07 Dec 2018
The adjudicator rater
What qualities do you need to become a respected judge of design awards? An eye for aesthetics is only the start…
Culture
Hames Sharley understand that to fully serve our clients and projects we must first understand the cultural impact that the built environment has upon society. Within our work in the Public & Culture sector we understand that local communities need to immediately engage with the developments that we design.
16 Nov 2018
Hubs of activity, fonts of knowledge
Brisbane Open House includes talks and seminars on all manner of architecture and design topics. As part of this year’s event Hames Sharley’s Queensland studio opened its doors to the public and hosted a panel event that covered the subject of urban hubs. We asked one of our recent Architectural Graduates to report on the proceedings, while broadening her own knowledge.
20 Sep 2018
Experiences vs ‘Stuff’
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is the new keeping up with the Joneses. Here, some of Hames Sharley’s thought leaders discuss whether minimalism is making us richer, and the impact this is having on the built environment.
14 Sep 2018
Reopening the door on architecture: The Open House phenomenon
Fancy an adventure exploring your city? Open House is an event in which buildings across a city throw open their doors to the public for one weekend each year, to enjoy the best architecture on offer.
10 Aug 2018
Here we grow
Earlier this month, the population of Australia hit the 25 million mark, with the number of migrants outpacing the number of births at a rate of almost two to one - a figure reminiscent of gold-rush days…
06 Aug 2018
The notion of nodes
What is a city node? What are its benefits? And what is its place in the Australian urban environment?
06 Aug 2018
From little things, great things grow: Shaping the future of Adelaide
Adelaide has great bones. Its founding fathers planned a city which not only looks beautiful, but is highly functional and extremely liveable, but we need to be bold and seize the opportunity to create an even more vibrant and innovative place to live that is proudly local and yet globally connected…
06 Aug 2018
Space consumption
Hames Sharley’s National leader of the Urban Development portfolio, Chris Maher, discusses the societal pressures of vanity-driven space wastage and how millennials are here to save the day.
06 Aug 2018
Reach for the sky
Some of Western Australia’s key thinkers and influencers recently tackled the subject of urban sprawl in the book Drawing The Line – Deliberations on Density, released through Urban Design Forum WA.
17 Jul 2018
Measuring the value of biophilia
An increasing importance of investing in people has resulted in a reawakening of the philosophy of biophilia and the importance of biophilic design.
17 Jul 2018
6 ways biophilia can improve economic prosperity
Based on his paper titled The Biophilic City: Can it Improve Economic Prosperity, here, Darren Bilsborough summarises his paper into six key areas: biodiversity, climate change, urban farming, cooler cities, bio-sequestration and health and productivity.
10 Jul 2018
Part Three: Incentivising and Controlling Population Growth
The population debate is one of equal opportunity. While some Australian states and cities boom and expand rapidly, others progress at a slower rate or even decline. So, do our policymakers and society as a whole need to look carefully at putting measures in place to evenly distribute the population across the country?
10 Jul 2018
Part Two: Shifts in Population Growth
Alarmingly, by 2022, Australians who have reached retirement age are predicted to outnumber children. There is also a current population shift of people from all around Australia moving to Melbourne and Sydney, leaving other cities to dwindle. What do these trends mean for our future?
10 Jul 2018
Part One: Transparency in Population Growth Data
Information and data relating to population growth do exist, but perhaps it is not as widely distributed or as fully understood as it could be. Here we discuss how increased transparency could make a difference.
19 Jun 2018
Inspiring research and philanthropy through art at the Perkins
Five Western Australian artists express their support for medical research by decorating lab coats for the Harry Perkins Institute.
19 Jun 2018
Universal Basic Income
Replacing traditional welfare programs, a Universal Basic Income (UBI) would provide all citizens with a set amount of earnings, irrespective of work undertaken (if any).
14 Jun 2018
Naming rights (and wrongs)…
The Walt Disney Company made Australian headlines this month when it picked up the naming rights for The Etihad Stadium. But such naming rights are by no means a new thing; similar deals have been taking place for more than a century…
25 May 2018
World Environment Day
Humans are both the users and creators of their environment. Therefore, the need for environmental protection and improvement is of vital importance, and to highlight this, the United Nations have established a World Environment Day.
21 May 2018
Why cultural diversity is vital in design
Cultural diversity is a critical consideration in the design sector. As our industry looks inward in an attempt to close the diversity gap, we recognise a number of advantages that a more multicultural workforce provides in enabling communities to flourish.
21 May 2018
Mitigating the potential threats of Artificial Intelligence on our cities
It’s predicted that robots and Artificial Intelligence will play a large part in our lives by 2025, but as anyone who’s seen a Terminator movie knows, these are exactly the kinds of technology prone to misuse or mishap. Here we investigate a report highlighting the potential use of Artificial Intelligence for malicious means.
16 May 2018
What Australia can learn from Asian retail, and vice versa
There is obviously a considerable difference in how Asian and Australian retail developments are shaped by the culture within which they sit, along with, at times, some surprising similarities. David McCarroll investigates…
18 Apr 2018
Staging a comeback
Building infrastructure for global events can make or break a city – so what’s the best strategy for using these structures once the show’s over?
12 Apr 2018
The Café Phalanstère
An essay about creativity, architecture, cultural innovation and coffee.
26 Mar 2018
Fad or future? The worth of Amazon Go
In light of the interest around America’s new Amazon Go store since its opening late last year, we consider what this could mean for the future of the retail experience…
08 Mar 2018
The world’s best-planned cities
With a recent article naming five cities that rank among the best-designed in the world, we look at what links these destinations, and what lessons others can learn from them.
08 Mar 2018
Un-forgetting female architects
In the last decade, roughly 40 percent of all architecture graduates have been women – but when it comes to representation in the industry, there’s still a gender bias towards men.
07 Mar 2018
12 Australian women in architecture you should know about
They’ve been influential in the history of Australian architecture but chances are you don’t know their names. We look at twelve women whose work has made a difference to the way our country was built.
12 Feb 2018
A future family day at their local library
In recent years we’ve found great benefits in using 3D printers and virtual reality hardware, but it’s our investment in a time machine that’s really allowed us to experience what life is like for communities in the future.
Here we follow the Mancio family as they set out for a day at their local library…
04 Feb 2018
World Cancer Day
Whether collectively or individually – everyone can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer.
08 Jan 2018
Middle Metro Suburbs: Dotty and Mike’s Story
#Adelaide2027lifestyles - Part 1
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 1 of a continuing series, we follow Dotty and Mike’s story.
08 Jan 2018
Inner Urban: Pierre, Simone and Evette’s Story
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 2 of a continuing series, we follow Pierre, Simone and Evette’s Story.
08 Jan 2018
Transit Corridors: Peter and Bob’s Story
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 3 of a continuing series, we follow Peter and Bob’s Story.
08 Jan 2018
Middle Metro: David and Lucy’s Story
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 4 of a continuing series, we follow David and Lucy’s Story.
08 Jan 2018
City Central: Mai and Cheng’s Story
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report released late last year. In part 5 of a continuing series, we follow Mai and Cheng’s Story.
12 Dec 2017
Bigger Adelaide, Better Lifestyles
Hames Sharley has been a proud contributor to Deloitte’s recent ‘Make it a plan Adelaide’ report. We share their view that a key strategy in transforming and growing South Australia’s economy is to grow its population.
08 Dec 2017
Dear Santa…
Christmas is just around the corner and we are all left scratching our heads wondering what presents to buy. Here’s a guide to a handful of options for the creatives in your life…
05 Dec 2017
Arty Facts
No matter the size of the project, over the past twelve months we have applied the same set of guidelines in our approach to designing buildings and spaces in the public & culture sector. Here we present our 12 key considerations when designing for museums and galleries.
12 Nov 2017
Surf Life Saving Clubs – the true spirit of Australia
We investigate why Surf Life Saving Clubs are surely among the greatest architectural symbols of Australian society.
25 Oct 2017
A future family day at their local shopping destination
At Hames Sharley, we like to invest in the latest technology, which allows us to provide a better service for our clients and partners. In recent years we’ve found great benefits in using 3D printers and virtual reality hardware, but it’s our investment in a time machine that’s really allowed us to experience what life is like for communities in the future. Here we follow the Mancio family as they set out for a day at their local shopping centre…
24 Oct 2017
Do you accept cheques, mate?
This month we discovered the ultimate gift for architecture and chess aficionados - who may also want to invest in what looks like becoming a best selling board game.
23 Oct 2017
Babina’s architectural animals
To mark this month’s World Animal Day, we point you in the direction of some of Federico Babina’s digital artistry that reimagines animals as icons of architecture.
21 Oct 2017
It’s a shore thing
Approximately 85% of our population live within 50km of the ocean and our climate has facilitated a deeply embedded culture of life at the water’s edge. Therefore it is natural that our nation has become leaders in the field of waterfront urban design. But what are the factors that make a truly great waterfront? We present ten key considerations when for planning the perfect place at the water’s edge.
12 Oct 2017
The legacy of World Expos: what’s left after the fair?
Hosting a major world event is in many ways seen as a coming of age for host countries. Seen as a way of putting a city on the map, World Expo organisers attempt to showcase their city to the world in an extravaganza of cutting edge technology, sustainability, design and architecture. But what happens when the fair leaves town?
26 Sep 2017
The future is (virtually) here
Over the years futurists have predicted many innovations that have failed to come to fruition, from flying cars to hoverboards, but when you consider the cost implications and logistics of these inventions, it’s understandable that technology might fail to keep pace with our aspirations for the world of tomorrow. That said, one exciting and long-anticipated innovation is so close you can… well, you can almost touch it.
12 Sep 2017
Postal survey
Andrew Choate’s Instagram page is a celebration of bollards that features dozens of examples from the very basic to the impossibly ornate. Check them out – the account already has 49,000 followers.
12 Sep 2017
Countering the counter-measures
When unsightly concrete blocks were placed on the streets of Melbourne and Sydney, intended to provide security against terror attacks, the public outcry was vociferous and immediate. But never mind the bollards, because safety measures shouldn’t have to spoil the streetscape…
12 Sep 2017
Save my soul: refurbishing a heritage listed building
Architectural character is created by the aesthetic components of the building, such as unity, composition, contract and scale. But what gives it soul? And how do buildings retain their soul throughout decades of use and multiple refurbishments?
08 Sep 2017
Would you bring your mom here..? Part 2
In the concluding part of his essay, David McCarroll looks at some of the reasons that consumers make their choices and why this will always keep the retail centre relevant.
23 Aug 2017
Retrofitting, refurbishing and repositioning: how older buildings can become relevant again
All buildings age and what was once an A grade building is eventually downgraded until its inevitable slide into obsolescence. That is unless it is retrofitted, refurbished and repositioned back to its former glory - and that’s where Building Upgrade Finance comes in…
14 Aug 2017
The seven deadly sins of stakeholder engagement
Our checklist of seven deadly sins that should be avoided in the consultation process…
14 Aug 2017
The changing landscape of stakeholder engagement
While community consultation has long been part of many regulatory frameworks, the way it is conducted often leaves a lot to be desired…
13 Aug 2017
Would you bring your mom here…? Part 1
Catalogues didn’t kill the shopping centre. The rise of online retail hasn’t seen the end of bricks and mortar. In a two-part observational piece, David McCarroll looks at the real problems facing retailers… complacency, and the struggle to remain relevant.
24 Jul 2017
The Open House phenomenon: opening the door on architecture
Fancy an adventure exploring your city? Open House is an event in which buildings across a city throw open their doors to the public for one weekend each year, to enjoy the best architecture on offer.
26 Jun 2017
Encyclopedia of man-made plants and animals released
From tuskless elephants and hornless rhinos to glow in the dark fish and square apples, the modification of flora and fauna has been going on for eons, both by design and accident.
26 Jun 2017
More than just vegeburgers…
While some parts of the scientific community are looking at using cultured meat to solve a potential world food crisis, others have decided that the way to ensure the world has all the protein it needs is by cutting out the middle… er, animal.
23 Jun 2017
Wholly cow!?!
Its composition is the same as the stuff you’d carve off cattle, but is the world ready to eat meat created entirely in a laboratory? And if we could all be persuaded to chow down on faux-flesh, what would the effect be on the environment, both natural and built?
21 Jun 2017
Is architecture falling behind sustainability aspirations?
It would appear that sustainability in architecture and great design are still largely mutually exclusive, according to a recent stoush between the American Institute of Architects and Aaron Bestky…
24 May 2017
Maximising workforce engagement: the corporate conundrum
Countless surveys indicate that an engaged workforce is more productive and profitable. Yet maximising employee engagement has become one of the 21st century’s biggest corporate conundrums, with alarming statistics showing far more than 80 percent of staff lack workplace engagement.
21 May 2017
Face values
You can’t ever underestimate the value of face-to-face interaction. The benefits are many: you can bounce ideas off others, unlocking creativity that might not otherwise be accessed via email or text; you can gain more information when negotiating a deal, or you can simply gauge whether someone really likes that idea you floated.
18 May 2017
The price ain’t right
Affordable housing has become a major issue in recent years. Last week’s budget did little to alleviate the problem for first-home buyers, amounting to not much more than tinkering to provide the illusion of change…
20 Apr 2017
The language of architecture
Writing about language is not for the faint of heart. However, I will attempt to articulate how the language of architecture is ‘designed’...
19 Apr 2017
Yeah, nah – Aussie Slang at work
Australians are known all over the world for being straight shooters. Ask an Aussie their opinion and you normally get a straight answer, right? Not anymore.
19 Apr 2017
Mental illnesses described through architecture
Mental disorders are something that will affect most of us at some point in our lives and Spanish-based, digital artist Federico Babina has created a new project which attempts to illustrate a number of conditions through architecture.
19 Apr 2017
Building cultural diversity through the language we speak
It is proven that cultural diversity adds to the bottom line. The benefits of cultural diversity are many: improved decision-making, increased collaboration, better problem-solving, enhanced well-being and knowledge sharing, to name a few. But what does it look like in a real workplace?
19 Apr 2017
You’ve got to laugh, right?
While there’s no denying that having a conversation with someone who spouts jargon at you can be irritating and frustrating, you can still make the best of it if you don’t take it seriously…
19 Apr 2017
The perils of periphrastic pontification
Why do people resort to jargon as a means to look knowledgeable and authoritative when a simple answer would have done the job. These days, few people are fooled by five-dollar words when ten-cent ones will do, and jargon is all about big spending for slight return.
16 Mar 2017
Driving sales
Imagine this: you walk into your local retail centre, aiming to pick-out an evening gown and shoes, grab a quick chef-prepared meal for lunch, and organise your grocery drop-off to your house. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot the plush lounge of a major auto brand…
14 Feb 2017
Moral machines
New technology raises a myriad of questions about how the design of our cities will change to accommodate them. But what is of increasing interest is how machines will be programmed to make difficult, even moral, decisions…
12 Feb 2017
Driverless cities – preparing for a transport revolution
With driverless cars already taking to the roads in Pittsburg, San Francisco and even on trial in Adelaide, the autonomous vehicle revolution is upon us – whether we like it or not.
11 Feb 2017
That’s no moon – that’s a failed design approval!
Next week sees all eyes on the great and the good of Hollywood as Tinsel Town brings us the 89th Academy Awards. But as this multi-billion dollar industry gets together to pat itself on the back I have a bone to pick.
13 Jan 2017
Divisive architecture is nothing new
The Trump wall triggered intense debate during the US presidential election race late last year, and while divisive architecture is nothing new, civil societies need spaces which allow people to come together rather than walls keeping them apart.
13 Jan 2017
Inside Donald Trump’s Tower
Donald Trump moves into the White House on Friday, January 20, leaving behind his $100 million penthouse condo in Trump Tower. Monocle’s New York bureau chief Ed Stocker shares his opinion on the NYC skyscraper.
13 Jan 2017
Science and technology advances for a new world
Seven top futurists have shared their predictions on what the next decade will bring in science and technology.
13 Jan 2017
Begging for a better solution
The increase in homelessness has led to a rise in begging leaving cities asking the question, what is the best solution to street begging?