The business of architecture
The City of Yarra recently undertook an engagement programme to canvass community opinion on future planning. The programme, Liveable Yarra, gathered local residents together for four half-day sessions to discuss and analyse the built environment, transport, housing and business. It asked participants to consider the shape of Yarra 20 years from now, by which time the local population is expected... Continue Reading →
What is it? An unsolicited project our architecture practice, Mihaly Slocombe, recently completed. We redesigned a segment of Drummond Street in Carlton North, the street where we live and practice. The project began with conversations with around two thirds of our neighbours, who helped us understand the cross section of the community for whom we were designing, as... Continue Reading →
What was it? Part one of an all-day seminar we attended late last month, presented by marketing guru Winston Marsh and held at the State Library for a group of 20 - 30 architects, mostly small practitioners. Beginning with the plain-spoken promise that good marketing will help us earn lots and lots of money, the seminar provided... Continue Reading →
A typical Carlton North green median strip We consider ourselves very lucky to live in Carlton North. Walkscore ranks its walkability in the top 20 of Melbourne's 346 suburbs, awarding it 88 out of 100 total points. The Walkscore summary states that "most errands can be accomplished on foot" while residents "can walk to an... Continue Reading →
What is it? A recent article in the Saturday Age by Julie Szego on the proposed demolition of Ampol House, "Stripping the glitter from architecture's 'golden' oldies", offers an insightful observation into the nature of heritage and the planning policies that protect it. Ampol House, a kooky old gasoline company headquarters on the corners of... Continue Reading →