It’s time to share another of my fixations. Adelaide is still giving here and if you’ve been playing along for a while you can probably tell me what I love about this inner city, industrial scene… feel free to say so in the comments if you’re brave… if you’re new here click the #fixations tag above and you’ll get the idea!
urban photography
Fixations 2
A long-time and very dear friend paid a visit to Melbourne in recent months. In one of our many, deep and artful conversations we came to the subject of my “Fixations” posts. She (who will know who she is when she reads this) suggested that you might like to hear about what it is exactly that I am fixating on in these images, what it is that caught my attention.
So. This next fixation, I happened upon when working in Hobart earlier this year. This little scene stopped me dead and only got better the more I moved in. It’s the strong lines and repetition in the facade of the building, it’s the patterns in the paving of the road and footpath, it’s the symmetry of the shiny silver bike thingys (what do you call those?), it’s the way nature gently but firmly disrupts the man made perfection with organic, uneven and unpredictable lines. It’s colour - green on stone, the hint of red in the speed sign, the coloured paint on the pavement, the bolt of yellow from the adjacent carpark and the pastel yellow of that strange little, sticker covered, industrial box, which doesn’t belong and fits in all the same. It’s the sense of isolation, the absence of people. I could go on… it’s all of that and more.
For those that are interested it’s the former Reserve Bank building which was designed by the Commonwealth Department of Works and constructed in 1977.
Fixations…
There are few things that give me greater pleasure than being alone with my camera and away from home. This is where I feel most free to explore things that catch my attention or arouse my curiosity. When existing in this space I often find myself fixated on an idea or subject. Most of these stay hidden on my server, never to be shared or seen. With that last thought in mind I decided I’d bring one of those fixations to light…
Railway Place Pop Up Furniture
Spent a lovely afternoon in the sun with the Planning & Placemaking team at City of Boroondara, shooting their latest pop up furniture project. Here’s a few highlights from the shoot.
Marlborough Street Social Housing by Baldasso Cortese
What a pleasure it was to work with Baldasso Cortese and HousingFirst Ltd on this impressive and important social housing development in Balaclava.
Built by Buxton Construction on the site of a former council car park, the six-level development consists of 46 one, two and three-bedroom dwellings suitable for families, older residents and people living with a disability.
The building includes a rooftop terrace and community garden, end of trip facilities and a thoughtful art work in the entry featuring an “inverse-Nolli Map” of the St Kilda / Balaclava neighbourhood.
Hats off to City of Port Phillip and the Victorian Government for coming together to make this building a reality and house a vulnerable cross section of our society.
Developer: HousingFirst Ltd
Architect: Baldasso Cortese
Builder: Buxton Construction
Styling: Pip+Coop
Omnia Art Prize
Exciting news last week with 1 Treasury Place - 8:50am being shortlisted for the Omnia Art Prize.
The exhibition opens on 19th May and runs to the 22nd May only. Be sure to go along and take in work from leading contemporary artists around Australia. All the details below.
Obake Gardens at Secret Garden House
Seeing as though we’re out in the garden I thought I’d share some additional images shot for Obake Gardens from Secret Garden House by Amiconi Architects.
Mieke Pattison has done a stunning job of creating a secluded oasis and productive garden in one.
The Hedberg by Liminal Studio and WOHA
I’m a little ashamed to admit I made my first visit to Hobart this year, that it took a building to get me there, and that I still didn’t make it to MONA. I know, what have I been doing with my life?!
All that aside, let’s talk about the building. The Hedberg, designed by local firm Liminal Studio and Singapore’s WOHA (of Kampung Admiralty fame). Home to the lovely folks and students at University of Tasmania who welcomed me so warmly, and The Theatre Royal.
I won’t ramble on, I’ll just say that it’s a stunning building, inside and out. Suitably beautiful and functional to be home to Hobart’s performing arts. It was an absolute pleasure UTAS!
Builder: Hansen Yunken
Landscape Architecture: Inspiring Place
Lighting and Acoustics: Arup Group Limited & Southern Lighting Source
