John Wardle's Ballarat GovHub

I spent a glorious day in Ballarat last month shooting John Wardle’s Ballarat Gov Hub, a new home for up to 1000 employees on the town’s ‘Civic Hall’ site. The low rise, zinc clad building has a gabled roof and mass timber structure that reference a rural shed, and can be seen from many vantage points around the town. It sits along side the library, the 1950s Civic Hall and a park, which together will become an important precinct for community, government and commercial activities in the Ballarat CBD.

Developer: Development Victoria
Architect: John Wardle Architects
Builder: Kane Constructions and Nicholson Construction joint venture
Engineer: Aecom
Landscape Architect: Aspect Studios

Here are some images from the shoot.

Nostalgia for a high school job

Back in high school, in Sydney, I worked for several years at the Hoyts Cinemas in Chatswood. I loved that job. It provided me with more or less free access to the movies of the time. Not a bad perk for a teenager that loved going to the movies. You can imagine then, the kick I got out of shooting the new home of Val Morgan, the advertising arm of Hoyts, last year. Another fabulous workplace by the clever folks at Amicus and Hot Black.

False Warmth, 2019

A few people have asked me lately where they can see the fine art series that I’ve made over the past few years. I thought I’d share some here. This series is False Warmth, which I made in 2019 over many cold winters nights in inner city Melbourne. Before Covid was a thing…

Personality facades. The masks people wear; the inauthentic versions of themselves they present to the world to hide anxieties, depressions and traumas.

Often these masks are developed in early years to protect from feelings of inadequacy, weakness or insecurity and are carried through into adulthood.

At night, when returning home, they take off their masks. Sometimes this brings relief and sometimes it makes space for the anguish and despair to rise. The safety of home can bring comfort from a cold world but it can also bring a deeper isolation, a false warmth.

No Left Turn - False Warmth, 2019

Lace - False Warmth, 2019

Through The Cracks - False Warmth, 2019

Post Box Corner - False Warmth, 2019

The Adjacent - False Warmth, 2019

Towing Service - False Warmth, 2019

Freeway home - False Warmth, 2019

Riots - False Warmth, 2019

Skeletons - False Warmth, 2019

Shamrock Store- False Warmth, 2019

Cutouts - False Warmth, 2019

Theresaville - False Warmth, 2019

Leaving - False Warmth, 2019

South Melbourne Workspace by Hot Black and Amicus Spaces

One upside of covid (you have to find them or else…) is it allows the space to share more work here on my journal. Moving away from residential and into a workspace in South Melbourne. This one is a long way from some of the offices I worked in back in the day. Architecture by Hot Black, built by Amicus Spaces with furniture from howgroup. I’d stick around for Friday drinks on that balcony!

Clifton Hill House by Meredith Lee Interior Design.

Still playing catch up with Meredith Lee - another beautiful, pre-covid project in Clifton Hill shot just last month. It’s light and airy, yet warm, textural and homely. I could happily rest here and gaze out on the lush green courtyard and garden spaces that surround it. Styling and design by Meredith Lee Interior Design.

Brighton Extension by Rosstang Architects

Shot on one of the last true summer days, this rear extension by Rosstang Architects was really in its element. It can’t go without saying that these are quite possibly the biggest doors I’ve come across in a home to date!

Off-form concrete in Geelong by Michael Carr Architects

If you’re familiar with me or my work, you’ll know how much good concrete makes my eyes light up and my heart sing. It’s a tad sad, I realise. Imagine my delight when I arrived on site in Geelong to see this stunning use of off-form concrete by Michael Carr and his team! Adding to the delight, well established landscaping and considered interiors, this project was a pleasure to shoot over a couple of all weather days - with a considerable covid interlude between them.

Architecture, Interiors & Styling: Michael Carr Architects
Landscape Design: Stephen Read Landscape Design
Build: Surfview Builders

Carlton Terrace by Rosstang Architects

It’s nearly February. Too late for Happy New Year? In any case 2020 is behind us and although I have somewhat (very much) enjoyed my hiatus from posting on social media while Covid did it’s worst, it’s time to come back to the business of sharing my work and the work of my wonderful clients.

I won’t start exactly where the year ended, but close, with this stunning terrace renovation by Rosstang Architects. Set in an idyllic spot in Carlton it’s an old gem come back to life with striking and clever interior architecture, and a homeowner’s eye for beautiful and interesting things.