The business of architecture
What is it? The comic genius behind XKCD, Randall Munroe, has put together this chart comparing the radiation doses received from various activities, giving graphical measurements in sieverts, the unit that quantifies the affect ionising radiation has on the human body: We receive 0.1 microsieverts of radiation from eating a banana. We received 0.05 microsieverts... Continue Reading →
The recent earthquake, tsunami and aftershocks that have (and are continuing to) hit Japan are tragedies surpassed only by what now appears to be the real possibility of a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. Images of containment chambers on fire, video footage of radioactive water vapour pouring into the atmosphere and discussion of... Continue Reading →
What is it? As graffiti is commonly understood to involve the addition of paint or other markings to bare public surfaces, its opposite would be the removal of such markings. Or, as in the case of the Ossario project by Brazilian artist, Alexandre Orion, it is the selective removal of dirt and grime to reveal... Continue Reading →
What is it? An experimental green building completed late last year by builder-developer Grocon, architecture studio Studio 505 and sustainability consultancy Umow Lai on the Carlton United Brewery site in Carlton. It is being used as the site office for a major development on the site as well as acting as a showcase and testing ground for new... Continue Reading →
What is it? The Energy Report is a feasibility study into sourcing 100% of the world's energy from renewable resources by 2050, commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with renewable energy consultancy, Ecofys, and dutch architecture firm, The Office for Metropolitan Architecture. It is available here for download. The future scenario explored by... Continue Reading →
What are they? They are a series of measures implemented over the past few years to Melbourne's freeways and tollways that aim to improve traffic flow during peak periods. They include reduced speed limits, red lights at on-ramps to pace incoming traffic, flashing signs in the Burnley Tunnel encouraging us to "avoid lane change[s]" and... Continue Reading →
All I want for Christmas is for my city to have... A high-density, diverse and vital city centre. Medium-density suburb hubs containing key residential services such as doctors, newsagents, post offices, supermarkets and pharmacies. Variety in property sizing and street layout providing diversity in occupational possibilities. A comprehensive public transport system that is less than... Continue Reading →
What is it? First seen on an Inhabitat post, Watervilla De Omval is a floating 2-bedroom house on a canal off the Amstel River in Amsterdam. Designed by Dutch architecture studio +31 Architects, the houseboat is permanantly moored and has no means of propulsion, but does rise and fall with the tides and also has a jetty... Continue Reading →
What is it? A house in Playa Avellanas, Costa Rica, by architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe for his mother. It was presented last week at the World Architecture Festival, deservedly winning its category. What do we think? The plan and section are both straightforward and easy to understand, the former shaped by use - living, sleeping... Continue Reading →