History informing the future

Transcription

1 History informing the future The benefits of recognising and retaining our heritage autumn 2014 EDITORIAL Reinforcing the importance of our recent heritage LESSONS FROM THE PAST Early workers housing in Sydney ADAPTATION IN FOCUS The poetry of preserving places HISTORY FOR SALE The ethical implications of the Department of Lands Building divestment

2 Editor Laura Wise Editorial Committee Chair Shaun Carter Editorial Committee Noni Boyd 9. Contents 02 President s message Callantha Brigham callantha.brigham@services.nsw.gov.au 03 Chapter news The original design and architecture event returns to Sydney in an exciting new location designex invites you to explore over 12,500m² of design and architecture product suppliers including Axolotl, Boral, Karndean Design Flooring, Knauf, Polyflor Australia and more. Discover a host of onsite collaborations with partners including Mount Langi Ghiran Wine Bar and Young Henrys Beer Bar, installations and international speakers, headlined by world renowned trend forecaster, Lidewij Edelkoort. Don t miss WORKOPOLIS, an exploration of physical and cognitive space in our borderless 24/7 society designed by futurespace. Register FREE online at Using Promo Code: DESIGN2 Partners Matthew Chan matt@scalearchitecture.com Art direction and design Jamie Carroll and Ersen Sen leadinghand.com.au Copy Editor Monique Pasilow Managing Editor Roslyn Irons Advertising roslyn.irons@architecture.com.au Subscriptions (annual) Five issues $60, students $40 nsw@architecture.com.au Editorial & advertising office Tusculum, 3 Manning Street Potts Point NSW 2011 (02) ISSN Published five times a year, Architecture Bulletin is the journal of the Australian Institute of Architects, NSW Chapter (ACN ). Continuously published since Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in articles and letters published in Architecture Bulletin are the personal views and opinions of the authors of these writings and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Institute and its officers. Material contained in this publication is general comment and is not intended as advice on any particular matter. No reader should act or fail to act on the basis of any material herein. Readers should consult professional advisers. The Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter, its officers, editor, editorial committee and authors expressly disclaim all liability to any persons in respect of acts or omissions by any such person in reliance on any of the contents of this publication. Print and paper Printed by Rostone Print using soy-based vegetable inks on FSC mixed source certified paper, manufactured to ISO environmental accreditation using elemental chlorine-free (ECF) pulps. Plates and paper offcuts from the printing process are recycled Patrons Architecture Bulletin thanks its Patrons for their support Gold Patron Hassell Silver Patrons Bates Smart Cox Architecture Group GSA Bronze Patrons FJMT (Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp) Lend Lease Design Mirvac Design Tanner Kibble Denton Architects Supporter Allen Jack+Cottier Newcastle Architecture Awards Opinion Gender equity: a little less conversation, a little more action Callantha Brigham From the NSW Government Architect: Organised freedom Peter Poulet Conserving our 20 th century heritage: guest editorial by Louise Cox AO The fiscal advantage of a heritage listing Hector Abrahams Lessons from the past: what early workers housing in Sydney can teach us Michael Zanardo The poetic in adaptation Mary Knaggs A house in Hunters Hill Don Gazzard A tale of two adaptations: Margi Fallon and Noel Thomson examine two country NSW adaptive re-use projects The iconic Department of Lands Building Peter Webber Twentieth century heritage: a research checklist Noni Boyd Review Cultivating Modernism: Reading the Modern Garden (book) Scott Robertson, A Singular Vision: Harry Seidler (book) Glenn Harper, and The Wallpapered Manse: The Rescue of an Endangered House (book) Kerime Danis Obituary: Frederick John Ridley Smith designex.info Technical Sponsor Architectural Window Systems On the cover: A case study in adaptive re-use: the multi-award winning Paddington Reservoir Gardens by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Image: Eric Sierens. Architecture Bulletin Autumn

3 chapter news president, s message While the profession and a sizeable portion of the public has no trouble with the heritage conservation and listing of our legacy from the 19 th century, things get a little more complicated once you start looking at the 20 th century. The heritage of the recent past It is not so many decades ago that Federation style was regarded as either old hat or impossibly cute. How times have changed. Now Federation houses are being snapped up by Chinese investors and the virus of fake Federation has spread far and wide in new housing developments. The Californian bungalow is increasingly valued, while Art Deco has had a special and enthusiastic following for many years. What this seems to reveal is that, like most other cultural artefacts, buildings are least appreciated by the generation that follows their creation. The 1950s are already back in vogue, but only selectively. Liner House was first listed at a state level as long ago as 1988; the AMP Building at Circular Quay, however, has only been listed by the City of Sydney, despite its Award for Enduring Architecture at last year s NSW Architecture Awards. Sadly, the esteem of the architectural profession was not enough to save the State Office Block in the late 1990s; it was simply not old enough to have won the general approval of the public. At least the building that replaced it is a fine work by a leading international architect. Modernism and brutalism also have their adherents, notably through the work of DOCOMOMO, but it is still difficult making the case for some of these buildings in the public arena. The long journey of the Wentworth Memorial Church from recognition by the Institute s register in 1994 to listing on the State Heritage Register was finally completed 18 months ago. The Institute has always been at the forefront in valuing recent architecture and this is as it should be. We have a responsibility to lead public opinion in some areas, not just follow it. Our Register of Significant Architecture (previously the Register of 20th Century Buildings of Significance), like the National Trust Register and the Engineers Australia Register, records the profession s systematic analysis of the best work of each generation through a peer-review process. The NSW Chapter s Valuing Award-Winning Buildings in the Long Term policy reinforces that process as a means of encouraging the statutory listing agencies to continually refresh their registers. I encourage all members to make themselves familiar with this as well as the Institute s national Heritage Policy both available via the respective policy sections of the Institute website. Millers Point The Institute is concerned by the recent announcement by the NSW Government to remove long-term residents from Millers Point and relocate them to other parts of the city. I have written to the Minister for Family and Community Services, Pru Goward, to reiterate our position that cities are not a mass of interchangeable places and people; they are a collection of distinctive precincts, extended families and social networks. More than any other place in Sydney, Millers Point is defined by its physical and social links to the city s maritime past. Basic urban principles recognise the importance of mixing income and social groups together in the same neighbourhood - it builds social cohesion. Rows of terraces are particularly suited to the salt and pepper approach to urban planning, retaining long-term low income tenants among neighbouring properties that are sold or leased. Reducing the economic burden of costly repairs on the NSW budget should free up scarce resources to better serve vulnerable communities, not dismantle them. The Institute considers that, taking economic considerations into account, there are less abrupt ways of increasing the income from under-performing assets. The government should use the income generated by the sale of some of these properties to rehouse tenants in the same place and in the same community. Botanic Gardens and the Domain It is right and proper that there is public discussion and debate about significant public assets. The public consultation the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust is currently conducting is precisely about this. ( nsw.gov.au/welcome/feature_stories/master_ plan). A recent article by Gerard Reinmuth for The Conversation places the current public discussion in a broader context theconversation.com/keatings-wrong-aboutthe-plans-for-sydneys-botanic-gardens Urban activation precincts The NSW Government has introduced these urban activation precincts as a way of fasttracking the intensive development that is required to accommodate an increasing population. The Chapter supports the principles behind these new areas, particularly the importance of linking more intensive development with adjacent transport nodes to reduce dependence on private transport. The true test of the government s policy, as will be explained in one of the forthcoming Chapter advocacy publications, is that our urban areas become not just bigger in population, but also better in design and amenity and fairer in providing access to housing and services for a broader spread of the community. NSW Digital Archive Last year the Chapter entered into an agreement with the City of Sydney that will enable our records and publications to be made available to researchers, students and the general public. All our key records, including Chapter Council minutes (since 1905) as well as editions of Architecture Bulletin (since 1944) and Architecture Australia (selected issues since 1956) have been digitised and loaded on a dedicated hard drive. We are grateful to the council for their support for this initiative, which facilitates access to our own documentary heritage. To access this resource contact Heritage Officer Noni Boyd at the Chapter office. Incidentally, Chapter records from are held in the Mitchell Library collection. The Institute s organisational heritage is truly an integral part of the heritage of New South Wales. Joe Agius NSW Chapter President Chapter Manager s report Given recent changes to the Practice Committee now is a good opportunity to reiterate the Chapter s committee structure and to invite members who are interested in contributing to Chapter activities to do so. Each of the committees has a particular agenda: the Built Environment Committee is responsible for preparing and promoting Chapter policies on the built environment, planning and urban design. This includes submissions to government and industry inquiries, draft legislation and policies. the Education Committee contributes to the formulation of Institute policy on the education of people, including children, up to the point of attaining a prescribed qualification in architecture. It reviews course recognition and accreditation, competency standards and the registration of architects, and provides advice on the implementation of policy. the newly refreshed Practice Committee Patrons news The new hotel planned for Canberra Airport. Image: Render by Bates Smart. Bates Smart has won a design competition for a new hotel at Canberra Airport. The 4.5 star hotel (pictured above) is situated at the entrance gateway to the airport and will provide 191 rooms, a restaurant and conference facilities over seven storeys. Inspired by Walter Burley Griffin s plan for Canberra, the design synthesises circular and axial geometries. The circular form provides a bold entry marker to the airport precinct while the linear facade reinforces the axial approach focuses on issues affecting the practice of architecture. There are various task groups that undertake specific assignments as required such as contract reviews, human resources and gender equity to name a few. the Design Culture Committee is responsible for the creative direction of the Chapter s cultural and public education program. the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee is responsible for designing the annual CPD program in line with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia competencies and the NSW Architects Registration Board requirements. the Heritage Committee is responsible for adding to and maintaining the NSW Register of Significant Architecture. the Sustainability Forum to discusses and promotes the importance of sustainability in architectural practice and informs the Institute on issues affecting the profession. The Chapter recently launched ArchiFUN, which, as it says, is designed to educate and entertain people, young and old, about the wonderful world of architecture. If you have a to the terminal. Internally, the upper level rooms are set around a full height circular atrium. At ground level, the base of the atrium provides a dramatic space for the lobby, bar and restaurant. Cox Richardson was recently announced the winner of an international competition for the design of a mixed-use residential complex on Puteri Harbour in Malaysia. The proposal, called Portoputeri (pictured right), explores a European village typology, applied to the densities of the Asian context. A coherent and clear framework of public streets, pedestrian walkways and public places anchors the projects. Environmental initiatives include seawater cooling from the nearby harbour. Cox is also starting sketch design for Taronga Zoo s new Eco-Retreat, an immersive experience that builds on the zoo s very successful Roar and Snore program. The Eco-Retreat will be carefully nestled into the bushland, taking advantage of the Sydney Harbour views and the unique experience of sharing the evening with the zoo s inhabitants. Early ideas include timber structures modelled on a tree house and on-site energy generation through animal-waste methane. unique idea that could engage the community in architecture, please contact Gillian Redman-Lloyd at the Chapter. As recently announced in the weekly e-news, the Chapter has been invited to participate in the NSW Government s exhibition at the China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing from 28 May to 1 June. CIFTIS is one of the largest services exhibitions in the world attracting 138,000 visitors and representatives from 117 countries. The Institute will be co-located with the City of Sydney, Destination NSW, Screen NSW, University of Technology Sydney and NSW NOW to showcase the talented creative sectors available in New South Wales to China and the world. If your practice has an office in China, or you are planning to visit China during the exhibition and would like to participate in this unique opportunity, please phone Roslyn Irons on Roslyn Irons NSW Chapter Manager Portoputeri. Image: Render by Cox Richardson. 2 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

4 chapter news Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre. Image: Mike Chorley. Hassell has appointed Ken Maher as its inaugural Hassell Fellow, effective from 1 January This acknowledges Maher as one of the leading Australian architects of his generation, and solidifies his contribution as a greatly influential figure in the history of the practice. It also reflects a shift of emphasis in his role with the practice; Maher wants to dedicate more time to design, clients, teaching and supporting the development of talented architects both in the firm and across the profession. He remains committed to major projects he is leading and will be a key adviser to other practice leaders in shaping the future of the firm. The recently opened Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre (pictured above) offers a dignified and reassuring environment for patients receiving specialist cancer treatment in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales. Hassell worked closely with State Government s Health Infrastructure NSW to design the centre, which engages with its surrounding natural south coast landscape to deliver a positive healing environment. While the centre is deliberately designed to feel more casual than formal, the Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre delivers the highest quality care through its advanced medical equipment and facilities. DARCH In February and March DARCH hosted its first guided project visits to North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club and Prince Alfred Park Pool. The visits, which allowed behind-the-scenes access to successfully realised projects and the architects who delivered them, are part of a series of architectural site tours to be held throughout the year with the aim of giving groups of emerging architects up-close-andpersonal experience of completed projects. Camilla Block of Durbach Block Jaggers hosted the first tour to the recently completed North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. Described as conceptually a pebble unshiny and unpretentious in plan and organisation, the project responds to the everyday workings of the club and its members. Interestingly, these members were instrumental in raising funds and sourcing donations for the construction of the club, and gained a strong sense of community ownership of the new building. While the project elegantly responds to its setting when viewed from the beach or street, from inside these surroundings are beautifully framed and slowly revealed to the visitor through a series of carefully crafted openings. Prince Alfred Park Pool in Surry Hills was the second project visited. Rachel Neeson of Neeson Murcutt Architects described the process of working with the City of Sydney to deliver the project, and introduced many of the complexities encountered throughout the design process. A walk around the site revealed the fundamental relationship of the pool, and its associated built forms, to the greater park, with views into and out of the enclosure carefully crafted from the larger landscape surrounding it. Please join the DARCH mailing list or visit us on Facebook to keep informed about future tours Amelia Holliday DARCH Committee NSW Country Division Entries for the 2014 NSW Country Division Architecture Awards open on 4 May and close on 4 July. The June regional CPD seminar will be held in Casuarina on Friday 13 June. For more information on the awards and all Country Division events go to the Country Division section of NSW Chapter web page at Newcastle Division Entries for the 2014 UrbanGrowth NSW Lower Hunter Urban Design Awards open on 1 May and close on 18 July. For more information go to The next Newcastle ArchiMEET Architecture Inside and Out will be held on Friday 16 May at Fort Scratchley in Newcastle. Register online at For upcoming events and seminars in Newcastle in 2014, please check the Newcastle events section of the NSW Chapter web page at This year s SONA reps at the annual boot camp in February. SONA The newly appointed SONA representatives for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory Rio Murase, University of Sydney; Aarthi Ayyar-Biddle, University of Canberra; Sam Allibon, University of Newcastle; Lewis Chen, University of Technology, Sydney; and Estelle Rehayem, University of New South Wales met in late February for the annual boot camp, and I can certainly say this year is shaping up to be SONA s best yet. In the first semester, our now infamous design build collaboration with DARCH, One to One, will be back in its fourth instalment. Entitled RE:CLAIM, the event will run on 2 May. Like us on Facebook for more information: onetooneevent/. This will be the first year where membership sign-ups will be conducted via the SONA website only (no paper forms or cash payments). As usual, the annual offering will be free for first year undergraduate students and $85 for second to fifth years. Simply show your online receipt to your local representative and you will receive an exclusive SONA drawstring merchandise pack. To invest in your future, go to I look forward to meeting you at a SONA event this year. Peter Nguyen National President SONA NSW Chapter Digital Archive Architectural documentation is often not nearly as easy to locate as other forms of archival material and is frequently not being utilised when analysing buildings during the conservation planning process or while documenting alterations or additions. In New South Wales, architectural drawings and original specifications are languishing unused, many collections have been accessioned but not indexed and their contents remain unknown. Leading the way in digitising architectural archives is the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library in New York, whose online collection encompasses a wide range of digital images, drawing collections, photographs documenting buildings under construction, architectural periodicals and e-books. Old York, a substantial personal collection documenting the development of the city of New York, is currently being scanned so it can be made available for researchers. A Built Works Register, documenting both architectural works and the built environment, has also been established. Individual architects works are also being digitised. Fondation Le Corbusier in Paris is progressively adding to its illustrated register of Le Corbusier s built and unbuilt works. Likewise the IAUV (the University of Venice) in Italy has an impressive digital archive of architectural projects and the work of individual architects, such as Carlo Scarpa and his collaborators. Scanning of notes and drawings allows for an architect s design process to be made available to researchers. The NSW Chapter s Heritage Committee and its succession of heritage officers have been progressively compiling biographical material on New South Wales architects and the buildings they have designed. In 2013 the Chapter received a generous grant from City of Sydney that has enabled a substantial proportion of the Chapter s varied archival collection to be scanned. The project commenced by scanning the bound volumes of Chapter minutes dating back to 1907 (the earlier records of the fledgling Institute of Architects having been lodged with the Mitchell Library in the 1990s). The entire run of the Chapter s Architecture Bulletin (from 1944 onwards) has been scanned and is now searchable; design historian Michael Bogle has indexed the publication from The digital archival collection also contains incomplete runs of Architecture Australia, Atelier, Building Ideas, Cross Section, Constructional Review and Constructive Times all of which are now searchable. Our intention is that all architectural journals published in New South Wales be collected and scanned, documenting well over a century of architectural work in this state. Selected indexes to architectural periodicals and architectural drawing collections have also been scanned; however, what has been catalogued or indexed is only a small fraction of architectural material held by institutions across New South Wales. The indexes that are now searchable include the Architectural Archives project report undertaken by the Chapter in the mid 1990s, which located, and in some cases catalogued, surviving architectural drawing collections. A number of these collections were then lodged at the Mitchell Library. Transcripts of oral history interviews with retired New South Wales architects who practised from the 1930s onwards have also been included in the digital archive. Records produced by both the Institute and the NSW Chapter, including annual reports, membership registers, practice notes and year books, have all been scanned. Selected Chapter conference proceedings and RAIA publications, including the out-of-print architectural guide 444 Sydney Buildings and Australian Outrage: The Decay of a Visual Environment, also form part of the collection. The NSW Chapter also holds donated archival material from the personal collections of former members including Hedley Carr, Anthony Gaskell, Neville Gruzman, Merewether and Bagot and the founding partner of Peddle, Thorp & Walker, James Peddle. NSW is the first Chapter of the Institute to digitise material relating to its own history and the work of its members. At present, access to this material is by appointment only. Research enquiries, including requests for biographies of architects, should be directed to the Heritage Officer Noni Boyd via noni.boyd@architecture.com.au. Dr Noni Boyd NSW Chapter Heritage Officer Australian Outrage (The Decay of a Visual Environment: A Study by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects), first published in 1966 and edited by Don Gazzard, is available as part of the NSW Chapter s new digital archive. Image: NSW Chapter Digital Archive. 4 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

5 2014 Newcastle Architecture Awards Gender equity: a little less conversation, a little more action opinion The Australian Institute of Architects announced the winners of its 2014 Newcastle Architecture Awards on Thursday 6 March at Merewether Surfhouse. Nine projects from 21 entries were recognised. On the 2014 jury were: Peter Kemp (Chair and Principal at Kemp Consulting), Ramsey Awad (Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle), Robert Donaldson (Trustee, The Architecture Foundation), Alex Kibble (Director, Tanner Kibble Denton Architects), Peter Johnson (retired award-winning architect) and EmAGN graduate Rebecca Boyle. Public Architecture Award: Birubi Point Surf Life Saving Club Architect: EJE Architecture Image: Alexander Mayes (main image) Award: Newcastle Museum Architect: Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (FJMT) Image: John Gollings (pictured above) Commercial Architecture Award: Westrac Newcastle Service Centre & Training Institute (Tomago) Architect: EJE Architecture Image: Steve Back (pictured above) Residential Architecture Alts & Adds Award: MacMasters Beach House Architect: Dianna Thomas Architect Image: Brigid Arnott (pictured below) Commendation: Hamilton House Architect: Austin McFarland Architects Residential Architecture New Houses Award: New Residence: The Junction Architect: EJE Architecture Image: Andy Warren (pictured above) Commendation: Willis House Architect: Killen + Doran Architects Small Project Award: Maxim Workplace Architect: Space Design Architecture Image: Edward Highton (pictured below) Commendation: The University of Newcastle Library Courtyard Architect: CKDS Architecture For those of us frustrated by gender inequality within our profession, or currently experiencing its maelstrom, 2013 saw a number of positive developments. The Women, Work and Leadership project continued to inspire through research, 1 the Parlour website, and events such as Transform 2. From a policy perspective the Parlour guidelines to Equitable Practice were issued for comment in draft form 3 ; and in December a major milestone was reached when the Australian Institute of Architects released its first Gender Equity Policy. The national policy acknowledges what many of us intuitively sense; that women continue to draw the short straw in the profession. This occurs through both overt discrimination and more subtle forms of gender bias. Invisible barriers can systematically strangle women s careers, manifesting in an absence of women in leadership positions, significant attrition of women from the profession, inequitable pay between genders, lower rates of registration for women the list goes on. The policy itself is a succinct two-page document that outlines a framework for future activities and foretells of positive interventions to come. It commits the Institute to both heighten its internal consciousness and to advocate more vociferously on the gender equity agenda. At its essence are the following 10 principles: 1. Acknowledge the profession s obligation to accommodate the diverse needs of the community 2. Recognise and respond effectively to the diversity of members 3. Incorporate provisions to ensure gender equitable outcomes in all new Institute initiatives 4. Communicate the value of women in leadership roles 5. Promote equality of employment arrangements 6. Support the development of alternative and flexible career pathways within the profession 7. Develop cross-gender mentorships and networks 8. Educate the profession about the impact of gender stereotypes 9. Actively seek input on the needs of women members 10. Develop and coordinate specific programs to give effect to this Gender Equity Policy. Invisible barriers can systematically strangle women s careers, manifesting in an absence of women in leadership positions, significant attrition of women from the profession, inequitable pay between genders, lower rates of registration for women the list goes on. While the details are under construction, the principles are a solid start that will contribute to a much wider charter of change within the profession. The Institute is in an excellent position to support this on behalf of members and outside the internal politics of employer/employee relations. What is more, when seen in the context of the National Gender Equity Committee (recently formed), future policy guidelines and various local chapter initiatives, it finally seems as though this issue is gaining momentum. To focus and support this momentum locally, a group of us established a Gender Equity Taskforce in New South Wales midway through last year. Agi Sterling (Sterling Architects), Maryam Gusheh (University of New South Wales), Natalie Lane-Rose (Bates Smart), Monica Edwards (Cox Richardson), Shaun Carter (Carter Williamson), David Tickle (Hassell), Tarsha Finney (University of Technology, Sydney) and myself have started meeting on a monthly basis to formulate a series of positive local interventions. Our aspirations are unashamedly high and focus on the following objectives: Reduce the number of women who leave the profession Increase the number of women in senior and leadership positions Increase the number, quality and type of flexible work opportunities Reduce workplace discrimination and subconscious bias against women Promote gender equity as an improved business model. We are exploring a range of initiatives to enact these goals. This includes feedback to policy and workplace guidelines, a mentoring program, mechanisms for best practice workplace benchmarking, and a series of workshops and talks on issues relevant to both employers and employees. The list is ambitious; it will take us some time, but hopefully, through collective action, we will see change. Footnotes Callantha Brigham is an architect currently working for Parramatta City Council. She is a coordinator of the NSW Gender Equity Taskforce. 1. Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architecture Profession: Women, Work and Leadership, archiparlour.org/about/research/. 2. Transform, 3. Parlour Guides to Equitable Practice, archiparlour.org/parlour-guides-call-for-feedback/. 6 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

6 NSW Government Architect editorial Organised freedom For Peter Poulet, the Government Architect s Office must become the conduit for enabling architecture and design to create our future cities and communities. Conditions in our society have changed decisively during recent decades. One now speaks of a network society, which is the result of major processes such as globalisation, the rise of individualism, and the dawn of the information age. It is almost impossible to comprehend the consequences of these developments. Enormous uncertainty goes hand-in-hand with embracing these new times. 1 The levels of complexity and the rapid, accelerating rates of change that we experience in our lives are ever expanding and now unstoppable. With all this information, with all these opinions and influences come uncertainty, frustration and even anger and rage. Our times are likely to be known for being haphazard, disorderly, even chaotic. Our times struggle with identity, with big or grand ideas, and our institutions are often tentative and reactive in response. Many in our community yearn for comforting ideas and leadership. Conversely, an optimistic view believes we are finding better ways of organising ourselves and better ways of dealing with the shifting, complex and sometimes chaotic nature of today s society. I believe that, as architects, we are well suited to deal with this duality. We are advantaged by our training in design methods, and our capacity to synthesise and integrate. Architects are naturally suited to making sense of a diverse and fluid environment and creatively achieving outcomes. We have the capacity to use our integrating, iterating and innovating skills to meet not just architectural issues but the broader social agenda. At the same time, by being aware of the wider social context our practice is enriched and our work made relevant. My goal as Government Architect is to bring to the State Government, to our institutions, the capacity to think widely and creatively, the very skills architecture has given me. In the book The Improvising Society: Social Order in a Boundless World, Hans Boutellier describes organised freedom as, improvisation, a combination of structure and innovation. A successful improvisation is possibly the highest form of human organisation it shows lesser and greater degrees of success in both consistency and coherence. And it is based on a continuous process of fine-tuning among all identities within an organised context. 2 This is a difficult process to grasp for institutions developed around certainty, clarity, boundaries and a linear methodology. However, this is not a difficult notion for those of us from architecture or the creative fields. The prospect of design processes and methods driving innovation and change is tantalising and my goal is to establish a strategically focused group in my office to deliver these capabilities across the State Government, and further improve outcomes by developing partnerships with private sector providers and the universities. The ultimate aim is to enhance architecture and the urban realm by having people see value in engaging with architects and designers as creative thinkers. Good design is the cornerstone of developing healthy, liveable and prosperous communities, and so is important not just to governments but to the whole community. Good design is a matter of public interest. The strategic input from the new group will have a wide impact as we will engage across the State Government, the industry and the education sector. Our work will focus not only on buildings, but on making good places for people; the making of communities. Understanding the scale of our ambition, we recognise the need to involve many other people in the task, hence the need to think of the NSW Government Architect s Office as enablers, as a group of people who facilitate the coming together of interesting people, creative organisations and, importantly, ideas; a group of people who can span across ideas and organisations and be the catalyst for the future. This methodology requires structure yet permits freedom; this way of working suggests an ability to organise freedom and involve many voices in the process. improvisation can offer us a perspective. Indeed, I find it useful to regard improvisation as a metaphor for the social ordering of the boundless world. It is the human variant of complexity in nature. the improvising society also refers to new social forms, which at their core are about finetuning. In both tightly structured and more fluid compositions, arrangements and spontaneous play produce a kaleidoscopic image of networks, clusters, and subcultures. improvising society reflects new institutional relations. 3 The NSW Government Architect s Office of the future will exemplify design leadership and be known for offering structured, innovative thinking and making creative linkages between people and ideas to better our built environment. We will use design to think clearly, to improvise, iterate and communicate. Footnotes Peter Poulet NSW Government Architect 1. Hans Boutellier. The Improvising Society: Social Order in a Boundless World, Eleven International Publishing, 2013, p Hans Boutellier. The Improvising Society: Social Order in a Boundless World, Eleven International Publishing, 2013, p Hans Boutellier. The Improvising Society: Social Order in a Boundless World, Eleven International Publishing, 2013, p Conserving our 20 th century heritage The benefits of retaining and adapting 20 th century heritage need to be re-examined and revalued by the profession, government and the community, says Louise Cox AO. Architecture withers into a meaningless formal game when it loses its echo of the timeless myths and traditions of building. Instead of portraying newness, true architecture makes us aware of the entire history of building and it restructures our reading of the continuum of time. The perspective that is often disregarded today is that architecture structures our understanding of the past just as much as it suggests the future. 1 Juhani Pallasmaa It seems our 20 th century heritage continues to be under threat from both the public and the private sector in Australia and globally, leading those of us seeking to protect such an important part of our architectural history to ask many questions of ourselves and of those who seek to erase the past. Why is so little value placed on our recent heritage? How can we adapt 20 th century heritage buildings to achieve sensible solutions that enhance new projects and allow these pieces of our culture to be available to future generations? How do we reach out to government and business alike and demonstrate that buildings can be kept in their extended context and given new life with good economic returns that benefit everyone? After all, there are plenty of good examples of adaptive re-use celebrated every year in the Institute s awards program. What are our current generation of politicians and business leaders failing to understand? We have to find another way. Do we drop the word heritage and call it new development to change public understanding?! Think about this proposition. As Past President of the National Trust of Australia John Niland notes, Some see Plans are underway to bring the Philip Cox-designed Australian Pavilion for the Giardini della Biennale in Venice back to Australia.Image: Australia Council. heritage in the icons of the built environment. For others it is more a matter of observing the physical environment. At one level we look at how much of a building s surroundings need protecting beyond the immediate curtilage, at another level context is the collection of things that makes a place feel a particular way, including architecture, food and language. 2 I like this statement very much as it goes past looking at a building to the context and to more social issues, a wholeness of looking and feeling. What is heritage? What is culture? What is sustainability? Sustainability is heritage, and heritage is a great example of sustainability. The retention of the original architect, if it is possible, is an advantage for alterations and extensions to the heritage building. The architect understands the thinking and the philosophy behind the design and setting of the building and should be sympathetic to the original project in any new design. Sensitive > 8 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

7 adaptation can enhance the original and it can also add new parts as a separate building, in a separate position, for example, Don Gazzard s Courtyard House in Hunters Hill (read more on page 19), or Hassell s intervention to the North Sydney Olympic Pool complex, which placed the new lap pool higher up the hill. It now seems that the Melbourne restaurateur Ronnie di Stasio has an idea for the Philip Cox-designed Australian Pavilion constructed as a temporary building in the Giardini della Biennale in Venice in 1988 to come back to Australia. It is proposed that it be used by the public, especially as a resource for education, and to have a new life in the Australian bush of di Stasio s vineyard at Coldstream, Victoria. 3 The importance of a very comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CMP) with principles rather than prescriptive clauses, including an excellent Statement of Significance as guidance can help with the proper understanding of the existing building and the sensitive changes that can be made without destroying its integrity. For example the CMP for the Sydney Opera House and the 20 th and 21 st century interventions to the Louvre Museum in Paris which have sustained the importance of the history of the place in the new interpretations. The importance of a very comprehensive conservation management plan, can help with the proper understanding of the existing building and the sensitive changes that can be made without destroying its integrity. How do you carry out research for 20 th century buildings? Where do you look for information? The checklist for 20 th century heritage research in this edition of Architecture Bulletin (page 25) can assist. Did you know the NSW Heritage Council s Fire Access and Services Advisory Panel (FASAP) provides ways of interpreting the Building Code of Australia that have less impact than the Code itself on buildings if it is enforced without extra thought and understanding? Use it. Social and cultural heritage issues must also be considered not just economic issues and architectural issues in order to put the significance of the 20 th century heritage building and its context into perspective (Mary Knaggs explores this on pages 16-18). For more on what financial benefits can be obtained for a heritage project from government at all levels, see the piece on page 11 by Hector Abrahams. Susan Macdonald believes it is the values or the cultural significance of the heritage item as defined by the Burra Charter that makes the place worthy of conservation. These values can be aesthetic, historic, scientific, social, or spiritual for past, present or future generations The architect s role is through the creative process: to reveal those values, to interpret them and to sustain the place into the future to create new layers, new life, and, in some cases, achieve the addition of a new level of significance to the place. 4 Twentieth century design can also provide many lessons for contemporary architectural practice. Loss of understanding of the original building techniques, environmental factors of passive buildings (siting, using passive cooling, shading), embodied energy and costings; all of these past learnings and knowledge can and should influence the future (see Michael Zanardo s feature on pages and Margi Fallon and Noel Thomson s case studies on pages 20 21). While our 20 th century heritage seems to be easily cast aside, other sections of our architectural history are also not immune. In the face of the sale by the State Government of the Lands Department and Education Department buildings on Bridge Street, Sydney, Peter Webber examines the ethical issues of the disposal of such public places (pages 22 24). What legacy does this leave for future generations? Will they understand why? Public debate may elicit alternatives to disposal, so why do we find out too late what governments are doing? Can these questions have favourable answers and who is right and who is wrong? It is fitting that this edition of Architecture Bulletin times with the introduction of the NSW Chapter s Digital Archive, which has been supported by the City of Sydney with a very generous grant enabling a substantial proportion of the Chapter s varied archival collection to be scanned. This is a major digital resource for the Chapter and for heritage and conversation in New South Wales more broadly. I encourage all of you to explore the archive. I am very excited by it. It is an invaluable resource for both members and the New South Wales community. Louise Cox AO is a past National President of the Australian Institute of Architects, and a past NSW Chapter President, as well as being the Immediate Past President of the International Union of Architects (UIA). She was Chair of the Australian Institute of Architects National Heritage Committee from 2002 to She was a member of UNESCO s Historic Urban Landscape working party from The UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape was finally adopted in Paris on 10 November Footnotes 1. Juhani Pallasmaa in Newness, Tradition and Identity Existential Meaning in Architecture given as a keynote paper to the 12th International Docomomo Conference, Espoo, Finland, August John Niland AC, Past President of the National Trust of Australia (NSW). 3. Norman Day. Venice to the Valley, ArchitectureAU, 25 March Susan Macdonald in The Real Thing: Authenticity, Heritage Significance & Conservation from TAKE 3 The Double Dimension: Heritage & Innovation, August 2004, p. 24. The fiscal advantage of a heritage listing The financial benefits of heritage listing in New South Wales are many and varied. Hector Abrahams provides an overview of what s on offer. The f ollowing is an outline of the major economic allowances for work on heritage projects in New South Wales. The benefits available differ depending on whether the building is listed on the State Heritage Register or a Local Environmental Plan (LEP), and whether the property is listed as an individual building or simply located within a precinct (usually called a conservation area). Intrinsic value For many buildings that are listed for their architectural importance, the value that is recognised in the listing is reflected in the financial worth of the property. In 2013 the Sydney Opera House Trust commissioned Deloitte Australia to calculate the value of the Opera House to Australia. The expert study found the icon to be worth a total figure of $4.6 billion. This may be an example of the current trend to reduce everything to figures on a balance sheet, but that the study could even be done shows that cultural value is and can be reflected in financial value. Incentive schemes For heritage items in local government areas there are two schemes that offer opportunities, but only if the project is listed. All local planning schemes provide conservation incentives under section 5.10 (10) in their LEP. Uses outside the zoning, relaxation of parking and developer contributions, for example, are able to be negotiated under this provision. In the City of Sydney s CBD, heritage-listed buildings can participate in a scheme to transfer the floor space they cannot develop to other sites. The scheme has been in operation for more than 20 years. In a remarkable example of public transparency, a full history of the scheme s operation is available on the City of Sydney website. 1 Public grants More commonly known are several grant schemes for heritage items. The most consistent and well run is the NSW Heritage Grants Major Works scheme. This annual scheme applies only to items on the State Heritage Register. Under the scheme, conservation projects of a minimum value of about $45,000 can apply for grant funding on a dollar for dollar basis. There is a high level of technical oversight required. Funding is also available for conservation plans, interpretation studies and emergency matters. Some local government authorities run grant schemes, usually to assist with external works to the public face of heritage items. Federal Government grant schemes operate from time to time for items deemed to be of national significance. Other support Land tax relief is available for items on the State Heritage Register. The Heritage Council of NSW has a scheme to provide support for heritage advisers who operate within local councils across the state. Larger city councils provide professional heritage staff. In the case of smaller local councils in particular, this scheme provides free advice to owners of heritage properties and their architects. Finally, the Heritage Act provides for a special kind of consent that has proved to be most valuable for larger developments on complex sites; the Minister for Heritage can enter into heritage agreements with land owners and developers, in effect becoming the sole consent authority. Hector Abrahams has been working as an architect for over 26 years and established Hector Abrahams Architects in October 2012 after working as a partner with Clive Lucas Stapleton & Partners in Sydney. Footnotes 1. Allocating HSF, City of Sydney, 2014, application-guide/heritage-conservation/heritage-floorspace-scheme/allocating-hfs. 10 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

8 What early workers housing in Sydney can teach us. This year, the City of Sydney s inaugural workers housing project, the Strickland Buildings in Chippendale, turns 100 years old. With such projects in danger of being seen as outmoded and past their use-by date, Michael Zanardo explores the design of this project, and two other experimental housing blocks, to reveal the aspects of their design that can positively inform the design of contemporary housing. Frequently we do not recognise the intrinsic qualities of the building stock we have in our city. We often look elsewhere, outwards rather than inwards, for the architectural models that will inspire our designs; however, these precedents, be they from another time, or place, or culture (or all three), are usually somewhat divorced from the particularities of the context we are working in. In the case of housing design in Sydney, we have a rich and continuous tradition of relevant local housing exemplars on which we could draw, however, these projects remain both under-researched and undervalued given their historical significance. At the time of their construction, the early workers housing blocks erected by the NSW State Government, and subsequently the Sydney Municipal Council, were considered to be highly experimental building typologies employing innovative building technologies, the likes of which had not been seen before in Australia. These projects transformed existing housing types to provide site specific solutions to the problems of urban housing, accommodating larger populations and delivering more shared amenity than the standardised Georgian townhouse or the Victorian terrace house types they replaced. Understanding the evolution of building types of a certain place over a period of time, as if the city were an urban laboratory where projects can be scientifically observed and studied, is not a new concept. 1 Lessons learnt from past projects, the experiments both successful and failed, aid us in the design of future projects. The ability to experience these projects in the flesh by seeing them, touching them, walking around them and spending time in them can only assist us to appreciate their attributes. Looking closely at the design of Sydney s early examples of publicly sponsored urban housing shows us the problems that housing design sought to deal with over a century ago are not dissimilar to those of today. The design of these projects were concerned with delivering greater density to sites within existing urban areas, improving the quality of light and air to each of the dwellings, and contributing positively to making the streetscape and defining the broader public domain. All of these are familiar and pertinent themes to modern practitioners. Turn of the century transformations Housing density first began to increase in earnest in Sydney during the 1830s and 40s correlating with the rapid expansion of commerce and trade. The first instances of terrace housing had appeared in areas like Millers Point and The Rocks in this period and housing construction only continued to intensify around areas of industry throughout the 19 th century. Towards 1900, accommodation for the working class in the inner city had become squalid and overcrowded. Middle-class reformers began to agitate for slum clearances. The crisis of the bubonic plague outbreak of 1900 spurred the State Government into action. Legislation was passed in 1901 to enable the resumption of land and the Sydney Harbour Trust was established to undertake reconstruction. The Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and its Suburbs recommended that the best location to build new workers housing would be at the outskirts of the city, and that they should be designed as freestanding homes, however sustained resistance by the waterside workers in Millers Point led to a share of housing being developed adjacent to the wharves. The very first housing projects by the NSW Government Architect, such as the Windmill Street redevelopment in Millers Point, were conceived of as standard terrace houses albeit with superior construction methods, more generous dimensions and improved sanitation, however, the projects that followed began to explore newer models with higher densities. The High Street Flats The High Street Flats project in Millers Point of 1910, attributed to Sydney Harbour Trust Engineer-in-Chief Henry Deane Walsh, was a clever variation on the terrace house type that The 1910 High Street Flats in Millers Point. Image: Michael Zanardo. 2. The 1912 Gloucester Street buildings in The Rocks. Image: Michael Zanardo. effectively stacked mirrored single-storey terrace houses two high, creating blocks of attached four-pack apartments that were then repeated 18 times along the street. The narrow building footprint of each of the blocks allowed the project to step nimbly with the steep man-made topography. Because the dwelling type was designed in tandem with the block and street layout, the flat buildings had a remarkably close fit with their subdivision, achieving a high density given their height. 2 Each dwelling had excellent address with direct access to the street from a verandah or stair and servicing to the rear lane via a gate or garbage chute. All units had private courtyards at the ground level or on the rooftop, and a playground as the centrepiece of the layout provided additional communal amenity. The project borrowed state-of-the-art technology from the neighbouring wharf projects employing precast concrete slabs for floor construction. Gloucester Street In 1912, the Department of Public Works designed a pair of attached four-storey buildings for a very steep infill site in Gloucester Street, The Rocks. The plans for these resemble two-storey terrace houses stacked four wide and two high, giving a total of eight dwellings per building (16 per attached pair). One atypical dwelling, splayed in plan, resolved the geometry of the site at the bend in the street: the lower dwellings were entered in the standard manner from the footpath level, going down a floor internally and through to small courtyards overlooking the rear lane; the upper dwellings were entered by climbing a flight of external stairs and traversing an open gallery on the west side of the building and then going up internally through to private rooftop balconies. This novel gallery may be the earliest example in Sydney of a street in the sky arrangement, an idea that gained popularity as a mode of circulation in the 1960s. The roof of the gallery > LESSONS FROM THE PAST 12 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

9 appears as a tall verandah element and works to pick up the predominant parapet and pitched roof heights within the streetscape. The upper storey stands proud of the base and echoes the upper floor of the Australian Hotel located opposite. The Strickland Buildings The Sydney Municipal Council was keen to follow in the State Government s footsteps. After much petitioning, they were granted resumption powers in 1905 and permission to build workers housing came later with the 1912 amendment to the Sydney Corporation Act. Council built in the poor Laborcontrolled wards of the city but, unlike the Sydney Harbour Trust or the Department of Public Works, it broke with the idea of intensification through traditional building types and instead opted for true apartment building typologies. Their first project was the Strickland Buildings in 1914 designed by the City Architect Robert Hargreave Brodrick. Located on a resumed long north south block in Chippendale, this project is actually nine three-storey buildings of three different plan types running alternately along and across the site, attached at light wells. Each building contains between six and 12 units, with a maximum of four units per floor, comprising a total of 71 apartments of many different configurations. Four shops at each end of the block address the busiest street frontages and provide a mix of uses. Although the building was reputed to be the densest housing project in Sydney at the time of its completion 3, individually each building can be seen as modest in size and scale. The long perimeter wall provides plentiful opportunity for windows to admit light and air, and the topographical cross section is solved through the inclusion of generous entry stoops on the western elevation. The landscaped areas facing the street work to provide relief between the robust building massing, while communal open space can be found on the roof areas, complete with laundry blocks and drying courts. Density defining the public domain Examples of early workers housing in Sydney provide us with more than just a window to history. They are enduring, living, working buildings that have withstood the test of time Examples of early workers housing in Sydney provide us with more than just a window to history. They are enduring, living, working buildings that have withstood the test of time and are at hand to provide sage insight into the design of housing in Sydney today. and are at hand to provide sage insight into the design of housing in Sydney today. The High Street Flats, Gloucester Street, and the Strickland Buildings prove to us in bricks and mortar that density and amenity need not be mutually exclusive, and they serve as important touchstones for the positive role that denser forms of housing can play in defining and activating the public domain. Embodied within these projects are the tactics for dealing with our ever-present topography, providing a veritable catalogue of strategies for arranging apartment and circulation types. This is all invaluable knowledge to practising architects and it is specific to the city we work in. It is important that we take care of these buildings, not only so future generations can see where we have been, but also that they may guide future architects to where they are going. Michael Zanardo is a registered architect, urban designer and the principal of Studio Zanardo. His practice specialises in the design of denser forms of housing, particularly social and affordable housing. He teaches design in the Masters of Architecture program at the University of Sydney where he is currently undertaking a doctorate investigating pre-world War II workers housing in Sydney. Michael is an outspoken and passionate advocate for improving residential design. Author s note: I acknowledge the the work and assistance of NSW Chapter Heritage Officer Noni Boyd in the research and development of this article. Millers Point under threat The urban renewal of Millers Point and The Rocks post 1900 produced public housing unequalled in Australia; well-designed projects that remain comparable with leading international examples of municipal housing. The proposed sell-off of individual leases on a long-term basis has already begun to degrade the architectural character of Millers Point, as tenants with no interest in the architectural character of their purchase have sought inappropriate alterations and non-traditional colour schemes. The Rocks and Millers Point were listed in their entirety on the Register of the National Estate for their building stock and overall townscape, which recognised the unique combination of Georgian townhouses and cottages, Victorian terraces and the later Federation-style workers housing. Nowhere else in Australia can the increase in housing density from individual cottages to townhouses and terraces and then flats be traced in the surviving building stock. The illconsidered sell-off by the State Government of the purpose-designed public housing will impact not only on the longstanding use of the place as public housing, but will also impact on the architectural character of this unique part of Sydney. Dr Noni Boyd NSW Heritage Officer 3. Part of the original plan for the High Street Flats, Millers Point. Image: NSW State Records Office. 4. The Cleveland Street side of the 1914 Strickland Buildings in Chippendale. Image: Michael Zanardo. Footnotes 1. P.J. Cantrill and P. Thalis, An Urban Laboratory, Form Technique Content, Department of Architecture University of Sydney, Issue 2, 1996, p The density of the High Street Flats calculated by the NSW Standard Instrument LEP definition is 1.28:1. M. Zanardo, Future Affordable Housing Typologies in Sydney: Learning from Local Precedent, in B. Randolph et al (eds.) Refereed Papers Presented at the 4 th Australasian Housing Researchers Conference, Sydney, J. Gregory and J. Campbell, New South Wales Public Housing Design: A Short History, NSW Department of Housing, Liverpool, July 1996, p Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

10 The poetic in adaptation Adapting heritage sites for the demands of contemporary use can be challenging; Mary Knaggs explores this further in relation to the transformation of some popular Sydney places. Australia is recognised internationally for the outstanding philosophy of heritage practice that is the Burra Charter 1. It s no coincidence that Australian designers are increasingly respected on the world stage for their adaptive re-use of places; an approach that respects and celebrates heritage values. The Burra Charter encourages a contemporary practitioner to thoroughly understand heritage values and to be very clear in their design as to what is new and what is not. Paddington Reservoir Gardens Sometimes sites particularly ruined sites speak with immediacy to the design team. When Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (TZG) was first commissioned to convert Paddington Reservoir Gardens into an urban park, the general expectation was that the reservoir would be sealed off and a brand-new park built on top. Julie McKenzie from TZG recalls how the project team was captivated by the possibilities of revealing the 19 th century structure as a ruin; an artefact through which members of the public could wander, immersed in the poetic heritage, the dramatic spaces and play of light. The concept for the contemporary overlay was inspired by the original artefact. The imperative was to celebrate the engineering structure and materials at Paddington Reservoir Gardens, and this was greatly assisted by access to the original drawings and specifications. Adaptation has a lot to do with evolution and sustainability, memory and vision. In awarding the 2010 Australian Medal for Landscape Architecture to Reservoir Gardens, the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture jury found: This is a public garden that has the expression, layering of meaning and timeless quality of any poem by Judith Wright or T.S. Eliot. The peeling back of structures to reveal the time past is countered by the addition of the new structures making a clear statement about time present. Together they establish a place that invites people to include the gardens in their lives; a space to chat with friends, an intriguing setting for a quiet city stroll, a venue for celebration. People will add new layers to build time future. 2 The Wharf Theatres Interviewed by Sharon Fraser in , Vivian Fraser said of his Sydney Theatre Company project at Walsh Bay: You have to know the truth about an old building before you put pencil to paper I like to give insights into the way the building works. He continued, Existing buildings lead the designer rather than the reverse like the linearity of the Wharf Theatres... under any other circumstances I would not have had the audacity to have a public entrance 200 metres long And obviously I wanted people to know they were on a wharf. When constructed, Fraser s Wharf Theatre and his Sydney Dance Company projects received criticism from some in the architectural community, particularly in regard to their simplicity. In reality Fraser found that: The problem (of adapting the wharf ) was one of the most complex and difficult problems I have ever tackled, and required 12 months of intense design and documentation teamwork to achieve this, hopefully simple, result I think it is a success if people think it is a simple job I am quite happy to have that sort of insult. Past informing future Another challenge for architects working in the heritage site adaptation area is the concept of design as interpretation; how to deal with the contradictions found between the celebration of heritage value and the sustainable future of a place. When considering the communication of heritage value, Richard Johnson of Johnson Pilton Walker believes his best heritage projects have in fact been his exhibition designs. Johnson was involved early in his career in the design of the Australian pavilions The Wharf Theatre, Walsh Bay captured by Max Dupain in Image: NSW Chapter Digital Archive. 2. Paddington Reservoir Gardens by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer. Image: Eric Sierens. > The peeling back of structures to reveal the time past is countered by the addition of the new structures making a clear statement about time present. 16 Architecture Bulletin Autumn Architecture Bulletin Autumn

11 and exhibitions at the International Expos of 1974 and He found the best way to communicate the significance of Australia s industry, art and craft was to understand both the historical and the contemporary context. More recently Johnson has designed awardwinning exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. For these projects Johnson has had to grapple with how to communicate the history of objects to a wide community. He does this by taking them on a journey of thought-provoking and life-affirming discovery without beating them over the head with historical fact. Johnson says, History is not an end in itself; it is a means by which to create greater understanding and more relevant design. Sustainability When working on a heritage re-use site, a discussion regarding the connection between the adaptation of existing buildings and sustainability is inevitable. There are the obvious environmental sustainability issues of embodied energy in existing fabric, and the economic sustainability of using existing structures and services, however, Diane Jones from PTW points to the inherent flexibility of many older buildings to adapt to contemporary demands. For example James Barnett and Walter Liberty Vernon s courthouses often accommodate the changing needs of our justice system without significant loss of heritage value. Johnson believes we need a new approach to the creation of sustainable places; one that starts with society, heritage and the evolution of change, not just with sustainability achieved by technology. We need to find the embodied poetic energy of places. The fabric of place 3. Conservation Plans for heritage sites, which are based on the Burra Charter Process, can be invaluable, mainly for the history and analysis of the place. Jones urges that we understand the basic concept of the original designer and maker. She says, the best Conservation Plans include diagrams analysing the spatial and fabric concepts diagrams of why a place is and how it is, the composition of solids and voids not the plan only. For most adaptive re-use projects, a celebration of traditional material and craft is critical. To do this we need to retain expertise in traditional building crafts and techniques. Jones also acknowledges the inspiration of traditional fabric in its ability to convey a sense of humanity and continuance. For Johnson, the facade of the Museum of Sydney is homage to the use of sandstone in the building of the city of Sydney and was inspired by the knowledge in traditional stonemasonry of NSW Public Works stonemason, George Proudman. Johnson has since been to most of the major quarries in Australia and discussed the qualities of each with the quarry master. He may choose the stone but the stone comes to life in the hands of a good stonemason. A criticism of much of the current heritage documentation and most heritage legislation is that it concentrates too much on the negative what you shouldn t do rather than what you could do. Philip Thalis from Hills Thalis believes heritage documents should look forward in a positive way. Thalis found 3. Museum of Sydney courtesy of JPW. Image: John Gollings. that an understanding of urban and architectural history is enabling; in the introduction to the book Public Sydney: Drawing The City, he states: Fascination has inspired investigation and inquiry, inculcating a deeper knowledge and critical perspective on making the city and its constituent elements, and a questioning of political choices, their implementation and underlying values. Sometimes such intense contemplation nurtures an abiding love of the city. 4 Mary Knaggs is currently Senior Heritage Architect at the NSW Government Architect s Office. She previously had her own practice as a heritage architect in Tasmania. This article is based on a paper given by Knaggs at the Australia ICOMOS National Conference in Canberra in October The conference theme was Creative Imaginings: How can heritage and creative practice be combined to explore the poetics of place and memory?. Knaggs interviewed four architects working in creative adaptation to prepare her paper. Footnotes 1. The Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter 2013, 2. Landscape Architecture Australia, November 2010, Issue 128, 3. Sharon Fraser, Fraser on Fraser, University of New South Wales undergraduate architectural project, Philip Thalis and Peter John Cantrill. Public Sydney: Drawing The City, Thames and Hudson, A house in Hunters Hill Don Gazzard reflects on the building and subsequent adaptation of his first project: Courtyard House, winner of the first Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture in New South Wales. My first completed building was the traditional starting point for most architects, a small house for my in-laws who had a standard suburban block, two kids and a tight budget. Working on postwar housing in London for four years had rammed home the understanding that if costs were to be kept down there could be no fancy construction or detailing, that what builders were familiar with was always the cheapest option. Ordinary suburban house construction seemed to me to be a sort of vernacular tile roofs, brick walls and timber floors and this was clearly the way to contain costs. Only the interior planning and external appearance needed to be changed. The street frontage faced west so the house was planned around a courtyard to enable north sun to penetrate the living room from the side. The courtyard was an extension of the living room, and walled so it was private from the street and blocked out western sun. The roofs sloped inwards and there were no gutters, the rainwater being drained from the courtyard. The roof rafters were exposed internally and the sloping shape of the roof gave the house a feeling of spaciousness. Windows were placed to encourage natural cross ventilation. The materials were simple: white painted common brickwork, polished timber floors and timber doors and windows with a natural finish. The straightforward plan and cross section were determined by the position of the sun and the way the house fitted into its suburban streetscape. What was different, however, was its use of elements like roofing tiles that were considered unmodern by most architects at the time. The house was awarded the first Wilkinson Award for Residential Architecture in 1961, with the Herbert family living there until its sale to new owners in The gross enclosed area of this threebedroom house was only 120 square metres small by today s standards. The new owners wanted more space but their initial plans for adding this extra space would have totally destroyed the design concept. Fortunately an enlightened town planner at Hunters Hill Council refused to accept their proposal and suggested the owners should retain the original architect instead. Would there were more planners like this! Consequently I designed a 90 square metre extension that was built on the rear of the site. The roof of the extension was the same height as that of the existing building so the house was extended seamlessly at the rear of the site using the same external materials. The extension cannot be seen from the street and the original appearance of the house from the pavement is unchanged. The only minor changes made to the original plan were the removal of the corridor and bathroom so that the two smaller bedrooms and the kitchen could be enlarged The plan showing the adaptation to Courtyard House. Image: Don Gazzard. 2. Courtyard House as it stood in Image: David Moore. A slightly improved clinker-brick version of this house was later built in the Kingsdene Estate at Carlingford, which my office also planned. An early sketch showed how houses with this plan could be joined together to reduce frontages and increase densities. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to do this. Don Gazzard is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. For more on his work see Sydneysider: An Optimistic Life in Architecture (Watermark Press 2006) or go to 18 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

12 A tale of two adaptations Margi Fallon and Noel Thomson discuss the adaptive re-use of two sites in country New South Wales. Heatherbrae Cottage, Lawson Hidden away for years behind a heavily vegetated garden, the Heatherbrae Cottage became prominent in the new Lawson town centre after the completion of the highway widening works through the township. The 1914 cottage had been left vacant for a number of years and had been subject to water damage and vandalism. The cottage was purchased by the Blue Mountains City Council in 2008 for use by Connect Child and Family Services and The Possum Toy Library, who have been using it since September Heatherbrae was the home of William and Rebecca Staples, shop owners and prominent residents in the early township of Lawson. Built in 1914, the cottage is a highly intact example of a timber federation bungalow, featuring deep-hipped and timber-lined verandahs, built of Californian redwood. The merchant profession of the original owners was reflected in every detail of the exterior and interior of the house, which featured catalogue fireplaces, faux 1. oak wall panelling, handpainted wallpapers, linoleums, gas light holders, bronze fittings and latches on mirrored wardrobe doors and casement windows. The challenges of adapting and restoring this cottage lay in the preservation of the delicate interiors after years of water ingress and minor vandalism to the building. The cottage has had the good fortune of only having three owners over its 100 year life. The internal walls and ceiling were timber battened and lined with 4 millimetre paper that was treated variously with wallpaper finishes, integral faux-oak finishes, or plain painted finishes. Research at the Historic Houses Trust (now Sydney Living Museums) library provided a treasure trove of product catalogues that featured the fireplaces and the paper oak panelling product Amiwud 1 used at Heatherbrae. The Amiwud product stamp was found on the rear of the faux oak panelled sections. In order to access the structure so that strengthening work could occur, all the paper linings were replaced on the ceilings and in the main hall of the building. This enabled access to one side of the central walls to provide for servicing and to strengthen the wall framing and bracing of the building while 2. The challenges of adapting and restoring this cottage lay in the preservation of the delicate interiors after years of water ingress and minor vandalism to the building. maintaining the original finishes in all the rooms on the other side. One panel of the original wallpaper in the hall was preserved behind a wall of glazing. The handpainted wallpaper has been protected by the placement of a perspex screen to chair rail height to prevent touching and bumping of the walls. Significant linoleums were retained in situ under the new carpets, and custommade flyscreens were made to enable the retention of window opening mechanisms and latches. The conversion of the cottage for use as office space required the provision of accessibility, both within the building and from the adjacent car park through the significant garden. These were contained within the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas, which had already been altered by the previous owners of the cottage. Improved external accessibility was achieved by the use of light framed and removable structures. The works were carried out by the Blue Mountains City Council. Margi Fallon Integrated Design Associates The restored verandah of Heatherbrae Cottage. Image: Nathan Fallon. 2. The cottage s original wallpaper is preserved behind perspex. Image: Nathan Fallon. 3. The interior of one of the Waterstreet Apartments leading to the restored balcony of the former Commercial Hotel. Image: Noel Thomson. Commercial Hotel, Albury The former Commercial Hotel in Smollett Street, Albury, listed on the State Heritage Register, closed its doors in 2007 after over 100 years of trading. The building was purchased in 2009 with the idea to convert the hotel and its accommodation quarters to an apartment building (Waterstreet Apartments) which was completed early this year. The two-storey hotel was built in 1885 at the east end of the town due to its proximity to the newly established Sydney to Melbourne railway line and the recently completed Albury Railway Station at the end of Smollett Street. The original hotel was designed by Albury architects Gordon & Gordon, with Louis Harrison, a prominent local architect, designing the 1920 extensions a bar, parlour and two-storey accommodation wing as well as internal alterations to the existing Commercial Hotel. With the extensions finalised, the hotel consisted of a main bar, parlour, lounge, dining room, kitchen, toilets and bathrooms, stores, laundry, 22 bedrooms and rear garage for five cars. The adaptation now houses nine apartments consisting of one one-bed apartment, five two-bed apartments and three three-bed apartments each with a garage in the new building at the rear of the property. The challenge in adapting this heritage building to its new use as apartments was to conserve its heritage values. The aim was to minimise changes to the original structure as much as possible and provide new accommodation that was sympathetic to the building s history as a hotel. The division of the building into apartments needed to recognise the relationship between the principal rooms and install up-to-date services without affecting significant fabric. Another challenge was the unsafe verandah, however, with the assistance of a grant from the Heritage Council of NSW, along with historical research and the study of a 1910 photograph, reconstruction was undertaken and missing elements replaced to return it to an earlier known state. A statement of heritage impact was prepared for the adaptation of the building that resulted in the approval of nine apartments within the original hotel footprint and the infilling of the central circulation area. Changes were made with the removal of some walls where small hotel rooms needed to be enlarged to suit the requirements of the new apartments. The insertion of new work between the two rear accommodation wings united the building and allowed the new units to achieve natural light from both the east and west sides. Private open spaces were provided through individual entry courtyards and access to balconies at the first floor. The new balcony verandahs were located on the western side of the building and provide shelter to the apartment entry and protection from the western sun. Noel Thomson Noel Thomson Architecture Footnotes 1. Amiwud The Ideal Finish for Walls and Ceilings, advertisement in Building and Real Estate Magazine, Volume 13, Number 78, February Original magazine located at the Sydney Living Museums Library. 20 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

13 THE ICONIC DEPARTMENT OF LANDS BUILDING The 1892 Department of Lands Building on the corner of Bridge and Loftus Streets, Sydney. Image: Peter Webber. Ethical issues in the divestment of precious public property. Emeritus Professor and former NSW Government Architect Peter Webber examines the sale of one of New South Wales most historic buildings. Lining the southern side of Bridge Street in Sydney are three remarkable 19 th and early 20 th century sandstone buildings, designed respectively for the Office of the Chief Secretary and later the Department of Public Works, the Education Department, and the Department of Lands. All have been continuously occupied by public authorities serving the needs of the state, and for much of that time they also housed the offices of the state ministers responsible for these areas. All of the buildings are of exceptional cultural importance, and, as a group, are considered by the National Trust to be of the highest heritage significance. Of the three, the Department of Lands Building is arguably the most impressive, with the National Trust commenting that it is one of the most influential and major public buildings ever established during the mid-19 th century in Australia s colonial history. 1 Since its completion in 1892 it has housed the government department responsible for managing the organisation, surveying and subdivision of land in the entire state, and, until 2000, has been occupied by 19 successive New South Wales surveyor generals. Heritage up for sale In July 2013 the State Government announced, without open consultation, that it proposed to offer the buildings for sale or lease to the private sector. There remains deep concern about the loss of such precious public property, not least among those who have had a long association with the buildings, in particular the various groups with a strong interest in the professional disciplines involved. In the case of the Department of Lands, the Institution of Surveyors NSW (ISNSW) has been a strong advocate against its privatisation, arguing in a letter to the NSW Premier Barry O Farrell that this would be short-sighted and would mean its loss forever, as a public treasure, to future generations. 2 NSW Chapter President Joe Agius reported the concern of the Institute in his message in the Summer 2014 edition of Architecture Bulletin and shared the somewhat intriguing assurance he had been given by Andrew Constance, the NSW Minister for Finance and Services, that Heritage conservation and maintenance will be separated from leasing issues. 3 It has not been an issue since the announcement that the fabric of the buildings would be retained and conserved, and that new owner(s) would be required to maintain them in good condition as part of any contract of sale. The NSW Department of Finance and Services advised the Institution of Surveyors NSW that the Lands Department Building is on the major state heritage registers and is heritage protected and that its heritage will not be affected by the divestment of the properties. As part of the divestment process, a Conservation Management Plan is being finalised for this asset to ensure the potential new owners have a clear plan to manage the heritage aspects of this property. 4 The Conservation Management Plan is being prepared by the Government Architect; it has been proposed that future uses would be restricted to tourism. While this assurance is of some comfort, it does not address the critical issue that the heritage of such a building involves not only its physical structure, viewed as an asset which can be divested, but also equally its social and cultural heritage, and the implications if these are no longer associated with the building. From press reports it appears that there is unlikely to be a shortage of interest in taking over the properties. Will Deague, Chief Executive of the Asian Pacific Group, whose company controls several boutique hotels, has been quoted in a press report as saying that the Department of Education and Department of Lands sites offered one of the greatest sites to come up in Sydney for a hotel. 5 Fabric, context and culture We are fortunate that the Department of Lands Building survived the postwar boom when so many superb but little valued Victorian era buildings were demolished, not least the Royal Exchange Building, on the corner immediately opposite in Pitt Street. The heritage of the Department of Lands Building has been comprehensively documented, first by Morton Herman, later by Peter Bridges and Don McDonald in their work on the remarkable Colonial Architect James Barnet, the National Trust (NSW), and recently the Seniors Group of the Institution of Surveyors NSW. The foundation stone for the new building was laid by the then Minister for Lands, Thomas Garrett, on 7 October 1876 and construction commenced in 1877, but by 1888 only the north-west section was completed, with a contemporary reporter complaining that an extraordinary time has elapsed without anything being done to complete the work. 6 However, a most impressive structure was emerging, with three highly decorative Italian Renaissance-style storeys set upon a sturdy base, all faced with warm sandstone from the nearby quarries in Pyrmont. In scale and character it is similar and complementary to the earlier Office of the Colonial Secretary at the top of Bridge Street with arched window and verandah openings and niches for statuary, some of which remain unoccupied. 7 The builder was the entrepreneurial John Young, who trained as an architect but found building work more profitable. With ingenuity he introduced vaulting at lower levels made from coke concrete spanning between iron joists and the then novel concrete slabs. By 1892 the second stage was finally completed and surmounted by both an impressive onion dome and the spectacular clock tower. Many of the interiors are significant: marble-tiled corridors, fascinating staircases, splendid stately rooms and memorable spaces enclosed below the rooftop structures, none more important than the original Plan Room, which is located at the very centre of the building with a domed skylight to use as much natural light as possible for working on and viewing plans. While much of its context has changed, and many nearby buildings have been demolished, the Department of Lands Building remains a much-loved icon in this historic part of the city. It complements the Department of Education and the Office of the Colonial Secretary public buildings to the east, and with its sandstone facades and comfortable pedestrian scale, provides a sense of continuity along the southern side of Bridge Street and an urbane streetscape. Its northern > 22 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

14 facade sensitively frames and visually contains the southern side of Macquarie Place, one of the city s most precious small public spaces. Its clock tower is an orientation marker that is prominent from the streets around, and is still just visible when approaching Circular Quay from the water against a backdrop of unremarkable high-rise tower buildings. The Department of Lands Building is a rich repository of our social and cultural heritage. Not only is the statuary significant, but there are two specific markers that are of critical interest to the practice and profession of surveying. The first is the brass bench mark plug set in the stone to the right of the main entrance, providing the origin of all levels in New South Wales for the purpose of the Survey Co-ordination Act. 8 First measured between , and then reviewed, the level was finally determined in 1896 as feet above mean sea level. A second marker is the State Survey Baseline set in the ground floor in 1894 for the calibration of surveyors measuring equipment. The Institution of Surveyors NSW warns that surveyors need access to the standard and without proper calibration, the integrity of their linear measurements is in danger of being lost. 9 Very close by in Macquarie Place, seen against, resonating with, and seeming almost part of the Department of Lands Building to those who appreciate the central place of surveying in the story, stands Francis Greenway s Obelisk: erected in 1818 it marks the spot from which distances are measured to all places in the then colony, and the present state of New South Wales. Policies and past forebears With many government buildings under threat throughout Australia, the Australian Council of National Trusts in 1998 developed a policy for the disposal of State Government heritage assets. In December 2013, the National Trust The State Survey Baseline on the ground floor of the Department of Lands Building. Image: Noni Boyd. (NSW) released its own policy statement that urges the retention of public assets when it is in the public interest, particularly when the following apply: The place is, or may be required for public use and the heritage significance of the heritage asset is inextricably linked with its use and ownership by the State Government. 10 There are understandable reasons why government will legitimately consider disposal of public properties: buildings may become unsuitable for the functions they are serving; demand for a public service may change; its location may become unsuitable; and maintenance costs can be high. In Sydney many major public buildings have been privatised with varying degrees of success. In the 1980s Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf was decommissioned as a public berth for overseas and local liners, and redeveloped for up-market residential and hotel accommodation a short-sighted decision alienating deepwater berthing facilities in a location that would have been ideal and much needed for today s cruise ship market. In the same period the grand Victorian-style Treasury Building was sold and redeveloped as a hotel with an intrusive high-rise tower set back behind the street facades. Much can be learned from a relatively successful case, the Sydney GPO in Martin Place, still perhaps the most impressive and most loved of all public buildings in the city, but one that by the second half of the 20 th century could no longer serve as the central mail processing centre as well as central post office. The building was restored, street frontages activated, including a post office on the main street corner, and a large and relatively discrete new high-rise hotel developed behind. The ground level interior spaces are open and welcoming, and its ambience is such that there remains at least a sense of public accessibility and ownership of the building. Public versus private By contrast the proposal to sell the Department of Lands Building raises more difficult challenges in reconciling public and private interests, and providing both public and private access. For it to be converted to an up-market hotel, major intervention in relation to the internal fabric would be essential to accommodate facilities such as a commercial kitchen, ensuite toilets to all bedrooms, and full air conditioning with associated ducts and plant room; changes that would be expensive to install, inappropriate in heritage terms, and difficult and expensive to reverse. It appears that there is so much of the building fabric that should not be altered that it would be very difficult or impossible to responsibly convert the building for hotel or similar uses. In addition there are many moveable items, including signage, plaques and loose furniture, many of which could not be left but should not be separated from the building. Its disposal would directly contradict the National Trust (NSW) advice. There is no doubt that it would be far more logical and economical to continue to use the building for the office accommodation to which it is suited; it would also be very desirable to continue to house an arm of the public service there. There has long been a symbiotic relationship between government service and the historic buildings in which it has been housed, none more so than that between the discipline of surveying and the Department of Lands Building. Peter Webber Footnotes 1. Graham Quint. Policy on the Change of Use and Disposal of State Government Heritage Assets, National Trust of Australia (NSW), December Graham Stewart, Letter from Institution of Surveyors NSW (ISNSW) President, 27 August Architecture Bulletin, Summer 2014, p Letter (undated) from Project Director of the Department received by ISNSW, 23 September Simon Johanson. The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 November 2013, p Morton Herman, The Architecture of Victorian Sydney, Angus and Robertson, Sydney 1956, p David Sheedy. Lands Department Building Listing Sheet, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Peter Tranter. Lands Department Datum Bench Mark Plug Listing Sheet, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Letter (unpublished) to The Sydney Morning Herald, from ISNSW President drafted 25 September Graham Quint, op. cit. Twentieth century heritage: a research checklist To assist those researching 20 th century buildings to develop a clear architectural picture of their subject, NSW Chapter Heritage Officer Noni Boyd shares a list of questions to tease out the relevant information, and provides the leads needed to track the answers down. Q1: When was the building erected? In order to find out this information check the following sources: Council development application (DA) and building application (BA) registers; maps; subdivision plans; street directories; and rate books. As many council records are not yet online, DA registers may be available in local studies collections. The City of Sydney is the main exception, their rate books have been transcribed, and their street planning cards, which list applications, have been scanned. The City of Sydney Archives online catalogue Archives Investigator. Also online are Archive Pix, Assessment Books, Street Planning Cards and their Historic Atlas archives. See the historical menu from PhotosAU.com for other councils. Tenders in newspapers or construction journals via the National Library of Australia s Trove website Subdivision plans can be found online via the State Library New South Wales main catalogue Q2: Who commissioned the work? Did they commission other similar buildings or works by the same architect? Sources: Government Gazette and Departmental annual reports at the Mitchell Library via the State Library (see Q1). Newspaper reports via Trove (see Q1). Online NSW Government annual reports (including Public Works) Q3: Who designed it and what was the design intention? Sources: Newspaper articles (see Q1). Architectural magazines (see Q5). Selected oral history transcripts & lists of NSW architects works (AIA Digital Archive). Past projects are included on a number of NSW architect s websites, for instance Peter Muller. Q4: Do the original plans survive? Sources: Various local councils. Courtesy drawings of public buildings held by the City of Sydney (from 1927 onwards), see Series 968 Government Building Plans. Hotel and state public building plans at NSW State Records A number of current architects and firms have donated drawings of past projects to the Mitchell Library (see Q1), including AJ+C, COX Architecture and Glenn Murcutt. It is worth noting that indexes to architectural drawings held at the Mitchell Library and State Records are still hard copy only. A good starting point is the Mitchell Library s Guide to Architectural Collections (via the manuscripts catalogue). The State Records Plan index (formerly AO Plan) can be consulted at NSW State Records. Q5. Was the building published at the time of completion? Sources: The NSW Chapter holds the full run of Architecture Bulletin, most of Cross Section and selected issues of Architecture Australia. Additional holdings at the State Library of New South Wales and the National Library of Australia. Popular magazines were also very influential, particularly when it came to the design of houses. The Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection (Sydney Living Museums) has a wide range of material regarding residential design in New South Wales, as has the Mitchell Library. Q6. Did the design win any architectural awards? Sources: Architecture Australia and Architecture Bulletin (NSW Chapter Digital Archive). For Sulman Medal winners refer to Architecture in Transition: The Sulman Award by Andrew Metcalf. Q7. Did the design include technological innovations? Sources: Technical journals and papers. Selected industry periodicals held by the NSW Chapter, including Building Ideas and Constructional Review. Overseas architectural journals are held in the State Library and university libraries. Start by identifying the date of innovation generally and then work out when it appeared in journals and buildings in NSW. Considerable technical innovation occurred in buildings erected by Government agencies in New South Wales, which were not subject to control by building inspectors. Q8: Was the building built as designed? Has the building been altered? This can usually be determined by comparing surviving drawings with published photographs and what survives of the building today. Q9: Is the design important in the surviving body of work of the architect/designer? Sources: Architectural monographs. The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture by Philip Goad and Julie Willis. Biographies compiled by the NSW Chapter. Q10: What was the context of the design? Care needs to be taken to assess the design according to the prevailing architectural climate at the time of design/completion rather than making assumptions from a current point of view. Oral histories can often provide this background (See Q2). Q11: When was the building type introduced? Is this example rare? Was this example typical? Was this example typical at the time but now rare? A discussion of a typical building should consider specific contemporary examples rather than simply relying on recent books focused on elements of architectural style. NSW Chapter Heritage Enquiry Service For any questions or assistance with research regarding 20 th century architecture in New South Wales, or to make an appointment to view archival periodicals and other materials, please noni.boyd@architecture.com.au. 24 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

15 review Cultivating Modernism: Reading the Modern Garden Author Richard Aitken Publisher Melbourne University Publishing RRP $39.99 Members $ Richard Aitken s latest book, Cultivating Modernism: Reading the Modern Garden is a revisiting of the chapter on Modernism in his book, The Garden of Ideas viewed through the lens of his passion for books and libraries. Cultivating Modernism is not a history of modernist gardens but is a view of gardens and garden making through books and magazines. Aitken hopes that this survey of modernist gardens in the documents will form the bedrock of a future history of modernist garden making. As a research tool and introduction to the topic, it is a worthwhile addition to the professional library. Aitken uses the book and magazine collection at the University of Melbourne s library to examine the transmission of Modernism to Australia. The focus is on the garden but, because of the composition of the source material in the library, the emphasis is more on the buildings and architecture than the garden. The excellent reproduction of illustrations from books and magazines is Cultivating Modernism s strength; while its clear text and captioning make it accessible to the general reader, the book s appended lists of the sources of illustrative material and its endnotes and bibliography engage the specialist reader and prompt further research and reading. Reliance on the books of the university library (and an unnamed private collection that I suspect is Aitken s own) is both the core strength and greatest weakness of Cultivating Modernism. The sumptuous illustrations, which are served well by the excellence of the book design and production, depict ideal projects and international examples of built modernist gardens, however, while some built Australian examples are mentioned for example the rooftop garden by Paul Sorensen at Feltex House in George Street, Sydney they are not illustrated or discussed. The lack of built Australian examples is the greatest disappointment with the book, however, discussion of the as-built results of modernism in Australia was not the aim of the publication, it was the transmission and reception of ideas that was the purpose. The lack of built examples would tend to suggest that the modernist garden was not received in Australia, however, the modernist buildings that were built here were constructed on sites that already had vegetated surrounds, which, by their very existence, were gardens related to these modernist structures. Aitken does depict US West Coast modernist houses in stands of emigrant eucalypts and suggests that they formed a modernist setting. Likewise, the Woolley House in Mosman, set on its steep bushland site, is also mentioned in the context of the natural bush being the adopted and appropriate setting for Australian modernist houses. The book is arranged in broad chronological chapters that are divided into page-long, thematic snippets. It is not a book with an argued narrative, in contrast to Aitken s Garden of Ideas. The illustrations are rarely mentioned in the text and the captions only occasionally state their relevance to the illustration to which they relate. An example is the book s cover illustration, from a 1936 Australian Home Beautiful magazine, which depicts a pavilion by a pond with white boats riding at anchor on a bay or harbour beyond. Where is this modernist idyll? Is it the UK, the US, Australia or Utopia? But that is the modernist conundrum: it should be anywhere. Scott Robertson Robertson & Hindmarsh A Singular Vision: Harry Seidler Author Helen O Neill Publisher HarperCollins RRP $49.99 Members $ This, the second biography written in the past 12 years on the architect Harry Seidler, is a handsome publication, even with a somewhat bizarre half-slip cover. Written in a similar narrative style to the first book, this biography also spends a great deal of time describing Seidler s life in Vienna (Austria), Cambridge (UK), and Winnipeg and Cambridge (US). This is offered as the necessary context in the development of Seidler s character, as influenced by his father s determinism, his mother s ambition and his elder brother who had an eye for design. His internment in Canada is also discussed in great detail. Some new pieces of information are presented including how he overcame his colour blindness. However, there are some differences between the two biographies. For example, here, Helen O Neill states that Seidler s family greeted him at the airport when he arrived in Sydney in 1948, yet in the former biography, Almost Full Circle: Harry Seidler by Alice Spigelman, it states that Seidler s family did not meet him and that he had to make his own way to their Sydney apartment. Consequently we are left wondering, and such unverified detail will only cause ongoing confusion especially when used for historic research. With 26 portrait photographs and another 48 group photographs, this biography is not a demanding architectural study; also, the lack of architectural plans is unfortunate. To a wider public, Seidler may well be remembered as being media savvy and assertive, however, O Neill portrays him as a passionate and generous man. When I declared during my high school days that I wanted to become an architect, my parents, not knowing how to advise, contacted the only architect they had heard of. To my surprise Seidler agreed to my parent s telephone request and gave up one of his busy mornings to show me his Milsons Point office while speaking knowingly about architectural education, especially in Sydney. In memory of this kindness, I can relate with O Neill s observations. On the whole this is a good read about a man whose life was inextricably woven by his architectural convictions and his devotion to his family. Glenn Harper PTW Architects The Wallpapered Manse: The Rescue of an Endangered House Author Peter Freeman Publisher The Watermark Press RRP $49.99 Members $ This book is a testament to the places of cultural significance that enrich people s lives; those irreplaceable and precious places that provide an inspirational sense of connection to community and landscape. Peter Freeman, a well-known conservation architect with over 50 years of experience, is able to tell the story of a former Presbyterian manse in Moruya, on the south coast of New South Wales, as a result of the Historic Houses Trust (now Sydney Living Museums) Endangered Houses Fund project. A story that is not only about a house on loan to the ministers who occupied it, but also about a dedicated group of people who built both the church and manse, the people who cared for the place long after the ministers left, and the comprehensive survey and documentation of remarkable layers of wallpapers and decoration of a comparatively humble but elegant 1865 cottage. Michael Lech, the wallpaper conservator for Sydney Living Museums, observed although hundreds of new wallpaper designs appeared on the market every year, the wallpapers found at Moruya are unlikely to be found in any Australian and possibly any overseas collection. The beautifully designed, proportioned and written publication is enriched with colourful maps, pictures and sketches supporting the interrelated chronological development history of the town and its battles with natural disasters, as well as the Presbyterian ministers families and events that fashioned the decoration of the manse for 150 years. This long and eventful historic account proved to be the foundation and prelude for the comprehensive documentation of the restoration of the manse, which involved great care and expertise; skilfully and professionally executed traditional trades performed by local tradesmen; a cautionary approach to intervention; and adaptive re-use by retrieving as many of the 1865 Victorian Georgian-style architectural elements that showcase the principles of heritage best practice. As such the book will be a good resource to both the general public and conservation specialists who wish to learn about Moruya s historical development or the use of wallpaper at the time, including the documentation, conservation and rescue of such delicate and significant fabric. This book shows the narrative and skilful presentation of Freeman through another conservation project and is a gift to the town of Moruya as well as the practice of conservation. Kerime Danis City Plan Heritage 26 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014 Architecture Bulletin Autumn

16 obituary When Quality Matters... Frederick John Ridley Smith FRAIA, RIBA, MSIA ( ) Castle Hill Day Surgery by Ridley Smith. Image: NBRS + Partners. Born to Baptist missionaries in Kaifeng, China, in 1936, Frederick John Ridley Smith, known as Ridley, had his early education in China and India. Fleeing communist oppression he was brought to Australia in 1951 and matriculated from Katoomba High School in He attended the University of Sydney between 1953 and 1958, studying architecture under Professor Henry Ingham Ashworth and was also greatly influenced by the input of Lloyd Rees during these formative years. In 1958, following graduation he worked for a short time in the office of Fowell Mansfield Jarvis & McLurcan and then travelled to Canada where he worked for two years with the firm of Bruce Brown and Brisley in Toronto. Moving to England he was employed in the offices of Ove Arup. Returning to Sydney in 1961, Ridley worked for a period with the Commonwealth Department of Works and subsequently became an Associate at Herbert F. Hely and Noel Bell Architects, working on projects including Bankstown Square and St John s Village, Glebe. In July 1969 he entered into partnership with Noel Bell under the name Noel Bell Ridley Smith and commenced a practice that spanned more than 40 years; located in the North Sydney area, the practice covered largely institutional works including churches, aged housing, schools, university faculties, hospitals and prisons. Ridley s career was extensive and varied. At the core of his design ethos was an understanding of the connection that people have with the built environment. His vision was for creative partnerships established to create life-changing environments. This approach was deeply influenced by his strong Christian faith expressed in concern for others. One of the firm s first commissions was the redevelopment of Sydney Square and the construction of St Andrew s House for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. This important and well-detailed urban environment has left a positive and lasting impact on the historic centre of Sydney. It was in this development that Ridley Smith memorialised the late Arthur Stace with the inclusion of the word Eternity in the paving at the base of the Wall of Water fountain adjoining St Andrew s Cathedral. Of particular interest to Ridley was the area of church architecture and music and he was responsible for a large number of new church buildings in the Sydney region for a variety of religious denominations, including the Hillsong development at Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill Baptist Church and new worship centres at St John s Church, Camden and St Jude s Church, Bowral. His educational projects included appointments at Southern Cross University in Lismore, the University of Sydney, Sydney TAFE Petersham College, The Scots School, Albury and at a significant number of private and state schools and colleges throughout New South Wales. He was a final year design tutor at the University of Sydney between 1982 and 1986 and served on a variety of architectural panels and not-for-profit organisations, giving of his time and experience generously. His architectural contribution extended beyond Australia with educational, health and tourist projects designed for China, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and Ghana. In his architecture as much as in his office and private life, Ridley connected his intense interest in architecture with a demonstrable care for the lives of people and a desire to improve their built environment. The architectural legacy that he leaves behind expresses clearly an understanding of human scale in its use of materials as well as in the hierarchy of spatial relationships. His buildings were designed for people to use and enjoy. Robert Staas NBRS + Partners ARCHITECTURAL MODELMAKERS Steve Mosley Matt Scott Rob Flowers phone: sydney@modelcraft.com.au OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE Approximately 120 sqm of office space available to share on a monthly per seat basis or longer term area basis including all amenities, air conditioning, cleaning, naming opportunities etc. Offices located right at Wynyard Station and city bus interchange with views over Wynyard Park and many adjacent parking opportunities. Walk to Barrangaroo, Martin Place and Pitt Street Mall. Modern fitout includes conference room, lobby, interview space, kitchen, cabling and lots of dedicated storage shelving suit architects, engineers, contractors, lawyers and the like. Up to eight work stations available (minimum $150 week including electricity, cleaning etc. plus GST. Area basis - $510 sqm inclusive plus GST. Call Michael Davies or sydney@tompkinsmda.com Model-Tech 3D specialises in the highest quality models for presentation, marketing and DA. We utilise advanced techniques, colour and texture matching, and a computer controlled cutting system to ensure our models are clean, precise and visually exciting. To view our portfolio of completed projects or discuss your options and possibilities, please call Russell Pearse. MODEL-TECH 3D Level 6 / 2 Foveaux Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 T: F: E: russell@modeltech3d.com.au 28 Architecture Bulletin Autumn 2014

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