Acclaimed architects and design commentators reflect on the cities, eras, inventions and trends that have inspired them.
The city that provides endless inspiration for an architect...Copenhagen, because of its scale and beauty, and the quality of street life. It has more than six times the amount of car-free space than when pedestrian and cycling initiatives began in 1962.
The precinct with the most notable examples of fine architecture…
Melbourne’s CBD laneways. Melbourne has a fine grain, pedestrian scale and an architectural and artistic richness that is engaging.
The holiday that rejuvenates creativity…Strolling quietly in a walled medieval Italian village, which in turn conceals and reveals an ancient Roman heritage. Lucignano and Bevagna are favourites.
Most useful design trend of the past decade…Sustainable design and the move toward reduced energy consumption. Fifty per cent of the buildings we will occupy in 2050 already exist. So making existing buildings “greener” will have a big impact on carbon-emission reduction.
What the world could do without…Suburban sprawl and large, poorly conceived houses on the fringes of our cities. Houses designed to respond to our Australian climate and of a moderate size are needed.
Wish you’d designed…Kronenberg residence, Killcare [NSW] by Tzannes Associates; it captures the essence of elegant but practical residential living with a small footprint.
Image: Kronenberg
residence, KillcareSource: Qantas The Australian Way July 2009