A Review of architectural reviewers
I may have told this story before. Several years ago I was approached by a senior practitioner who wanted to talk about an article in a much-lauded architectural publication.
Hockey meanness
The meanness of Joe Hockey
and his continued destruction of Australia’s way of life
If there was anyone left in Australia, who for one minute thought that the current Australian Federal Treasurer was anything but a mean and nasty politician, then all they had to do was observe his latest crimes. This man looks after his rich mates especially Big Coal, Banks and Big Miners; looks after this who pull his strings and keep him in power, Murdoch and their cohorts; and does all this by stripping back opportunities for health and well-being from those most disadvantaged.
A Photograph
Photography: What are they doing in there?
It was while visiting Singapore recently, that a local friend took us to dinner in a well-known food alley. I was here that I noticed the light coming from the window above us. I had to take a photo. (click on photo to enlarge)
The curatorial crypt
The sale price of a Singapore photograph, by G R Lambert
With the recent growth interest in South Eastern Asian photography, prices of historic photographs have been rising significantly. Gael Newton, having departed from the National Gallery of Australia in late 2014, has continued her research and curatorial interests in South East Asian photography. She has recently written a post on her observations of a particular sale. click here.
Art Gallery Exhibitions
Review: Visual Arts/photography
This is my December 2014 overview on accessing Australia’s major visual art gallery exhibition programs though their websites. – and the status of photography.
Canberra
Book Review
Canberra, Paul Daley, 2012
This is small book is another in the city series published by Newsouth (University of NSW). I have previously reviewed Hobart (click here) and Adelaide (click here). Paul Daley has told a set of stories about Canberra, the National Capital. Sadly he seems to not have invested the time to gather local knowledge about the city, its people, its life style and its complexities as a 21st Century city of 380,000 people.
A Photograph
Photography: Things that puzzle
This small barrier was erected in the foyer of a mall we passed through most days to get to our apartment hotel in Singapore. The sign says – Work In Progress.
During the whole week that the installation sat there nothing happened around, above or anywhere near it. To this day I wonder whether someone put it there as a joke and as it looked official, it remained in place and undisturbed. It was still there the day we left Singapore. Or was it in fact an artwork – an artistic installation?
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Paul Costigan
Corruption in Planning
The widespread corruption within planning agencies
Over many years I have been observed the annual round of numerous industry events. This includes award dinners as well as seminars and conferences. Besides all the usual suspects that attend such functions, there are invitations to a cohort of government departmental officers and/or key personnel from planning and development agencies. These invitations are usually in the form of complimentary tickets.
Public Art
Comment on public art problems
Visiting London, we came across this piece of public art at The Angel, a centre located on the outskirts of central London, to the north-east.
Climate Change
Book Announcement
This Changes Everything: Capitalism Vs. The Climate,
Naomi Klein 2014
Yet to read this, but I am listing as a suggestion for your Christmas reading and/or gift list. We have to move on climate change and I agree that it is an economic discussion, one about capitalism and corporate greed. No wonder our infamous Australia politicians want it off the agenda. It is about dealing with their mates and how they are ripping off the planet.
Higher Education
higher education changes a ‘fraud on the electorate
The Australian Vice Chancellors had done a deal with the Abbott prior to the last election. They were assisted in this by many professional/industry bodies.
Planning and Development
Comment on good planning and sensitive development
Maybe I spend far too much of my time being concerned about the crap planning and development being foisted on the local communities here in Canberra.
climate change
Comment: those were the days!
Not that you need to read anymore – but here’s a 2007 link that has the heading: Australia now stands ready to assume its responsibility in responding to the challenge of climate change, according to the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. click here.
Continue reading climate change
Enjoying London
A Photo-Essay
my tourist photographs of London.
click any image to enlarge
Worlds dominated by committees
Comment on time-wasting
There is something that makes certain people believe that if they attend loads of committee meetings that they are actually doing something useful. Whereas the truth is that all they are doing is attending loads of committee meetings.
Sydney Photography 2014 – 2015
Notices of photography exhibitions in Sydney
over the period end of 2014 into 2015
The information below is about photography exhibitions in Sydney over the period from the end of 2014 into the early parts of 2015.
This is my selection and may be added to as I come across exhibitions I would like to recommend. If you know of others, let me know. But I will only upload stuff I am interested in and/or can recommend.
Mega-City Living
Urban Comments
Travelling away to various super-large cities does make one think of where these cities are heading and what will life be like in decades to come as climate change really kicks in.
Architectural Wonders
Comment: architectural eyesores and failures
When it comes to architectural eyesores and mistakes, there are many. They are not mentioned by the professions.
Once when attending a conference on green roofs, an architect told the story of his first major green roof project. All sounded impressive, until he casually mentioned how it failed and that water penetrated the top floor of the office building.
Architecture & Photography
Review: Photography
Constructing Worlds:
Photography and Architecture in the Modern Age
25 Sept – 11 Jan 2015, Barbican Art Gallery, London
click on any image to enlarge.
Amazon and unreal wages
The Christmas campaign for real wages at Amazon
Click on image for the article in The Guardian
Urban farmers in China
Click on the image for the slide show about urban farming in China
Women Mentors
The Politics of Leadership for Women
The lack of senior women as mentors for the next generation of women.
The publication of statements by Julie Bishop would be doing nothing to encourage young women about their opportunities and possible career paths. Her attitude seems to that women should stop complaining and get on with it.
Black Victorians
Review: Photography
Black Chronicles II
Rivington Place, London till 29 Nov 2014.
This a photography exhibition that has to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated. The basis for the exhibition is the unearthing of photographs that have not been seen for far too many years.
The researchers have done a great job of identifying most of the subjects. The main room has huge portraits printed from the original negatives. The people are from an African choir on tour in Britain between 1891-93.
These images are just so beautiful and majestic. They have been printed super large and each person is represented by two different portraits.
climate action
Comment: Action being taken on climate action
With Australia’s Rabbott government continuing to be an embarrassment both at home and internationally, it has been a welcome relief to see actions being forecasted by the Chinese Government and President Obama. While there has to be some scepticism around these political announcements, there is at least acceptance that any such agreements are significant small steps in the right direction.
Enjoying London
Photo-Essay
A few photos from a walk around London
click on any image to enlarge
Scary Things
YouTube videos that entertain and terrify
The first is a short video I saw at an exhibition at the British Library, Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination. The information panel explained that when this short film was originally released, it was banned by the censors. Too terrifying? or what? As I had trouble hearing it in the exhibition, I watched it later online.
It’s About Design
Comment: Good Design and Risk Taking
Sadly in the last decade or so, I spent too much time with too many very ordinary designers who were convinced that they were something special. Despite this risk of becoming far too cynical myself, I still think that design is indeed a lot of fun and exciting – when it is good design. It is just that at the moment there is so much bad or very ordinary design flooding our visual environment.
Enjoying Life in Vienna
Things that make you laugh
It was while roaming the gardens of a former Austrian Royal Palace, that I sat down for a rest and took a moment to take in the wide views in front of me.
Enjoying Life in Vienna
A Photo-Essay on enjoying Vienna
click on any image to enlarge
Enjoying Life in Vienna
Review: Visual Arts
Cosima Von Bonin: Hippies Use Side Door.
The Year 2014 Has Lost The Plot
MUMOK – Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Vienna
Spoiler alert. Be warned, this exhibition did not excite! Cosima Von Bonin’s latest exhibition is across several floors of the MUMOK and it is impressive. There are loads of cultural references and heaps of barbs at things within our culture, particularly the american culture we have all come to love and loath. It was an interesting experience to visit this massive exhibition.
I took my time – but
Gough Whitlam
Enjoying Life in Vienna
Comment on the silliness of texting
It was while roaming about the apartments at the Albertina in Vienna that I spotted two young tourists who seemed not to be able to appreciate their immediate surroundings.
Putting a Value on Community Spaces
Comment: Locals often do not get it right
In my home suburb of Dickson in Canberra, the push is on to allow some commercial residential development on what has always been designated as a community space. The site is now known as the Dickson Parklands.
I have written about this in previous blogs – click here.
Sydney heat island effect
Photo-Essay: Inner Sydney and the Heat Island Effect
I love wandering around city streets. In Sydney recently on a typical warm day, being about 28 degrees, it was very noticeable just how much of the city’s inner streets are devoid of trees and shade.
Seven Myths About New Urbanism
Re-Posted from ThisBigCity blog
Seven Myths About New Urbanism: Joel Kotkin, a fellow at Chapman University and an untiring defender of the suburbs, begins a recent column in the Washington Post with a valid question: “What is a city for?” He then proceeds to get that question completely wrong. But really, we should be thanking him. In his article, he neatly sums up many of the key myths emerging from the anti-urbanism set, making the job of debunking these myths a lot easier. Click here.
High Line at the Rail Yards
The high line just keeps on being a wonderful concept – click here for the latest developments.
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Paul Costigan
Climate Good News
There’s no better way to say this:
Finally, Some Good Environmental News: The Ozone Layer Is Recovering
But there are some warnings at the end of the article – click here.
Given the Australian government does not believe scientists, I wonder what they will make of this.
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Paul Costigan
The Jet Pack
Announcement: Bad News for Dreamers
Will we ever see the Jet Pack?
I read an article in The Guardian that set out in great detail the sad news for those of us who have been brought up with the promise that one day we would be able to fly using a Jet Pack. I think the original promise was in the same category as the promise that one day, with all the new technologies, we would have the paperless office.
Dickson Parklands
Opinion Piece: The Case for the Dickson Parklands
The Dickson Community Cultural Parklands
The debate has commenced within the communities around the Dickson Parklands, previously referred to Section 72 Dickson, as to how the whole site could become a parklands with an integrated set of community cultural facilities that connect to the surrounding communities.
Singapore Photography
Review: Photography
Exhibitions from the 2014 Singapore International Photography Festival
The Singapore International Photography Festival has definitely arrived. It has now being staged every two years and this year’s is the fourth.
Bansky and racism
click on image for the Guardian story on how Bansky was accused of racism.
Gough Whitlam
click on the image for more
section 72 Dickson
An Opinion Piece
Dickson Section 72 – Community Consultations – 20th Oct 2014
On a cool Monday evening, more than one hundred local residents from surrounding suburbs gathered in the Dickson College hall in response to the invitation to attend a workshop staged by the ACT Government.
Canberra Sculpture
Review: Visual Arts
Sculpture Festival
at Canberra Grammar School Oct 2014
There’s been a couple of short-run sculpture festivals in recent years in Canberra. It is a great thing to see these events as they provide opportunities for our sculptors who otherwise have trouble getting into the usual exhibition venues.
My Story Julia Gillard
Announcement: New Book
Julia Gillard’s – My Story
Happy to promote this book. This story remains complex. There have been several thoughtful reviews of the book published online. As well as the usual crap from the mainstream media, who were part of the problem during Julia Gillard’s time as Prime Minister. Sara Dowse has provided an intelligent and insightful review that is definitely worth reading. click here.
A Photograph
Photo-essay: Walking Manly in the evening
Not all walks around Manly (Sydney) involve wandering along the beaches. There are many streets and lanes to seek out to see how the urban environment settles into the evening.
Community Engagement
Comment: Cities Planning and the locals
Locally the planning authority is notorious for carry out all forms of planning with no real interest in the present residents and no interest in the urban character. It is left to the developers to define how the suburbs of Canberra will look in the future.
Turkey loses green space to developers
Comment: Turkey destroys its own back-yard
Turkey is losing precious green areas and open spaces as the number and scope of construction projects continue to expand.
Recent construction projects launched all over Turkey have fueled public concern as they destroy not only habitat but also cultural heritage. click here
Architecture discovers the bleeding obvious
Comment: Architects realise something is wrong with cities
Just read a short article about how an architect at the world architecture festival stated that something has gone wrong with the design of our cities!
Wow! Now there’s a revelation from the profession largely responsible for the problem.
Continue reading Architecture discovers the bleeding obvious
Big Coal
Comment: there’s hope yet on how to hinder big coal.
Many national governments, including Australia, persist in allowing Big Coal to influence its environmental and energy policies. However there is hope as a world-wide trend continues as corporations start to divest themselves of investments in the Big Coal companies.
Singapore Photography
Review: Photomedia / Photography
Flux Realities: A Showcase of Chinese Contemporary Photography
at Singapore Arts Science Museum till 2 Nov 2014
Arts Vandals
Comment on the stupidity of art vandals
Canberra used to have a wonderful public art program. It was pressure from the local paper and the local bands of idiots that drove the local government to shut down the program.
Climate Change
Comments: Climate Change in 2014
There’s talk that Vladimir Putin must be invited to the G20 Summit as it is not up to Australia to limit the attendees. The positive is that other world leaders will have the opportunity to tell Putin what they think of his aggressions.
Likewise, Tony Abbott, who is leading a dangerous government of climate change deniers, was not banned from attending the UN summits on terrorism and another on climate change.
Visual artist cleared of all charges
Comment: A case of the Police getting it wrong – again.
About a year ago, we visited Linden Gallery in St Kilda (Melbourne). This was not long after the infamous raid by police following a very dubious complaint about the ‘sexual’ content of an artwork by Paul Yore.
The director of the centre was holding up well given the nature of the issue she was having to deal with. She deserved to have been paid a lot more for all the complex stuff that had come her way.
Dirty Politics
Comments: on the sad state of politics
Here in Australia we have suffered a series of dirty political events that have led to the election of one of the worst possible national governments. However it always an education to pop one’s head up over the wall to look to see how other countries are faring.
Here are links to two bad cases mentioned in recent articles.
Journalism in Australia
Comment on Australian Journalism
I have long been disappointed by the quality of Australian journalism. This includes the quality of the work being done through the ABC as well as most mainstream media. It has become far to easy to churn out any story without checking facts.
Bicycles and Roads
Comment: The Dangers of Bicycles
The ACT Government has released plans to trial the laws that make it mandatory for cars to keep at least one metre between themselves and cyclists. This is good news that this matter is being treated seriously as cycling on Canberra roads is very hazardous. But I say that with some serious issues to be aired as well.
It must be remembered that as in the picture opposite, not everyone appreciates bike paths. There are dumb people everywhere!
Architecture Awards
Commentary: Architects and their awards
Architects and their awards have come to my attention for three reasons of late. The first was when Enrico Taglietti was featured in the local paper, The Canberra Times. According to the report one of his significant architectural achievements was being considered for a special award. Click here for the article.
Big Corporations and Inequity
Comment: More on Corporations and Inequity
I had reviewed Andrew Leigh’s very good 2013 book, Battlers & Billionaires – click here. Just this week there has been announcements from an American campaign that is raining voices about the control the corporate elite have on the country and how this is destroying the planet and our civil societies. click here
Big Corporations
The need for change
“When you have all living systems in decline, just sustaining the decline is not going to solve the problem. We’ve got to have a u-turn here. We’ve got to start restoring ecological systems.” – Van Jones
Big Tobacco & Michael Moore of Canberra
Commentary: Did Big Tobacco win this one
I had previously posted a link to a good commentary by Michael Moore of Canberra. He said among other scathing things: “Tobacco companies want to prove that plain packaging does not work because it is being seriously considered by other governments across the world.”
Monash Gallery of Art, The Road
Review: Visual Art, photography
THE ROAD: Photographers on the move 1970–85
Monash Gallery of Art, 21 June–31 August 2014
Melbourne Botanic Gardens
National Museum of Australia Canberra
Photo-essay
The National Museum of Australia in Canberra
We meandered over to the museum on a Saturday afternoon to try their food and coffee.
Hack Attack Nick Davies
2nd Notice: New Book
Hack Attack by Nick Davies
Just to remind you that this book is worth reading. Sadly the ending is a bit depressing in that Nick considers the power elite have reshuffled a little but carry on a s before.
It has also been interesting to read the story of Rebecca Brooks. The question has been posed elsewhere, was she just a user of the corporate and political systems in order to climb the ladder to join the ranks of those in power?
Art in Landscape
Notice: A project about Art and Landscape
As I have said before, I wonder why a country such as Australia with its amazing landscapes does not have a much stronger arts in the landscape profile, let alone many more robust public art programs.
Monument in the Landscape
Photography: a plinth to honour almost nothing
This is a photograph of the monument on the harbour side of Manly to honour the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip in Manly. One problem!
Brickworks, Austral Bricks, Developers & political shenanigans
Commentary: emails and corporate shenanigans and lies
Brickworks – Austral Bricks – Developers and political shenanigans
The Abbott funding scandal story gets more interesting day by day.
I am referring to the story generated by the release of the emails between Brickworks (owner of Austral Bricks among other subsidiaries) and the Chief of Staff for Tony Abbott. The point being made now is how this company assisted in the lies about and attacks on carbon pricing while they made profits from the government subsidies then available. click here
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Paul Costigan, 10 September 2014
When news gets weird
Commentary: when the news gets weird
Most days the news is too predictable in that most sources simply churn out whatever the others are churning out.
Urban Design New York
Commentary: Urban Design Fails at Ground Zero
There’s a very thorough article about the combined architectural and developer and government mishandling of the whole ground zero site in New York.
Undoing Public Education
Commentary: Damage being proposed for public education
We all know that this government is doing everything it can to push through an ideological driven agenda for all aspects of Australian social life. With the blessing of the cluster of Vice Chancellors, the government wants to make the system favour those with money at the expense of those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
A Photograph
Photography: pollution in public places
In Manly (Sydney), the harbourside pool is closed after heavy rain because of pollution. One wonders where is the pollution coming from.
Melbourne Botanic Gardens Guilfoyle’s Volcano
Review: Landscape
Guilfoyle’s Volcano at Melbourne Botanic Gardens
This is a job well done. I saw an article about this and was determined to have a look. Now if only those promoting it had been sensible and given an address.
Continue reading Melbourne Botanic Gardens Guilfoyle’s Volcano
The Australia Council for the Arts
Commentary: Arts Leadership and the Australia Council
I am a firm believer in public investment in the arts. I have always campaigned for a role for the Australia Council for the Arts.
A Photograph
The Norway Alternative
Comment: Australia threw away the mining wealth.
In Australia the government has completely messed up any opportunity to gain long-term economic sustainability for the country. We have just witnessed the current government do a dirty deal with another party led by a mining millionaire to do away with an opportunity for a just tax on the miners.
Going Backwards Fast
Commentary: on how the country is being trashed
The Conversation has just completed an informative series on the range of devastating changes being made to this country.
The writers cover most topics including: health, the environment, education, migration, science and the economy. It is definitely worth the time to make your way through them.
Urban Bikeway Design Guide
Notice: Urban Bikeway Design Guide, Second Edition
National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)
The Urban Bikeway Design Guide, Second Edition, is based on the experience of the best cycling cities in the world. Completely re-designed with an accessible, four-color layout, this second edition continues to build upon the fast-changing state of the practice at the local level. The designs in this book were developed by cities for cities, since unique urban streets require innovative solutions.
To create the Guide, the authors conducted an extensive worldwide literature search from design guidelines and real-life experience.
New Garden Cities
Competition winner: for new Garden Cities
It was announced in the UK that the winner of a competition has proposed that to deal with population growth that new cities should be built nearby established ones. These would be garden cities connected back to the older city by public transport.
Annette Messager at the MCA Sydney
Review (2nd): Visual Arts
Annette Messager: motion/emotion at the MCA Australia (Sydney) till 26 October 2014
We were fortunate to have a business reason to be in Sydney for the Monday, so allowed ample time on the weekend to get down to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on beautiful circular Quay to see this once in a lifetime exhibition of Annetta Messager’s artworks. It was definitely worth the trip. We loved it so much we went back the next day for a revisit.
NGA Senior Curator of Photography
Shaune Lakin, The New NGA Senior Curator of Photography
At the end of an exhibition seminar in August at the Monash Gallery of Art, we witnessed the NGA Senior Curator of Photography, Gael Newton (finishing September) , handing on the baton and all the challenges to her replacement, the new NGA Senior Curator of Photography (from October), Shaune Lakin (previously The MGA Director).
ACCA Melbourne
Review: Visual Arts
A visit to the Australian Centre of Contemporary Art (ACCA) Melbourne
A Photograph
Guilfoyle’s Volcano
Review: Landscape
Guilfoyle’s Volcano at Melbourne Botanic Gardens
Andrew Laidlaw, landscape architect
This is a job well done. I saw an article about this and was determined to have a look. Now if only they had been sensible and given an address.
Architecture Melbourne Query
Singapore Photography
Natural Architecture
Comment: Landscape Art
One of my many puzzles has been why within Australia, with all the diversity of natural landscapes, do we not see much landscape art.
What I mean by that are artworks that actually are designed in the landscape or at least using natural materials to be in the landscape. There’s an article online about an architect who works with nature. click here.
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for more on architecture – click here
Paul Costigan, 20 August 2014
LA for bikes
Los Angeles a city for cyclists?
LA wasn’t always a driver’s town. In the 1920s, it had the longest urban rail network in the world, and innovative infrastructure was built for cyclists as well. Despite this, Angelenos fell in love with the car early on and moved for more highway projects, making it the road-based city it is today.
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Paul Costigan, 19 August 2014
The Monster Morrison and his freind
commentary: Good journalism
There are still journalists who tell it as it is really happening. A few.
I link here to two stories relating to two of Australia’s most evil men. There’s a few more!
One is a story of both of them by Jenna Price in the Canberra Times.
Melbourne
Commentary: Melbourne as liveable city?
Melbourne is a city I enjoy visiting. Most of the time my visits involve moving around the inner suburbs of Melbourne.
A photograph
Climate Deniers
Commentary: Big Coal, Climate Change and the Australian Government
It seems the news about the intelligence of the Australian government just continues to be depressing. Just how bad can they get? Is Tone Rabbott a complete destructive idiot!
A Photograph
Photographer Fan Ho
Photography: Fan Ho, Hong Kong photographer
Women taking on-going hits
Commentary: on the on-going inequities
Croakey author, Michelle Hughes, highlighted the ongoing inequities within the health science arena – click here.
I identify with her final comment on the selection of keynote speakers as the issue of getting women as key-note speakers was a focus of mine in the past. I did come up with a strategy to deal with it. See my notes below.
Greener London
How making London greener could make Londoners happier
an interactive map
From The Guardian: London – with all its tarmac, brick and glass – is actually 38.4% open space and ranks as the world’s third greenest major city. Now Daniel Raven-Ellison wants to go further … and make Greater London a national park. His campaign and online petition aims to have the city treated in the same way as parks like the Peak District and the Brecon Beacons, to conserve its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
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Paul Costigan, 20 August
NGA Visual Arts, Motherwell, Natori Shunsen, Contemporary Photography
Review: Visual Arts
Several exhibitions at the NGA
Our public galleries are places you should visit often, and not just for the big blockbuster exhibitions.
There are many other exhibitions, especially collection exhibitions, that are a wonder to see and enjoy.
Continue reading NGA Visual Arts, Motherwell, Natori Shunsen, Contemporary Photography
Urbanity: Canberra Planning & Development
Commentary: The problems of Canberra’s Planning & Development
Canberra, as with most major centres in Australia, is caught up in complex and sometimes nasty urban planning debates.
On the one side there is the property council groupings that include the gung-ho developers*, and their colleagues amongst the architects, planners and the planning authorities.
LA for Bikes
Los Angeles a city for cyclists?
LA wasn’t always a driver’s town. In the 1920s, it had the longest urban rail network in the world, and innovative infrastructure was built for cyclists as well. Despite this, Angelenos fell in love with the car early on and moved for more highway projects, making it the road-based city it is today.
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Paul Costigan, 19 August 2014
John Witzig at National Portrait Gallery
Review: Visual Arts/photography
Exhibition: John Witzig at National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
till 19th October 2014, then touring.
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra has done itself proud with this special exhibition of photographs produced from the archive of the photographer John Witzig. Full marks to the historian curator, Sarah Engledow.
Embassy Architecture – Solomon Islands
Review: Embassy Architecture in Canberra
The Solomon Islands High Commission
I spotted this example of successful embassy architecture as I was driving past to have lunch at the Beaver Gallery Cafe in Deakin. From the available online information (and there’s not much) I think these new buildings for the High Commission for the Solomon Islands were completed around 2011/2012.