Melbourne surprises
When I was at university in the sixties, I wrote an essay about sex in architecture. It wasn’t about bedrooms, it painted a bigger picture. My metaphor was the ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’, a biblical story in which the fertility goddess Ishtar removes an article of clothing at each of the seven gates leading to the underworld. Of course there is such a thing as architectural strip tease, and Professor Toy took my essay seriously.
In real life, there a little bar in Melbourne called The Croft Institute which is located at the end of Croft Alley off a dogleg off Payne’s Place and then off Little Burke St. A couple of years ago, I took Miss M and her friend Josh there.
Such was its unprepossessing, rubbish bin lined, dimly lit and ever narrowing approach, twice they asked me if I knew where I was going.
RIP Oscar Niemeyer
One of the most enjoyable and informative architect documentaries I’ve ever seen is Fabiano Maciel’s A Vida e um Sopro. The seated interview with Oscar Niemeyer, interspersed with images of his life’s work, is a format that allowed Brasil’s most famous architect to rove freely on his philosophies of life and architecture.
We thought that Philip Morris must have funded the film, as here was a fit 99-year-old chomping on a cigar all the way through the interview.
My favourite line came towards the end of the film when Fabiano asked him ‘is there anything we haven’t covered?’. Read More
It’s no laughing matter
I have just returned to the office after one of those random encounters where a group of male codgers coalesced around coffee.
One had recently returned to our shores after 25 years in the UK. He was asked if he thought our sense of humour had improved since he left. No was his quick reply. Oh dear. That opened up a whole discussion referencing Graham Norton, Jeremy Clarkson, Miranda Hart, Bill Bailey, Billy Connolly, Dave Armstrong, Tom Scott and Australia.
It was generally agreed that we are not funny enough as a people. The Irish and the Jewish are kilometres ahead of us. What is wrong with us we asked?
We tend to be reserved, politically correct, overly respectful of authority and we embarrass easily. Laughter may be the best medicine, as they say, but Pharmac doesn’t supply it.
Billy Connolly has his biggest audiences per capita in New Zealand because office workers pay serious money to be legally offended, that is to hear language not permitted in their workplace. Back home in Glasgow, Billy is just another one of the funny lads, hardly worth paying to see.
Graham Norton though is paid a million pounds a year by the English to make his audience laugh.
Our impromptu group of experts thought that we Kiwis are not particularly happy in these uncertain times and we seriously need to ‘lighten up’
Designs on cars
I was at last week’s media day at the Sydney International Motor Show, where my favoured subject of car design, strutted its stuff.
As well as the ‘looks’ of a car, there are of course issues such as sustainable fuel systems, running costs, vehicle safety and affordability.
All these matters relate ultimately to the success of a particular design.
Zoo View
It was a sunny Sunday and so as you do Miss M and I went to the zoo.
I hadn’t been for 5 years.
I knew the animals were diverse but the buildings are now too.
This was a pleasant surprise.
