The third instalment of the 2011 Utzon Lecture Series “Sustainable use of Public Space: Cities for Walking, Cycling and Transit” by Lars Gemzøe, Associate Partner, Architect MAA, Gehl Architects, Copenhagen, Denmark is now available for viewing on UNSWTV.
The lecture can be viewed by clicking the icon below.
The next instalment of the 2011 UNSW Built Environment Utzon Lecture Series is being held tomorrow (Wednesday) night. The lecture is titled “Vertical Density” and will be given by Carol Willis, Adjunct Associate Professor of Urban Studies at Columbia University and Director, The Skyscraper Museum, New York City.
Date: Wednesday 15 June, 2011
Refreshments: 6.15pm – 6.45pm Red Centre, West Wing, Gallery
Lecture: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Keith Burrows Lecture Theatre, UNSW Kensington Campus
Cost: Free
Download a UNSW campus map here.
The lecture will explore the different ways to conceptualize urban density: in the ground plane and in the skyline. The world’s densest major cities are Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Dhaka which are wildly disparate models of urban development in the vertical and horizontal dimensions. New York’s density concentrates in Manhattan, where residents number 71,000 per square mile. Using the historical model of New York City and its high-rise zoning regulation, the talk will examine how development pressures, public policy, and urban cultures shape buildings and cities. Further, the talk will consider the correlations of density with affluence–as in Manhattan and Hong Kong–and with poverty. Preferring the density of affluence, the talk asks: Is vertical density a product of rampant capitalist markets, of particular cultures, or can it be planned? Is it a positive goal for cities old and new?
Please register for the event between 6.15 and 6.45 tomorrow night.
Utzon Lecture “The Empire’s Last Style Soviet Modernism: 1955-1985” by Vladimir Belogolovsky.
Jakub Beseda, Built Environment Master of Architecture student, attended the recent Utzon lecture titled “The Empire’s Last Style Soviet Modernism: 1955-1985” presented by Vladimir Belogolovsky.
Below are his views and impressions on the event.
Vladimir is the founder of the International Curatorial Project that is focused on organizing, curating and designing architectural exhibitions. He was also a co-writer of a publication on Soviet Modernist Architecture.
In his brief one hour talk, we were guided though the historical and parallel architectural evolution in the former Soviet Union. Three main periods of the Soviet 20th century architecture were identified – as Avant-Garde, the Stalinist (Social Realism) and finally the Modernism.
Vladimir began his factually and visually rich presentation focused on the Stalinist social realism, what happened to and after the Avant-Garde architects and architecture. The inspiration of the early neo–gothic American Skyscrapers behind the “Seven Sisters in Moscow” were discussed amongst others. Parallels could be drawn between this style – that was favoured by Stalin and the earlier plans and ideology of Hitler for the new Germany.
As explained, with Stalin’s death in 1953, his successor Nikita Khrushchev denounced both the social realism in 1954 and Stalin in 1956. This has marked the beginning of Soviet modernism. Buildings inspired by international architects and the advancements in the west were being constructed – various examples presented in the lecture included cultural, office, residential and sport complexes – both within Russia and the former republics. Some examples I believe were and are on path with the most iconic buildings of the 20th century in the world – yet lacked the publicity and architects did not gain the deserved recognition beyond the Soviet borders.
At the conclusion of the lecture, some present trends in Russian architecture were displayed – comically showing signs of return to (neo) social realism.
It is very hard in such short time limit to get into depth of the ideas presented, but the lecture I personally believe successfully served as a platform for further investigation. Vladimir’s knowledge, passion and critical thinking on the subject and its relation to the present architectural trends worldwide was phenomenal and I hope he can return to UNSW in future to continue and conclude his fascinating talk.
The second installment of the 2011 Utzon Lecture Series “Sydney 2030 Vision” by Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor City of Sydney is now available for viewing on UNSWTV.
The lecture can be viewed by clicking the icon below.
The second installment of the UNSW Built Environment Utzon Lecture Series is being held tomorrow night. The lecture, titled “Sydney 2030 Vision” will be given by Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor City of Sydney.
Date: Wednesday 6th April, 2011
Refreshments: 6.15pm – 6.45pm, Foyer area, AGSM Building, UNSW Kensington campus
Lecture: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: John B Reid Theatre, AGSM Building
Cost: Free
Download a UNSW campus map here.
Clover Moore MP has been an Independent Member of the New South Wales Parliament since 1988 and Lord Mayor of Sydney since 2004. The first popularly elected female Lord Mayor of Sydney, she was re-elected in 2008 with an increased majority.
Throughout her public life, Clover Moore has pursued appropriate sustainable development, better residential and urban amenity, increased open space, improved public transport, action to protect our environment and address climate change, open and accountable government and social justice.
As Lord Mayor she leads Sydney’s City Council to implement Sustainable Sydney 2030, the City’s strategic plan to secure Sydney’s future as a competitive global city and one of the world’s leading green liveable cities.
Please RSVP for this event today to fbeevents@unsw.edu.au
On the 23rd March 2011, UNSW Built Environment will be launching the 2011 Utzon Lecture Series at 7.00pm. This year the Faculty will be host to a series of national and international speakers that include Peter Singer, Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney, Carol Willis, Professor of Urban Studies at Columbia University and Director of The Skyscraper Museum; and many other experts who will address local and global built environment concerns, issues and perspectives.
The series will commence with a lecture by Peter Mould, NSW Government Architect and Visiting Professor at UNSW Built Environment, titled “Islamic Architecture”.
Date: Wednesday 23 March, 2011
Refreshments: 6.15pm-6.45pm Red Centre West Wing Gallery, UNSW Kensington campus
Lecture: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Venue: Keith Burrows Lecture Theatre, UNSW Kensington Campus
Cost: Free
Peter Mould, NSW Government Architect and Visiting Professor at UNSW BE
Peter Mould is a graduate of the University of New South Wales. He is a practising architect and worked in the private sector in Australia and overseas before joining the NSW Government Architect’s Office. His work in the public sector has included the design of schools, court houses, colleges and urban projects at Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo and St Mary’s Cathedral.
He has received numerous awards for architecture, urban design and adaptive reuse. Peter is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and past Vice President of the NSW Chapter. He sits on the Central Sydney Planning Committee, the Heritage Council and the NSW Architects Registration Board and many Design Review Panels. He has recently established and now chairs the Eminent Architects Panel to advise the Sydney Opera House.
His lecture will look at regional styles in Islamic Architecture by examining the traditional mosque and tomb. It will examine the way the plan form reflects regional influences and the relationship between functions, form, structure and decoration. It further investigates the way functional elements became symbols and structural responses evolved to become decoration.
Please click here to see the 2011 Utzon Lecture Series program in detail. Or for more information please visit our events page on the Built Environment website.
2010 has been a year full of achievement for the Built Environment Department. As we reach the last weeks of the year, lets take a look at some of the highlights of the year:
And also in 2010:
A number of individuals affiliated with the Faculty as sessional staff have received awards and significant recognition for their work:
Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic year, and we wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas break.
Our 2010 Utzon lecture series is drawing to a close, with only one installment left to be presented for the year. The final lecture will be on next week – Wednesday 3rd of November. The lecture, titled “Public Sydney: Rooms and Spaces” will be presented by Philip Thalis of Hill Thalis Architects and Peter John Cantrill of Tzannes Associates. It is a lecture not to be missed, and we encourage you all to attend.
Tomorrow night is the next installment in the UNSW Utzon lecture series “E-waste designing out obsolescence” by Dr Miles Park. Click here to register!
Products normally described as ‘consumer durables’ are now often regarded as ‘consumables’. The lifespans for many consumer electronics, notably personal computers and mobile phones, is now often measured in months and not years. Each year approximately 17 million televisions and computer related products reach their end of life. Last year we bought 2.4 million new computers and sent 1.6 million old computers to landfill. In addition 800,000 were put into storage while there are an estimated 14-16 million unused or broken mobile phones hidden in desks and drawers across the country. This electronic waste or e- waste is growing at three times the rate of other categories of municipal waste. As these discarded products breaks down, dangerous toxins leach into the groundwater, contaminating soil, waterways and ultimately our health. For example, a standard sized cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor contains more than two kilos of lead. What is being done to tackle this complex global problem? What has been the role of the designer in the making of the e-waste crisis and where are the opportunities and solutions for solving this crisis?
Also, check out Professor Robert Freestone’s packed out lecture “Urban Nation: Australia’s planning heritage”
By the end of last semester, we had already progressed through two design projects and into our third in Design Studio 2. It’s incredible how much effort I put into a single project so by the end of the third I think I will be spent!
Our first project focused on an in depth case study of an allocated house. In my case I focused on Jørn Utzon’s second house of Majorca Can Feliz. Through a close analysis and study of the building I produced parti and poche drawings.
From this we went straight into project two analysing either a 17th Century Dutch interior painting or a 20th Century Edward Hopper painting. This project presented some problems for me and my tutor – we seemed to never see quite eye-to-eye as how best to interpret the painting. Ultimately different opinions is what its all about … right?
Andrew Macklin’s Architectural Model Making class was also very time consuming and has a massive workload. This course is definitely not for the faint of heart given we started out with over 30 people and ended with less than 20! What was nice about this course were the distinct difference between the two projects we worked on. Whist it wasn’t what I was expecting (a more material technique based modelling course), the first project introduced Eisenman’s House of Cards and saw us progress through a series of planar, volumetric and circulation based model moves to develop a ‘building without a purpose’ and develop our understanding of space.
We then progressed onto scale construction and techniques of modeling rammed earth walls etc. This turned out to be an exciting project. It was great to get away from the balsa and box board and actually use our hands. For me, these models seemed to be more dynamic than a plain balsa model.
History and Theory 2 run by Peter Kohane proved to be the hidden gem of the semester. History in itself is a pretty safe bet for producing a solid course however Peter’s funny and intense lectures were a great way to end the week. The in depth journey from initial Greek architecture through to the moderns has been an exciting journey, and the links to current architectural trends and practices gave the course a good balance between reflection and active participation.
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