The triangle offensive

This is the 6th of twenty-one lessons for design students, gathered from the combined experience of being a student, and teaching students. I will published one lesson each weekday until they're done. 6. The triangle offensive At the Australian Institute of Architects national conference this year, keynote speaker Gregg Pasquarelli suggested a powerful test of any idea: A good... Continue Reading →

Reflecting on Risk 2015

What was it? The Australian Institute of Architects‘ annual architecture conference, held two weeks ago in Melbourne. Creatively directed by Donald Bates, Hamish Lyon and Andrew Mackenzie, it explored the changing role of risk in architecture. The directors framed the discussion by observing that "No one wants to be a safe architect. Safety assumes the conventional and the predictable. Who wants... Continue Reading →

From post-modern to past-modern

Chai Viticole (Vauvert, 1998) What was it? A lecture held late last year as part of the Australian Institute of Architect's International Speaker Series. French architect, Gilles Perraudin of Perraudin Architectes, discussed his works and search for a timeless architecture. The lecture was attended by a sparse audience at sponsor Austral Bricks' Brick Studio and hosted by... Continue Reading →

What’s in a name?

Farrah Tomazin, The Age, p. 13, 18th November 2012 architect \ˈär-kə-ˌtekt\ 1) a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction 2) a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking In Australia, there are many who claim ownership of the name, architect, but who among them truly deserve it? First of the aspirants are... Continue Reading →

New Technologies: New Processes

What was it?A round-table discussion held at BMW Edge last Thursday, part of the Agenda series courtesy of the University of Melbourne’s faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. It followed on from Gregg Pasquarelli's excellent Dean's Lecture held earlier in the week, discussed here, and addressed the changing role of technology in design and construction.Chaired by Professor Donald Bates,... Continue Reading →

Out of Practice

Dunescape by SHoP Architects, New York, 2000 What was it? The second Dean's Lecture for 2013, courtesy of the University of Melbourne’s faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. Held on Tuesday night last week, the speaker was Gregg Pasquarelli, one of the five founding directors of SHoP Architects based in New York. He presented a selection of... Continue Reading →

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