Rog on Beauty
RIP Oscar Niemeyer
One of the most enjoyable and informative architect documentaries I’ve ever seen is Fabiano Maciel’s A Vida e um Sopro. The seated interview with Oscar Niemeyer, interspersed with images of his life’s work, is a format that allowed Brasil’s most famous architect to rove freely on his philosophies of life and architecture. We thought that […]
It’s no laughing matter
I have just returned to the office after one of those random encounters where a group of male codgers coalesced around coffee. One had recently returned to our shores after 25 years in the UK. He was asked if he thought our sense of humour had improved since he left. No was his quick reply. […]
Designs on cars
I was at last week’s media day at the Sydney International Motor Show, where my favoured subject of car design, strutted its stuff. As well as the ‘looks’ of a car, there are of course issues such as sustainable fuel systems, running costs, vehicle safety and affordability. All these matters relate ultimately to the success […]
Zoo View
It was a sunny Sunday and so as you do Miss M and I went to the zoo. I hadn’t been for 5 years. I knew the animals were diverse but the buildings are now too. This was a pleasant surprise.
Cob Jobs
Miss M and I have just returned from a memorable road trip round the top of the South Island which culminated with a drive through the DOC administered Molesworth Station. Its 180,787 hectare area makes it the largest farm in New Zealand. There are several active fault lines transecting the property causing horizontal jolts often […]
Where has all the colour gone?
We did some drawings recently to assist in the restoration of a turn of the century villa in Mt.Victoria. As it neared completion, I offered to do a paint colour scheme free of charge. To me, colour is a really important dimension of design. I never heard back from the owners. I wasn’t going to […]
Born Again Cathedral
Euthanasia is not an Anglican belief, yet the Anglican hierarchy wants the Christchurch Cathedral killed off. This poor damaged building apparently doesn’t qualify as sanctity of life. Theologian Richard Hooker, a founding father of Anglicanism, speaks of scripture, reason and tradition, as the three divines of the faith. Where is the reason in either of […]
Awkward Debates
For those of you who think architecture is for the wealthy, perched on their stunning sites overlooking some stunning estuary waiting for the glossy magazine photographer to arrive, let me tell you about my friend Mark Roberts. Over several years Mark has worked the gritty side of life. He has worked in three challenging areas: […]
RIP Peter Beaven
Let me add to the many tributes paid to a dear colleague and mentor Peter Beaven who passed away this week. The architectural tributes are understandably glowing. My thinking is that while his lungs eventually gave in, I know his heart would have been as big and passionate as ever. That heart gave me such […]
The Ugly Truth
Two modern buildings in Melbourne, both of which I have visited and admired, have been named by recent surveys as among the world’s ugliest. Great emotion can be generated by the appearance of buildings. Reference Prince Charles for instance. He turned up as a royal person at the Royal institute of Architects conference in London […]
