Emoh Ruo is an exhibition exploring Australian architecture in three modes – vernacular, built and speculative.

This is the latest is a series of projects that we have worked on with Cameron Bruhn and Jan van Schaik, extending on our proposal for the Creative Direction of the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale. The exhibition will be presented as part of the International Architecture Showcase at the London Festival of Architecture 2010, from Saturday the 19th of June and then travel to Australia in the coming months. We have worked on the identity, exhibition design, catalogue and collateral.

The name, while suggestive of indigenous antipodean language is quite simply, ‘Our Home’, backwards. The logotype we developed was inspired by a section of the exhibition that documents welcome signs from a range of Australian localities. Quoting the catalogue, “These curiously archaic signs tell us that we have arrived in a city, town or region – that we are here and not there. They silence the child’s voice from the back of the car that asks “Are we there yet?” These signs also speak of colonial settlement ambitions, civic pride and tourist promotion”. The result combined this archaic, decorative and informal reference with the gravity of the speculative work by the practices involved.

More images soon, in the meantime all the exhibition information is here.

Edward Burtynsky, searches for a dialogue between attraction and repulsion, seduction and fear. I first came across the incredible work of Edward Burtynsky through the forthcoming issue of Landscape Architecture Australia. Proof of the fact that designing publications is a great excuse for reading on the job.

The work of Baptiste Debombourg exists somewhere in flux between installation, architecture, construction and destruction. Beautifully considered.

This group has been formed to lobby against the proposed demolition of 10 Murray Street (the State Government Offices) in Hobart.  We would like to see a compromise redevelopment plan — one that incorporates this well-designed, useful building — be adopted. This might include some kind of adaption of the building or retrofitting. We do not argue that the building should necessarily be kept exactly as it is — simply that it should not be demolished.

Over the past few months I/we have been involved in a team pitching for the Creative Direction of Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2010.

The multi-disciplinary team formed by Cameron Bruhn (design writer) included Jan van Schaik (architect and lecturer), Jen Wood (graduate architect), Tanya Court (landscape architect and lecturer), Cassandra Chilton (landscape architect), Callum Morton (artist), Emma Williamson (architect) and Bryon Cunningham (exhibition designer). The large team included a diverse range of perspectives, professional experience and geographical locations which made the process challenging but at the same time incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.

From the first round of submission, we were pleasantly surprised to be shortlisted down the final 5 and invited to submit a subsequent proposal. This second stage required a considerable level of attention be given to all aspects of the proposed exhibition and treatment of the pavilion. This also required a full estimate of how we would achieve our ambitious plan given the limited budget. How to best represent Australian Architecture on the world stage was critical to the success of the proposal.

Our proposed exhibition was centred around the idea of demonstrating the profession’s trans-disciplinary design capital through speculations on the future of architecture.
 An important aspect of the proposal was the visual identity of the exhibition and how this would resonate through the Venice giardini and beyond.

On Monday the 28th of September, it was announced that John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec were the successful creative team. Congratulations to them and their extended team of collaborators. Having been involved in the process and understanding the factors involved, I’m really looking forward to seeing the outcome.

The experience gained from being part of the submission was invaluable. While we weren’t ultimately successful, it was a fantastic learning experience and a pleasure to work with such a range of people on a project that holds such national significance. Details of all the final 5 shortlisted teams proposals will be published in Architecture Australia’s forthcoming edition.
3D visuals developed by Elzed.

Minimalism at it’s best. This makes so much sense on so many levels, and it’s Australian.
See and read more here.