{Brisbane Architecture Blog}

room with a view

2011-05-31T03:21:00.001-07:00

the image says it all... the view from my old window at the cliffside apartments...

Sometimes things just line up perfectly.

2011-05-06T23:09:00.001-07:00

Architects are always looking up. Why?
Up is where architecture meets the heavens. How insightful of me.

TONIC 'an active back door'

2011-04-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

In quiet Hynes street behind the HQ by BVN architects lives Tonic's back door.

It's not any old back door though. In the morning the light warms up eager customers who line up for arguably one of brisbanes best coffee.

Inside is simple and the office is visible from the coffee zone. Coffee and ideas seem to go well with together, it's a nice synergy of space.
An interesting Adpative Reuse project and clever use of a double fronted site!

Warner St Carpark

2011-04-06T23:39:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, when you look at something dull, from the right angle at the right time of day, (and photoshop the berjeesuz out of it) it might not look so bad.

Electricity

2011-04-06T23:30:00.000-07:00

Check it. The apocalypse is coming. Or at least it looked like it was in Wishart the other afternoon.

Tree in the City

2011-03-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

Why is it that some of the most simple things become the hardest to achieve? Maybe in the hustle and bustle of daily life we disconnect from certain elements.

Industrial Giraffes

2011-03-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

On the ferry trip to moreton island, you may see these large giraffes living in the Port of Brisbane. Some creative people believe they are cargo ship cranes... late at night, in the early hours of the morning, you can sometimes see them walking around the headland...

Inside / Outside

2011-03-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

this is a contribution from the Cloud Dwellers....it really intrigues me. at one spectrum I ponder how it's possible to remove the innards, the soul, from a building of such Cultural Heritage Significance - at another spectrum I am simply drawn inside this as a photographic study, suspended in 2D vertigo...

"This is an inside - outside montage of the remnant facade of George Symon's Suits and St Francis House in Elizabeth St."

- Cloud Dwellers. www.cloud-dwellers.com.au

Home Festival

2011-03-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

it's an understatement to say that brisbane is forming a new cultural identity! 'walking the walk' is the Home Festival - get along and support the event on Saturday 9th April...

2011

2011-03-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

A new year has begun (well it's March now).

Brisbab has taken a little break, refreshed and geared up for a new year of observing, connecting, commenting and discussing ideas.

As a New Zealander, a friend (and lover) of Japan and a citizen of Brisbane, reflecting on recent events, ocurring in these places, has in my view brought about a broader way of thinking, about both people and the environments (built and natural) we live in.

For anyone that may read or follow us and has been affected in anyway, our sincerest thoughts and wishes of strength (Kia Kaha!) go out to you, your friends and your families.

From our observations there is a huge amount of renewed community spirit, locally and internationally. On this note, we hope to capture the essence of a renewed year ahead!

A brisbane storm

2010-12-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

As night rolls over... the sky comes alive with lightning and thunder to follow.
Home becomes a safe place to retreat and watch on.
Calm returns as mother natures storm passes and blackness of the night returns, warmed by moonlight.

City Cycle Bikes

2010-10-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

photo - 2010 the foto fanatic

And their off and racing!

Bikes have descended upon the city and there are everywhere. Pretty good initiative from the Brisbane City Council. A few more billboard signs equally scattered around town we will have to accept so the bikes stay on the road and are well serviced... we can talk about them another time though, lets enjoy the wind in our hair zipping around town between appointments. It may even make the utilitarian bike helmet a fashion accessory in between journey's.

to ensure a safe ride, read the small print;

be 17 years or older

no riding in lightning storms or fog

after having consumed alcohol

ensure you are fit

and revisit base within 24 hours

Keys Rocks

2010-09-30T04:46:00.000-07:00

Most people experience the Brisbane river while moving along its edge. Whether it is in a rowing scull, a City Cat or cycling, jogging and walking along its banks.There are just a few public places where you are forced to let the river ebb and flow past whilst you stay still. A far more intimate relationship; a place for solitude, romance or mischief.

The end of the Toowong reach's Keys Rocks has a vantage across to Orliegh Park. Just upstream from the former ABC site, a suitable landing place for a Bridge perhaps. It makes sense to place a bridge in a bend of the river at least.

Got to love Skinning Residential.

Asia-Pacific Design Library

2010-09-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

Ever developing and evolving as a place of exchange for ideas, thought and cultural activities is the State Library of Queensland (SLQ)! Living up to expectations is the announcement for the opening of the Asia Pacific Design Library - set to be a dynamic and flexible place for those thirsty for all facets of design...

"...The State Library of Queensland, through the Asia Pacific Design Library, aims to develop the best publicly accessible collection of design resources in the Asia Pacific, promoting contemporary thought and analysis on design in the region.

With lectures, exhibitions, research support, studios, publications, events and a strengthened focus on design collections, the State Library will be a hub for design resources and design activity as well as a trusted archive for records of historical and contemporary Queensland design and designers.

Through strengthened investment in design collections, a bespoke Design Lounge, Design On-line and a rich program of design activity the Asia Pacific Design Library will bring a new focus for partnerships amongst leading designers and institutions. Collection development, research support, publications, exhibitions and events will concentrate especially on design of the public realm, digital design, fashion, design of books and products for better living and design – led business and practice."
- about APDL SLQ

Building Churn (+ Burrrpppp)

2010-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

It doesn't get more obvious than this! Thankfully there are plenty of advocates and a lot of real data teaching 'us' that Building Churn is a bad (not Michael Jackson style 'bad' - unsustainable!) concept!

There is (on the less serious side of the issue) something still quite humurous about this image though - I would have loved to see the demolition drawing, maybe noted like this?.... "remove window, cut wall to floor and push the whole interior fitout through the window"

Spring Rain...

2010-09-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

TEDx (brisbane)

2010-09-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Who is TED?

Admittedly, I recently thought TED was a guy that did cool presentations and posted them somewhere on the web! Hmmm, not quite, TED is an acronym for 'Technology Entertainment Design', a platform for "Ideas worth spreading". Sounds simple, and it is, but don't underestimate the impact TED is having around the world and the people that are engaging with this platform!

Last night was my first TEDx event. It began at 12.15am with (free and amazing) coffee by the DiBella crew - a great way to start a new relationship - in the home of Pecha Kucha, the Brisbane Powerhouse

This TEDxChange x=independently organised TED event was a live webcast from the Paley Center (pretty sure Batman lives there!) for Media, New York where world leaders are meeting at a summit to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) and accelerate progress toward the 2015 goals.

As everyone, strangers and friends, mingled like an adult sleep over, and just as the caffeine began to fade, like the after affect of a party cake 'sugar come down', brisbane's local hosts Carl Lindgren and Paul Fairweather briefly appeared to introduce the 'webstream' host and curator Chris Anderson - for 90 minutes we were enriched with a succession of incredible (world leading) speakers... Hans Rosling... Melinda French Gates... The Revolutionary Optimists... Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew... Mechi Viravaidya and Grac Machel.

I can't really say much more - put aside 95.48 minutes and watch it here... TEDxCHANGE Webcast

Like a bright moon in the late night sky, lay empty coffee cups after a long day passes by...

Beach Shack

2010-09-20T19:54:00.001-07:00

Fortitude Valley Baths

2010-09-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

With Summer just around the corner and the temperatures rising, before long a trip to the local pool will be on the Sunday afternoon agenda. If Fortitude Valley Pool is your local, next time you head though the turnstile check out the great detail which the city architect of the time thought appropriate, and I think a wonderful touch!

Although much of the original building has been renovated, extended and changed, the facade remains intact and with it a balcony on axis with James Street. Such detailing of the time and what a great idea to transform the console brackets into Dolphins.

The City Architect was Alfred Herbert Foster who served in this position from 1925 until his death in 1932. Some other buildings designed during his time are the Bandstand in New Farm Park, the Kurilpa Library in West End and the ornate Power Sub-Station on the corner Gregory Terrace and Brunswick Street.

Brisbane Open House

2010-09-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Set aside some time on Saturday 2nd October for the inaugural Brisbane Open House 2010. BOH is the your chance to have exclusive back-of-house access to some of the cities greatest buildings accompanied by some of Brisbane's best architects as your tour guide.

Investigate some of our most historic architecture like Old Government House or Customs House, look behind the scenes at the National Australia Bank on Queen Street or get a birds eye view of town from high above street level in Santos Place or Riparian Plaza. There are many tours buildings to choose from catering for everyone's tastes and style.

BOH is an initiative of the Queensland Government Architect, Philip Follent, with great support from the Brisbane Development Association. This is Brisbane's way of celebrating World Architecture Day, held internationally on the first Monday of October. When else do you get a free-of-charge chance to see and hear the stories behind the architectural and engineering gems of Brisbane.

Best Time Ever

2010-07-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

If you are heading north to Woodfordia next weekend to celebrate the 2010 Splendour in the Grass Festival, keep an eye out for the installation “Best Time Ever”. This collaboration between Byron Bay based Architect Dominic Finlay-Jones and Sydney artist Lauren Brincat is sure to arouse the imagination. They have conceived and built a towering staircase descending from the heavens, a project made possible by Arts NSW Initiative Splendid.

This large sculptural piece will draw the festival goers in from a distance, marking an important location at the Woodford Site. Up close the Installation will reveal another face, as it will act as a giant sun-dial, with notions dating back to the ancient equinoctial sundial Samrat Yantra at the same latitude North in India.

Cross disciplinary collaborations are becoming a more common occurrence in building projects, with the end product all the more richer for it! As Dominic has said, “As an architect, I find great pleasure in rationalising a crazy idea – of breaking it down, smoothing it out – figuring out how it might actually happen. Best Time Ever is one such big, crazy idea.”

All images Sourced from http://besttimeever.com.au/

Best time Ever - Splendour 2010

VENICE BIENNALE

2010-06-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES URBAN VISIONS FOR THIS

YEAR'S VENICE BIENNALE

...the final submissions for the ‘Now + When Australian Urbanism’ exhibition

for the Australian Pavilion at this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale. The ‘Now’ element will present six of Australia’s most interesting urban and anti-urban aerial views as they are now, while the ‘When’ element (attached) shows 17 architecture practices’ futuristic urban visions of Australia in 40+ years time.

Given that Australia is one of the most urbanised continents on earth, with 93% of people living in cities, these architectural ideas comment profoundly on urban density and sprawl and will act as a catalyst for debate at the Biennale.

Both ‘Now’ and ‘When’ sections of the exhibition will be shown on a completely new form of 3D stereoscopic technology, beyond that of recent blockbuster movie releases.

The Fear Free City – Justina Karakiewicz, Tom Kvan and Steve Hatzellis

A future city, free from the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour, where many open spaces and all local amenities are within walking distance. Free from commuting, people will enjoy more recreational time. Movement is not limited to ground level, but happens at all levels allowing for extensive views of the city and surrounding country side.

Ocean City – Arup Biomimetics

A new underwater city, Syph, spawned from a rise in interest in biomimetic practices and materials in the advent of climate change. The migration of the Australian population from land to sea because of the sky-rocketing value of disappearing land, provided an opportunity to develop a new cityscape. A collection of specialised organisms function as a whole, with some pods being energy producers, some industrial, and others for sustainable farming and food production.

Island Proposition 2100 (IP2100) – Scott Lloyd, Aaron Roberts (room11) and Katrina Stoll

The Island Proposition 2100 embodies hyper-connectivity, the IP2100 spine contains a system of hybrid infrastructures, which will link future urban centres and their territories. The spine will transport people and goods using magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, carry energy, water and agriculture goods, convert ‘waste’ to resources, and provide living, industrial, and commercial spaces along the network. The linear axis will minimise sprawl and concentrate growth along its route, significantly reducing the time and pollution of current travel.

A castle ruin

2010-04-21T02:19:00.000-07:00

A conversation between Ronan, Mr Scott and an old building in Maryborough, read on...

[ Ronan ]

Where do buildings go when they die?

On a site visit to Maryborough recently we discovered a masterpiece. A building of multiple additions clad in layers of corroding corrugated iron fills the landscape like a castle ruin.

Patina - The sheen on any surface, produced by age and use

And they Buy + Sell.

I want one. And so does Michael Scott!

[ Ronan ]

Michael, Any ideas what this building was used for??

[ Michael ]

“Industry! Definitely industry – where fact is stranger than fiction – I love industrial processes expressed in the building form – when the process is stripped out it’s hard to imagine how it worked and why it needed such eccentric architectural expression.”

Brisbane 1944... mystery photo location?

2010-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Attention brisbane history enthusiasts!

We have been sent this intriguing historical photo with the intention of trying to locate where it was taken...

"...I have an old photo of my Dad in 1944 in Brisbane. Can you tell where in Brisbane he is from this photo? Thanks ahead of time. This is genealogical research I am doing. Dad died in August. Any help would be appreciated."

Mark

Your contribution would be appreciated! please (comment on this post or) email though to brisbab@gmail.com where you think (preferably 99% certain of where) it is.

ANOTHER WHITE GEM!

2009-12-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

Happy Haus
WHITE SERIES

Owen+Vokes

You could glance at this first image and briefly mistake it for a house in a 'suburban setting' - oh how nice it would be to have no fences? - anyway on closer review you'll notice it's a/the White Series Happy Haus by architects Owen and Vokes, located in southbank, corner grey and tribune streets.

So what's a Happy Haus?? Here is some recent press that best describes what it's all about... GREEN MAGAZINE article

Gardens and water storage have also been considered (pineapples in the garden look tasty, give them a few weeks and they be ready for picking)

it's great to see an example of (prefab) sustainable architecture pop up in the flesh - a positive step towards educating the general public!

1909 Treasury Building

2009-10-29T21:13:00.001-07:00

Another one from Mike – this one about the original design for the treasury building – see the model of the original proposal just to the right of centre -

Image sourced from Picture Queensland

I did not realise the Treasury Building was designed with this enormous tower emerging from it! Love this strategy – design a building of good quality and add a preposterous feature which can be removed to save money and then the building you want, gets built! This model is being displayed in the Brisbane Exhibition Building in 1909. Like the timber screens!

They really don’t make things like they used to.

Norman Park in the 1950’s

2009-10-29T21:07:00.001-07:00

This is another guest post from Michael Scott – a veritable gold mine of interesting bits and pieces of information about the history of our city.

Image sourced from Picture Australia

…first saw this when I was working for BCC and was startled to realise how recent this development was – this is Housing Commission houses in Norman Park in the 1950s – Norman Park is now considered a relatively inner suburb but the long rows of back yard dunnies looks like an old pattern of development in a newly developing suburb, so I initially thought it was a 19^th century photo.

It wasn’t till I looked more closely at the houses and saw they were cheap post-war houses that the date made sense. Of course it wasn’t till Clem Jones came along in the 1960s and half-sewered Brisbane that these earth closets made their way onto the back landings of the houses, as sewered toilets.

The Old Space

2009-10-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Artists are always on the look out for good real estate. The Brisbane art scene has a healthy community of artists inhabiting un-loved spaces and making them their own.

The Old Space, 62 Abbotsford Road Bowen Hills, inhabits an old warehouse building which is awaiting new development. Filled with resident artists, Matt Malone and his crew have created a Funky ass space to work and exhibit in.

Recently opened to the public for the BARI festival this space and the art in it are well worth checking out.

Above is a piece by resident artist and gallery founder Matt Malone (Don't worry Matt, we still need you).

Make sure you stay tuned for upcoming exhibitions.

Oh yeah....and they have got a crazy machine that blows smoke rings.

All photos taken by raw Brisbane talent Sam Scoufos.

For sub-cultural rara check out:

http://www.fourthousand.com.au/

BCEC is underway!

2009-10-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

It's underway, earth is moving and the cranes are working!

The new Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre expansion at Grey Street has begun - set to be a dynamic addition to the Southbank Precicnt, BCEC is 'due' to open in 2011, read more about it here... MEDIA LINK

good media!

2009-09-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

Article source; State Library of Queensland Magazine, Spring 2009, page 02

I remember visiting the State Library during high school, in the late 90's, honestly it wasa pretty drab and daunting experience, both times.

I found this article both relevant and important in that it is from the 'buildings users' perspective, purely on a level that is concerned about innovation and people, backed up with real facts and ideas about the buildings usage and success.

SAP Exhibition.... Michael Philips

2009-09-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

Another great evening at SAP in the Fortitude Valley, which is seemingly and arguably becoming the new heart of Brisbane!

Consistency in 'design' is crucial! SAP is continually providing a great space for local designer's to exhibtion new and exciting works whilst bringing together a range of brisbonites in a simple way... I particularly like that the bar was shoved out the back!

Michael Philips presented the 'Bean Prints' in a range of mediums... my favourite was the large format in the canvas version...

Michael (Philips) and Peter (Harding) collaborated on the night, adding another layer to the exhibtion and presentation of the space!

Is Brisbane Switched on to Retrofit?

2009-08-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

With approximately 50% of the worlds population now living in cities, it makes it easier to understand how buildings currently consume 40% of the worlds energy. The idea of retro fitting our cities for sustainability has come as a welcome change. But hey….that's gonna be one hell of a renovation project!

Map of the world in city lights. Image sourced from www.nasa.gov

Go Brisbane!

2009-08-20T21:17:00.001-07:00

Marcus Westbury is a man who wears many hats. You might know him from such ABC docos as ‘Not Quite Art’, and other endeavours such as Renew Newcastle, and the ‘This is not art’ festival. He describes himself as a ‘broadcaster, writer, media maker and festival director’, but he is also actively involved in the creative industries and writes about media, culture and politics for a variety of different publications across Australia.

He is basically the ‘go to’ guy for an opinion on anything related to arts and culture.

On his own blog - http://www.marcuswestbury.net/ – he has recently published his thoughts about the cultural lives 4 Australian cities – Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. He manages to dissect the traditional stereotypes (Brisbane = big country town; Sydney = Busy etc) and provide an informed insight into the state of the cultural pulse which runs through these cities.

Brisbane gets a rave review, which confirms what much of us already know about Brisbane, that it is growing up and there’s alot to be exited about. Here’s a cut & paste:

…Further north, something equally interesting is happening in Brisbane.

Compared with its complacent southern sisters, Brisbane feels young, dynamic and eager to try things. Brisbane is well beyond aspiring to be Sydney or Melbourne and is becoming a city that connects with Asian centres to the north and across the Pacific archipelago. Signature events such as the Asia Pacific Triennial, Multimedia Art Asia Pacific and programs of Chinese and other Asian art at the Gallery of Modern Art all reflect this.

Brisbane is also home to a creative tension and fusion between art and pop culture, culture and technology — itself reflective of an Asian dynamic — that makes for distinctive creative ground.

Read the rest of it here.

Go Brisbane! Woot!

keep it simple! thanks Akira...

2009-08-19T06:31:00.001-07:00

As a designer I find it humbling to experience 'design' in such a simple manner, to me it feels more accessible and a whole lot more inspiring!

The Akira Isogawa store in the fortitude valley is so simple it's almost hard to write about - it's a tall well (naturally) lit homely space supplemented with 34 incandescent pendant lights, a few bits of well lived furniture, manual till system, really tall mirrors, oh and amazing clothes! I think that's the point!!

Akira Isogawa is well known throughout the world for his designs, yet when there is a sale on (speaking from experience) he will be there in the store to share the experience with his 'consumers' - good stuff!

“I see craftsmanship as an implement with which to realise one’s vision. Past, present and future; that slogan continues in almost everything around which my work evolves. Timeless beauty and femininity in my design is profound, in a way for the wearer to express their inner soul.”

— Akira Isogawa

Sometimes even the dumbest things can be poetic

2009-08-17T19:57:00.001-07:00

Can you guess how many toilets are in this toilet block? I think that once you have studied architecture you start to find beauty in some of the most unlikely places. Maybe there’s something wrong with me though.

Campos Coffee - Adaptive Reuse!

2009-08-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

What used to be an electrical storage warehouse is now a great place to enjoy quality coffee / food and hang out on some astro turf and crates (I am pretty sure the crates are 'borrowed' from the neighbouring fish market, they have cushions on them now so it's hard to notice, top marks for innovation!!)

Campos coffee sits in a laneway behind the busy James St markeplace, Fortitude Valley. I have only recently become aware of the ideas around adaptively reusing buildings - to me this is a pretty damn good example, especially considering that the existing building was relatively plain and insignificant.

Before shots {sourced from Campos}

Now shots {sourced from Studio Plus }

Kurilpa Bridge

2009-08-06T20:58:00.001-07:00

Kurilpa Bridge. How cool does it look?

Mixed reactions from the range of people that I talk to, and it's hard to make a generalisation about what kind of people find it attractive and what kind of people don't.

Perhaps it's a tall poppy thing, but it seems as though anything new in the public realm in Brisbane that draws attention to itself gets criticized for not looking like a normal building, or not looking like a normal bridge.

"I don't like all those spiky bits" they say. "Are those things going to stay there? It doesn't look like they're supposed to be there"

I remember people saying the same thing about Brisbane Square. One of my lecturers said, "it's dated, and its not even finished yet." Sure, I mean the primary coloured geometric thing has been done before in other places, but not in Brisbane. I think that Brisbane Square really adds something positive to the fabric of the city, a city in which mediocrity has reigned supreme for the last half-century.

The same goes for the Kurilpa Bridge. Sure, its different, and it will take the untrained eye some time to get used to, and one day an oversized truck might clip the underside of it, forcing it to fling back like a mouse trap and crush GOMA, catapulting unfortunate passengers into the middle of West End. At the end of the day though, it too adds something really positive to the city, a dedicated pedestrian link to the new cultural hub of Brisbane, and I think this is a good thing.

Plus, I can't wait to see it lit up at night. It's going to look unreal.

I think that ventures like this encourage public debate about what is good design, and raise the bar for the future at the same time. Some designers and laypeople alike might rag on it, because its such an easy target. But sometimes you need to stir the pot a little bit to get people moving, and Brisbane has been waiting for a few projects like this to stir the pot for a very long time.

Aville Court is just about gone

2009-07-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is a short guest post from Michael Scott, Architect, Brisbane enthusiast.

Heritage Listed 1930s block of 6 flats in New Farm - Aville Court, was recently bought by a Developer and gutted (legally acceptable, but ruthless). 8 storey building could soon to be built on this site!

You can read more about it here. Only keeping two walls is a bit of a joke, really.

City Fringe Exhibition "Phoebe"

2009-07-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

I think James Sreet is an eclectic and vibrant street that just keeps developing, both physically and culturally!

Last week, the James Street 'newcomber', Small Australian Projects (SAP) opened its design exhibition series, 'On Show', with a lighting exhibition by local designer Peter Harding.

All sourced images: Christina Cho

It was a simple and well executed night with all the right ingredients... Live Jazz, good New Zealand wine and a collection of vibrant people.

"Brisbane is a very happening young design community and a fantastic place from which to work and get your ideas out there.

The support for the launch and the product itself was really exciting. It will be interesting now to see where Phoebe roams!”

Peter Harding 2009

The Queen Street Mall

2009-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

I think it kind of makes sense to start in the middle of the city.

A few years ago, one of my tutors at university once said to me - 'architects don't talk about the new addition to the queen street mall' - he was referring to the giant steel, timber and glass shade structure at the centre of Queen and Albert, which was part of a much larger redevelopment of the mall that took place right at the end of the nineties. Being young and impressionable at the time, I just laughed and pretended to understand and agree. But looking back on it now - I completely disagree.

The style of the new structure could be described as typical noughties Queenslander - light, airy, plenty of timber battening, with steel and glass extrusions that defy gravity and appear as though the structure could pick up and walk down the street like a giant ant.

In the case of the Queen Street Mall, interventions like this contribute to the dynamic history of the place, and I like the way that each generation has contributed something, be it the awful neon lights of Hungry Jacks, or the most recent development, still under construction, which I think is starting to look like a designer handbag.

Image Source: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

It is rare that the buildings in the background are ever the focus of attention - yet when I look at them I can't help but wonder what kinds of stories they would have to tell, if they could adopt human personalities for a day. These buildings are the survivors, witness to the relentless growth of a vibrant city which sadly demolished so much of its heritage on the way up.

I think that the most successful additions to the city are those which are 'of their time'. Buildings, like photographs, capture a moment in history. Years on, they act like a window to the past and enable future generations to gain an understanding of what life was like in the old days.

I think the aforementioned steel and glass shade structure that architects are not supposed to talk about is most definitely 'of its time', and in 100 years time, when our great grandchildren are flying around in these, they will look down to the corner of Queen and Albert and remember how, at the turn of the century there was a prosperous generation who, in a fleeting lightbulb moment, built this whopping great big shade structure - realising that it was much nicer to sit outside in the shade than it was to sit in the air conditioning of Hungry Jacks.