Thinking

Last month I took part in a seminar organised by Blueprint Magazine on the Future of the Architect. I started my presentation with the classic image of Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 on the surface of the moon. I was 12 at the time of the Apollo 11 mission and that single event made a lasting impression on me, along with a belief that we as a race can conquer any obstacle to achieve our ambitions.

The excitement of visiting a new global city is unbounded - the buildings, the spaces, the infrastructure, the people, the culture - all to be experienced and explored. First impressions are said to stick, so with a few days in Toronto supporting the growth of our new studio, I set about making some initial judgements on how the city made me feel.

Suburban Pocket Paths could provide an antidote to Melbourne’s large parks; decentralised small or medium size open spaces dotted around the suburbs. 

Many architects view the completion of their projects as the day the building is handed over and they move on to other things. The shop has opened for trading, the occupants have moved in to the office, the builders have moved out of the house, the snagging done, the final completion certificate issued. Like an artist who finishes a painting, sells it and never sees it again, we get sucked in to the project and when it has “ended”, seldom give it another thought or learn other than immediate superficial lessons from it.

I started the run at 10.20 am at Greenwich knowing that I would be running for the next 4-5 hours, which is a daunting prospect. It had been 14 years since my last marathon and although I had trained for this I suddenly felt very nervous. But looking around me, I realised that everyone else would be experiencing the same emotions and gradually started to relax. 

Here at WW+P we are constantly seeking ideas to improve the urban environment. We are passionate about creating civilised cities and only too aware of how inhumane city living can be. A good example of this is on our own doorstep.

Recently, when visiting New York for the first time in five years, it struck me how little things had improved for pedestrians.

The most popular bus stop typology in suburban Melbourne is a sign post. The demand for parking  often results in buses stopping in trafficed lanes, making vehicle and cyclist navigation dangerous, and leaving passengers disembarking into the road. 

Melbourne has many public transport options - with an extensive rail, bus and tram network and a new underground on the way, getting around the CBD is easy and efficient. 

I have been asked to write about how my training is going for the London Marathon. The short answer is okay. The real answer is nuanced and complicated.

Melbourne’s Docklands are located to the west of the Hoddle Grid, one of the largest urban renewal projects which is extending the CBD. 

In order to prepare for the London Marathon I managed an alcohol free ‘dry’ January and actually enjoyed it so much I continued into February and March and have decided to avoid alcohol for the rest of the year. It’s actually surprising and reassuring how easy it’s been for these first few months. 

Our vision for future airport design is born out of efficient strategic transport planning within the context of sustainable green-city development and explores the potential for new technologies that can transform the passenger experience.

A new super coach hub at Heathrow is a viable alternative to Victoria Coach Station which would reduce London's traffic congestion and air pollution and mitigate the effects of the proposed third runway.

In Melbourne there are two major tram stop typologies – the first with the stop on the kerb edge and the second with the stop in the centre of the street. In the first instance, traffic stops as a tram arrives to let people board and alight. 

In Melbourne, the ambient sound of the streets is the tick-tick-tick of the street crossings. In all directions this sound follows you around the city, shadowing you on every corner. Like all Aussie cities, Melbourne is structured around a city grid – the organisational framework that defines the urban grain of the CBD.

Training for this year’s London Marathon, which Chris is running in aid of the Architects Benevolent Society, has given him plenty of time to think… 

British architects are held in high esteem throughout the world, due not only to a track record of excellent design, but the combination of business skills, commitment to ethical values and a pedigree of experience and knowledge.