Brookfield Place gets PC

The sign at the very tippy top is now installed, and it doesn’t seem like it can get any higher, so it appears Brookfield Place (the 45-storey, flat, but very financially efficient for office tenants, tower in the Perth CBD) has now reached PC, with only internal fitout to be completed.

“We are pleased to deliver such a modern, architecturally advanced office tower that will provide our tenants with a sustainable and efficient workplace.,” Brookfield Office Properties commercial operations chief operating officer, Kurt Wilkinson, said.

“Brookfield Place will literally redefine the skyline of the Perth CBD.

“I would like to congratulate the entire team who have worked on this project and we look forward to welcoming our tenants on-site.”

It has certainly made a long lasting impression on Perth’s skyline, and I think it will be a few years before anything else matches it in size or scale.

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Year	Winner	Age	From?	Announced in?
1960	Emeritus Professor Leslie Wilkinson	77
1961	Louis Laybourne-Smith	81	Adelaide
1962	Joseph Fowell	71	Sydney
1963	Sir Arthur Stephenson	73
1964	Cobden Parkes	73	Sydney
1965	Sir Osborn McCutcheon
1966	William Laurie
1967	William Godfrey
1968	Sir Roy Grounds	63	Melbourne
1969	Robin Boyd	50	Melbourne
1970	Jack McConnell
1971	Frederick Lucas
1972	Edward [Ted] Farmer	63	Sydney
1973	Jorn Utzon	55	Denmark
1974	Raymond Berg
1975	Sydney Ancher
1976	Harry Seidler	53	Sydney
1977	Ronald Gilling
1978	Mervyn Parry
1979	Harold Mortlock	58	Sydney
1980	John Andrews	47	Sydney / Toronto
1981	Colin Madigan	60	Canberra
1982	Sir John Overall	69	Canberra
1983	Gilbert Nicol & Ross Chisholm
1984	Philip Cox		Sydney
1985	Richard Norman Johnson
1986	Richard Butterworth
1987	Daryl Jackson	50	Melbourne
1988	Romaldo Giurgola	68	US / Canberra
1989	Robin Gibson	59?	Brisbane
1990	Peter McIntyre	63	Melbourne
1991	Donald Bailey
1992	Glenn Murcutt	56	Sydney
1993	Ken Woolley	60	Sydney
1994	Neville Quarry
1995	no award
1996	John Denton, William Corker & Barry Marshall		Melbourne
1997	Roy Simpson
1998	Gabriel Poole
1999	Richard Leplastrier	60	Sydney
2000	John Morphett
2001	Keith Cottier	63	Sydney
2002	Brit Andresen	57?	Brisbane
2003	Peter Corrigan		Melbourne	Melbourne
2004	Greg Burgess	59	Melbourne	Melbourne
2005	James Birrell	77	Brisbane	Brisbane
2006	Kerry Hill	63	Perth / Singapore	Perth
2007	Enrico Taglietti		Canberra	Canberra
2008	Richard Johnson	62	Sydney	Sydney
2009	Ken Maher	64?	Sydney	Sydney
2010	Kerry & Lindsay Clare		Brisbane / Sydney	Brisbane
2011	Graeme Gunn	73?	Melbourne	Perth
2012	Lawrence Nield		Sydney	Adelaide

Old Freo Power Station area to be revitalised

Picture from Wikipedia

There’s just something I love about this old power station. Check out here and here for some shots of the amazing interior (this graffitti at least should be protected) . So I’ve been watching the progress of what is due to happen in this area with some interest. I originally thought it was to be knocked down but now it seems it may be up for reuse. The City of Cockburn has finally approved the masterplan for the area, which will eventually cater for 10 000 residents and a mix of commercial and recreational facilities. There’s so much development happening along this little piece of coast – is this better than sprawling out into the ‘burbs ad nauseum? Or the destruction of our precious natural resources?

Life Architecturally

For those who missed the premiere at the State Library a few weeks ago, there’s still an opportunity to catch this documentary on McBride Ryan, in the comfort of your own home (at a much reduced price!). It is airing tomorrow night (Feb 28th) on the ABC at 10pm.

Life Architecturally is a WA-made production, focussing on Victorian husband-and-wife architectural team Robert McBride and Debbie Ryan, as they go about their lives, over the course of a year.

“The stakes are high. The vision is bold. It’s the embodiment of a Life Architecturally.”

More info and a cool preview here. I assume it will be available on iView for two weeks or so, if you miss it.

Boral Design Award 2012

OK, sorry got to this one a bit late. The Boral Design Award 2012 is now open. The brief is to repurpose an existing city-fringe commercial building into a small mixed-use or medium density residential development. The existing building is basically a standard brick box, so the possibilities seem quite interesting.

If you want to give it a go, you had better hurry. Entries close 1st March!

Officer Woods featured on Australian Design Review

The beautiful work and practice of Officer Woods has been featured in a very well-written interview on Australian Design Review. Some really nice sentiments on their design theories and mode of practice.

Where’s Perth’s architectural creativity?

There was an interesting letter to the editor in Saturday’s paper this week, basically asking why Perth architecture is all so boring and uninspiring, in response to Linley Lutton’s critical comments on our city published last week. (See this article too for a response.) I won’t publish the whole letter but note these parts :

“While one does not expect our so-called architects to be in the league of Anton Gaudi of some 100 years ago, surely they could be outside of the square in imagination – or should I say out of the shoebox mentality in their designs? The current breed of apartments showing their flat faces are extremely boring…Even in former Soviet Union countries, the apartment blocks now being designed…show decades of imagination far beyond our Perth designers. They are simply not oblong boxes with the same balconies everywhere, but actually show imagination with variations, interesting shapes, carved columns and more. It’s not an Australian thing totally because there have been a few interesting shapes on our eastern borders…Can someone please tell me what it is with Perth architects? Is it our universities, perhaps an ancient curriculum, an easy exam standard or is it just too much sun killing the imagination here? Maybe it’s our councils because I believe they give no guidance or involvement at all.”

So what do we think? Are we boring? And if so, why? Where are the opportunities for the architecture innovation that seem to occur so easily in other states? I really seem to struggle to push clients to want to be innovative sometimes, and I think also there is not the competition here yet between companies / offices / apartments to try and raise the bar. Look at Perth’s biggest office project ever :

BHP tower - photo from Skyscraper City : copyright Matt Austen http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattausten/5088972145/

140William - Photo from AIA website gallery

and you can see that it was designed primarily to maximise lettable area, not any particular architectural design. But then at the same time, HASSELL does this magnificent building:

So the question is, why the difference? Both offices, both city locations. Same architects, so it can’t be that the architects aren’t creative, it must be that the client just doesn’t want to try. As architects, I think we all would love to be more creative, unfortunately we just don’t often get the opportunity. How can you convince a client that they should properly design their apartment building, when the off-the-shelf ‘shoebox’ down the road is selling for the same amount? What is the client’s motivation to build better architecture? It seems most of the well designed buildings lately have had at least part public funding (140William, State Theatre, Fiona Stanley Hospital), whereas private developers maybe just want to make profit and not allow the architects to put too much ‘design thought’ in to it. Should local councils enforce more stringent design guidelines for private developers to ‘force’ creativity??

Like most of my posts…more questions than answsers…what do you guys think??

$200m D&C contract for Perth waterfront advertised

Perth Waterfront - pic from WA Business News

The State Government is advertising for a contractor to design and construct the $200 million public space of the Perth Waterfront redevelopment. The scope includes the creation of the new inlet and surrounding public space, the construction of the island centrepiece, a public access jetty and public transport berth and sites for future private sector development.

“We are looking for a very experienced team to help deliver the transformation of Perth’s waterfront – connecting the city to the Swan River and creating an attractive destination for the people of Perth and visitors alike,” Planning Minister John Day said.

“The early involvement of the managing contractor for this important part of the project will mean a high level of collaboration with the State’s own project team; more efficient delivery of the project; and encourage innovation in design and construction.”

South Perth Precinct

Got sent some info on this South Perth precinct the other day : I didn’t know anything about this. Apparently there is a plan to redevelop the Old Mill area in South Perth with a marina, ferry terminal, museum, art gallery, retail, cafes, a “celebration plaza” and other public spaces, and even a flying fox from Kings Park. Love it.

More pictures here, and an article from The West here.

140William to be renamed after Perth architect

140William is soon to be renamed after one of WA’s most eminent architects and planners Prof Gordon Stephenson. The office space will house the Small Business Development Corporation and the state Departments of Planning, Transport, Local Government, Regional Development and Lands, Communities, Culture and the Arts, Treasury, and Finance.

“Professor Stephenson was a great West Australian who made a profound contribution to the planning and development of the city of Perth,” Finance Minister Simon O’Brien said.

“Professor Stephenson came to Perth in 1953 following a commission from the State Government to prepare a plan for the metropolitan region of Perth and Fremantle with J.A. Hepburn. Their plan was completed in 1955 and provided a blueprint for the planning of Perth and Fremantle for many years.”

The building will be officially dedicated in the next few months, with guests including Professor Stephenson’s daughter and grandson.

2011 ArchiAwards

So a bit late, but …

George Temple Poole Award

one40william : Hassell

Jeffrey Howlett Public Architecture Award

State Theatre Centre of Western Australia : Kerry Hill Architects

Award : Albany Entertainment Centre : CH&BW in assoc with Roberts Gardiner

Commendation : VTEC Training WA Metal Fabrication Training Facility, Kalgoorlie : Armstrong Parkin Architects

Commendation : The Grove Library : CH&BW

Ross Chisholm Commercial Architecture Award

one40william : Hassell

Award : The Boulevard Hotel : Taylor Robinson

Margaret Pitt Morison Heritage Architecture Award

Legislative Council Chamber Upgrade : Oldfield Knott Architects

Award : Fremantle Prison Main Cell Block Conservation : Philip Griffiths Architects

Marshall Clifton Residential – Houses Award

Florida Beach House : Iredale Pederson Hook Architects

Award : Silver Creek Residence : Officer Woods Architecture

Award : Pennell Road Residence : Hartree + Associates Architects

Award : The Coombe Mosman Park : Richard Szklarz Architects

Commendation : 199 Hammersley Road : Paul Wellington and Elizabeth Karol Architects

Commendation : Kooringal Retreat : Coniglio Ainsworth Architects

Marshall Clifton Residential – Alterations and Additions Award

Hope Street : Vittino Ashe

Award : Maylands Additions : Jonathan Lake Architects

Commendation : Barlee Street Residence : Klopper & Davis Architects

Commendation : Lyon Residence : Walter Hunter and Penny Watson Architects

Harold Krantz Residential – Multiple Award

Beachside Leighton North : Kerry Hill Architects and Space Agency in assoc with Mirvac Design

Award : Glamacourt Residences : Nash+Ghersinich Architects and Interior Designers

Commendation : Square One Development, Money Street, Northbridge : Philip McAllister Architect

Commendation : One Brighton : the Buchan Group, Perth

Commendation : Oceanique Apartments : Banham Architects

Commendation : Scene Apartments : Gresley Abas

Iwan Iwanoff Small Projects Award

Hope Street : Vittino Ashe

Award : Perth Zoo Eco Toilet Facility : Chindarsi Architects

Award : Mt Lawley Addition : John Murphy Architect

Commendation : Irene McCormack College Covered Area : Parry & Rosenthal Architects

Commendation : Wing House : Copraxis Architects

John Septimus Roe Urdan Design Award

one40william : Hassell

Award : Parliament House Fountains and Forecourt Redevelopment : Pendal and Neille

Commendation : William Street Urban Renewal : Philip Griffiths Architects

Commendation : Central Park, Mandurah : Gresley Abas

Commendation : Morley City Centre Master Plan : Hames Sharley

Walter Greenham Sustainable Architecture Award

The Grove Library : CH&BW

Award : Main Roads Greater Southern Regional Complex : Hassell

Commendation : 199 Hammersley Road : Paul Wellington and Elizabeth Karol Architects

Julius Elischer Interior Architecture Award

State Theatre Centre of Western Australia : Kerry Hill Architects

Award : Sentinel Bar and Grill : Taylor Robinson

Award : 199 Hammersley Road : Paul Wellingotn and Elizabeth Karol Architects

Commendation : Florida Beach House : Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

Commendation : The Boulevard Hotel : Taylor Robinson

Commendation : Legislative Council Chamber Upgrade : Oldfield Knott Architects

Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture

VTEC Training WA Metal Fabrication Training Facility, Kalgoorlie : Armstrong Parkin Architects

Mondoluce Lighting Awards

Bindoon Bakehaus and Cafe : Fratelle Group

Commendation : Legislative Council Chamber Upgrade : Oldfield Knott Architects

Commendation : State Theatre Centre of Western Australia : Kerry Hill Architects

Commendation : 199 Hammersley Road : Paul Wellington and Elizabeth Karol Architects

 

Phew – that seems like a lot this year! We didn’t enter anything so I didn’t get to go to the Awards this year – did everyone enjoy themselves?

Oh, and there’s a PS talk on tomorrow (Tuesday)  at The Bakery at 6pm, should be quite good. Featuring a Dulux Tour attendee, the EmaGN Emerging Architect Prize WA winner, the editors of The Weather Ring … hope to see you there.