Melbourne & Australian Architecture Topics

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed something about a lot of the new units/apartments going up?





















& my personal favourite -

Well, I certainly laughed at the last photo. I wonder how well these buildings will age?

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http://highriser.blogspot.com.au/

Vehicles like that have earned the title "Woody", so I suppose the buildings should be called the same. "Hey mum, I bought a woody for five hundred thousand!"

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Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words.

Think i saw this mentioned elsewhere, or was it on skyscrapercity ? Anyway, yes its a light worry, depending on type of timber used, and how its attached - if its a hardwood, and meant to silver with age, then it will, and can last 100 years, depending on the nails / screws whatever. If not a proper hardwood, and varnished instead of oiled, will last maybe six months before the varnish comes off (Melb Central cinema box) and if not properly dried may bend and twist and come away, requiring replacement. A bit like picket fences really - most repros since the 80s are in pine, which lasts maybe 5 years if you're lucky, whereas some that are 100 years old in well fixed hardwood are still around (not many though).

I like the look of it though !

The whole public vs private thing...
One of them is not timber?
Multiplicity or duplicity by stealth?

I visited Riga, Latvia, in the late 1990's and was amazed at the benefit of benign neglect imposed by the soviets which allowed many wooden buildings from the 19th century to still exist.

Lots were rundown, but still standing. i wonder if they are now gone, or restored.

Wooden buildings can look great. I wish Melbourne had more of them. Out in the suburbs most wooden buildings are being torn down and the large blocks are receiving bland brick veneer and blueboard replacements.

Long live the Californian Bungalow!