room with a view

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

Sometimes things just line up perfectly.

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

TONIC 'an active back door'

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

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

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

Tree in the City

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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...

TEDx (brisbane)

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

Fortitude Valley Baths

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

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.