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.
Urban Landscape
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.
Superstructures by Sean Meilak
Something a bit different also shot earlier this month was “Superstructures”, the latest installation by Melbourne sculptor, Sean Meilak. I’ve been a fan of Sean’s work for a long time so it was lovely to spend some time up close with it.
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
Urban Renewal in City of Boroondara
Here’s something a little different from usual, shot for the Urban Design team at City of Boroondara. The first, a laneway activation project opposite Camberwell Primary School aimed at creating a safer passage for school kids and locals. The second, a street furniture upgrade at Camberwell Market. No shortage of talent for the shoot as the locals seem to making the most of both already!
Secret Garden House by Amiconi Architects
I watched this house being built - caught glimpses of it from the surrounding streets. It’s not too far from where I’m living while my house is being built. Despite having watched it, I was still surprised, delighted even, when I made my first site visit. The clever orientation of the studio at the street, the house at back and the gorgeous, productive garden in between. I just assumed it ran straight along the eastern boundary! The interiors are impressive too. Plenty of natural light from the northern facing doors to the garden but warm and cosy at the same time. A credit to the clever team behind it!
Architecture: Amiconi Architects
Interiors: Cassie Duncan
Builder: Warrawee Homes
Landscape Design: Obake Gardens
Styling: Pip+Coop
1 Treasury Place
I spent a weekend in town last year, a belated celebration for my 40th birthday actually. Belated thanks to COVID, of course. It was the first weekend after the last big lockdown and the city was still beautifully sleepy and peaceful. I slipped out for a walk one morning and was drawn towards 1 Treasury Place, a favourite designed by Yuncken Freeman Architects in the 1960s.
Now as any photographer with a “serious” looking camera knows you can barely lift your camera around 1 Treasury Place without being asked to leave, but on this day they must have been feeling particularly generous. I think I was there for nearly 30 minutes before they told me to go away. I wasn’t finished but I was pretty pleased with the precious and rare time I had.
There’s an equally rare self portrait amongst these images to mark the occasion too!
Edge of Darkness
By the time coronavirus lockdowns first reached us in 2020 I had already be been consciously exploring the idea of isolation for several years. As you will see from previous posts (‘Isolation’ 2017’, ‘Ships in the Night, 2018’, ‘Metropolis, 2018, ‘False Warmth, 2019’) it is something I have considered through varied subject matter.
In 2020 when large sections of the population were isolating at home it provided a unique opportunity to view our urban environment in a near complete state of isolation. Coronavirus amplified the experience of isolation for a great number of people and for many left them in or on the edge of darkness.
