Posted: 21.08.2007 at 17.18
Ahh see this is the interesting thing... In Brisbane the city's landmarks were practically wiped out by Sir Joh when he was Premier. This had a very amazing effect. The community are now so against development and this kind of architecture if it is replacing anything... even a 10year old building. they doubt the intentions of the government more than any other city in Australia i would say. Thus the amazing development boom that is occurring still in brissie is actually producing some interesting architecture.
To name a few -
State library of queensland development - by Donovan Hill,
New Gallery of modern Art - Architectus
Vision Tower, still basic and bloody tall but its no Eureka and the interiors are going to be alot better
Riparian Plaza - Harry Seidler
Brisbane Magistrates Court - Cox Rayner
Brisbane Square - Denton Corker Marshall.
All these developments could be sufficiently argued that they are sensitive to the local community, environment and identity of Brisbane - they have to stand up to harsh community feedback + doubt + the backlash if it sucks.
Its probably the one positive of Sir Johs time as premier! give it a few years and when docklands crumbles into high density, high crime + neglect... people won't be happy. and who is going to pay $25 bucks to go on a ferris wheel to see nothing when you can go up eureka for $15 and see nothing as well? We should be pioneering not following in architecture and design. We have the people and the talent - why do we need to find a gimic and stick to it!
Melbourne is digging itself a hole. For many years the architectural community has proposed the initiation of an architect into government. One person to guide the direction of built form in a city as well as a government architect for the whole of Australia. Barcelona did this and the city and now spain is in a design boom at the moment.
ahh well... give it 10 years, the design industry ie fashion, arts, industrial design and such are in a boom. good architcture will hopefully follow... the last thing we need is another sydney 2000 - look how the architecture of the stadiums trickled down so quickly into these gigantic residential developments, curved roofs, feature walls... incorrectly used haha fingerscrossed we don't end up with badly made glass warts being built as a home near you!
procrastinating at work and rambling on here...
P