Comment | Architecture & Design

Designing hotels in the blink of an eye

As Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, Clint Nagata’s passion for travel, hospitality and design is the inspiration behind the practice’s philosophy.

Mimetic architecture: When architecture imitates life

“Le beau est toujours bizarre” is a quote from French poet Charles Baudelaire that can be translated to “beauty is always bizarre”. This is the DNA of mimetic architecture, when buildings and other structures are given a blend of eccentricity, follies and unusual shapes – just because.

Rise of the village people

The term ‘retirement community’ somehow smacks of gelato coloured demountables lined up, cheek by jowl, in a gated reserve, in ‘gator ridden, Florida. However, a little education goes a long way – and visions of pastel semi-wides could not be further from the truth. The epitome of opulence, of good taste and refined design now dominate the retirement sector, and it’s making ageing a very sexy option.

Deconstructing to rebuild with Eleri Jones

Architect and visual artist Eleri Jones has recently transformed the former nurses’ quarters at the South Sydney Hospital site into a Creative Centre. In an interview with Architecture & Design, she explains why this project is exemplary model for civic adaptive reuse.

Tone on Tuesday 227: How to fix social housing, explained in six diagrams

Last week examined the social housing crisis in six diagrams. This week, in the last ever ToT, six essential diagrams explain how to fix, or at least alleviate, that crisis.

Tone on Tuesday 226: The social housing crisis explained in six diagrams.

Last week we examined the current overall housing crisis in six diagrams. This week, six essential diagrams to explain the crisis in the neediest sector: social housing.

AI in construction demands its own scaffolding to maximise impact

The construction of the Sydney Opera House signalled the birth of a global architectural icon, but it also demonstrated the potential for disaster, according to author Andy Cunningham.

Tone on Tuesday 225: The housing crisis explained in six diagrams.

There is much confusion about the housing crisis. Let’s examine key issues and debunk myths with six essential diagrams.

Tone on Tuesday 224: The housing minister who didn’t build a single house

In the two weeks since Prime Minister Albanese shuffled his cabinet, the new Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Claire O'Neil has had more cut through, at least in media coverage (SMH, Australian, Guardian), than two years of the previous minister, Julie Collins. Talking the talk that is, not walking the walk, of which there is none yet. Here’s a way to fix that.

Tone on Tuesday 223: The Athlete's Village in Three Australian Olympics

Last week we looked at the Athlete’s Village at the Paris Olympics, 100 years apart. Two key issues in the 2024 edition are the drive for innovation and the post-Olympic use.

Tone on Tuesday 222: The Athletes Village in Two Paris Olympics

Paris has held two Olympic Games, exactly 100 years apart. The 1924 games were the first ever to introduce an Olympic Athletes Village. The 2024 Village is more like a mini city, intended to be the most socially and environmentally yet.

The unhealthy symptoms of Sydney’s transport system

As toll prices continue to rise quarter on quarter, traffic congestion only seems to be getting worse.