Atrium 21 | 2012

END OF AN ERA / DESIGNING OUR FUTURE

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 02 | 03

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

DEAN’S MESSAGE 02 OCULUS: CREATING RESILIENT CITIES 16 MSD LOOM: UNEXPECTED DISCOVERIES 04 CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: A TREASURE MOVES – ABP’S JAPANESE ROOM 06 KONING AND EIZENBERG 18 RECOLLECTION: ARCHITECTURE BUILDING 08 A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS: RECOLLECTIONS: MOVING SPACES 10 INTERVIEW WITH DONALD BATES 20 PEDIGREE FOR THE UN-PEDIGREED: FILM NIGHT: REUNION EVENT 22 AN ETHICS OF PRACTICE 12 GIVING FORM 23 MAKING LANDSCAPE NEW BUILDING PROJECT UPDATE 25 ARCHITECTURE IN AUSTRALIA 14 INSIDE THE FACULTY 26

Dean’s message

As we near the end of 2012, we reach Developments continue not only in the extended friendship across the region another milestone in our project to physical realm but also intellectual. In this by reinstalling the Japanese Room create a new educationn andd research isssue, we introducu e PrProfessor Alan Pert, and Garden, created in 1968 under the centre for the built environment; a our new Director of the Melbourne School leadership of ABP staff-member Shih geg ru living, pedaagogical building that will of Design, recently from Glasgow where Yura, to theh top floorr of our future home.e fuel innnovo atioon and collaboration he established and ran his architecturala Philip Goad writes about the process and inspire the next generation of design practice NORD while concurrrently holdiing of preservving, stot ring and re-erecting practitioners. The former locations are the role of Professor of Architecture this historic space to suit contemporary emptied and colleagues settling in to ana d Director of ReR search for Architecture standards on pages 6 and 7. We are also temporary facilities. It is exciting to at the University of Strathclyde. As he capturing the intangible heritage of our witness the ‘breaking of ground’, as articulated at a Director’s Series talk Faculty. Hugh O’Neill writes of the building enabling works occur around in November, Alan believes ‘today’s spirit of the 1960s and 70s, the periood the site, and ana ticipation is growing with ‘designen r’ must be nimmblb e enough to of transition from the old sheds into the main construction phase scheduled move between the art and the science a more solid and larger home, and to commence in December. of building and among the social, cultural, records students’ initial experiences political and economic fog that surrounds of the ‘Architecture building’ on page 8. In the spirit of marking a moment of our disciplines.’ Drawing from his own transition, we celebrate aspects of our practice experience, Alan writes about We record too the development of Faculty’s history in this edition of Atrium the importance of collabboration for praccticee and mark achieve ements. Andrd ew and anticipate what is to come. While our researchers and practitiioners working Sanin ga, Senin or Lectuurer r of Landscape focus is very much on the construction in the built environment on pages 4 and Architecture, Planning and Urbanism, and opening of our new building in 2015, 5. Alan will bring this perspective to our is the author of a new publication we are a Faculty that haas been formed MSM D programs and connect them examining the history of our nation’s by the achievements of thousands of increasingly with contemporary practice, public parks and gardens and those staff,, stuudents and alumni over a long examining new ways of working across who designed them. The Making of periodd. FrF om the awarding of the fi r st professional boundaries. Australian Landscape Architecture will testammuru to grgraduates of the Atelier be launched on 4 December and you almost one hunu dred yearsr ago until today, Many members of our Faculty have can read an extract from this ground we have played a major part in forming played leading roles in recognizing, breakingg book ono pagess 14 and 151 . the profese sions in Victoria and beyondd consserving and managa ing our heeritage. to many parts of the world. As our As we replace our basis c fabric of the It is allwaaysy a cause for celebrar tion prograams andn reseaearch evolo vee and buildings, we arre capturinng and when ouru alumnm i achieve e professional exxpaandd to mem et advancees in societal consn errviv ng asps ects important to us. recoc gnittioon. Six Deggreeess Architects, neede s,s technologies and industtry ElE emmene ts of our material heritage thatt the innovativee Melbob urne-basa ede praactice practices, we havee devele opo ed theh ara e greatly valul edd by us will be connservved renoownedd foro reinvigorrating the cic tyy’s boundaries and estabablil shhed a siggniifi caantt ana d ree-ssiti edd in ouo r new buuili did ng. We laneway baar cuc lturre, were the focus of tradition of academic endeavour. honoouru our ricch coc nnnectiono with JaJ paan ouo r ABP AlA ummnin Retroospectivev Seriees and tht e sps irit in whhicch Professor LeL wiw s exhibib tion in Octot ber/r November. Celebrating 20 years of practice, Six exhibition of various researchh projects on the ABP website, for regular postts Degrees have been at the forefront of ini cluding investigations into low-cost from various stakeholders including ABP signifi cant deveelopments in Melbourne, housing; river rehabilitation; ecotourism; researchers, project consultantss and the including commmercial, multi-residential resilient food systems; and natural architectural team. and institutionaal projects. Read Philip disaster urban planning. Resilience is Goad’s writes exe hibition review on the key theme of this year’s exhibition ‘Inside the faculty’ provides an overview pages 122 andn 13.3 and one which is tackled with innovation of some of our recent staff annd alumni and vision by our research students. activities and achievements, as well as Our graduates practice across the globe a round-up of events and exhhibitions. and we are pleasa ed to hear of competitive October 2012 marked the tenth As we move into our temporary new achievements on the international stage. anniversary of one of Melbourne’s premises on campus, I can confirm Justine Clark profiles the achievements most iconic urban spaces: Federation that our rich calendar of ABP events of two ABP alumni – Hank Koning and Square. Donald Bates, ABP’s Chair will continue in 2013 and 2014. We Julil e Eizeenberg – whw o bothh coompletted of Architecturrala Design and one of the wiw ll be using the newly rer fuurbished their archhitectut rar l studies at the University architects responsible for Federation gallery space at 757 Swanston Strer et of Melbourrnen in the 1970s. One of our Square, reveals the challenges and (known as Wunderlichh @ Basemene t major architece ture exports, Koning and collaboro ata ive processes behind the 757 Swanston St) and leccture spap ces Eizez nbn erg were reccentlt y honoured by makiing of this landmark city square to present MSD studio shs ows and the Ammere ican Institut te of Arrchhitects LA on pages 20 and 21. exhibitions and talks by acclaimed local wiw tht the covvetede Golo d Medal foor tht eir and international practitioners. Do visit signifi cant body of work and infl uence The Faculty’s tradition of staging our ‘Events’ page on the ABP website on the theory and practice of architecture. Archi Revues is celebrated in Andrew for up to date event information: Their people-orientated projects, which Middleton’s review of our second Film www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/events. include the Children’s Museum in Night reunion on page 22. The event Pittsburg and the Hollywood Hills Hotel, showcased rare student fi lms and archi I’d like to take this oppoortunitty to wish are infused with a sense of delight and reveues from the 1970s and 80s and you all a safe and joyous festive seeason playa , refl ective of their design mandate drew an ene thusiastic crowd of over 150 and I look forward to meeting up with to “bring joy and knowledge about the alumni and friends. Reunion events, such many of you in the New Year.r wow rld every time we build.” As Justinee as this one, aree an immpop rtant part of our wrritese in her article,e ‘Koning Eizene berg Faculty’y s cultturu e and engagement with Professor Tom Kvan exe pap nds thhe frf ammewwork ofo what ouo r ala umni commuunity and industrt y Dean, Facuultty ofo Arcr hih tecturre,e Austrar lian archih tecturu e is and might be collleagues, annd wew look forward to BuB ildiing andd Pllannn ing ana d poositions AuA stralian archih tecture as staging similar events in 20131 . Covovere Imam ge:g JoJ sepseph Reed facadde, part of the gig ve and take of internationala witthhs scafcaffolo dinding.g Imamaage:gege DiDiannana na Snape. discourse and practit cec .’ As our new building prp ojo ect gathhers momem ntn um, turn to pap geg 25 to get a BacBaackgrounnd imagm e onnt this paage:geg ReRenderinng The workk of our talentedd RHD students is dettailed prooject update.e You can alsso off thet nen wwb builu dind g,g desd ign byb Johnh WWardldle ArcA hitects & NAADAAAAA. on shoow inn ‘Oculus 2012,’ an endn -o- f-year viv sit our newly launchedd Buildinng blog, Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 04 | 05

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

1 2 3 4

MSD Loom: unexpected discoveries

ALAN PERT Image: Alan Pert

Professor Alan Pert is the newly the product that is of consequence and refl ective of the need to make appointed Director of the Melbourne in these collaborations but the process ourselves relevant to society both School of Design. Alan is a teacher, itself, the search, the inquiry which is locally and globally. researcher and practitioner who often more substantial than the rendering most recently served as Professor of of conclusions through a single minded I look forward to engaging with the wealth Architecture and Director of Research attitude to design. NORD’s buildings are of alumni talent surrounding the School, for Architecture at the University increasingly connected through thematic who share a desire to fi nd new ways of Strathclyde. He also heads the areas, which link to the University through of working to meet the needs of our practice he founded, NORD (Northern specialist knowledge across a diverse 21st century towns and cities. We have Offi ce for Research & Design), range of disciplines. Often the connection to fi nd new partnerships and ways of recognized as one of Britain’s most across thematic areas leads to new engaging academia and practice in the innovative architecture fi rms. Here, areas of interest and demonstrates the pursuit of new and relevant ideas. Today’s Alan talks about the connection uniqueness of Architectural speculation “designer” must be nimble enough to between academic research and and it’s potential for Research. move between the art and the science contemporary practice and what of building and among the social, cultural, he hopes to bring to the Melbourne As academia shifts it’s research agenda political and economic fog that surrounds School of Design. to focus on Impact, and as Practice our disciplines. considers new ways of working to Increasingly, Universities are interested cope with an ever changing world of I often view the production of our in opportunities to transfer knowledge, construction, there are big opportunities environment as a successful model for to engage with communities and to form partnerships beyond the reach the accomplishments of the generalist who generate research ‘impact’. of conventional architectural and is able to take those valuable, yet often urban design consultancies, which isolated, specialist threads of knowledge My own practice NORD has been are distinctively placed to devise and weave them together in a manner that working closely with a diverse group research-led solutions for unusual results in something meaningful to society. of academics over the last few years to situations and special challenges. pursue these ends. From Geographers, As a community involved in shaping Sociologists and Artists to Mechanical This is an exciting time to be working the built environment, we need to be able Engineers and Civil Engineers, NORD with the Melbourne School of Design, to move between disciplines with a facility has used ‘live’ projects to test ideas whose philosophy is that of integration that allows for knowledge to overlap and and share knowledge leading to a diverse of knowledge across specialisms. These produce unexpected discoveries. For me range of outputs, which focus on more specialisms share a common agenda that facility could be the Melbourne than simply buildings and instead extend which is to improve the built environment, School of Design. to the complex process of ‘constructing but the outputs and impact of student the built environment’. Thus, it is not just work and staff research is diverse I look forward to our future conversations… 5 6 7 8

9 10

NORD Architecture projects – 5. Shingle House. Photo: Jim Stephenson www.nordarchitecture.com 6. The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Images: 2nd row, L to R: 7. East End Sawmills. Photo: Andrew Lee 1. Purple Heart, Shingle House objects by John 8. Bell-Simpson House. Photo: Andrew Lee Galvin & NORD (courtesy Wallpaper Magazine) 3rd row, L to R: 2. Shingle House interior. Photo: Jim Stephenson 9. The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice 3. Shingle House. Photo: Jim Stephenson 10. Primary Substation. Photo: Andrew Lee 4. East End Sawmills. Photo: Andrew Lee Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 06 | 07

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

A Treasure Moves – ABP’s Japanese Room

PHILIP GOAD

When demolition of the Architecture Building design research, architectural conservation, from the Tatsamura Textile Company in commences in December 2012, there is a restoration and sensitive adaptation to Osaka also remains, even after holes for very special part of the original building that achieve contemporary standards for lighting, air-conditioning (that was never put in) will be kept. It will be dismantled, stored ventilation and audio-visual presentation. were cut into the walls in the 1980s. and then re-erected in ABP’s new building. Over the past forty-fi ve years, staff, students At the time of its offi cial opening in 1968, Encouraged by the Faculty, former and visitors to the Faculty will remember the Architecture Building had three themed staff, alumni and the University’s Heritage well their experience of visiting the Japanese interiors that recognized the international Committee, a Conservation Management Room – a purpose-built meeting and makeup of the Faculty’s staff and students: Plan (CMP) was commissioned and function room designed in a contemporary the Chinese Room designed by Tah Wen undertaken by RBA Architects and version of traditional Japanese architecture. Chu; the Indian Room designed by Balwant Conservation Consultants, led by director As part of the University of Melbourne’s Saini, and the Japanese Room designed and ABP alumni Roger Beeston (B.Arch sesquicentenary in 2003, the Japanese by Shigeru Yura. This was all part of 1985) and Anthony Hemingway (MPD Room was identifi ed as one of the Professor Brian Lewis’s plan to celebrate [Architectural History & Conservation] University’s ‘treasures’. Hugh O’Neill the international aspect of the Faculty’s 2000) who undertook much of the wrote of the room that it was conceived staff and student profi le and especially research.2 Beeston, as an undergraduate in 1963 by then ABP staff member Shigeru its commitment to educating future built student, had studied Asian architecture Yura “in the refi ned shoin-zukuri style environment professionals in the Asia-Pacifi c under Hugh O’Neill and had been on of seventeenth-century aristocratic and Indian sub-continent region. Early on, one of the early fi eldwork trips made by residences”.1 In recognition of its historic, there were also plans for an ‘American ABP alumni historian George Michell and aesthetic and social value to the Faculty, Room’ but these never came to fruition. photographer John Gollings to Vijayanagara the University and the Japanese community, Over the years, numerous alterations in India in the early 1980s. Beeston is the Japanese Room will be restored and were made by the University to the excited by the project, “I think one of the take pride of place on the fourth fl oor of Chinese and Indian Rooms, but the most remarkable revelations in the CMP the new Architecture Building in 2015. Japanese Room, remarkably and despite is the realization that, less than twenty heavy usage, remained intact. It still retains years after cessation of hostilities with Opening onto a new Japanese-inspired its beautiful ramma (timber grilles), the Japan, Brian Lewis and the University rooftop landscape and with minor modular timber furniture designed by of Melbourne had the insight to celebrate modifi cations and a new external timber Matsumura Katsuo and made in Tokyo and promote one of the great Asian shell, the Japanese Room will once again as well as the exquisite fusuma (sliding architectural traditions by including the be experienced as a stunning interpretation doors) handpainted by Japanese artist Japanese Room front and centre in the new of traditional Japanese interior design. This Ken Jiro. The fabric wallpaper with its Architecture Building, along with the Indian is a project that is simultaneously about curving pattern in gold thread sourced and Chinese Rooms. It is, without doubt, this brilliant initiative that has contributed important role of gifts made to ABP through Japanese garden. As Mee says of the new to the ongoing educational experience of Japan-Australia Business Co-operation Japanese Room, “Its location at the top of placing Australia appropriately in its Asian Committee and describes the original paper the new building means that it can connect context and promoting the cross-fertilization light fi ttings designed by then fi rst-year ABP to a landscape terrace with additional sliding of architectural ideas and traditions.” architecture student Nick Chlebnikowski. screens that transform it into a light-fi lled Given such a rich history and with such space.” So while it might be farewell to the The CMP makes for fascinating reading. an accomplished aesthetic result, it is little trusty bones of Brian Lewis’s Architecture It highlights the Japanese Room’s timber wonder that the Japanese community Building, there will be a resounding echo framed interior volume inserted without and other groups in subsequent years of the international aspirations that were any nails between the concrete frame of would occasionally use the room for fl ower literally built into the old building. That the then new Architecture Building. Of arrangement (ikebana) and re-enacting the vision of an international staff and student particular note is the beautiful panelled tea ceremony (cha-no-yu). It is also little body and a vital engagement with Asia Japanese cedar ceiling arranged in eight wonder then that the architects for the new will continue. There will be a new lease square modules with each module’s ABP building, John Wardle Architects (JWA) of life in the reconstructed and relocated panelling oriented perpendicular to adjacent and NADAA (Boston) were keen to integrate Japanese Room, and one of the University’s modules. The Australian builders even the historic interior into their design. treasures will be on show once again. assembled the room with white gloves in Japanese tradition, but only on the left hand Stefan Mee, Director at JWA and ABP PROFESSOR PHILIP GOAD is Chair rather than both! The report also describes alumnus (B.Arch 1993) describes the of Architecture at the Faculty of the presence, perhaps little known, of The challenge of including the Japanese Room Architecture, Building and Planning. Meeting, a mural (now partially destroyed) in the new design: “In the new building, by Fumiko Yura, Shigeru’s fi rst wife, located the Japanese Room will be carefully in the escape stairwell directly off the reassembled within its own identifi able Japanese Room. Japanese architect enclosure, an outer shell of naturally Shigeru Yura had arrived in Australia in weathered timber boards and battens. 1 1961 to work on the Japanese ambassador’s The exterior is now designed around the Hugh O’Neill, “The Japanese Room”, in Chris Macauliffe and Peter Yule (eds), Treasures: residence in Canberra and became an interior – a reversal of the original condition.” highlights of the cultural collections of the ABP staff member in 1963. Other works by This new timber exterior wall, in detail and University of Melbourne, Melbourne University him in Australia include the Japanese War fi nish, will complement the historic interior. Publishing, Carlton, Vic., 2003, pp. 256-7. Cemetery at Cowra, NSW (1964) and the Sliding doors, sympathetically integrated 2 RBA Architects and Conservation Consultants, Japanese garden located at the north entry into the original design will open onto the Conservation Management Plan: Japanese of the Architecture Building at the University new Japanese garden that will also include Room, Faculty of Architecture, Building & of Melbourne. The CMP also indicates the the giant stone lantern of the original Planning, University of Melbourne, May 2012. Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 08 | 09

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Recollection: Architecture Building

HUGH O’NEILL

The ‘Architecture Building’ at the University and a rosewood lined gallery for a unique Vice-Chancellor Derham called the of Melbourne, occupied in 1964, and now gift of some raunchy paintings by Norman police after a thousand strong student under demolition, was the culmination Lindsay became the computer service demonstration called for greater democratic of plans for the Faculty by the inaugural centre! A stained glass window fi ltering access. It was alarming to watch students Professor, Brian Bannatyne Lewis. It western light into the staff room recorded jumping up and down on their recently refl ected his experiences in Britain from the cultural diversity of academic colleagues acquired furniture until it was smashed! the late 1920s and early 1930s when – English, Estonian, Danish, German, he completed his tertiary studies at the Swiss, Polish, Austrian, Yugoslav, Turkish, The new Professor Charles Robertson University of Liverpool. Established in Indian, Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, arrived from Edinburgh just as Fred Ledgar, 1894, this was the earliest independent American – and some locals! Head of the semi-independent School of architecture faculty in Europe. Hilary Archer, Planning at last became Professor and new his English wife and the mother of their fi ve During Lewis’s last decade at the university regulations encouraged staff, senior lecturer children, also graduated in Architecture from from 1961 the post-war demographic and above, to stand for election as Head Liverpool. Other future Deans of architecture increased annual entrance enrolments to of Department. and planning in commonwealth universities 150 and the provenance of students also had studied there under Professor Charles continued his inclusive policy. They were From 1961 to 1971 the faculty welcomed Reilly. On his appointment at Melbourne, challenged with very demanding programs some 1200 students – prospective Lewis continued in active practice including emphasising design, environmental architects, builders, planners, academics notable projects such as the planning of science and technology, maths, history and others in the arts and performance – the ANU campus in Canberra, its University and philosophy of science, construction some who didn’t fi nish their degree. They House and Physics laboratories. and management, art, architectural heritage, treated the building as their own, sleeping city planning and professional practice. in the studios, or even in places like the Although the separate Faculty at Melbourne Information technology, using a computer nearby ‘Pram Factory’ in Carlton. During had been established in 1931, its temporary that fi lled a nearby building, became that last decade of Lewis’s deanship, these accommodation as an adjunct to Engineering an increasing focus from the mid sixties. students went in and out of the building needed replacing. The new site, nominated The overt academic policy was to ‘thrash for up to fi ve years and more, and then in 1960, was in a more central position, to them’ and the students responded by on to contribute their talents working in the east of the 1930s brick deco Commerce engaging in the full university experience. offi ces and corporations that imagined Building, with its western 19th century bank The faculty’s ‘Archi Revue’ was the most and constructed the built environment of our façade by Joseph Reed. popular on campus. cities, the region and beyond. Some were acclaimed internationally in design, research, The four-storey Architecture Building, However, the progressive optimism of education, heritage, and even photography, naturally lit and ventilated, was designed the post-war period was soon undermined archaeology, theatre, and politics. But for fl exibility. Over its fi ve decades there have by military conscription for Viet Nam and reminiscence and regular alumni reunions been many changes: the physics/structures the 1968 university occupations in Paris. ensure that the old Architecture Building lab later became a bank; a space fi lled Students had raised generous funding will survive. with a university computer – a post offi ce; to furnish their sunny 4th fl oor common the grand sloping entrance ramp from post room with Flerr furniture on white Indian HUGH O’NEILL is an Honorary Senior tensioned reinforced concrete – the Atrium rugs. In 1971, as Professor Lewis retired, Fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, exhibition space; the 300 seat lecture Monash and Melbourne campuses were Building and Planning. theatre – an auditorium for revues; alive with anti-establishment ructions. Images: Perspectives of Architecture and Building Faculty (c. 1963 and 1966), drawings by Chu Tah Wen Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 01010 | 11| 02

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Recollections: moving spaces

WITH THE MAIN CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF OUR NEW BUILDING PROJECT TO COMMENCE IN DECEMBER, ATRIUM ASKED SEVERAL ABP STAFF AND STUDENTS TO TELL US ABOUT A ROOM OR FEATURE OF THE ARCHITECTURE OR OLD COMMERCE BUILDING WHICH MEANT SOMETHING TO THEM. HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID.

1. “I will never forget the Atrium as it was here for more than 40 years is 7. “What can one say about the sixth in the mid 1980s: a sloping, mossy, testament to the respect shown fl oor of the Architecture building that brick-paved external space that served by decades of students.” can do it justice? It was ever hot hot as a somewhat treacherous entrance in summer and cold cold in winter to the building, particularly for the Professor Philip Goad, and beyond spartan in terms of uninitiated, rushing to get to a lecture Chair of Architecture creature comforts. For all of that on a cold winter day.” it was my fl oor – where I studied 4. “Room 400 was my offi ce, entered landscape architecture, one time Dr Andrew Saniga, Senior Lecturer off the half landing in the north stairwell, recalling Ian McHarg rasping his way in Landscape Architecture, Planning with toilets above and below, so I through an impromptu lecture, where, and Urbanism designed and pasted up an appropriate perched above the trees, you could number. The up/dn text in the door was feel the weathering of the changing 2. “The Atrium: A truly great naturally lit letrasetted by me at a desk on the third city. More recently I came back to exhibition space that also adds to the fl oor, about 15 metres away, when I was teach studio and the transition from internal fl oor to fl oor circulation via its in 4th year, in 1967. In 1968, it became student to teacher all making it feel steel staircase. Memories go back to the fi rst concrete poem to be published strangely familiar.” when it was the main eastern access in Australia: it came home, so to speak, point to the building from Spencer on this door, when I moved offi ce from Professor Gini Lee, Elisabeth Street via a sloping brick paved fl oor the Baldwin Spencer building.” Murdoch Chair of Landscape (the Prince Philip roof). A level timber Architecture Faculty of Architecture, fl oor was constructed together with Dr Alex Selenitsch, Senior Lecturer, Building and Planning the openable glass roof to enclose Architecture & Urban Design (now: today’s atrium.” Room 303A, 757 Swanston Street) 8. “Walking home after many a late night studying at uni and seeing the Associate Professor Peter 5. “Offi ce, the home of self-cultivation” Old Commerce building facade lit Ashford, Construction up always reminded me that what Professor Qinghua Guo, we design can become reality and Architecture & Urban Design 3. “These drawings in the Architecture that the pages of the history books building stairwell, created in the 1970s, we read do exist in real life.” have always intrigued me, for their 6. “Architecture is about people and space. It is not about fashion beauty and diversity. Passing them every Sarah Rees, Bachelor of and presumed ‘good taste’.” day, they have been a constant reminder Environments graduate and that Architecture at ABP fosters the best Dr Derham Groves, Senior Lecturer, 2012 University of Melbourne in what is special about you. The fact Architecture & Urban Design SONA representative that these drawings have remained 1 23

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THE UUNIVERSITYNIVERSITY OOFF MELBMELBOURNEOURNE FACULTYFACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Pedigree for the un-pedigreed: an ethics of practice

PHILIP GOAD

For more than twenty years, the Melbourne possibly a skinny shop window. On your Looking at the work of Six Degrees, architecture fi rm of Six Degrees has pursued left at eye height is a continuous strip of one sees a tapestry of diverse materials, an aesthetic rooted in the modesty of the images – it’s what the eye might take in patterns and colours, not of reference as-found, in the delight of the decorative when walking. Turn the corner and the but of parallel interests to say, the post-war ordinary, and in the tactility and frankness gallery becomes open, airy and generous, modern textures of Clement Meadmore’s of everyday structures. It’s an ethos that and there are forms that have immediate interiors for the Legend milk bar and The admits the frailties of existing context and human scale. Abstract planes and box-like Tea House of 1950s Melbourne. There, grubby age, understands scale and rejoices forms can be a chair, a bar and a seat on light fi ttings, perforated screens, stools, in making do, and with remarkable dexterity which to rest and look back through the counters, fl oor surfaces and contemporary in almost every commission – from a bar ‘window’. On the perimeter wall, the strip art combined in stunning repetition and to a school, from freeway sound walls to of images continues and only a large juxtaposition – before they disappeared. university buildings – fi nds pedigree for circular cutout interrupts the fl aneur’s visual One might also see the sleek spindly stairs the un-pedigreed. Plywood can be heroic; passage: a concession to the monumental. and black steel frames of Franco Albini’s coloured glass can transform to jewelled This punctuation is the counterpoint to the shop fi ttings and museum installations, light; circular cutouts in steel plate can number six, stencilled like a street sign to and the contrast of romantic patina and roar monumentality; a warehouse can be a the opening edge of the thickened street hand-crafted metalwork that characterized public building; a footpath can be a piazza. wall, at the important urban corner when the museum work of other Italian postwar one decides to enter the gallery either left architects like BPR and Carlo Scarpa – At the very heart of this practice is an or right. all architects whose practices touched acknowledgment that every design action the sacred secular of the art gallery and has a human reaction. This all sounds very In the exhibition catalogue, there’s an early the necessary and everyday profane of earnest and it is. But there is also a sense photograph of Six Degrees. It shows Craig the commercial realm. Different though that in the work of Six Degrees, making Allchin, Mark Healy, James Legge, Peter from the intricate crafted modernism of buildings and urban spaces is about Malatt, and Dan O’Loughlin, graduates these architectural forbears, Six Degrees celebrating conviviality, comfort, and in architecture from the University of don’t attempt to emulate those privileged warmth, and all achieved not without Melbourne, and Simon O’Brien, a graduate conditions of master tradesmen and the a dose of the laconic. of RMIT University. All are clad in black and distinguished espolia of centuries-old urban standing on a Richmond roof-top. Behind fragments. Instead the fi rm understands its Such is the essence of the exhibition them there’s a giant 6 painted in red stencil local construction culture. There’s a relaxed of the ‘greatest hits’ of Six Degrees in between two windows on a white-painted Australian quality to this work that admits the Wunderlich Gallery of the Faculty wall. You can see bricks through the paint the rough edge, that revels in the nuts and of Architecture, Building and Planning and at their feet is a beer bottle. A primitive bolts of the raw joint, that engages with at the University of Melbourne. The gallery billboard, the ‘6’ degrees could have been recycling and reinventing with the most contains an artifi cial wall. It’s a tall urban a number stencilled onto a timber shipping humble, and that is utterly aware of and fragment. Its proximity to one wall creates crate. For those in the know however embraces environmental needs and the a space that has the narrowness of a it could be a reference to a giant Corb- responsibilities of recycling. Melbourne laneway or more realistically a stencilled ‘6’ – an ironic tribute to the calle in Venice. So you’re immediately part architectural master. And this is the rub. of a city. The wall contains a low ‘window’ This is a knowing practice, alert to history and an opening that might be a door or and alert to the city’s ephemeral but vital moments of human encounter. THERE’S A RELAXED AUSTRALIAN QUALITY TO THIS WORK THAT ADMITS THE ROUGH EDGE, THAT REVELS IN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE RAW JOINT, THAT ENGAGES WITH RECYCLING AND REINVENTING WITH THE MOST HUMBLE, AND THAT IS UTTERLY AWARE OF AND EMBRACES ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECYCLING.

At the end of 2012, the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning will move into 757 Swanston Street, an existing 1970s building that has been refurbished by Six Degrees. It’s the perfect commission for the fi rm – a tough, brutish tan brick monolith with all the qualities of a piece of industrial infrastructure. It has a Piranesi-like cavernous concrete stair, lofty studio spaces and smart inset 70s windows that no-one notices. In other words, it’s an ugly duckling. Typically, Six Degrees have stripped things away to reveal a building with considerable dignity that can be re-inhabited and given new life: doing what they do best, fi nding pedigree for the previously un-pedigreed. It is fi tting then that this exhibition of two decades of the work of Six Degrees is the segue, the fi nal curtain of public performance, before ABP leaves its current building and moves to its temporary home – also courtesy of Six Degrees. It is fi tting too that a very specifi c ethics of practice might provide the new backdrop for an institution that teaches students how to work in, practice in, and live in and above all, how to enjoy the city.

This essay was fi rst published in the Six degrees: Greatest Hits 1992-2012 exhibition catalogue.

PROFESSOR PHILIP GOAD is Chair of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 01414 | 15| 02

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Making Landscape

Andrew Saniga Andrew in Australia Architecture Making Landscape Architecture

This history of landscape architecturere in AustraA straalialia,th, thehe first of its kind, profiles the people who havee shapesh peddt thet Making Landscape nation’s landscape and forged a profession: designeersrs, architects, public servants and activists. in Australia

Using archival images and plans, Andrew Saniga recounts milestones including the creation of Melbourne’s public parks and gardens, the landscaping of Canberra’s open spaces, the design of infrastructure in Western Australia, and the reclaiming of Sydney’s harbour foreshores.

Making Landscape Architecture in Australiaa tells the story of the battles fought over the right to determine the distinctive shapes and forms of the landscapes that make Architecture in Australia Australian cities.

Andrew Saniga

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

ANDREW SANIGA Image: Book cover

Dr Andrew Saniga, ABP’s Senior Lecturer to create botanic gardens in Melbourne terrace houses became common in Landscape Architecture, Planning and Sydney, respectively, in the 19th practice, as did the furnishing of suburban and Urbanism, has written a signifi cant century, realising English garden design garden beds with white quartz stones publication about the history of our ideas in the Australian context and their and native shrubs. Immigration too nation’s public parks and gardens and creations have become important had major ramifi cations for the postwar those who design landscape. Published international treasures. Likewise, designs Australian workforce and, combined by UNSW Press, the following is an for private gardens in the early 20th century with growing consumerism and urban edited extract of Making Landscape by Edna Walling and Paul Sorensen were expansion, had far-reaching effects on the Architecture in Australia, which was astounding; their ideas persist to the current professions. The creation of new suburbs launched at the University of Melbourne day, in books and as living creations. and the establishment of their associated on December 4, 2012. infrastructure provided new opportunities At the same time that these people for work in planning, designing and The complexity of landscapes makes were designing gardens in Melbourne and developing Australia’s major cities. All them diffi cult to defi ne, to put boundaries Sydney, a new breed of designer had been of the growing cities and regional centres around, to conserve or protect and emerging in America, whose role was largely needed water, power, roads and resources importantly, to value. Urban Australia defi ned by the work of landscape architects and supplying these needs gave rise exhibits an eclectic array of public parks Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to new organisations and bureaucracies. and gardens, whose qualities are often in New York City’s Central Park. Their work Whether the Australian environment could not understood, although these spaces moved beyond the garden into the design cope with the demands of urban growth may be greatly admired and lovingly of whole suburbs and park networks. The was less often questioned; it was simply preserved. As well as parks and gardens, expanded role of landscape architects in assumed that it could. As Australian urban landscapes include the conduits America paralleled the work of surveyors, landscape architect and one of the we drive along, the neighbourhoods we engineers and an even broader group of founders of the profession, Ellis Stones seek to live within, the distant views we talented amateurs in Australia in the 19th (1895–1975) said of the period: ‘After the appreciate, and the myriad of other places century. The designers of Canberra in 1912, War the uncontrolled destruction of my we seek out for a sense of escape. Thought Walter Burley Griffi n and Marion Mahoney country started.’1 This observation was not of this way, landscapes are a product not Griffi n, marked one beginning of landscape only incisive, it was prophetic, considering only of design, but also of planning, politics, architecture in Australia yet it took another how critical issues of sustainability, climate bureaucracy, community, and a host of half a century for a distinct profession to change, and ultimately, global environmental idiosyncratic forces. They satisfy a need for emerge. Little is understood about the destruction, have become in practically all a sense of beauty, for contact with nature, history of the occupations that underpin social and political arenas. and other requirements intrinsic to social the designed landscape and how people and cultural life. The creators of these eventually began to call themselves The profession of landscape architecture landscapes, likewise, form a challenging ‘landscape architects’. that started to emerge in the 1950s group to understand and to appreciate, or consisted of an array of people who made even to label; they call themselves different The post–World War II years were a time of claims to shaping the nation’s landscape things, and are labelled differently by third rapid change and unprecedented economic and who forged a profession: designers, parties, they work at different scales, and development as Australia progressed architects, public servants and activists. they often have very different motivations. determinedly towards its consolidation In this book, archival images and plans as a nation. Public consciousness of and are used to recount milestones including This book is about those who design concern for the environment was increasing the creation of Melbourne’s public parks landscape. The focus is on landscape and the establishment of a bureaucratic and gardens, the landscaping of Canberra’s architects but the story extends far beyond infrastructure gave expression to the open spaces, the design of infrastructure the profession itself: it is a story that is, new concerns – for example, in 1965 in Western Australia, and the reclaiming ultimately, connected to the everyday the Australian Conservation Foundation of Sydney’s harbour foreshores. Making worlds of people who experience (ACF) was formed and in 1967 the new Landscape Architecture in Australia tells landscape. The designers of Australia’s National Parks and Wildlife Act was passed. the story of the battles fought over the many parks, gardens, streets and cities Environmental consciousness encouraged right to determine the distinctive shapes had to fi ght for their ideas, often amid experimentation in garden design as and forms of the landscapes that make very protracted bureaucratic struggles. designers attempted to apply environmental Australian cities. Coupled with these struggles were strong sensitivities to their design and planning. motivations to create places that conformed The planting of lemon-scented gums, trees 1 E Stones (c. 1970) ‘Priority: Landscaping’, to ideals of beauty prevalent of the time. that can grow up to 50 metres in height, unpublished manuscript, Melbourne, p. 5. William Guilfoyle and Charles Moore helped in the small front yards of inner Melbourne 1 2

3

Images: Back image: Construction of Alexandra 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne Maritime Services) with landscape architect Avenue and the straightening of the Yarra Annexe, designed by Taylor Cullity Peter Spooner (photographer unknown). River, Melbourne, circa 1898 – an avenue Lethlean Pty Ltd and Paul Thompson, 3. Wills Court at University of South Australia of trees commenced prior to the completion photographed in 2006 by Andrew Saniga. by Ian Barwick and David Cant of Hassell, of the earthworks (State Library of Victoria, 2. The Sydney – Newcastle Expressway, McConnell and Partners, constructed in 1975. Acc. No. H347, photographer unknown). 1962-67 for the New South Wales Image: Lyn Pool. Department of Main Roads (Roads and AtriumAAttrriiumum PAGEPPAPAGAAGAGEGGEE 2121 | 22012012 016010161616 | 17| 0202

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Oculus: creating resilient cities

NIAMH CREMINS Image: Jorge Leon

Research is vital to the continued growth Resilient cities is epitomised in different “So far, I’ve found that urban design and development of the built environment ways by each participant but common can improve large tsunami evacuation towards positive social and environmental to most is the importance of addressing processes,” Jorge explains “fi rst by change and resilience. Oculus, now in key resilience concerns in the planning optimising the physical qualities of urban its second year provides a platform for stages. To be proactive, not simply space, increasing capacity, accessibility research higher degree students to exhibit reactive, in our thinking. Jorge Leon’s and safety of pedestrian movement their current research and advance practice project considers the urban public and second by providing evacuees across a broad range of built disciplines. network as an evacuation system with evacuation information, showing during Tsunami emergencies, focusing them where and how to escape.” The exhibition, scheduled to take place specifi cally on two Chilean cities, this summer, is organised by the RHD Iquique and Talcahuano. “In current environmental conditions student committee, the Space Cadets. and population-location patterns, every It aims to present the research “In my opinion, resilience should be a city around the world will be subject to undertaken by ABP in all its facets as required characteristic of every city, the a natural or man-made disaster we well and provide RHD students with same way that you ask for the optimal just don’t know when specifi cally it will a platform to showcase their work. operation of realms such as traffi c, happen. So, it’s better to be prepared commerce, etc,” says Jorge. for it, otherwise the material and human This year’s exhibition, which takes the losses might be overwhelming.” form of digital displays, covers a range Jorge, who is supervised by Dr Alan of global and local issues, under the March and Associate Professor Ray The CONICYT scholarship subsidises encompassing theme of resilient cities. Green, moved his family to Melbourne students’ tuition, fees and health “We chose the theme of resilience as from Chile in late 2011 to undertake insurance, as well as a stipend for an umbrella term for planning and design his PhD with the support of a CONICYT all years of the PhD program. strategies needed in order to help our scholarship. The CONICYT scholarship cities develop the necessary capacity to is the joint sponsorship of a Chilean PhD “The scholarship has been essential for meet future challenges, such as climate student by the University of Melbourne my studies,” says Jorge. “Otherwise, it change, community participatory design, and the Comision Nacional de Investigacion would have been impossible to pay for sustainable design and energy saving,” Cientifi ca y Technologica Chile. the PhD program fees.” said Kitapatr Dhabhalabutr who is the lead organiser for the event. Jorge’s research is premised on the fact “While the cost of living in Australia that, in developing countries, long-term is high and can be diffi cult, I am very Oculus 2012 research topics include; tsunami risk reaction measures, such satisfi ed with my decision to complete the poor as active low cost housing as big-scale infrastructures or land-use my PhD at the University of Melbourne. agent, the formalisation of informal planning, are hard to implement and I have received every required supply sites, tertiary architecture education commonly undermined by more urgent for developing my research and have and accreditation, river rehabilitation, needs. He, therefore, investigates built strong academic bonds with tropism-oriented generative design, evacuation as a response from the my supervisors, whose guidance ecotourism, building energy and resilient population that can be improved have been fundamental. The multi- food systems and urban agriculture. with urban design. cultural background of my peers is a source of constant personal and academic enrichment.” Jorge has engaged with a number of “Us PhD students are a very lonely like Oculus give us a chance to open opportunities to exhibit and highlight people,” he says. “We work on our our work up to the world, get feedback his work, such as at the Australian own or with our supervisors so it is very and make relevant connections.” Emergency’s Management Institutes important to get feedback from other conference last Winter. students and professors. Exhibitions Visit the ABP website for Oculus 2012 exhibition dates and venue. AtriumAtrium PAGEPAGE 21 | 22012012 01801818 | 19| 0202

THE UUNIVERSITYNIVERSITY OOFF MELBMELBOURNEOURNE FACULTYFACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Celebrating excellence: Hank Koning and Julie Eizenberg

JUSTINE CLARK

“In recognition of exceptional leadership “Architecture isn’t just for special occasions”. the practice fi rmly within the Los Angeles in all facets of an engaged practice; This is not some glib marketing line, it’s a architectural culture. He writes: “Koning architecture of the highest level, one-sentence manifesto. Perusing the body and Eizenberg’s taste for combining frugality sustainability integrated as a given, of work online and in the book it becomes and verve in the same project, and for practice that nurtures, leads and creates, clear that it does, indeed, capture both the juxtaposing serious architectural ideas with and advocacy that raises all architectural approach and the oeuvre. informality and references to Pop Art, fl ows boats.” AIA/LA Gold Medal citation, 2012. directly out of a singularly L.A. tradition.” Of course, Koning Eizenberg has made He describes the practice’s sensibility Log on to the Koning Eizenberg website its share of ‘special occasion’ buildings, as “quintessentially Southern Californian”, and you are greeted by six beguiling but what stands out is how their ‘everyday’ “despite the Australian roots of its founders”, words in small orange letters on a buildings are infused with delight and and goes on to comment that making space white ground – “Architecture isn’t just humour. Quotidian spaces are made for talented and ambitious émigré architects for special occasions”. As the site loads special too, and the boundaries between is itself characteristic of Los Angeles. you contemplate what this might mean. such categories blur. This is undoubtably so. Yet, for those Pick up the practice’s 2006 monograph This is an ethical position – as is recognised of us located here, rather than there, the and the same words are bluntly emblazoned in the citation for the AIA/LA Gold Medal, commitment to making architecture out across the cover, black on white. Open the awarded to Julie Eizenberg and Hank of not much, and infusing it with a touch book and the statement is explicated over Koning on October 22 this year. Architecture of wit, has another kind of local resonance. the fi rst few pages – one small sentence is valued for what it can contribute to the The juxtapositions Hawthorne describes are per page: city, to the environment and to people’s also fairly strong here in Melbourne – Hank lives. Ordinary projects, ordinary situations, Koning and Julie Eizenberg’s hometown – “Expectations need to change.” ordinary people and ordinary materials are albeit realised in a different way. “Places for daily activities should brought together in extraordinary ways. be highly valued.” This is not a matter of claiming primary “People can have more than they think.” As Eizenberg explains in a recent lecture infl uence – of privileging Australian “We expect great qualities in buildings at the Design Access Summit, “We have an infl uences over American ones. like museums; shouldn’t we also expect obligation to bring joy and knowledge about Nonetheless, it is interesting to consider then in places for everyday living?” the world every time we build – it’s always how approaches connect apparently “An individual’s self image is based on the same, high end, low end, no end … disparate places together, as well as being the quality of his or her everyday life.” Good design process raises issues bigger the stuff from which distinct local identities than the building itself. ”But for this to are constructed. What do you carry with Large photos of building users, happen design needs to be understood as you and what do you leave behind? How accompanied by quotations of what they a fundamental part of the process – and the do ideas develop in different contexts and hope for from the spaces they live and/or practice is also an eloquent and articulate in collaboration with different people? Might work in, follow before the reader gets to advocate for the value of design. we understand architectural cultures as a the body of the book. network of ideas, as to-and-fro exchanges For Christopher Hawthorne, LA Times between various places, rather than a architecture critic, this conjunction of the one-way fl ow of infl uence? serious, the playful and the everyday locates Asked to speculate on the infl uence this was completed in 1981. They started of Australia on the practice’s work, out doing pro bono work in affordable Eizenberg comments: housing for not-for-profi t organizations, in the hope that eventually they might be paid. “Australia’s expansiveness…. its light, As a strategy it worked, and established the the national mythology of the outback and ground on which they built their practice. the emerging cultural melting pot of the cities set a framework of how we saw the Along with other internationally recognised world. We were also schooled down under practices – Kerry Hill Architects, WOHA, in ideas about social space, sustainability Bolles Wilson to name just a few – Koning (ecology and energy systems) and new Eizenberg expands the framework of what materials. We evolved an approach to Australian architecture is and might be. This architecture that seemed logical and positions Australian architecture as part of expected to us and consciously drew on the give and take of international discourse that Australian experience and education. and practice. It reminds us that Australia Thirty years later infl uences blur, but the has always been part of a fl uctuating fundamental Australian characteristics international networks, as architects of straightforwardness and irreverence come and go, as we absorb some ideas, continue to drive how we think.” make them our own, and send others outwards. This may seem particularly Eizenberg includes the caveat that she pronounced now, with the ease and and Koning left Australia over thirty years speed of communication, but it has ago, so this “set of perceptions and always been thus. observations may now seem out of date.” Nonetheless, it is intriguing to think that “It is heartening to look closely at this work some of the seeds that have fl owered in now, as the focus of architectural culture Southern California may have been planted swings back to what the discipline can here; that the characteristics identifi ed contribute to the social. Koning Eizenberg by both Hawthorne and the AIA/LA Gold remind us that architecture that seriously Medal jurors have some basis here as pursues social spaces and community well as there. outcomes need not present itself as austere or ‘dull and worthy’. In “elevating everyday Koning Eizenberg is one of Australia’s experience”, they show that a sense of play, great architectural exports. Founding hope and a certain exuberance are more partners Hank Koning and Julie Eizenberg necessary than ever.” studied architecture at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1977. After a short JUSTINE CLARK is an architectural period working in Melbourne, they moved editor, writer and researcher, and to California in 1979 to pursue further study honorary senior research fellow at at UCLA. The practice was established after the University of Melbourne. Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 20 | 21

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

A collaborative process: interview with Donald Bates

NIAMH CREMINS

October 2012 marked the ten year WT Partnership, the City of Melbourne With that number of contributors anniversary of one of Melbourne’s most and the management teams of the NGV, you must have challenged both each recognisable urban spaces, Federation ACMI and SBS.” other and the limits of the project. Square. Niamh Cremins spoke to Donald How did the project benefi t from Bates, ABP’s Chair of Architectural Design Donald worked with Patrick Bellew on the vast expertise involved? and a leading force in the team that brought a number of projects prior to Federation us Federation Square, now a cultural and Square. With their offi ces housed just “As the architects we worked very closely social hub in Melbourne’s city centre. Ahead a stone’s throw from each other, it was with Atelier One and Atelier Ten to integrate of its time, the team approached the project a long established relationship, based the effects of a facade, with orientation and from an environmentally sustainable design on friendship as much as professionalism. uses; roofs, drainage and water collection perspective and Federation Square has with the shape, placement and visibility of continued to grow as an exemplar of From the beginning of the Federation mechanical equipment (or not); structure sustainability and innovation. Donald Square project, LAB and Bates Smart and loads with the plaza and labyrinth speaks about the strong work ethic worked directly with Atelier One and underneath; etc. In the development and collaborative process that made Atelier Ten, not just as consultants, but of many of these aspects of the project, its success possible. effectively as co-designers, with ideas, the debates, suggestions, proposals suggestions, critiques and decisions and resolutions were the consequence Can you describe some of the key happening in a group format, not just from of multiple inputs. Decisions, for example relationships involved in the Federation the perspective of the architects as lead on the use of a “displacement” system for Square project? designers. This meant that many decisions the heating cooling of the NGV galleries were made in complete synergy between was based, to a certain degree, on the “Given the complexity and scale of the form, performance, environment and build. environmental effi ciency of this system Federation Square project, the design of air delivery. But as well, this system team represented a vast myriad of expertise. So, how important is it to have shared allows for a better quality of air delivery A process of working collaboratively with values and ways of working? in respect to the artworks hanging on one common goal was integral to the overall the walls. But as important, was the fact “Patrick and Atelier Ten share many of the success of the project. The team included; that the displacement system, being of same values in architecture and the built the architects, LAB Architecture Studio low velocity air, arising from the fl oor environment as we do, and we both have and Bates Smart, the façade and envelope vents, is extremely quiet, thereby creating a commitment to seeing a more sustainable structure engineers, Atelier One, structural a more tranquil and calm gallery space.” and civil engineers, Hyder Consulting, basis for architecture and urban design. landscape architects, Karres and Brands, We both run ‘studio’ offi ces, where We’re fast approaching Federation signage and wayfi nding, tomato-John exploration, testing, research and Square’s tenth anniversary. Ten years Warwicker, environmental engineers, unconventional approaches are considered back such environmentally sustainable Atelier Ten, MEP services engineers, standard ways of operating. Atelier Ten design was breaking new ground. What AHW and assorted other consultants.” looks at fi rst principles when it comes to challenges did you encounter? issues of energy and resource sustainability, How were all these relationships and their approach and design conclusions “The main challenge we encountered and tasks managed? are imaginative and realistic. Importantly, was a short-sighted attitude to energy they don’t see environmentally sustainable and sustainability. At the time, energy “We established a ‘project offi ce’, where design as an add-on to a project. Rather costs in Australia were relatively low, many of the consultants worked together the important and profound decisions take as was the issue of water conservation. in one large collaborative studio space place at the initiation of a project and are We were obliged to justify the documented for the duration of the project. This constantly critiqued and interrogated along savings and environmental benefi ts of the was important is allowing for a closely the way as the design emerges.” various ESD initiatives on several occasions coordinated and collaborative work process. – under the threat of eliminating them to There were also important relationships save small amounts of money. Each time with the government, through their project we were able to make a strong case for managers, Major Projects Victoria, the QS, keeping the initiatives and achieving a strong ESD status for the project.” I guess that comes back to having the multiple actions that the design and the Green Star system all developed a strong team with likeminded values. team could undertake to achieve later. Nonetheless, I believe that following a high-performance building.” many of those requirements, Federation “The team was generally committed Square would register highly on these to producing a sustainable space and So, how does it stack up in terms rating systems.” everyone made their own signifi cant of ESD ten years on? contribution to that goal. Patrick and “I think it is fair to say that the project Atelier Ten added creative and innovative “Many of the initiatives put in place created an expectation of sustainable ideas and designs to the project. But during the original design contribute stewardship for Federation Square equally important, they were able to signifi cantly to its current environmental and its evolving future, but also acted develop analytical models that quantifi ed rating. There were no agreed rating as a legacy project for civic and cultural and substantiated the savings and energy systems for sustainability at the projects in Victoria in establishing benefi ts of their new ideas. They showed completion of Fed Sq. The LEED such aspirations.”

Image: Federation Square, Melbourne Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 22 | 23

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING

Reunion event: neon cocktails, spies, driving lessons and community

ANDREW MIDDLETON

On the fi rst Friday evening of October, The screening was held on James Bond revenge of misused t-squares and a reminder an audience of 150 Faculty alumni and Day, the 50th anniversary since the release of the stuttering efforts of a fi rst driving lesson. friends sat in the Prince Philip theatre, of the fi rst Bond fi lm. So, it was most most for the last time, and watched with appropriate that Sue Hunt’s 1970 espionage Philip then invited the audience representing anticipation as Rod Quantock raised a green fi lm What’s in a Kiss kicked off the evening. 6 decades of architectural studies upstairs felt pen and turned to Philip Goad. We were In her introduction to the fi lm, Sue paid to the atrium to enjoy cocktails and canapés at The Sequel: Film Night II a screening of homage to the advantages of being an from the 1970’s styled lounge created architecture student fi lms and revues from amateur when starting out on a diffi cult by Rosanna Verde and the Events Team. the 1970s and 1980s. The famous television task, like making a 15 minute fi lm in Only a mirror ball was missing. comedian had already told the crowd how three weeks. She noted that if you were he’d spared both himself and the Faculty professional enough to understand the Conversation fl owed. People talked of repeating 3rd year architecture for a 5th pitfalls that lay ahead, you would never start. about the end of an era and the landmark time, and consequently not been around building that would soon be replacing the to take part in the 1976 Archi Revue that A fi fteen minute interval followed the current one. The loss of the revues from he was introducing. Now, carried away with 1976 Archi Revue and choc tops and the curriculum was a lamented topic, with the moment, he was seeking permission conversations were enjoyed. Those with many calling for current students to take to graffi ti the front wall of the auditorium. other engagements headed into the windy the initiative to revive them. Tim Scally, The audience turned with expectation to streets while new faces fi lled the theatre. Brendan Lund and Geoff Hooke graced see what Philip would do. Just like last year’s inaugural fi lm night, a the building for the fi rst time in ages. While plea and the promise of drinks afterward Peter Harkins, dressed as debonairly as The Dean, Professor Tom Kvan, opened were needed to seat people again. Bond with red wine replacing martini, told the evening with a reminder of the terminal anecdotal tales of his time as a student in state of the building and the great progress Sarah Gunn, director of the previous revue, the 1960’s. Throughout the foyer was a made toward replacing it, including a call had a cameo role in the fi rst of fi ve 1978 feeling of community and comradeship, for alumni support. However, it was the fi rst short fi lms. Sarah talked about the role the and all present cheered when told of the fi lm from the 1972 selection that summed revues played in bringing people together Block Party on 23rd November at 7pm. up what Simon Thornton and Geoff Hooke and how hard it was to leave them behind. had thought of the building back as students. In 1977, after performing in the previous Only an hour previously, Philip Goad two revues, she was unable to go cold had sat in the front row of the Prince The opening camera shot bounced and turkey and found herself assisting Philip theatre, whether captivated in the panned over the east side of the building backstage, which included pilfering lights excitement of the evening or not wanting which was then the entrance to reveal from the lifts when the stage ones broke. to seem the party-pooper, nodded his a sign pleading that “Whelan the Wreck head and agreed that the building was Should Be Here”. Rod would shortly James Legge and Marika Neustupny coming down. A green circle the size of reveal that it was balsawood models introduced the selection of 1986 Archi a vinyl record was drawn on the white wall in the Faculty’s old engineering huts Revues. Having not seen the edited to the right of the projection area and like on Open Day that had brought him to collection, both expressed concern about Banksy, Rod Quantock increased the architecture and the state of the current what might follow. What did follow were value of the current building by scrawling building that had sent him into a career some very clever and witty skits about his name inside the building where he’d of comic relief. It has taken forty years for studying architecture, a loss of bladder made his comical debut. the Faculty to heed the students’ wishes. control when cheating in exams, the

If you have or know the whereabouts of any revue memorabilia, please contact Andrew Middleton, [email protected] or 8344 3111. We’re in this together

PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE END The Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning has OF AN ERA AND THE LANDMARK always received generous support from alumni, friends and industry partners to create opportunities for our BUILDING THAT WOULD SOON BE talented students. REPLACING THE CURRENT ONE. As a Faculty, we are committed to ensuring that our students – the next generation of built environment professionals – understand the need for sustainable solutions in the creation of urban centres. Now more than ever we have an opportunity to make a signifi cant impact on our environmental and social futures by managing urban change.

But how do we do this? One key way is by ensuring that our students develop interdisciplinary knowledge, where sustainability principles are embedded as a way of thinking and collaboration is the preferred mode of practice. To achieve this it is clear we must create a new, fl exible academic space and an inspirational, world-class curriculum.

We have embarked on creating a new building for the Faculty which will be unique in Australia: it will be a centre of transformational education and research into sustainable cities and an exemplar of sustainable infrastructure. In particular, it will allow students and researchers to explore sustainability issues across multiple disciplines in a living and pedagogical building that can be adapted to changing needs, designed to provide ongoing feedback to students and researchers for real-time learning. The facility itself will be the platform for training our future leaders engaged in planning, designing and constructing cities and communities here and abroad.

We invite you to join with us to support our endeavours. By supporting our community of students and researchers and our building project, you are making a signifi cant investment in the educational, environmental and economic health of the built environment professions for future generations. Atrium PAGE 21 | 2012 02424 | 25| 02

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LOUISA RAGAS

Our project to create a transformative One of these ‘research-in-action’ at the building as a vehicle to carry centre of design research and education initiatives is an imaging project designed our research into design, construction, related to the built environment is on to capture the day-by-day and stage-by- delivery and habitation,” says Professor schedule, with construction works due stage construction of the new building, Tom Kvan. to start this summer. enabling students, staff and the public to witness and assess the building Both during its construction and once Building enabling works have been process fi rst-hand via time-lapse video, completed, the facility will fuel and underway since August with sewer photography and real-time feeds. Digital support research initiatives that strive to and water trenching in Spencer Rd; cameras will be positioned at strategic improve the way we shape and occupy scaffolding being assembled in front points around the site to capture the our world. Just as our alumni have of the Joseph Reed façade; builders’ build from various angles. Images can contributed to the evolution of our built sheds installed on the Concrete Lawn; be viewed on the time-lapse company environment both here and overseas’, and hoarding now being erected website – http://www.timelapse.com.au future generations of students and around the site. – and selected footage and photography practitioners will use this extraordinary will feature on the ABP website. ‘living’, ‘learning’ building to launch their ABP staff have relocated into their own research and professional careers. temporary premises on campus, Other ABP research activities include the refurbished by Six Degrees Architects, measuring of carbon intensity associated For regular updates on our and students are due to start their 2013 with each building component and new building project visit: academic year in these new facilities. fabrication process to assess if mitigating 757 Swanston Street will be our ‘faculty carbon emissions through sustainable www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/blog hub’ during the two-year construction design will outweigh the carbon phase, and 33 Lincoln Square South will emissions produced in construction house our research groups and students. supply chains; and a project involving the use of geothermal energy technology While all this pre-construction work to heat and cool the new building. and decanting activity takes place, many ABP academics and research The new ABP building is an opportunity students are already engaged in a range to continue the University of Melbourne’s of projects related to the construction, tradition of research innovation through design, sustainability and usability of design and construction. “We’ve looked our future building. AtriumAtA rir umum PAGEPAGAG 212 | 22012012 026266 | 27| 020

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Inside the Faculty

PEOPLE

We welcomed Professor Alan Pert V&A Museum’s spectacular new furniture HP printer, and 1500 sheets of A4 paper. to the Faculty, as the new Director of the gallery. Revealing the story of furniture Hong Yi, a contemporary artist practicing Melbourne School of Design in October. design and production from the 16th under the name RED, is now the star Alan Pert is a teacher, researcher and century to present-day, the gallery allows of HP’s global TV commercial. practitioner who most recently served for a linear chronology of objects along as Professor of Architecture and Director a central axis and a series of pocketed Don Bates, Chair of Architectural Design, of Research for Architecture at the displays along the perimeter. Turn was a Member of the Jury for the World University of Strathclyde. He also currently to page 4 to read more about Alan’s Architecture Festival Awards in Singapore, heads the practice he founded, NORD approach to practice and education. the largest international architecture (Northern Offi c e for Research & Design), awards program of its kind. He also recognised as one of the most innovative One of our talented alumni, Hong Yi, gave a presentation on “Renewing the British Architecture Practices, integrating participated in the ‘HP Ink Cartridge City” at the World Architecture Festival teaching, research and practice through Project’, where she created an and participating in an AIA Roundtable the design process. One of NORD’s extraordinary art project using feathers, discussion about The public face of projects just opened in London – the one HP Ink Advantage Cartridge, one architecture in Brisbane on 11 October.

EVENTS & BOOKS

The fi nal speaker in our 2012 Dean’s Patrick Bellew, Principal of Atelier Ten show in the Architecture building, and Lecture Series, Professor Rafael Sacks, in London, and the engineer behind we celebrated this milestone with a Head of Structural Engineering and the Labyrinth at Federation Square spectacular closing party on November 23. Construction Management at the Technion also presented a public lecture in October. in Haifa, delivered a profound insight He mapped his journey as an environmental Women’s safety and inclusivity in our into building information modelling. BIM engineer, and refl ected on the drivers cities is the subject of a new book, edited technology is having a profound impact behind ‘green’ design. He also examined by Associate Professor Carolyn Whitzman, on the construction industry as it tries the technologies that have evolved and featuring essays by a number of to address needs to improve delivery on in response to the challenge of high international experts and researchers. increasingly complex projects. The Victoria performance building design. Patrick Building Inclusive Cities: Women’s safety Comprehensive Cancer Centre team, has been at the forefront of advancing and right to the city was launched by for example, has adopted the use of technologies in the built environment, Mary Crooks, AO, Executive Director common digital models to ensure the and some of his recent projects include of the Women’s Trust on October 19. design, construction and health care the new Forestry School at Yale University innovations are shared across the complex and the extraordinary ‘Gardens by the A new book charting the history our nation’s process of the realisation of this facility. Bay’ in Singapore. public parks and gardens and those who Rafael demonstrated how his research design landscape has been published has bridged from theory to practice on Following the success of our fi lm event by UNSW Press. Using archival images the construction site, aided by his use last year, ABP presented another Film and plans, Andrew Saniga recounts of virtual immersion technologies to bring Night on October 5 which showcased milestones including the creation of new construction methods safely into student-made ‘Archi Revue’ films from Melbourne’s public parks and gardens, experimental application. Rafael met the 1970s and 1980s. Andrew Middleton the landscaping of Canberra’s open spaces, with many ABP students and members writes about the night on page 22. the design of infrastructure in Western of the industry, and joined Paolo Tombesi Australia, and the reclaiming of Sydney’s on a panel discussion on innovation in Six Degrees presented a survey harbour foreshores. Read an edited extract the construction industry. of their 20 years in practice in November, off Making Landscape Architecture in as part of ABP’s Alumni Retrospective Australia on page 14 and 15. Series. The exhibition, was the fi n a l CONGRATULATIONS

On 25 October, the Victorian National to engaging architecture students was awarded the top prize for Candlebark Association of Women in Construction with Indigenous communities to realise School Library, an earth-covered library (NAWIC) awarded Valerie Francis the development projects with local partners. built into the side of a hill in Victoria’s National Crystal Vision Award for her Macedon Ranges. The judges were ongoing service to women in construction. Alumni Ben Attrill and Mark McQuilten impressed by the expert use of engineered were part of the Melbourne architecture timber within the Candlebark building Hemanta Doloi was awarded the ‘Infi nite team in the Ketel One Bar Design structure, its careful detailing and use Value Awards 2012’ from the Australian Competition who impressed the judges of recycled and salvaged timbers. Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) in the with their spectacular design for a bar MBM Research & Teaching category in to be used at the Australian Institute John Wardle Architects have been November 2012. of Architects’ 2012 National Architecture recognized with an international award Awards held in Perth on 1 November. at the World Architecture Festival, the Ray Green has been promoted to largest international architecture awards Professor. Announcement of this award Congratulations to André Stephan, program of its kind, staged in Singapore. follows his election into the American a second year PhD student in Architecture, JWA’s The Shearers’ Quarters has been Society of Landscape Architects Council who has won second prize in the awarded fi rst prize in the ‘Villa category’ of Fellows at their recent annual meeting. Australian Institute of Energy Victorian from over 100 entries across the globe. This is a signifi cant honour as only two Postgraduate Student Energy Awards The Shearers’ Quarters locally sourced of the 33 newly elected Fellows reside 2012 for his project Towards a more materials defer to the natural beauty outside North America. holistic energy assessment of residential and history of Tasmania’s Bruny Island. buildings. Andre is supervised by The Australian Government’s Offi ce Dr Robert Crawford. The Shearer’s Quarters also won of Learning and Teaching presented the coveted ‘Robin Boyd Award for the Australian Awards for University Congratulations also to alumnus Residential Architecture – Houses’ in the Teaching to six Melbourne academics Paul Haar who scooped several awards 2012 AIA National Architecture Awards. at a ceremony in October including ABP’s at the 2012 Australian Timber Design Congratulations to all our alumni who David O’Brien. David was honoured for Awards on 27 September at the Museum seized an AIA Award including Six innovative and collaborative approaches of Contemporary Art in Sydney. Paul Haar Degrees and Peter Elliott Architecture.

NEW PROGRAM EVENTS CORRECTION

We are launching a new post-professional Wunderlich @ Basement, In the ‘Creative Women’ article in degree in 2013 for practitioners wishing 757 Swanston St, Melbourne Atrium #20, Pascale Gomes-McNabb to explore emerging innovations in the was represented as an architect. She built environment arena and sharpen In 2013, we will open ABP’s new graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture their design skills. gallery space in our decant building: in 1997, but is not a registered architect. Wunderlich @ Basement, 757 Swanston Check out the Master of Design online at: St. An exciting and diverse program of www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/master-design/ events are planned for this space including MSD studio shows, alumni retrospective exhibitions, and curated displays showcasing the work of acclaimed international and local practitioners. BacB kgrg ound image: For details on all ABP events visit: Candlebark School Librarra y,y www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/events designg edd byy Paul Haara . CONTACT FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & PLANNING UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE VICTORIA 3010 AUSTRALIA PHONE + 61 3 8344 6417 WWW.ABP.UNIMELB.EDU.AU

Published by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning Coordinating Editor: Louisa Ragas Design: Studio Binocular Authorised by Professor Tom Kvan, Dean Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning, December 2012 ISSN 1447-1728 The University of Melbourne CRICOS provider code: 00116K