Australian Architecture Now

Rating:
Summary: Par Excellence
Review: This is a well researched and fine detail architecture book on Australia. The picture resolution is fantastic, and there are hurdles of pictures to look thru. I enjoy thoroughly the experience of browsing thru the book simply or reading the essays that explained about Australian architecture. The authors do not leave any stones unturned by featuring architectural works of any categories that we would envisage such as Public Works, Commerce & Leisure, Revisions of history, Housing, Civic Symbols, Houses that are further broken into subheadings. The discussion basically outlines the obvious, that with the advancement in technology which makes information accessible in a tick, cross information exchange brings the world closer together, closer than we ever imagine. It used to be that Australia is looking at achievements done at the Northern Hemisphere but with its change of attitude, its confidence in stretching its own legs, other countries are looking at what Australia is doing now. The, there's the discussion about 2 types of architects, one type that wants to dominate the nature & the other type that wants to get along with nature. The precedent was already set with the different attitudes of 2 Governors, Governor Arthur Phillip & Governor Macquarie. The initial Governor stressed the usage of line to constrain the space, whilst the other emphasises upon the flow of space. Ultimately, one's attitude is not superior than the others but what they left behind is a legacy to challenge & to debate what's appropriate for the landscape of Australia. All pictures in the book comes with either building plan, or elevation plan, & brief description. Towards the end of the book, there are credits, index, selected readings for enthusiasts. This is an architecture book that doesn't tackle one form of style but many, ranging from brutal, eccentric, tectonic, vernacular, poetry, lyrical, abstract, & so forth. An all rounder book & a book that sure is going to be appreciated & well presented on your coffee table. Architects worth mentioning are Harry Seidler, who learnt under Marcel Breur and Walter Gropius; Glen Murcutt, who is highly regarded for his sensitivity & respect to nature & thus, his design of building that can adapt to local conditions superbly & subsequently, creating a style that is uniquely Australians; Gregory Burgess for his design of the exemplary Aboriginal Cultural Centre by Ayers Rock with pertinence to zoomorphic inclination; Ashton Raggatt McDougall for its complex & out of this world design (not even Deconstructivism); Denton Corker Marshall for their involvements in many major projects (one of the most riveting would have to be Melbourne's City Link Expressway from the Tullamarine Airport, in the best tradition of Luis Barragan) which happened to be the hard copy cover for the Australian Edition & definitely more superior than the cover of the American Edition. Highly recommended.