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Going underground
Hey, if you’re worried about solar flares (not solar trousers), planet X, pole shift, nukes, mega-tsunamis, social anarchy, the flu, 2012 (and so on), then why not invest $50K in a fractional share of a fallout shelter. Plans are here , and the first is being retro-fitted into an old nuclear shelter “strategically located approximately halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas”.
16.05.10 in weird-wonderful
Forum departures
Two of the most prolific users of the Butterpaper forums have requested that they be terminated, in response to a warning notice I posted. I have banned the accounts for Hairdresser and Luke.
15.05.10 in random-debris
Comment [7]
The opposite of stimulus
Still in Chicago – the Tribune has a great architecture blog – the council there (still under Mayor Daley) has decided to ask architects and others to reduce their fees on current contracts by 10%. That’s after asking for a 2% drop last year. Tough huh? Especially so because the council’s, “challenging procurement, permitting and payment process already represents a financial burden to many architecture and design firms”, according to the AIA’s local VP.
15.05.10 in practice
Frank on green
I hope this was taken out of context. Chicago Trib reporting on a talk by Frank. O. Gehry, 81:
14.05.10 in sustainability
Comment [1]
Goodbye Mari Funaki
Much saddened to hear today of the passing of Mari Funaki. Fine sculptor of miniature metal wonders and most generous gallery owner. The gallery in Crossley Street, Melbourne, will continue under the capable stewardship of Katie Scott.
13.05.10 in galleries
Fitzroy Gardens, again
They really want to hang out in the past down at the Parks Branch. They’re about to bowl anything in Fitzroy Gardens that looks like it was built after 1939, after a spot of public consultation. They’ve lept on Heritage Victoria’s advice that the only decent things in the garden were built in the nineteenth century, at the turn of that century, and in the Inter-war period, which Parks mistakenly think ended in 1945. They appear to have taken their obligation to look after items from these periods as a license to obliterate anything else.
12.05.10 in heritage
Toolern - what is medium density anyway?
Maybe it’s worthy a closer look at the density types in Toolern, as the presence of medium and high densities are something that differentiates it from other ‘burbs in the ‘hood.
10.05.10 in urban-planning
Toolern update
The Growth Areas Authority has revised its planning documents for the 2,400 hectares of new suburbs at Toolern, Melbourne. There is no summary document to explain the reasoning behind the changes, and it seems that what little is good about the plan is being slowly whittled away with stakeholder input. Increased construction costs for the many community facilities also seem to have caused a reduction in expenditure in other areas.
10.05.10 in urban-planning
BER costs rejected by Rawlinsons
Rawlinsons will omit the costings for BER public schools in its next construction cost data book. The results would make the data inaccurate due to the exorbitant per square metre rates.
08.05.10 in quantity-surveyors
Windsor shenanigans
The Victorian planning minister wasn’t letting much on at yesterday’s hearing about the stymied sham consultation process for the Windsor Hotel redevelopment. The Age reported that he “dodged” questions about whether he knew of the sham process before the now leaked email was circulated around the department.
30.04.10 in planners
Comment [2]
Process has a new site
Process is a monthly architecture talk held at Loop Bar in Meyer Place, Melbourne. The new site is swish and it’s here .
30.04.10 in talk
WAF time
The 3rd World Architecture Festival is to be held in November, once again in Barcelona. Lovely city, but shouldn’t a “world” event move around a little, like Miss World does (or did?). Maybe its English backers are just too keen on the quick trip to sunny Spain, though the event seems to shift further and further into winter with every year.
28.04.10 in conference competitions
Comment [1]
Over-budget in Kinglake
Is The Age getting sponsored by the HIA, did an architect just make a shocking mistake, or did they go to the wrong builder? A kinglake family’s efforts to rebuild come to nowt.
20.04.10 in practice
Comment [1]
Restyle
The site is undergoing a restyling at the moment. It will probably be a bit quiet on this page until the relaunch (end of the month he says hopefully). I am also writing an article that is a bit bigger than normal, which takes time (I don’t know how that BLDGBLOG guy Geoff Manaugh manages to do them so quickly..).
12.04.10 in random-debris