakarta and Bandung led to huts just north of the Grattan Street gates. Although luminaries Roy Grounds, Robin employment in London with the champions Neil Clerehan’s brightly lit entrance space, Boyd and Frederick Romberg were teaching of “Tropical Architecture” Maxwell Fry regularly filled for parties and crits, was in the Faculty, our vivid memories were of and Jane Drew. very welcoming. the Archi Revues directed by Peter McIntyre. We had a great time getting to know older Back in Melbourne we set up related study Professor Brian Lewis who established students such as Andrew McCutcheon, Zula programs in 1962. It has been an obsession new courses from 1947, was an enthusiastic Goldinberg, Peter Staughton, Helen Tippett, spending many years learning more, getting supporter of The Colombo Plan. His Keith Lodge, Marjorie Ho, Neil Everest, to know students during their first days experiences in Malaya in the mid 1920s led Balwant Saini and Amos Rapoport. From in the Faculty and helping many from our to the Faculty’s warm welcome to students our group Neville Quarry, Jim Bartlett, Jim region to turn their vision back towards under the scheme, coming from India, McNamara, Helen Boyce, Philip Sargeant, their places of origin. Time passes. Ceylon, Malaya, Thailand and Indonesia.
Fritz Janeba who had come from Vienna in 1939 and settled in Warrandyte. He had worked in Peter Behrens’ office and told us great stories about the origins of modernism.
Photograph of Neil Clerehan’s entrance to the School of Architecture. Image by David Francis. Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 01818 | 19| 02
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Graham Treloar Fellowship Winner 2010
DR SIQING CHEN
To acknowledge the outstanding Dr Siqing Chen was awarded the development application. It also enabled academic contribution made to the Graham Treloar Fellowship for 2010. him to keep abreast of latest research University of Melbourne by Associate His research involves analyzing the developments in his field and to create Professor Graham Treloar, the Faculty carbon footprint of rural settlements connections with academic peers of Architecture, Building and Planning in China for the construction of a spatial worldwide. In June and July, Dr Chen established an endowment for the simulation model that will enable him travelled to the Yunnan province of China Graham Treloar Fellowship. Associate to quantify the carbon footprint of the to visit seven villages as part of this research. Professor Treloar played a major role Chinese villages and village clusters. in the Faculty as a talented researcher Dr Siqing Chen is a lecturer in Landscape and an influential mentor to many How to achieve sustainable development Architecture. He is a GIS ecologist and young researchers. in rural areas is the topic which has landscape planner and has practised always involved planners, designers since 2003 in a range of private and Graham was an internationally-renowned and rural departments, executors and public sector settings in China and United researcher in the field of embodied managers, and has created several States. His research interests focus on energy. In this, he developed a questions, such as; ways to approach issues of landscape planning, landscape robust model for life cycle analysis theoretical and practical guidelines in urbanism, carbon neutral landscape, and of materials in construction and later physical design, rural landscape planning; ecological infrastructure with emphasis in embodied water consumption. ways to establish an ecologically sustainable on sustaining the built environment. lifestyle; and ways to enable best usage Drawing on his ongoing research and His work has global impact and it of energy, buildings, new technologies practice, Dr Chen teaches landscape will continue to play a fundamental and materials planning studio, constructed ecologies, role in understanding the effect of and eco-systems for planning and design design decisions. He played a key Understanding the ecological processes in the Master of Landscape Architecture. role in the Faculty as a grant shepherd for carbon balance at the landscape level in which capacity he assisted in the will enable Dr Chen to develop alternative developing and refinement of research scenarios which can be used to guide grant applications. future rural development, for example in the form of eco-village design, enabling Graham was enormously generous with a reduction of the carbon footprint of his time and ideas to all who approached rural China. This is of critical importance him for assistance. His most lasting considering that 70% of the 1.3 billion and important Faculty contribution, Chinese population is still living in however, was mentoring our Early rural settlements. Career Researchers. The Graham Treloar Fellowship assisted The Fellowship supports an early career Dr Chen to attend the First International researcher from the Faculty of Architecture, Conference on Rural Settlements: Building and Planning to develop their Housing and Fabric in Tehran, Iran, research career in their chosen specialty. in May 2010 where he presented his Lunch to present the inaugural award of the preliminary findings. There he had the Fellowship to Siqing Chen attended by Graham opportunity to discuss and debate the Treloar’s family. goals, policies and programs in rural Atrium 14 | 2010
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
We’re in this together
Throughout its history, the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning has received generous support from alumni, friends and industry partners to create opportunities for our brightest students and early career researchers in architecture, landscape architecture, property, construction and urban planning and design.
By supporting this community, you are making a long term investment in the educational, creative, environmental and economic health of professions engaged with the built environment for future generations.
We are committed to continuing this tradition of providing opportunities to our early career research staff and students with outstanding potential, through scholarships, early career research grants and travelling stipends. Our aspiration is to see our graduates emerge as tomorrow’s industry leaders that will have a very real and positive impact on the way in which we all engage with the built environment.
Your support will help us to continue to shape the future of our professions. Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 02020 | 21| 02
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
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THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Dean’s Honours Awards 2009: Recognizing Student and Teaching Excellence and Innovation
LOUISA RAGAS
On Thursday May 20, 2010 the Faculty LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Henry and Rachael Ackman Travelling of Architecture, Building & Planning Scholarship: Daniel Kumnick celebrated the outstanding academic The Neil Fraser Award for Sustainable achievements of students and teaching Landscape Design: Yee-Yan Flora, Lau Dean’s Prize for Published Postgraduate staff at the annual Dean’s Honours Awards. Timothy Burt Research - Equal First Prize: Peter Lawther and Ilan Wiesel It was a spirited evening, an occasion AECOM Australia Prize for Urban where we could reflect on the inspiring Design and Landscape Architecture: Equal Second Prize - Crystal Legacy, work and world-class calibre of our Gauri Vohra Ben Cleveland and Ken Woodman students and academic staff. The Dean’s Awards have a strong tradition, with many PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION John Grice Award: Inger Mewburn and recipients remaining long term friends Honorable Mention to Jennifer Mitchelhill of the Faculty. Australian Institute of Building Prize: Priscilla Barrington In addition to the numerous awards Numerous awards were presented on the presented to students, staff were also night by Professor Tom Kvan to Bachelor Australian Property Institute: Charlene recognised for their achievements of Environments and MSD students for Shin Yen Liau in creating and facilitating innovative outstanding academic merit, each of whom Brookfield Multiplex Prize: Bronwyn curriculum, teaching and environments. made the coveted Dean’s Honours List. Boote Dr Dominique Hes received a MSD In addition, over 20 students were Chartered Institute of Building Award Teaching Excellence Award for her subject recognised for their achievements in (UG): Priscilla Barrington Regenerating Buildings; Mr Sebastian a particular subject or discipline. Design, Immaraj received a ABP Undergraduate practice, construction and research Chartered Institute of Building Award Teaching Excellence Award and ABP excellence were among the attributes (PG Coursework): Catriona Smith Sessional Teaching Excellence Award that characterised this group, as well for excellence in teaching; Dr David O’Brien as a sophisticated awareness of Corenet Global Corporate Real Estate and Mr Hamish Hill were presented with sustainability issues. (CRE) Award: Andrew Bambrook a ABP Teaching Innovation Award for their MSD Indigenous housing studio ‘Bower09’; Hansen Yuncken Prize: Thomas Dean This suite of awards is strongly supported and Dr Siqing Chen was awarded the by a range of benefactors including alumni, Harry Wexler AIQS Prize: Matthias Graham Treloar Fellowship for Early parents, industry and peak bodies, reflecting Wobbe Career Researchers. the Faculty’s enduring connection with our community. These talented individuals Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors The Faculty of Architecture, Building represent our next generation of leading Prize: Excellence in Property: Charbel and Planning gratefully acknowledges architects, landscape architects, property Youssef the benefactors of the 2009 prizes and construction professionals, urban and awards: planners and designers – people who Excellence in Quantity Surveying (must will shape and influence our habitable have completed the subject ‘Construction Mrs Noemi Fooks environment. Details of the awards supported Cost Planning’): Melissa Evans Alasdair and Jenny Fraser by our community are outlined below: Australian Institute of Building URBAN PLANNING Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors ARCHITECTURE Australian Property Institute Ledgar Prize in Urban Planning: Bates Smart Pty Ltd Erin Baden-Smith Ernest Fooks Memorial Award: Brookfield Multiplex Construction Pty Ltd Joanne Nataprawira DesignInc prize: Hannah Thambiayah Chartered Institute of Building Nell Norris Scholarship: Fenella Webster CoreNet Gobal (Australian Chapters) A number of Faculty Research Awards DesignInc Melbourne Pty Ltd RAIA/Bates Smart Graduate Prize: were also awarded to high achieving Graham Treloar Fellowship Fairley Batch students: Hansen Yuncken Pty Ltd Royal Australian Institute of Architects The Nell Norris Fellowship: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Jennifer Mitchelhill Atrium PAGE 14 | 2010 22 | 23
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
From the Faculty
WELCOME CONGRATULATIONS
Barrie Shelton recently joined us to take Congratulations to Janet McGaw and Congratulations also go to Justyna up the position of Associate Professor in Anoma Pieris, who headed up the team Karakiewicz who was a joint runner-up Urban Design. Prior to this appointment, who coordinated the Practices, Processes in the recent Austral Bricks Architectural Barrie was Senior Lecturer and Coordinator and Politics of Indigenous Place-making Design Competition - ‘Future of Brick’. of the Urban Design Program at the University symposium held in the Faculty in June. The winning team in the national competition of Sydney, a position he held since 2002. The symposium explored collaborative, included Sarah Crowley, who graduated Other recent members to the Faculty are: cross-cultural place-making practice and from ABP last year, and a Commended Dermot McGeown, Senior Lecturer in the lessons they offer in relation to creating Entry went to alumn Madeleine Beech, Property, who joins us from RMIT; and a Victorian Indigenous Cultural Education in the Student Winner category. Dr Heike Rahmann, Lecturer in Landscape and Knowledge Centre in Melbourne. Two of our alumni were acknowledged Architecture, who previously worked Congratulations to Paolo Tombesi for a in July for their contribution to the at the University of Adelaide. successful outcome of the 35TH Annual revitalisation of the Yarra River precinct. AUBEA Construction Management(s) Transforming the Yarra, a multimedia Conference held in the Faculty in July. walking tour focusing on the transformation The conference focused on the management of the Yarra since the 1980s, celebrates of construction, understood in a very the visionary urban planning of Professor broad sense to incorporate any discipline The Honourable Evan Walker AO that improves our ability to manage the (Minister for Planning & Environment from industrial structure, the planning and 1982-1986) and Professor David Yenken production process, the distribution AO (Secretary of the Minister for Planning process, or the output of building. & Environment from 1982-1987). Mr Walker was Dean of the Faculty and Congratulations to Jillian Wallis who Mr Yenken was Head of the School of recently received a Universitas 21 Environmental Planning. The tour, launched fellowship, which will enable her to visit EXHIBITIONS, by Premier John Brumby on Tuesday, is landscape architecture programs in available as an iPhone app and can be EXPEDITIONS three other Universitas 21 universities. and LECTURES downloaded free from the iTunes store.
The Faculty presented a number of intriguing Memorial Bibliographic Institute was the keynote. Professor Rendell exhibitions over the late autumn/winter period. - featured in the Wunderlich Gallery in also presented the following day at the Mould City by Colony Collective – one late June. The Osbert Lancaster Memorial 3rd Spaces seminar hosted in the Faculty of the ABP staff-led projects to be selected Bibliographic Institute collection ranges by Janet McGaw and Anoma Pieris. for exhibition in the Venice Architecture from historical works on architecture, like On 24 May, Philip Goad was guest Biennale - occupied the Wunderlich Henri Revoil’s superbly engraved Architecture speaker at the launch of artist Raafat Gallery in May. The Colony Collective team Romane du Midi de la France, to rare Ishak’s exhibition Recipes for aversion consists of: Peter Raisbeck, Nicola Dovey, ephemera on pioneering systems of and strategy. Work in progress #6 at the Simon Wollan, Madeleine Beech and Jono reinforced concrete published in the Ian Potter Museum of Art. Raafat Ishak Brener. Using mould as a central and 1890s. Professor Miles Lewis, who was briefly an ABP student undertaking pervasive motif, this evocative installation coordinated the exhibition, presented graduate studies in architectural history explored how our urban systems will a series of talks in the gallery. and conservation. expand and become more organic in Student work from the MSD Painted the future. In late May, Catherin Bull joined a team Desert Travelling Studio led by Andrew of international landscape architectural The Headspace 1 exhibition in June Saniga, occupied the gallery in July. The instructors at Tongji University to lead represented an exploratory process that travelling studio, and by connection the the 3-day International Student Charette fused together hand-drawn sketches, installation-style exhibit, explored the in Suzhou China, which preceded the clay models, three-dimensional computer relationships between design disciplines 47th World Congress of the International modelling and full-scale fabrication of and the theoretical links between art, Federation of Landscape Architects. experimental headwear. It was an elegant, design, landscape and history. Catherin also recently travelled to Paris white installation which profiled the Paul Walker, Janet McGaw, Stanislav to Chair a progress meeting of the OECD outcomes of ‘Virtual Environments’ - Roudavski, Christine Phillips and Global Science Forum initiative led by the a first-year constituent of the Bachelor Ammon Beyerle each presented at the Australian Government delegation, on the of Environments degree. RMIT symposium ‘Writing Around the topic Urban Systems Modelling (Workshop A unique exhibition - Rare French Books Kitchen Table: Critical Spatial Writing Melbourne Jan/Feb 2011). on Architecture and Building from the Practices’ on 7 June . Professor Jane collections of the Osbert Lancaster Rendell of the Bartlett School, UCL Atrium 14 | 2010
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Image Captions: Page 06: George Stavrios Page 12: Joe Vittorio Cover: Bower Studio Jingyi Tan Page 06-07: Jingyi Tan and Hamish Hill Page 16: Michael Blythe Page 02-03: David O’Brien Page 08-09: Cities Alliance Page 17: David Francis Page 04: Jingyi Tan Page 10-11: Mexico Studio Phuong Le Page 18: Siqing Chen
Kenn Fisher, a member of the International The second event in the 2010 Dean’s and furniture, for local and international Panel of Experts advising the OECD’s Lecture Series profiledWilliam Cobbett, clients. Recent projects include: Xstrata Centre for Effective Learning Environments, Manager of Cities Alliance. In his lecture Treetop Walkway, Kew (with Marks Barfield attended a two-day seminar in July in - The challenges of scale in an urbanising Architects); The Möller Centre, Cambridge Paris on the EQES project - the Evaluation world: land, services and citizenship (with dsdha); St. Mary’s School, of Quality in Educational Spaces- with - William shared his perspective on the Cambridge (with McAslan Architects); the second day focussing on advising challenges presented by urbanisation, South London Gallery - new extension on the complete 3 year Program of based on the experience of the Cities and education building (with 6a Architects); Work for CELE 2011-2013. Alliance over the last 10 years. William also and BBC Scotland, Glasgow (with DCA). presented a fascinating lunchtime seminar Clare Newton, Dominique Hes, Sue Expanding our connections with Chile, on A changing approach to international Wilks, Pippa Howard, Ben Cleveland, the Faculty hosted a special lecture by development assistance. Ken Woodman, Neda Abassi, Lena Gan Juan Pedro Sabbagh of Sabbagh Architects and Namin Shin all attended the CEFPI We were also thrilled to host Jane Wernick in May. Sabbagh Architects is one of the Australasia Conference in Perth in May. (of Jane Wernick Associates, Consulting most influential architectural practices The Council of Educational Facility Engineers, London) in early August. Jane in Chile. One of their recent and iconic Planners is a professional association Wernick, one of the masterminds behind projects is the design of the Chilean whose mission is improving the places London’s Millennium Wheel, gave an Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010 where children learn. Ben Cleveland engaging Dean’s Lecture– with the named ‘Sprout of a New City’. Juan’s and Neda Abassi are to be congratulated enigmatic title Engineering Delight – lecture offered a fascinating insight into for their roles in supporting this innovative collaborations on projects to make you the firm’s recent works which reflect their conference. smile - on her recent engineering projects diverse technical skills and design processes. and consultative practice. Jane’s award- winning firm is responsible for an extensive UPCOMING EVENTS portfolio of buildings, bridges, sculptures ABP ALUMNI DEAN’S LECTURE RETROSPECTIVE SERIES – SERIES 2010 GRANT SUCCESS PHOOEY ARCHITECTS
Kinetic Bonds In June the Australian Research Council This second Alumni exhibition for 2010, Catherine Mosbach – Landscape (ARC) announced the results for applications profiles the practice and vision of another Architect, Paris to the second round of Linkage Projects of our most prominent graduate architects 5 October 2010, 7pm for 2010. Congratulations to three Faculty – Peter Ho. Titled Phooey Architects: Carrillo Gantner Theatre, of Architecture, Building & Planning staff Upcycling, this installation-style exhibition, Basement, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, who have been successful in securing featuring projects printed onto recyclable The University of Melbourne ARC Linkage Project grants – Professor carpet tiles, will occupy the Wunderlich Kim Dovey, Dr Robert Crawford and Gallery throughout September. Please refer The iconographic montage of ‘kinetic Associate Professor Julie Willis. to the MSD website for exhibition dates bonds’ propose juxtapositions between and details in late August. project’s documents and extracts of Congratulations to Blair Gardiner and realities. They lead us to place ourselves his team, who have secured a University in the position of one who does not know, Knowledge Partnership Staff Project Grant. and favor movement of seeing interlaced They have been awarded $10,000 for their with movement of understanding. They project titled Gimme Shelter: Housing and introduce an image as material, a neither- support models for youth homelessness. here-nor-there, between fabrications that Congratulations also go to Clare Newton precede it and processes that extend and her Smart Green Schools’ team who beyond it. Its visibility requires that the have been awarded a University Knowledge interwoven layers of several time-spans be Partnership Excellence Award 2010. They shown: the short-span of production which have been given $5,000 for their project threads and commands the taking of form; Smart Green Schools: Educational and the long-span of accumulation which Environmental Outcomes of Innovation transforms everything even as it in School Building Design. perpetrates its memory. For full details and to register visit: http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/ www.msd.unimelb.edu.au PAGE 024 | 02
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contact Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia phone + 61 3 8344 6417 (DE) CONSTRUCTING RESILIENCE www.abp.unimelb.edu.au
THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING
Published by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Authorised by Professor Tom Kvan, Dean Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning, August 2010 ISSN 1447-1728 The University of Melbourne CRICOS provider code: 00116K