The business of architecture
What is it? Gaming censorship in Australia currently offers no equivalent of the R18+ rating that exists for film and television, meaning that computer games containing high levels of violence like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Left 4 Dead II and Grand Theft Auto IV have been awarded an MA15+ rating and others, like... 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? 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?Discussed this morning on talkback radio, the Obesity Policy Coalition is lobbying government to introduce regulations that would require traffic light labels on the front of food packaging and fast food menus. A red traffic light label would mean high levels of sugars, fats or salt, an orange label would mean medium levels and a... Continue Reading →
What is it? Frank Gehry's first building in Australia, the Dr Chau Chak Wing building at the University of Technology Sydney, revealed last week and discussed in an IndesignLive post viewable here. IndesignLive makes some peculiar comments about the design ideas behind the building: "The east-facing façade will be made of a buff-coloured brick reminiscent... Continue Reading →
What is it? The MAXXI National Museum of Art from the 21st Century is a recently completed and much lauded project by Zaha Hadid in Rome. So far, it has won the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize and, just last month, the 2010 World Architecture Festival World Building of the Year award, both prestigious and well-contested accolades.... Continue Reading →