Atrium Atrium 10 | 2009 10 | 2009
DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 02 | 0203
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Alumni Conversation with John Denton 05 Sheela Patel 16 Institution building 08 WINSTON SHU 16 Viewpoint 10 EYES 2008 18 unitised building system 12 Combined University Schools of A HEALTHY HERITAGE 14 Architecture Graduate Prize Exhibition 20 From the Faculty 22
Dean’s Message
There have been few periods of history The Black Saturday bush fires have also Building and Quantity Surveying by comprehensive overview of this project complement the immediate contributions confronted us with a harsh reminder of forces relevant international and local authorities. in a forthcoming issue of Atrium. many of our colleagues are making. These in which there have been change such of nature which may become more frequently The success of our students and staff various issues and approaches are in part as that which engulfs us on the campus experienced. This has led to an invigorating is documented, as has become the The engagement of our Alumni community our response to rethinking how professional and very beneficial opportunity in the creation tradition, in our annual publication of EYES. has been tremendously affirming of our value can be delivered to the communities today. Three years ago the university of graduate schools and a clarity in the If you have not seen one yet, EYES 2008 goals for this Faculty. In recent months I we serve. embarked on a review and restructuring undergraduate curriculum. More recently, is available for purchase from the Faculty have met with a number of our graduates of the curriculum and delivery of the financial framework across the globe has marketing office, or via the order form on in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and I will conclude this introduction by noting fractures and a realignment of structures and page 19. Hong Kong in a variety of contexts and their two new Professorial appointments in the teaching to bring this university to values is emerging. Professional delivery to support has been clear. I am very grateful Faculty. Jon Robinson retired at the end the forefront of learning globally. clients in this framework is being examined; To support this new model of education for this backing and look forward to meeting of 2008 and a celebration will be held in clients look for value afresh and professional we are now turning our attention to the alumni in Europe and the United States Semester Two to acknowledge his services are evolving to meet these expectations. physical experience of the students and before the end of this year. tremendous contribution. Our new Chair of Challenges are causing us all to reflect usefully our staff. Since my arrival two years ago I Construction, Paolo Tombesi, brings over upon our activities; fortunately the University of have met a wide range of our alumni in order As I noted above, we welcome your visits a decade of experience in the Faculty to the Melbourne had embarked on such a reflective to learn about the history of the Faculty and to the campus and seek to offer you more position. Trained as an architect (as was Jon), change before circumstances confronted us the potential of our students. The traditions of reasons to do so. Our recent Dean’s Lecture Paolo brings an incisive understanding of with the need. In such a context, the Faculty teaching and peer learning are strong; studio Series speakers have brought unusual construction delivery as developed through of Architecture, Building and Planning is well teaching has long complemented the way perspectives to our realms of inquiry. Sheela his research in construction innovation here prepared to help students and the professions we have taught across the disciplines and is Patel came from Mumbai where she runs in Australia (such as in the Sydney Opera through the changes. As new professional increasingly being engaged as a format for an NGO to deliver housing for the under- House) and in Europe. Richard Tomlinson profiles are needed or additional knowledge collaborative experience. The fondness with privileged. Winston Shu from Hong Kong has joined us as Chair of Urban Planning required, the Faculty is here to help. which those who studied in the Tin Sheds until spoke of the design of buildings to be after a career that has integrated an the mid 1960s reminds us of the community constructed in China and India which internationally respected consultancy in In this context of change, the new that can be created in a building. The initial approached opportunities with a concept urban and development planning with undergraduate degree in Environments comparative emptiness of our current building of client value and construction innovation academic appointments in South Africa and was prescient in preparing students across has transformed to a very congested and that resulted in remarkable structures. Both the United States, most recently a one year a wide range of disciplines with a shared inadequate space for our new model of visitors have departed the campus with firm appointment at Columbia University in New educational experience. The Melbourne teaching and the appropriate aspirations of a ideas for research links to continue their York. His several books and many articles School of Design is offering students a graduate school. We have therefore embarked contribution here in Melbourne. Another have addressed the role of planning in focussed preparation for professional on a process to replace the building, starting lecture series, the Masani Lectures, invigorating urban centres, in addressing engagement while still having opportunities with a design competition for which the brief commenced last year for the alumni significant health issues such as AIDS and to collaborate in classes and projects with was written after considerable consultation specifically.John Denton spoke at one of as economic drivers. We are very pleased complementary design professions. We are on campus and off, with students, staff, these and we have the pleasure of reprinting to welcome both of these outstanding assessing our experiences in delivering graduates and the professions. I encourage his challenge to the University to take a academics to their new roles in our Faculty. these new curricula and listening closely to you to remain abreast of the process by responsible role as custodian of the urban the professions and the students. Feedback looking at our website www.abp.unimelb. environment. We are also working across Atrium is an important communication with has been clear and supportive; graduate edu.au/competition/, a web site visited by campus in a response to the bush fires by our alumni and we welcome any feedback programs have been awarded continuing over 6000 people worldwide since its launch addressing our teaching as well as research or comments you may have. A accreditation in Landscape Architecture, in February 2009. I will be providing a to provide a long term cultural response, to Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 04 | 0205
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Alumni Conversation with John Denton Dr John Denton was the featured speaker at the final Conversation at Masanis for 2007
I want to talk about design in Melbourne; and the importance of design’s need for a soul, so it’s not just a process. If you can define it, proscribe or regulate it then you have just created the bones ‘Melbourne has of design and the critical part is missing. a tradition of daring John Denton is a Director of Denton Corker Architecture commentator Elizabeth Farrelly In looking at these tasks some Marshall Pty Ltd, one of the most significant and writing in the Sydney Morning Herald a year important basic questions arise: to care about culture’ successful Australian owned international architecture or so ago was lamenting that Sydney has got and design practices with offices in Melbourne, • What is good design? London and Jakarta. The practice is noted for it wrong. I won’t go into Sydney’s faults but • How do we assess design and the projects such as the Melbourne Museum, Anzac she says ‘our worst sins … (and) the biggest capabilities of designers? Hall at the Australian War Memorial Canberra, Webb difference between Melbourne and Sydney … Bridge Melbourne and the recently completed Civil • How do we determine its public value? (is) Sydney’s sheer cultural timidity … • How do we achieve good design? Justice Centre in Manchester UK. John Denton is compared with Melbourne’s cultural courage’. currently Director in Charge of new projects for the Robin Boyd an eminent Melbourne architect Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research She continues ‘It’s not a lot of courage, just and the new Australian Embassy Jakarta, as well as of 30 or 40 years ago and best known for his enough to resist, a little, the overwhelming book ‘The Australian Ugliness’ tried to address directing a range of projects in China. Acclaimed pressure of the big city-shaping forces (the internationally for the calibre of its architecture, the the issue of what is beauty? What is good practice has been published widely including two development lobby, the roads lobby, the liquor taste? He saw the need for emotion and poetry monographs by Birkhauser Verlag, Switzerland. lobby, and political correctness) in order to let in Architecture. He predated and I think we are smaller, wilder, more interesting things happen. A graduate in Architecture and Town Planning now through the worst of the post-modernist If beauty is as much spiritual as visual, this era - what Deyan Sudjic, the Director of the from Melbourne University he is a Life Fellow of the isthe source of Melbourne’s beauty, its sense Royal Australian Institute of Architects and in 1996 Design Museum in London calls ‘the twisting received the RAIA Gold Medal. He is also a Fellow of intelligent, historically aware, adventure’. of the bourgeoisie by the tail with cultural shock of the Planning Institute of Australia. From 2006 to ‘Melbourne has a tradition of daring tactics that are now subject to the inevitability 2008 John Denton was the Victorian Government Architect advising the Premier and Cabinet on to care about culture’. of diminishing returns’. achieving better architecture and urban design And, I would suggest that Melbourne is In his writings on architecture more outcomes for Government. In 2007 he received a currently an acknowledged international than two thousand years ago, Vitruvius Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from Monash University. He sits on the Boards of the Australian design hot-spot – recognised for its level defined ‘firmness, utility and delight’ as the Centre for Contemporary Art, Victorian Endowment of activity in producing interesting design. three cornerstones for great architecture. for Science, Knowledge and Innovation and Throughout the millennia since then different I think because we ‘dare to care’ about culture, Australian Print Workshop (Chairman). orders, weightings and interpretations of Melbournian’s are interested in the quality of their these ingredients have been applied to city. It was in this environment of interest, that the discourse and the rationale surrounding the impetus to create the role of the Victorian built environment. A consistent theme in Government Architect developed. these applications has been the tendency So in July 2005, Cabinet agreed to establish the to relegate ‘delight’ to the bottom of the list, Office of theV ictorian Government Architect with as an element somehow less critical. It’s not! the aim of advising on and advocating for better In fact delight is essential to our health and architecture and urban design. well-being, a form of sustenance which affects Essentially there are two means of achieving this: how we regard and respond to our world. In • Through the provision of advice to this sense it is also essential to sustainability. Government about architecture and urban Just because we have trouble defining and design thus assisting Government to better measuring all of the elements of high quality understand building design and delivery, an design, doesn’t mean we should not support, incredibly important bit missing since the and even demand it. demise of the PWD and; I believe government has a social responsibility • Through the promoting of the value of to facilitate, encourage and deliver high quality good design both in Government and built environment outcomes. the wider community – to support the But people in Government, as elsewhere, process of making great buildings and by and large, don’t really understand what space and a sustainable environment. design is and why it’s important.
CONTINUED OVERLEAF » Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 06 | 07
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Notwithstanding my concerns, awareness Melbourne grew up on a high ground alongside Surely Universities should be exemplars ‘we first shape is growing around the world of the importance a small river a few kilometres upstream from the of good design influencing those who study of good design and the impact of environment sea. It sits on a grey basalt plain whose quarries there, heightening their cultural insights about on our individual and collective well-being. provided the main building blocks of the city the way we live? It is a massive opportunity – we are a grey city. that should be grasped enthusiastically by our buildings The Official Journal of the European major institutions. Communities, 2001 (EU) endorsed the And we are a grid city. The original Hoddle but thereafter following resolution on Architectural Quality grid of 160 years ago is now overlaid by a And it has – there is no doubt that RMIT in the Urban and Rural Environments: larger north south suburban grid with main impelled by Professor Leon van Schaik avenues out of the centre. commissioned and continue to commission they shape us’ ‘Architecture, the quality of buildings, the way a range of challenging projects by leading Using the CBD grid as the starting point allows in which they blend with surroundings, respect Melbourne architects. for the natural and urban environment, and the you to propose some fundamental underlying collective and individual cultural heritage are city formal rules. As an example, commerce To be considered for the work you had to be matters of public concern.’ develops to the edges of the block – an an alumni of RMIT – if you went to Melbourne expression perhaps of developers greed or site University you were invited to do a Masters by Sir Stuart Lipton, former Chairman of the maximisation allowed under the regulations. Project – in other words document a recent UK Commission for Architecture and the However in contrast, public institutions set back project that you have done – pretty straight Built Environment said: and reside in public open space. They are thus foward. RMIT effectively adopted most of ‘Good Design is not an added extra or luxury, instantly recognised in the intuitive mapping of the best Melbourne architects. it is essential. There is an enduring connection the city, by sitting in public open space they are The list includes: between the state of our society and the state obviously owned by the public. And so you can of our civic realm’. Lipton quotes Churchill go on creating a range of formal rules that could • Peter Corrigan who said (in 1960) ‘we first shape our guide our city development. • Ashton Raggett McDougall • Wood Marsh buildings but thereafter they shape us.’ Such as important buildings on axial • Alan Powell It is important to understand that good design extensions of the Grid – the Shrine, • Lyons it is not a question of style. It is about value. Parliament House, the Treasury Building • Peter Elliot and the Flinders Street Station clock tower It integrates the core opportunities and • John Wardle and wide landscape avenues radiating out constraints of structure and function, as well • Sean Godsell from the city, these are other ideas. as budget, environmental sustainability and The list is an extensive who’s who of durability, and it transcends all of those things But, I would suggest that whilst being Melbourne architects at the cutting edge and offers very much more. It is the aspects of comforted by rules or order as a cultural of experimentation. maintainer, in Melbourne we are also delight, beauty or even aesthetic provocation Has Melbourne University done this – No. which stimulate and excite intuitively and exhilarated by the unexpected, the radical, intellectually. It is this stimulation that or the Ratbag and the irony, humour and Whilst Monash, Victoria and Deakin determines how we value a design. excitement this provokes – the friction along Universities have followed suit what the rubbing edges of formal cultural plates, is Melbourne University known for? And while I don’t believe you can legislate a friction breaking out of our of our gridded I would suggest it is known mostly for it’s visible for the delight part of good design, you can basaltic conservatism. We can be in awe of encourage, facilitate, value and nurture it. recent building programme of the overbearing the power of the formal but equally uplifted destruction of Carlton south of Grattan Street to So to return to thinking about Melbourne by the surprise of the unexpected. In our create Melbourne University Private. Commercial I would put forward the following ideas Australian psyche we ‘lionise’ the Ratbag. architecture that grossly overdevelops sites about the city – a little bit of theory!! I have always liked the term and in Melbourne adjacent to the established heritage two storey Much of the character of cities actually we have architects to bring it to life. A key terrace house character of the area. presents as a construct of oppositions. example is the work of ARM – Storey Hall It’s not a good look and could have been done Architecture, for its part, is caught in a and the new Recital Hall and MTC. I think with much greater sensitivity. It was genuinely paradoxical condition between useful and this iconoclasm, the ability of the eccentric, possible to intensify development in the area art, the ideological battling the expedient, the non-conformist to laugh at our institutions, by the building of great architecture – what developers looking for quantity not quality. challenge our long held beliefs, and show they got is in my opinion is a mediocre urban The image of the city is simultaneously another way through, reinforces that if you design outcome. endlessly attractive and repellent. are too conservative and not interested in change or transformation you will always just I can’t help but reiterate that we have a However, cities embody and visually represent boringly accommodate. As architects we look responsibility to do better. You might not like our urban culture. And I would suggest that first for something more. all the RMIT Buildings, I know I don’t, but they and foremost all societies through their social challenge you to think about architecture. and political structures seek to maintain order So, architecture becomes the three dimensional Melbourne University doesn’t have to follow so as to function properly – we need some physical representation of this culture in the city. this but as a mature senior Australian basic rules to avoid disintegration. Our cities And cities grow in quality by the gradual University it could be commissioning a range therefore are built around and represent order. imposition of new ‘bits’ plugged into the system of elegant, exciting contemporary buildings We expect our city services to work; the streets – some formally and orderly, some sparking with to make us proud as the alumni’s of our to be clean and our public transport to run vigour and tension generating discussion and University. I am heartened to believe this is more or less on time. We want to be safe debate. Stimulating projects to love or hate. consistant with the current Vice Chancellors’ and live comfortably in peace. Architecture as a This all raises to me a consideration of RMIT philosophy. So let’s hope for better. A primary expression of that human condition – of versus Melbourne University. Universities must society, should in principle be able to represent also bear responsibility for good design of the or comment on that in some formmaking. environment within which they educate. Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 08 | 09
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Institution building
Paolo Tombesi
Associate Professor Paolo Tombesi is a former Switzerland and Costa Rica. Since 1986, he has been Government, and the Royal Australian Institute of In 1972, a year before the completion of the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Fulbright Fellow, and has a PhD in architectural contributing to the world’s leading architectural and Architects. He is an Expert of international standing with artist Eric Thake produced a small linocut Christmas card—An Opera practice and regional development. In 2004, he was building periodicals. Between 1990 and 1996, he was the Australia Research Council and the Funding Research scholar in residence at the Graduate School of Design the Los Angeles correspondent for the international Agency for Technology of Quebec (FQRNT). In 2009 the House in Every Home, visible in the collection of Melbourne University’s Ian at Harvard, where he co-taught International Practice. journal Casabella. Since 2002, he is on the editorial Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning appointed He is currently a research fellow at the Polytechnic of boards of the Journal of Architectural Education and Associate Professor Tombesi as Chair in Construction. Potter Museum of Art, in which he likened Australia’s grandest building to Turin. Over the last ten years, he has given over thirty UME, as well as an editorial correspondent for the British dinner dishes stacked in the draining rack at the kitchen sink. public lectures, advanced seminars and keynote Construction Management and Economics and Il To find out about Associate Professor Tombesi’s addresses around the world. He has taught in the USA, Giornale dell’Architettura. He has consulted with the Inaugural Professorial Lecture please email Italy and Spain, and has been a visiting critic in Austria, Department of Environment and Heritage of the Federal [email protected]
Unlike other analogical renditions of Chandigarh and Nehru’s fledging concrete generates a perception that buildings of D. the promoting agency has only relative position to act (either by design or by default) of its industry, either by becoming a Jørn Utzon’s icon, this image reflects more industry, or between California’s School exceptional scope are industrial one-of-a- interest in securing market advantages as possible catalysts of change, contributing model for others to follow, or by dissipating, than the application of poetic license or Construction System Development and kinds, with little or no relationship to, and through innovation and should then be, to producing, or accelerating the production socially across the sector, the intellectual irreverent humour to otherwise controversial modular prefabrication; but, in general, thus of little consequence for, the everyday at least in principle, open to its diffusion; of, that knowledge and those practices capital (and therefore part of the financial endeavours. Obliquely, it poses the question our focus centers on the building’s designer, and future workings of the industry at large. E. they often tend to be bigger than which, if successful, will eventually resources) invested in it. of what the function of unique buildings the project’s inherent interest, and whether average, and thus have lengthier percolate through the industry. Hence, they hardly warrant in-depth studies The corollary to all this is that real institution (intended as individual structures with a very or not it stayed within budget, respected development processes and a larger- of their broader impact. Eric Thake’s dishes, in the end, are building in construction requires a complex specific program) is or ought to be. In other construction schedules, and opened on than-average period within which important as a light, suggestive reminder mix of cultural championing, technical words, how should we promote, look at, and time. Very few would think of the British Unfortunately, this could not be farthest multiple product development cycles of what the relationship between buildings, competence, industrial foresight, and active assess industrially extra-ordinary artifacts? As Museum as the place of the introduction from the truth: particularly when developed can be started and completed. building research and the building industry sponsorship. If it is only by recognizing the opportunities for unique works of art, vehicles of the modern bill of quantities, the National by or for institutional subjects, idiosyncratic The buildings developed within can, and perhaps should be. They invite technology-transfer patterns peculiar to the for the production of collective identity, cultural Art Schools in Havana as an experiment in projects are ideally placed to function as this framework, then, have the ability to a perspective that could enhance our construction sector that the private and billboards, platforms for new social landscapes, industrial autarchy, the British House of effective innovation test beds within an act institutionally not only because of their understanding of the reach or limitations of public nature of every building artifact can privileged laboratories for disseminable Parliament as a critical chapter in the history industry otherwise known for its non-residential or non-commercial functional institution-building projects, strengthen the be put in the right perspective, it is only by research, or any combinations of the above? of heating and ventilation systems, or the physiological resistance to radical change: mandate, but also in light of their promoters’ rationale for them, and help us discriminate taking explicit positions about the future The alternatives presented, of course, imply Twin Towers as one of the formal birthplaces decision to have specific values and between relevant and not-so-relevant environment we want to strive for that the another question: What makes a unique of construction management in building. A. their commissioning bodies are in paradigmatic practices physically ‘instituted’ examples. In fact, the distinction between relationship between individual costs and building significant—its presence, its a position of operational strength; Several reasons can be cited for this through the construction of specific artifacts. innovation and invention is important here. collective investments can be truly development process, its lessons, its effects? B. they are often developed not only to inattention. Firstly, the cultural predilection Institutional buildings of this sort can thus Thake’s image surmounts the concept of determined. As Lewis Mumford wrote at Paradoxically (for an industry that is that the architectural debate has always respond to specific needs (that is, to serve a precise innovation incubation role in “invention” (the introduction of new the end of Sticks and Stones (1924), ‘our essentially project-based), disciplinary had for ‘master-’ over ‘-piece’, a predilection generate appropriate ‘use value’) but the industry: they help fabricate opportunities practices) and suggests that “innovation” buildings can never be better or worse than discussion seldom considers the facilitated by the confidentiality of the also to institute collective values— for component suppliers, verify the normative (the adoption of these practices beyond the institutions that have shaped them’. A relationship between individual buildings contracting system, which places much thus becoming the object of their framework and define new standards, set their point of introduction) is what most To view Eric Thake’s works, including “An and the rest of the industry, even when technical information out of reach even to community’s patronage; up testing grounds for product/process counts. In other words, for a building to be Opera House in Every Home” visit http:// they are developed as a result of exceptional those with specific related interests. This, C. their representational power and ad-hoc modification and/or system integration, truly ‘institutional’, formal idiosyncrasy or www.art-museum.unimelb.edu.au/pages/ circumstances. We may remember the combined with a limited awareness of the programmatic requirements combine to and promote cultural acceptance of materials technological experimentation are not ipm/Query.php and search for “Thake” relationship between Le Corbusier’s industrial mechanics of the building sector, counterbalance cost-saving strategies; and solutions. In doing this, they are in a enough: the building must affect the rest Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 010 | 02011
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Viewpoint According to Plan
THE NEW CHAIR IN URBAN PLANNING IN THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING AND PLANNING, PROFESSOR Richard Tomlinson, considers whether public sector and city planners will play more active and diverse roles in the future of city building.
(Edited extract of orientation speech to urban planning students, March 2009). This article was originally published in the May issue of Voice.
What is the difference And generalising a bit, it is clear that city see opportunities, but too frequently developers There has been a high turnover of urban The relationship between the public and Richard Tomlinson is the new Chair in Urban builders have delivered an unsustainable urban see opportunities where transport systems are planners into other professions, generally the private sector is at present an interesting Planning in the Faculty of Architecture Building between city building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. sprawl, with inadequate public transport leading lacking. Indeed, very often, but especially in a assumed to be caused by the unexciting nature challenge for planners. We are all aware His research and publications have focused on and city planning? City to traffic congestion and pollution. The density constrained fiscal environment, transport of the grunt work in the profession. I have a of the global economic crisis and the calls for housing and infrastructure; urban development or sprawl debate is not new, except that infrastructure and systems play catch-up different view, namely that good education for greater regulation of, for example, the financial in a context of HIV/AIDS; urban policy builders are, in the nowadays climate change and sustainability, with the developers. planners makes possible many alternative job industry. Will we see a comparable end to processes and international best practice; the first instance, property and sometimes also equitable cities, have been opportunities, including as city builders. This is unfettered enthusiasm for property developers effect of web-based search engines on urban The ‘grunt work’ of planning, as recently policy perspectives; and mega-events and developers who build accepted as central issues in urban form and in a common phenomenon and in many and greater regulation intended to create more urban economic development. the jobs of city planners. described at a symposium in Adelaide, is countries, Australia included, there is a shortage sustainable cities? At this critical time in the housing tracts, shopping development control, comprising land-use of planners, in government in particular. growth of cities, will planners similarly get to His more recent co-edited books are malls and offices. City planners usually play a secondary rezoning and subdivision. In the context of the play a stronger hand? This is a question which Development and Dreams: The Urban Legacy role during periods of growth. This includes big picture of urban form and growth, land-use In the USA, for example, planning has is now a subject of debate. of the 2010 Football World Cup (HSRC Press, State development strategic planning and land-use planning. planning can, for many practitioners, seem been rated one of the ten most desirable 2009), Democracy and Delivery: Urban Policy in South Africa (HSRC Press, 2006), and corporations, city For example, urban form underlies the rather boring; hence the expression grunt work. professions. This is due not to a shortage of In line with public disapproval of the excesses Emerging Johannesburg: Perspectives Melbourne 2030 strategic plan by Indeed, when I was responsible for subdivision planners but to increasing variety of planning of the financial industry, it seems that there is on the Postapartheid City (Routledge, 2003). managers and politicians establishing urban growth boundaries, and rezoning applications, aside from the specialisation roles, the diversity of issues increasing dissatisfaction with the cities that city He has served as a Visiting Professor at compete for their aiming to reduce the proportion of new occasional offer of a bribe, life was rather within the planner’s scope, and a sense of builders are producing. Speculating, it seems Columbia University, a Visiting Scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a development occurring at low-densities boring. I had no idea how important land-use urgency for better city planning. quite possible that the public sector will seek to investments. Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution and on Melbourne’s fringe, and concentrate planning and development controls were to the create a framework for private investment that at the New School University. His research development within designated activity creation of efficient, equitable and sustainable The specialisations of planning professionals produces more sustainable and equitable cities. awards include a Robert S McNamara centres close to transport. This represents cities. But when well-designed, subdivision and have become extremely diverse, and include: Fellowship and a Fulbright Scholarship. an attempt to rein in development on the rezoning are the building blocks of our urban waste management, transport planning, slum So city planning is exciting and complex He has also consulted to the South African upgrading, strategic planning for global-city work, but it should be noted that it is also government (post-apartheid), USAID, urban periphery (that, arguably, is environment. The World Bank, European development exacerbated by the first time home regions, regulations for the construction of urgently needed. agencies, numerous NGOs and the buyers grant), but at this point seems (Development control creates the interesting green buildings, health planning, economic private sector. to have little effect. circumstance where some planners work for planning, and land-use planning. These It is not as if climate change, or the forms government implementing controls, and others specialisations include working in the public of city growth, or the relationships between To find out about Professor Tomlinsons’ Transport planning and investment can play an work in the private sector advising clients on and private sectors and for NGOs, and government planning and the city builders Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 29th of July, please email [email protected] important role in determining where developers how to circumvent controls.) moving between them. can be left unaddressed. A Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 012 | 013
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Unitised Building System Fender Katsalidis architect’s: Russell Place Development
Robert crawford Figure 1 Russell Place Development, Figure 2 The UB System* Melbourne, utilising the UB System
Traditional building construction techniques are responsible for the generation of significant quantities of waste, of which at least 40% is disposed of in landfill (Productivity Commission, 2006). On-site construction generates waste through off-cuts and the common practice of ordering surplus materials. This waste represents a significant quantity of resources, in the raw materials, energy and water required in their manufacture.
At the end of a building’s life, buildings Architecture, Building and Planning structural and environmental environmental benefits of the UB optimised. Preliminary research has Nonda Katsalidis (BArch 1978) is a founding are either demolished or refurbished and, Alumni, was concerned with the performance. As for all building system are currently being analysed by shown that assuming even as little as director of FKA and has contributed to some of the finest buildings in Australia, whilst while a small proportion of the existing general inability for traditional building construction, the safety and structural researchers in the Faculty of Architecture, 25% of the materials in the UB System maintaining a unique commitment to the materials may be recovered for use in components to be dismantled and integrity of the UB System is extremely Building and Planning, continuing are re-used after its initial use, this integration of art into architecture. His work new buildings, most of the materials are re-used, which he saw as having potential important. FKA are working closely with Nonda’s long and close association represents a considerable net saving of is renowned nationally for its high level of considered waste and sent to landfill. for alleviating significant quantities of Engineers, Robert Bird Group and with the Faculty. 173 kg (87 m3) of greenhouse emissions enquiry and design sophistication and has Nationally, the waste generated from the building demolition waste being sent researchers in the Faculty of Engineering per square metre of floor area, compared been the subject of many design articles. The energy required for the material Recognised by the AIA as worthy of numerous combined building construction and to landfill. FKA have responded to these at The University of Melbourne to develop to using virgin materials. awards and distinctions, including the most demolition processes accounts for issues by designing a prefabricated, a connection system that allows for easy manufacturing and construction prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal, approximately 42% of all waste that is re-usable building system known as assembly and disassembly of the processes, termed embodied energy, In a world where the need to take a more Nonda represents the contemporary face sent to landfill (Productivity Commission, the Unitised Building (UB) System* that structural framing of the UB System, can account for up to 50% of the total sustainable and less resource intensive of Australian architecture. 2006). This represents at least six million is being used for the first time in the whilst maintaining its ability to withstand energy use over the life of a building. and wasteful approach to human activity tonnes of material per annum. Russell Place development. the typical forces exerted on the building One of the goals of this UB System is is becoming more and more pronounced, structure. to minimise the life cycle energy and the UB System has the potential to have Reductions of at least 52% in The UB System utilises a steel framed associated greenhouse gas emissions a significant impact on reducing waste Dr Robert Crawford is a Future Generation construction waste are possible by structure that consists of steel wall, floor Due to the standardised construction of construction, of which the embodied generation, energy consumption, Fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, Building prefabricating building components and roof panels attached to steel elements and carefully controlled and impacts are an important and significant greenhouse gas emissions and the and Planning. His research is focused on the off-site in a controlled environment, where columns. The UB System is effectively a monitored off-site construction process, component. Extending the physical life depletion of natural resources associated assessment of the environmental impacts of the built environment with a particular emphasis on wastage can be more easily monitored rectangular shaped (4.7m wide by 10.2m material use is much more efficient, of the structural steel components of the with buildings, the source of some of our embodied energy and water. This research also and avoided (Jaillon et al., 2009). The long), three-dimensional building block minimising waste and leading to UB System through their flexibility and greatest environmental impacts. A involves improving building environmental ability to be able to re-use building that is flexible enough to be used across considerable time and cost savings. re-usability, the potential exists for performance information to assist architects components at the end of a building’s life a range of building types. Each module is Reduced on-site construction time can considerable savings in embodied and building designers in the environmentally appropriate selection of materials and building can also have major environmental produced off-site, where the steel frame also help to cut the costs of a building energy to be made. References components. He is also involved in developing benefits particularly due to the avoidance is assembled and internal and external project and minimise disruption to people Jaillon, L., Poon, C.S. and Chiang, Y.H. (2009) and improving existing life cycle assessment of waste being disposed of in landfill and linings, fixtures and fittings and services in the vicinity of the construction site. Not only does the prefabrication process Quantifying the Waste Reduction Potential of Using methodologies based on the use of a the reduced demand for virgin materials. are installed. The almost finished modules reduce construction waste, energy and Prefabrication in Building Construction in Hong comprehensive and innovative environmental are then transported to site where they While there is considerable potential for emissions, one of the greatest Kong, Waste Management, 29(1), 309-320. assessment model. He has also acted as a Fender Katsalidis Architect’s (FKA) this system to contribute to significant advantages of the innovative design of researcher, consultant and adviser to several are lifted into position and fixed to one State government departments, research, Founding Director, Nonda Katsalidis, saw reductions in waste from building the UB System is the ability for it to be Productivity Commission (2006) Waste another. Finishing touches are then made, Management, Report no. 38, Canberra. industry and professional organisations the potential for adopting prefabricated including the connection of services. construction and demolition, there are easily dismantled at the end of the construction on large building projects, also other environmental benefits from building’s life and re-used elsewhere. *patent pending. such as the residential building project The design of the UB System has been, the use of this system when compared to This means that less material is disposed currently being constructed in Russell and continues to be, informed by detailed some alternative and more conventional of in landfill as demolition waste and Place, Melbourne. Nonda, a Faculty of research, particularly in the area of construction techniques. Some of the material value and life are able to be Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 014 | 015
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
A Healthy Heritage
Cameron Logan Cameron Logan is a research fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. He is part of an ARC funded research project that is exploring the history of the modern hospital, 1925-1960.
Between the 1930s and the 1950s in Australia The Royal Melbourne Hospital (1938-1942), practitioners, architects and hospital asset significant buildings designed in the office by Stephenson &Turner, and Mildura Base managers exhibited an eagerness to better of the NSW State Government Architect- a series of new hospital buildings were Hospital (1933) and Prince Henry’s (1939) in understand the historical significance of a large ward block, by Harry Rembert and viewed as beacons of the modern world. Melbourne by Leighton Irwin & Co. were just modern hospital buildings and sites and Cobden Parkes, designed prior to but a few of the hospitals that embodied the great better document extant examples. But there completed after World War II, and a possibilities of advanced social organisation are major physical and economic obstacles structurally elegant lightweight chapel from and scientific medicine in the period. Among to effectively preserving hospital buildings, the early 1960s designed by Ken Woolley - the most overtly modernist buildings of their obstacles that are multiplied when viewed have both been incorporated into a new day they were monumental exemplars of from the perspective of the whole ensemble residential development designed by SJB. contemporary design, widely published and or hospital campus. Also in Sydney Prince Henry’s, Little Bay, discussed in both the architectural press and has become a major conservation project. metropolitan newspapers. The problem, from the viewpoint of the A series of ward buildings and nurses institutions, is how to extract or recover quarters designed and built from the late At the beginning of the twenty-first century, some value from theses assets. Refitting nineteenth century through to the mid- however, it has become increasingly obvious the buildings and continuing to use them twentieth have been adaptively used in a that many twentieth century hospitals are as acute hospitals is usually seen as large-scale residential development project undergoing a difficult transition: once powerful impractical and uneconomical. As leading overseen by the N.S.W. State Government symbols of the future many are now unloved heritage consultant and architect Peter Lovell developer Landcom. But while successful representatives of the past. This perception is (Bbldg 1977) has argued, the very qualities projects in terms of heritage, planning and the very opposite of what the leaders of these that distinguish these buildings as key early new design, they are the exceptions that institutions want and, as such, the motivation examples of the modernist approach to prove the rule. Financial considerations for regeneration and change is strong. Within design is what makes them inappropriate for make successful adaptation in projects the immediate environs of the University of adaptation. Low ceiling heights, specialised such as this very difficult.Adam Haddow Melbourne, the Dental Hospital, Royal servicing, smaller wards and thin floor plates (BPD (Arch) 1995, BArch (Hons) 1998) of Women’s Hospital and the Royal Children’s distinguished these buildings from their SJB has remarked that even the high priced Hospital are each undergoing redevelopment nineteenth and early twentieth century apartments in the large heritage building at or have recently completed new facilities. predecessors. However, rapidly changing St. Margaret’s did not cover costs and had They leave a series of unwanted mid-twentieth medical practice means that today’s to be subsidised by the sale of other century buildings behind them. While none of specialised requirements are vastly different apartments in the project. The same is the abandoned hospital buildings are the best from those of fifty, sixty, or seventy years ago. true of the Prince Henry’s Project. As a representatives of their period in terms of For example, surgical theatres in the mid- consequence, if a building is to be preserved architectural quality, the trend towards twentieth century block hospitals a high level of commitment is needed at the redevelopment is strong and the implications were always situated at or near the top of point when hospitals want to dispose of them. for mid-twentieth century hospital buildings the building, whereas today they are located more broadly seems pretty clear. Most are close to the ground. Contemporary hospital As the architectural landmarks of the destined for abandonment and demolition. organisation is at odds with twentieth century modern movement begin to disappear hospital design. they disclose their historical specificity. It is If anecdotal feedback is anything to go by, in this moment that they appear as valued people who work at these hospitals would be Developers and potential tenants for historic places, built to meet certain needs happy to swing the wrecking ball themselves. adaptive use projects are more inclined to and embodying particular design ideas. At Yet according to a range of criteria, many of take an interest in the spaces available in present there is an awakening interest in the the hospital buildings that will be abandoned earlier, less specialized hospital buildings. conservation of modern buildings. But even or demolished to make way for new facilities The redevelopment options, therefore, for with vigilant advocates in organisations such are historically significant and worthy of surviving hospital buildings such as the as DOCOMOMO, preserving the heritage protection as heritage places: they are heritage-listed Freemason’s (1936), East of twentieth century design is certain to significant sites of memory and social meaning Melbourne, are quite narrow, and the face difficulties. To meet these challenges as places intimately associated with birth, likelihood of meaningful retention of interior demands creative consideration not only of illness and death; they are symbols of spaces is highly unlikely in the longer term. what is significant and why, but of cherished progress in science and technology; they are As with many twentieth century buildings heritage conservation concepts and representative of the expanding activity of the difficulties of preservation are procedures. Such procedures are government and medicine in the management compounded by a preponderance of themselves historical artefacts, designed to of populations in the twentieth century; and, hazardous materials. address particular problems. As such they not least, they are landmarks of the modern carry with them assumptions and residues movement in architecture in Australia. Yet there are instances where creative of the period in which they were devised. planning, enlightened heritage conservation While the guiding principles of a document At a recent workshop (November 2008) on practice and good design have provided such as the Burra Charter have been the subject of hospitals and heritage, hosted new life for aging modern hospital buildings. durable and remarkably useful, they may not by the Faculty of Architecture, Building At the former St. Margaret’s Hospital site be adequate to the task of preserving many Nursing station, St. George’s Hospital, Kew, Leighton Irwin & Co. (1938) and Planning, heritage conservation in Surry Hills, Sydney, two historically Photograph: Commercial Photographic Company, c.1947, held by Irwin Alsop Group significant twentieth century buildings.A Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 016 | 02017
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Dean’s Lecture Series: Recent Lectures Upcoming Lectures
17.03.09 28.04.09 04.08.09 08.09.09 Sheela Patel Winston Shu Carme Pinós Vladimir Djurovic
Today as we are about to complete the first decade of the Integrated Design – a Holistic Approach and a Business Model Studio Carme Pinós, Barcelona Vladimir Djurovic Landscape 21st century, we find that the promises made by most of our Architecture, Broumana, Lebanon In today’s advancement in building engineering and leaders through the Millennium Development Goals stand to Carme Pinos (pictured) is an acknowledged leader in the technology, the creation of architecture is no longer the be postponed, glossed over or just forgotten. landscape architecture, architecture and urban design Landscapes of Living plaything reserved only for the architect. Projects such as disciplines. Her projects have included Igualada Cemetery Curating the indigenous with the contemporary, whilst creating The process of globalisation which was to answer all problems through the CCTV and the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing are prime Park, the Archery Range Buildings for the 1992 Olympic landscapes from which forms emerge in synergic action with a its imageries of freed financial markets providing governance, wealth examples that fantastic architectural forms are made possible Games and the La Llauna School in Badalona. The work poetic functionalism. The fluency of architectural composition and the end to poverty are crashing before our eyes. Cities and towns only when advanced engineering principles are considered of Pinós-Miralles received awards on several occasions, and the refined simplicity of spaces provide a unique encounter in the global south face challenges of managing immigration, whilst as an integral part of their conceptualisation process. counting the FAD prize for the La Llauna School and the between the language of the natural world and the senses. growth of populations through internal growth and migration strain In a multi-disciplinary world of professional practice, Igualada Cemetery Park, as well as the City of Barcelona Prize Guided by a philosophy of the esoteric but pragmatic, and break down its infrastructure. Since most of the growth in cities architects have to possess a broad spectrum of design for the Archery Range Buildings for the 1992 Olympic Games. luxurious but minimal, Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture is anticipated to be the poor seeking better livelihoods, urban poverty skills and engineering knowledge to practice their craft, In 1991 she set up her own studio and transferred the is committed to drawing out the uniqueness of an environment is exacerbated by long standing avoidance by cities and governments from conceptual ideas to realities. In a commercial world supervision and construction of several projects initiated in with simplicity of gesture that gives nature the stage. Striving to to address the issue. such skills are absolutely essential, especially when a project her previous office, including the Community Centre and come up with environments where parts blend into a harmonious demands an alternative or mode-breaking solution to Now the debate on climate change further anticipates two further Auditorium in Hostalets de Balanya, La Mina Community whole, and time hopefully dissolves into the present, becomes become feasible. By adopting an integrated approach at crisis for cities, in which the city itself facing disasters, will find its Centre and the Boarding School in Morella. the main aim of all of their interventions. concept stage the architect has a better chance in bringing poor and vulnerable facing the brunt of the disaster, coupled life to such a project, because specialists that architects with the potential in migration of those within that region and Exhibitions of her designs and projects have been Vladimir Djurovic provides an accessible introduction to this often rely upon to engineer the design are usually engaged from other nations coming into cities and climate change refugees. displayed throughout the world including the Venice new approach to landscape architecture in which the audience only when the project has the go ahead, usually after the Architecture Biennale and the MOMA. She is widely will be taken through a selection of their projects, describing • Can these realities be acknowledged and reconciled? concept has been signed off by the client. published throughout the world in magazines and books. along the way the spatial composition of forms, choreography • Is there a potential to turn this crisis into a strategy This integrated approach to taking design from concept to of light and the judicious framing and dissembling of scenery for positive change? construction runs through most of our projects. Our objective beyond the site. • Do the urban poor, the migrants, the environmental in adopting this approach is not about the creation of exciting refugees have a role to play? forms, but the enhancement of performance of the building as Winner of Martyrs Square competition, Beirut, Freedom • Will the academia finally begin to develop theories habitats in meeting the client’s specific functional requirements. Park Competition, Pretoria, Aga Khan Museum and Isamili of change to address these challenges? This lecture illustrated the need that architects must work, not Centre, Toronto, and winner of American Society of Landscape • And finally, will the elite in cities and the politicians in isolation, but to embrace many aspects of engineering and Architecture Award, International Design Award, Aga Khan join this debate and explorations? technologies that can turn complex, otherwise banal building types Award for Architecture. A into projects that are innovative, user-friendly, and more importantly My views come from those who deal with this process from the difference they make in the client’s perception of values. below. The communities of the urban poor, whose circumstances of poverty produce survival strategies in urban situations where they have remained invisible for decades.
To view transcripts and footage from previous lectures please visit: http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/aboutus/events/deans-lecture-series/ Registration is essential for these lectures, for more information please email [email protected] Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 018 | 019
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
EYES 2008
A collection of projects from 122 123 112 113 Nicholas Braun the Faculty of Architecture Ji Hyung Joo Building & Planning of the UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne EYES 2008 oBsessIon University of Melbourne. MInD tHe GAP BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, eyes BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, PLAce: socIAL PLAce: AnD econoMIc PLAce: socIAL PLAce: AnD econoMIc This edition of EYES is the fourteenth in AnD econoMIc PLAce: socIAL AnD econoMIc PLAce: socIAL FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, oF ARcHItectURe, FAcULtY BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG the series and the second in its new format. 2008 oF ARcHItectURe, FAcULtY BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG oBsessIon Established in 1995, the annual publication MInD tHe GAP EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne
is an opportunity to gather together works EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne representative of the year in the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, hence the name of the publication: Everyone’s Year End Show.
022 023 106 107 eyes Station Pier Katie Miller Amelia Borg
Tutors Co-ordinator Iftekhar Ahmed John Sadar Ciaran Grogan Bachelor of Planning & Design Flavia Marcello Ooi Wei-Yap
This studio encouraged students to propose and resolve their projects as integrated solutions arising from a sea of competing interests. e.g. structure, environmental management, movement. In considering design as the fusion of artistic and technological concerns, the studio considered UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne EYES 2008 the physical assembly of building systems as paramount to design development. The resulting projects demonstrated an understanding of the relationship between technology and proposal, while approaching the issues of programmatic resolution, context, aesthetics and technology with imaginative rigour. MInD tHe GAP MInD tHe GAP stAtIon PIeR stAtIon BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, PLAce: socIAL PLAce: AnD econoMIc conteXts AnD InteRVentIons 2008 AnD econoMIc PLAce: socIAL InteRVentIons conteXts AnD FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, oF ARcHItectURe, FAcULtY BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG FAcULtY oF ARcHItectURe, oF ARcHItectURe, FAcULtY BUILDInG AnD PLAnnInG MInD tHe GAP stAtIon PIeR EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne EYES 2008 UnIVeRsItY oF MeLBoURne A collection of projects from the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning of the University of Melbourne
Over these years the Faculty has developed What has not changed in these years is Highlighting the nature of academic Yes, I would like to buy EYES 2008 its capacities and foci, reflecting the changing the complexity and richness of the work and professional engagement, there is needs of our communities and students. produced. The fields in which we learn work by individuals and work from teams, Naturally, this change will continue - so the and research continue to be tremendously including those consisting of local and Personal Details Payment Postage and handling options per book value of such an annual encapsulation of varied, ranging from conceptual explorations international collaborators. Name: Enclosed is my cheque or money order • Australia $8.00 achievements and production is therefore of to data intense analysis or closely argued (payable to The University of Melbourne) or • Overseas Zone A (NZ) & Within each of these sections the work enormous value and considerable importance. writings. In this issue we are very pleased Address: Overseas Zone B (Asia/Pacific)$15.00 In those years we have grown from a student to present work from across the Faculty illustrates the richness in breadth and Please charge my credit card: • Overseas Zone C body of 985 to over 2200 people and a staff and include work by students and staff from depth undertaken by staff and students, Home Telephone: visa MasterCard (USA/Canada/Mid.East) $25.00 of over 130. The professions and discipline each of the discipline areas of Architecture, including studios, field work and workshops, • Overseas Zone D areas into which we graduate students have Landscape Architecture, Property & presented by means of drawings, Preferred Email: Card number: photographs and essays. (UK, EC and rest of world) $30.00 changed; the practice of architecture or urban Construction and Urban Planning. Expiry date: / Business Title: planning, for example, is not what it was years Name as appears on card: ago when the first issue was published. Reflecting our changing interests, we have While this compilation contains a organised the work loosely around seven selection of work, it is a portrait of the Please send me copies @ $20AU each themes reflecting the intellectual foci of the Faculty and represents the efforts of Cardholder signature: faculty: Contexts and Interventions; Place: many. Congratulations to all who exhibited, Social and Economic; Design Protocols and presented, taught and contributed. A Processes; Settings, Systems and Services; Production and Knowledge and Professions; Please return to the Marketing Department using the reply paid envelope enclosed or fax to: 61 3 9347 4856. Thank you for your support. and History, Theory and Criticism. Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 020 | 021
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
Australian Institute of Architects / This was a unique opportunity to view The aim of the prize was to: • Support the transition from the work of Victoria’s most outstanding education to the profession. architecture graduates of 2008 and • Encourage a better understanding Combined University celebrate the ongoing development and of becoming an architect This prize is awarded to a graduating high standards of architectural education. • Promote the profession’s support student in every architecture school in Schools of Architecture for graduates Australia and will be awarded jointly by The Institute Graduate Program provides • Promote registration with professional the Institute and the co-sponsor practice. A Graduate Prize Exhibition encouragement and support for architecture bodies graduates as they embark on their • Involve practices in the training and Monday 23 March professional careers. professional growth of graduates
Deakin University / RMIT University / University of Melbourne / McGlashian Everist prize Bligh Voller Nield prize Bates Smart prize Shortlisted Students: Shortlisted Students: Shortlisted Students: Lachlan Troup Ilana Friedman Cliff Chang Natalia Guaraldo Vanja Joffer Matt Choot Augustine Savage Helen Chen Winner: Peter McIntyre Catherine Ranger Winner: Fiona Lew Winner: Sam Perversi-Brooks
Main image on left page: Part of University of Melbourne Finalist, Matt Choots project: Top image right page: University of Melbourne Winner Fiona Chens project, on portable school kitchen classrooms
Bottom images: Top left: Dean of the Faculty Tom Kvan in discussion with Roger Poole and Eugene Cheah from Bates Smart Bottom, second from the left: AIA Victoria President, Karl Fender with University of Melbourne Winner Fiona Lew and Eugene Cheah and Roger Poole from Bates Smart
Bottom right: AIA Victoria President, Karl Fender Atrium PAGE 10 | 2009 022 | 023
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE FFACULTYACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE BUILDING & PLANNING
From the Faculty
Congratulations Exhibitions, Lectures Books Funding/ and Expeditions Grant Success
Chris Heywood’s paper ‘The Sustainable Former staff and alumni who were recently Margaret Grose was interviewed by ABC Carolyn Whitzman and Janet McGaw Hao Wu’s new book ‘Emerging Commercial Anoma Pieris was awarded a Competitive Advantage Model for Corporate awarded 2008 PIA Fellowships. Nigel Radio South East whilst in NSW during the were guest speakers at the City of Port Property Cycle: China’s Property markets in Graham Foundation Research Grant Real Estate’ was chosen as a Highly Flannigan was awarded a Life Fellowship field trip forthe Masters subject Constructed Philip International Women’s Day event the Economic Transition’ has just been of US$5000 for her project Avian Commended Award Winner at the Literati and Craig Czarny and Edward Zagami Ecologies. The group went to Kosciuszko ‘Women and Urban Planning – A published by VDM Verlag, who note that Geographies: Understanding Ethno- Network Awards for Excellence 2009. were named as Fellows. National Park and met with Craig Ingram, Gender Issue’. ‘Hao Wu has done an excellent job in Nationalism in Medieval Lanka. MP for Gippsland East to discuss ecological John Stone (GAMUT) won the Urban Policy Students in the subject Advanced enhancing our understanding of this and governance issues of the Snowy River. Alex Selenitsch and Janet McGaw David O’Brien and Iftekhar Ahmed and Research Brian McLoughlin Award Landscape Technology, coordinated by important property market from an joined the AIA Awards panels this year. have won a research grant from Raphael 2008 for his paper ‘Contrasts in Reform: Sidh Sintusingha, have taken out Jules Moloney presented a paper at institutional economics perspective.’ Janet chaired the Urban Design category Vinoly Architects, New York to conduct How the Cain and Burke years shaped both 1st and 2nd prizes in the Students ‘Critical Digital’ conference at Harvard and Alex joined the panel for the ‘Eco-urbanity: towards well-mannered built research on the appropriateness and public transport in Melbourne and Perth’. Competition category of Growing Up: The Graduate School of Design. Colorbond Steel Award. environments’ edited by Darko Radovic subsequent transformation to post-tsunami Blueprint to Green-Roof Melbourne design Ajibade Aibinu whose appointment Professorial Fellow Allan Rodger will be has just been published by Routledge, and housing in Aceh, Indonesia. Theirs was one competition organised by the Committee Carolyn Whitzman, David Nichols, and as Lecturer was confirmed at the first giving a public lecture in Shanghai on the features chapters by Darko, Rob Adams, of only five awards given to a field of over for Melbourne’s Future Focus Group. They research assistant Jana Perkovic have meeting of the Faculty’s Confirmation theme ‘Financial Crisis, Environment and Jianfei Zhu, Sidh Sintusingha and others. 180 applicants. are Mathilde Vasnier and Lara Wescott completed a project for the Women’s and Promotions Panel for 2009. Architecture’. winning first prize andYu MingYu and Jie Planning Network entitled ‘From Accidental Carolyn Whitzman’s new book Suburb, Anna Hurlimann, Jenny Robins and Hui Chen (collaborating with engineering The 2009 Rising Star Scholarship Miles Lewis was invited by the Planner to Agent Provocateur: 100 years Slum, Urban Village: The Transformations Alan March were awarded $30k from the students Jian Yang and Yanqing Ruan) of Women in Planning in Victoria’. of Toronto’s Parkdale Neighbourhood has University’s Learning and Teaching Initiatives recipient is William Wong, a third year winning second prize. In the Professional Länsstyrelsen Gävleborg (Gävleborg undergraduate. This scholarship is offered County Administrative Board) in Sweden just been published by University of British fund for their project ‘Development of Competition category, alumna Ruth Jeff Turnbull prepared and presented by the Women’s Planning Network and deliver a paper on ‘Swedish Rural Building Columbia Press. Carolyn’s book examines a Model Framework for Curriculum Czemak of Botanical Traditions who tutors a tour of Newman College for HRH Prince Hansen Partnerships, and awards the best Traditions and Industrial Technology.’ Whilst the relationship between image and reality Reinvigoration at the Program Level.’ A for landscape architecture also won 3rd Richard, Duke of Gloucester. The Duke essay on gender and planning issues by there Miles was interviewed by Swedish TV for the city neighbourhood of Parkdale in prize. The judging panel for the competition was accompanied by Karl Fender, Victorian university students in Victoria. William’s and attended an expert meeting where the Toronto. In it she tracks Parkdale’s story was chaired by Geoffrey London, the Chapter President of the Australian Institute essay, on ‘Designing Urban Space: ‘Queer World Heritage nomination of buildings in across three eras: its early decades as a Victorian Government Architect. of Architects (AIA). Theory’ and Identity Politics’, was judged by Hälsingland was discussed. politically independent suburb of the industrial city; its half-century of ostensible a panel which included Carolyn Whitzman. Lindy Joubert was keynote speaker Hemanta Doloi was invited by the decline toward becoming a slum; and a for ‘Children in Scotland - PictureThis’ Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) post-industrial period of transformation in December in Edinburgh and is a Australasia to give an evening seminar into a revitalised urban village. panellist and speaker at the World on ‘PPP & Life Cycle Project Management’ Summit Future Capitals. in Perth .
Images from pages 01, 02 & 03, 04, 06, 08 & 09, 10 & 11, 22 & 23 have been sourced from iStockphoto PAGE 024 | 02
Atrium Atrium 10 | 2009 10 | 2009
contact Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia DEVELOPING phone + 61 3 8344 6417 www.abp.unimelb.edu.au RESPONSIBLE DESIGN
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Published by the Faculty FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE of Architecture, Building and Planning BUILDING & PLANNING Co-Editors: Melanie Schoo and Michele Burder Design: Studio Binocular Images: Basspixel.com; Authorised by Professor Tom Kvan, Dean Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning Copyright: Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. November 2008. ISSN 1447-1728 The University of Melbourne CRICOS provider code: 00116K