Future Architecture

Arguably one of Melbourne's most controversial construction projects has been given final approval, leaving a trail of both dismayed and jubilant responses. The major architectural redevelopment project at the focus of this almost five year long drama is the Windsor Hotel, and its semi-demolition by the Halim Group in early 2013.  The project has been marked as one of Victoria's most prominent in the latest state analysis, and comes with a sizeable price tag. The $250 million redevelopment will see the refurbishment of the interiors of the building, which was built in 1883. The interior restoration will maximise the amount of rooms available, increasing the capacity from 180 to 300 rooms. The ballroom and other rooms will also be upgraded and redeveloped, with Heritage Victoria approving everything.

In the construction and design industry, architecture is one of the most complex and multi-faceted sectors. As we have stated previously, it encompasses a whole range of broad and varying components, from mathematics to the currently trending biology. At its most basic root though, architecture deals with form. It is for this reason that architecturally designed buildings are able to become art forms as one of the industry's most artistically based facets. It only makes sense then, due to the crossover and widely varied field, that some buildings would share these sculpturally formed aspects more than others. One such building that is due for completion this year and is an example of the aforementioned form is architectural firm Zaha Hadid's Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It's easy to forget that urban design is not a new concept. Ancient examples of carefully-planned and designed cities exist in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, and are particularly well-known within classical Chinese, Roman and Greek cultures. The pioneer of urban planning, Hippodamus of Miletus, planned ancient cities of Rhodes, Miletus and the harbour-town Piraeus at Athens as early as the fifth century BC.  In England, many ninth century towns were designed on a grid plan, and by the twelfth century, urbanisation was seen as a means of stimulating economic growth and generating revenue throughout Western Europe. One of the earliest international contributions made by Australia to urban planning theory and practice sprang from the international competition held between 1911 and 1912 to design Australia's new federal capital, Canberra.

Architecture has traditionally incorporated a number of fields in its complex processes. From mathematics to the arts, architecture involves a highly varied skill base. But one area that has not been incorporated into architecture is biology. Until now. In recent years, the correlation between biology and architecture has aligned and the two are increasingly become more intertwined. In light of increasing carbon emissions and the rise of the green building sector, architects are becoming increasingly more innovative in their design schemes.

With the release of the federal government's newest Urban Policy Forum the green building community will feel a new found sense of confidence in the future plans for urban development in Australia. Planning for a sustainable urban community has come as a priority in the new policy, which has been influenced by a wide range of experts across different industry sectors including Chief Executive of the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Romily Madew. Upon his latest announcement, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese has assured the future planning processes will come as a culminated effort between the green building sector, government and the community in what has been labeled as an 'ideas generator'.

Queensland has seen some devastating effects as a result of natural environmental disasters such as the powerful floods they experienced at the beginning of this year. In light of the damage caused by the floods, both the federal government and Queensland state government have banded together in order to use the excess water more effectively. In the latest reports, the combined government entities plan to harness the wet season floodwaters and channel them into irrigation systems. In creating an irrigation system that puts the floodwaters to positive use, the government hopes to protect infrastructure from the effects of the environment, as well as harness the water efficiently.

In 2008, Marita Cheng identified a problem: too few girls in engineering, the field of her passion. Deciding to do something about it, Cheng and a number of her peers formed Robogirls, a student club which would set up and run LEGO robotics competitions for girls' schools around Melbourne, with teams receiving training and support in the lead up to the completion. What started from there has now grown into an organisation introducing girls to engineering in schools not just across Australia but also in England, Ireland, Holland and New Zealand.  Robogirls' success has now earned Marita the 2012 Young Australian of the Year.

Three buildings - one twenty storeys high - have collapsed in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, killing at least five people and injuring many others. The collapse occurred late on Wednesday (Rio time), near the municipal theatre on the city's Cinelandia square. The tallest of the buildings was twenty storeys high, says the city's mayor Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, whilst the second tallest had ten floors and the third had three or four. The latest developments come as Rio remains under worldwide scrutiny in the lead up to host the World Cup soccer in 2014 and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

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London 2012 Aquatics Centre was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect Zaha Hadid.

One of London's more whimsical architecture competitions has been completed once and for all, and the much speculated 'a room for London' design concept now stands. The competition, run by Living Architecture, boasted a much lusted after brief that offered the winning design team the chance to build a room on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall, to act as a temporary accommodation space throughout the 2012 Olympic Games. The incredible competition, which ran throughout 2011, picked the finalist collaboration team of architectural firm David Kohn architects and Fiona Banner with their quirky and imaginative design scheme which has seen the completion of a boat-shaped living space overlooking some of the most famous London sights. The design is a reflection of the city's strong literary roots, taking its riverboat form from Joseph Conrad's  'Heart of Darkness'.

Rather than plunder resources, however, the Romans set about using them wisely. One such resource was the hot springs to feed public baths and underfloor heating.  Back then, the result was a beautiful form of bathing on a chilly winter's day. Nowadays, the result is tourist drawcard in the English county of Somerset known all over the world as a place called Bath. Sitting in a lovely warm bath on a cold winter's day back then, few Roman citizens would have contemplated the idea that the same concept used to heat their baths - a concept now called geothermal energy - would be widely used around the world and would be considered a serious part of a solution to stop the whole world from getting too hot. Today, however, such is the reality. In 2005, according to a GeoHeat Quarterly Bulletin published by Origin Institute of Technology, a total of 73 countries around the world produced a total of 273 petajoules (PJ) of energy using geothermal techniques. With the renewed push to achieve carbon emissions reduction in Australia, some engineers believe geothermal technology should be used more widely here.

A Melbourne school is creating great industry waves for its mix of stunning architecture and environmentally responsible principles. Acting as an incredible promotion of green thinking to both the young students attending and the wider community, is the junior building at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS). While the striking building, transformed by architectural firm McBride Charles Ryan is completely passive in its design, an absolute feat in its own right, it is its aesthetic that truly stands out. Oftentimes in green building projects a building's visual appeal is ignored in order to focus on the sustainable building aspects. While environmental responsibility may be more important than design greatness, it is incredibly positive to see such a prime example of a culmination of these ideas executed so elegantly.

Architecture in China can so often be polarising. In fact, the entire industry seems to have that affect on the world. There are those who applaud the Chinese for their extensive and rapid construction work, which includes the world's fastest apartment construction, the creation of entire cities in just five years and of course the developments in Shenzhen, one of the world's fastest growing cities. And then there are others who critique the country for having a 'fake' and 'blood soaked' GDP due to high levels of what some have labeled 'dangerous and unnecessary' industry work. Well, the design debate has been sparked yet again with the unveiling of China's latest industry venture.

Due to its incredible benefits, both physical and mental, the connection between interior and exterior architecture has increased in popularity. This is especially relevant in neutral climes, where temperatures tend not to be too extreme, especially in terms of the colder months. Here in Australia, the inside/outside design element is often essential, as our mostly warmer climate allows us to embrace the fact that open-air spaces work best. Landscape architecture plays into this reality, and is now really finding its relevance as we move further into outdoor spaces. One design located in Melbourne is showing the power of landscape architecture in creating community spaces without walls.

The city of Melbourne has just unveiled their latest industry show-stopper with the government announcing its Melbourne CBD expansion plan. The major redevelopment, announced by Planning Minister Matthew Guy, will see the city centre grow from 180 hectares to 900 hectares in an unprecedented growth spurt. Aesthetically, Melbourne will change. In the same vein as Sydney's Barangaroo, this latest southern development is going to change the face of a city that is growing in both size and popularity; with current population growth at an enormous 85,000 people per year. Named as the world's most liveable city in 2011, both the Melbourne industry, especially those in the architecture and construction facets, and government are standing behind this expansive redevelopment.

A line between art and architecture has truly never been formed. Throughout history the two different disciplines have interlinked, with the latter, for the most part, strongly reflecting, and often relying upon the former. However, functionality, building codes, economic shortages and a number of different factors can often get in the way of artistic freedom in the modern industry. In fact, many critics have argued about the displeasing aesthetics that the rise in green building is having on this industry. While that may be debatable, the relevance of art to architecture has not been forgotten. In fact, one new project has used the strategic inclusion of artistic modes throughout in order to reflect the zeitgeist of an era.

In architecture,  it is a rare occasion that an image of a built structure is as striking as the concept drawings. It is a sad truth, but often the structure has to be walked in and felt in order for its true aesthetic to shine through. In fact, often the more innovative and arresting the concept image, the less chance that the building will even be built. However, there are the rare few that actually outshine their concept images and intrigue us as to how they were ever constructed. World-renowned architects Daniel Libeskind have done just that with the completion of the incredibly 'Reflections at Keppel Bay' development.

While feeling safe and secure is a universal need, the strategies through which this need is met have changed over time and across cultures. Recent natural disasters and terror attacks have contributed to a heightened level of interest in how best to protect public buildings and associated structures from natural or man-made events. Within Australia, the National Construction Code (NCC) defines types of building and associated structures, in addition to providing technical advice for their design and construction. The NCC covers such matters as structural integrity, fire resistance, access and egress, services and equipment, and energy efficiency as well as aspects of health and amenities.

The idea that the environment can aid healing is not a new one. In her book 'Healing Spaces", Dr. Esther M. Sternberg has explored the health benefits to patients on both a mental and physical level when exposed to plants and larger organic environments. Australian industry giants Brookfield Multiplex and HASSELL are taking on these principles and shaping their design and construction processes with environmental healing as a key foundation of their latest Perth healthcare development.