Tag Archives: architecture

skyvue sydney

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Formally known as the old Nock and Kirby Building, the new development aspired to bring a new life to the six storey heritage building. Crone Partners won the project in a Design Competition and developed a 13 level, PCA “Grade A”, commercial office building, with 13,100m2 of NLA. Construction commenced in 2006 and was completed in 2008 with an approximate construction cost of $55m.

The existing heritage facade and awning on George Street was retained and restored, with new floors and structure provided internally. The building incorporates a dramatic, full height internal atrium serviced by glass lifts. The finish to the core at the southern edge of the atrium, features a stunning, red colour installation, designed by artist Beata Geyer.

The site sits over the top of 4 major rail tunnels, creating additional challenges for the Design Team. This included, the need for sound and vibration treatment to the basement structure, which was designed to span over the tunnels.

The trapezoidal shaped atrium improves natural daylight penetration and visual connectivity of the office floors. Other key Sustainable Design Initiatives include; Chilled beam technology, BMS energy monitoring, waterless urinals and zoned lighting.

SkyVue

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275 george street brisbane

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275 George Street, known as the Telstra Tower, is a 32 level commercial office tower located in Brisbane. It has 41,000m2 of NLA and in 2009 was the largest commercial lease in Brisbane, with Telstra occupying 20 Levels of the tower. The building was completed in Feb 2009, well within anticipated construction program. 275 George Street achieved both a 5 Star Green Star Design and As Built Certification with the Green Building Council of Australia and is a PCA “Grade A”, commercial office building.

The Telstra Tower forms part of the Brisbane Master Plan Initiative, to reinforce the visual importance af the Brisbane City Centre. The project enhances the city’s urban fabric, with pedestrian “through site” links at plaza level, that capture framed vistas of the Brisbane City Council. The integration of Public Art further compliments the Public Domain, with restaurants and bars activating the space during the day and night.

275 George Street has spectacular 360 degrees views of the Brisbane River and cityscape and is situated within Brisbane’s cultural hub, only a step away from restaurants, entertainment, childcare facilities and shopping.

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where did the term “form follows function” come from?

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Image of “form follows function” sofa by Daan Mulder

The first mention of the phrase could be ascribed to the American sculptor Horatio Greenough, who in 1852 was relating it to the organic principles of architecture.1
The American architect Louis Sullivan, who admired rationalist thinkers like Greenough, Thoreau, Emerson, Whitman and Melville – picked it up, in 1896, in his article The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered. Here Sullivan actually said “form ever follows function”, but the simpler (and less emphatic) phrase is the one usually remembered. For Sullivan this was distilled wisdom, an aesthetic credo, the single “rule that shall permit of no exception”. The full quote is thus:
It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law. 2

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180B commercial office tower brisbane

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180B is a 32 level office tower located in Ann Street Brisbane. I headed the Design Team at Crone Partners for our client Daisho with the aim of developing a highly efficient, environmentally sustainable office tower. The building is targeting a 6 Star Green Star (World’s Best Practice) certification with the Green Building Council of Australia. 180B is currently at the end of Tender Documentation Stage with construction to commence early 2013. The works are due for completion July 2015.

One of the key features of the design is a large super graphic of the Brisbane River located on the north eastern facade. This will be developed using a frit pattern and low iron glass to the curtain wall system and modifications to the custom designed, twin blade sun shading devices. The super graphic allows the building to be identified from varying locations and aspects around the city.

I enjoy reading comments about the building at; http://brisbanedevelopment.com/daishos-redesigned-brisbane-river-tower/ and this site also gives further information on the project.

180B axo view

what is the largest span of the sydney harbour bridge?

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503m and for a while was the worlds widest long spanning bridge. It is the fifth longest spanning arch bridge and the worlds tallest steel arch bridge at 134m. For a bridge designed in 1932 by an engineer, nicknamed “The Coathanger” and synonymous to Australia, it is a great piece of art and architecture iconic to the Sydney skyline.

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