Sad to hear that this building is slated for demolition, as I recall it well, having spend a good part of my late teens and early twenties crossing the Harbour bridge passing it. Brutalist styling isn't for everyone, but Ive always been impressed by how simple the actual design is and how it's modular nature informed a facade that managed to blend into the surrounding streetscape. Maybe it's because I'd seen it for so long that it never felt an imposition which is so often the characterisation of Brutalist buildings, but it's a simple form that's articulated really well in my eyes.

Love the form of this building - The Midden Garden Pavilion / Metropolis Design Such an elegant simple form . Floating yet still anchored to the ground. Harbouring sanctuary. Beauty in the detail.

Found this link recently, and was pleased to see an under-funded group receiving some recognition, albeit in the form of an award by a multi-national...but better than not I guess? 2014 Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction http://architectureau.com/articles/2014-holcim-awards-for-sustainable-construction Great looking project in Sri Lanka working at re-skilling ex soldiers to do positive community building projects, designed by an Australian trained local I believe.

ADAPTIVE RESCUE IN ACTION A new cubby house - lasted 18 months and then recycled

A short statement I encountered recently by 2012 Pritzker Award winner Wang Shu: "Design Philosophy I design a house instead of a building. The house is the amateur architecture approach to the infinitely spontaneous order. Built spontaneously, illegally and temporarily, amateur architecture is equal to professional architecture. But amateur architecture is just not significant. One problem of professional architecture is, that it thinks too much of a building. A house, which is close to our simple and trivial life, is more fundamental than architecture. Before becoming an architect, I was only a literati. Architecture is part time work to me. For one place, humanity is more important than architecture while simple handicraft is more important than technology. The attitude of amateur architecture, - though first of all being an attitude towards a critical experimental building process -, can have more entire and fundamental meaning than professional architecture. For me, any building activity without comprehensive thoughtfulness will be insignificant." see:- http://www.chinese-architects.com/en/amateur/en/ I love the nature of "spontaneity" in design...creation which is in the moment Such a shame that so much design and construction today is based on dollar value, energy consumed and saved and the like... Wang's modesty in saying " amateur architecture is just not significant" belies the true value of simple creative spirit in homes. How do you "value" creative input? Can a feeling be given a tangible value?

We recently completed a new home. Designed by myself in conjunction with the owners, it was an interesting study in renovations The site is heavily overlooked by all the houses around it due to being the lowest site in the street. Everyone could look into the backyard and the existing house was very small - one bedroom effectively so there was nowhere to escape the streetscape and neighbours. Paramount was to create comfortable living areas that gave northerly sunny aspect, yet reduced the opportunity for the neighbours and passers-by to look into the house. We aimed to create a separation between the original and new sections of the house so it could become a separate section for visiting family and their kids and the new living/ kitchen/dining area and master bedroom. The new dwelling has a beautiful ambience, with a sense of privacy that will only be enhanced by the plantings once they grow to screening height. Light, playful and open, with a spacious courtyard garden allowing interaction with the outdoors.