thearchco

The whole strip of Canterbury Road just south of the Cooks River is undergoing major renewal. The density is changing from single residential to full on 5 storey, high density mixed development, envisaging a new centre for living and retail for the future. Here's a recent design we've submitted for 41 residential units and two bulky goods shops above a basement car park. Some say it is a shame to lose the cute single storey residences and with my heritage hat on it is hard to let go at least some of the Californian Bungalows there that still had a good life in front of them. It is clear that it is no longer the peaceful single cottage/family zone it once was. Canterbury Road in this area is narrow and super busy. It is reflected in the diminishing use and in particular the decreasing environmental amenity of the cottages. Just no-one wants to live there. The renewal allows for widening of the main road and creation of a more dense strip of development. It will invigorate ...

A recently completed project was the refurbishment of some heritage buildings at the College of Fine Arts campus in Paddington. Block A, completed in 1893, had a horrible 80's painted colour scheme and it was in bad repair in places. We had the paint stripped to reveal the original bricks and restored the sandstone sills (replaced in some areas) and the sadly neglected gable ends. The whole project well executed by A J Bristow & Sons, who brought a wealth of practical heritage experience to bear. The supporting colour scheme included heritage related colours. In all a lovely outcome, restoring the building back to some of it's former glory. Hopefully it gives it another 100 years of service. J original bad paint scheme (google streetview pic...  not mine) newly stripped and refurbished 90's false shutters removed original signage restored restored gable end even the dodgy late 60's timber addition was given a clean up later ...

some recent cartoonies for another of Al's upcoming books

Here's a pic for my mate Nello's big number day.....

Celebrating 6 decades of youthful exuberance this month, "young" Eddie is starring in the World Masters Games in Turin at the moment. More of the swan dive than swan song and remarkably holding off the ravages of time with plenty of exercise followed by his tonic of choice, bourbon and diet cola. He's always loved his sports, and he's been good at all of them. All the best EK. J

On the eastern fringe of Glebe is an open air sculpture gallery of a different kind. Hilik Mirankar has used most of the Queen Street frontage as a gallery for his various carved timber installations. Being Glebe they are all suitably chained down to prevent theft. You can check out his web site at  http://seacruise.ath.cx/ It's a real joy on a clear day to walk the narrow street and view the imaginative sculptures that are located on the front porches of all his neighbours. They are at once primitive but modern, primal and tactile. You can view them on the way to a refreshment and cheap meal at The Friend in Hand hotel at the western end or the Australian Youth Hotel (not so cheap), not far from the eastern end. It's a good street to add into a larger walk through the back streets of Glebe. J

I recently sat on a design jury for end of semester year 3 UNSW architecture students for my friend and design wunderkind/tutor Mark Szczerbicki (Polish right!!!) Every time I do this it brings back many nerve racking memories of presenting my own designs back in the dim, foggy past at SU. And it's something I get to experience all over again when I front up to regular SEPP65 design review panels for my medium density projects.... so it really is good training for these future architects. We looove being citicised. Generally this group were pretty good and they scrubbed up alright seeing as how they probably only had a few hours of sleep between them for the previous four or five days. Anyhoo... here's a snapshot of what our education system is producing now... Their brief was to create a medium density (small) project with off street parking and some commercial at ...