what's the difference?

From: http://www.ufodigest.com/news/0508/images/versaille.jpg

Here's a little puzzle for you...what's the difference between the formalist garden at Versaille, and this little garden in Brunswick?

el loco

A tarot card might seem like a strange thing to post here where I’m supposedly examining landscape architecture practice, but this card has today summed it all up. The Fool is for being "liberated by free will and trust, which lead [one] to explore simple speculations for their own sake. I don't know where I'm going, and I don't care where I've been. I only know that, as the hero of my own story, it's for me to find out. For, like Alice, I'm on the verge of stepping into a rabbit hole; unless I stop short and play it safe, I'll know soon enough where following my own feet has landed me on this curious venture."
It's true, it's true it's true! This is just how this exercise is going at the moment. I'm not sure how I'm going to practice or exactly what I want to achieve in any sphere right now, and that does make me feel like a bit of a fool, especially in the university system. Nonetheless I am completely happy with my process, a carefree wander, a dérive, if you like. It's an exploration taking me to places I would otherwise have bypassed unnoticed and I feel pretty safe in the knowledge that sooner or later I am going to get where I’m going, wherever that is.

In regards to "expanded field" I am glad I had to go look that up for myself, because it gave words to what I was on the verge of doing. Without the words for this I just couldn't get into it.

Expanded Practice Offers Greater Choice For Dental Patients In Williton

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Somerset people living in the Williton area now have a wider choice when it comes to choosing an NHS dentist.

The Stoneleigh House Dental Practice, based in High Street, has recently undergone major improvements and expanded so that alongside Dr. Andre Louw there are now three other dentists working part time.

The practice opened its doors to the public some weeks ago, but the formal opening was held last Wednesday, May 6th.

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It’s a great relief.If only I lived in Williton it would all make sense.

The fool asks you not to take yourself too seriously - and that has got to be the best advice to me, ever, who is far, far too serious. (Just ask anyone who’s ever played scrabble with me!)

To talk about my practice today in tutorial, as usual I made a pretty good job of avoiding the issue. I’m not finding it easy to be clear about what it is.

Should I ask myself the hard questions... or just carry on following my nose for a little while longer...?

click: this is a link to 'aboriginal archicture projects' at the rmit school of architecture and design.

just chicken feed

These trucks weigh about 1.3tonnes.
Australians eat 1.1 - 1.2 million kg of chicken meat each day, and 25 million chook eggs.

(Lucky she's got strong knees.)

Spencer Park Rezoning_my submission

11 South Street

Preston Vic 3072

24^th September 2009

Re: TOWN PLANNING SCHEME NO. 1A – AMENDMENT NO. 171

I have viewed the Town Planning Scheme No. 1A – Amendment No. 171 from the City of Albany website (http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/website/uploads/2472_AMD171_240909.pdf)

and would like to make the following comments and suggestions:

LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS

Porous Paving Surfaces

I would like to suggest that, as there will be an increase in impervious surfaces resulting from increased density in the Spencer Park Special Zone, that to maintain natural hydrological systems it be required as part of onsite landscaping to use porous paving surfaces (e.g. matrix paving, porous asphalt or similar.)

Stormwater

I would suggest that rock, stone or gravel be used to line stormwater basins or channels[1], to slow the rate of flow, dissipate energy and prevent surface erosion.

Infiltration Pits

I would suggest that infiltration pits or rain gardens be part of the landscape requirements or part of works undertaken by Albany City council to ensure return of moisture into the immediate site to maintain natural hydrological systems. Rain gardens have the advantage of providing beauty and interest to the streetscape.

General construction

It is important that locally-sourced rock be used wherever possible as this will minimise energy inputs. Using recycled aggregate for fill and sourcing rocks from on-site excavation works or other local construction sites would be two suggestions.

BUILDINGS

Energy efficiency in building function

I would like to suggest that design of all buildings including commercial and other non-residential building be required to meet highest energy efficiency standards and that design requirements be limited to these processes, i.e. that it not be part of the Amendment to recommend glazing areas greater than what would meet highest standards of energy efficiency, nor that a particular façade treatment be required.

75 to 85% glazing is recommended in the Amendment, which seems contrary to council standards for residential and dwelling requirements for energy efficiency standards in other documentation, e.g. Energy Efficiency Provisions for Houses BCA Part 3.12. I suggest that glazing and façade treatment recommendations be reconsidered.

Construction and function of buildings

I would like to suggest that requirements for meeting low energy usage in both construction and function of buildings be inserted into the Amendment.

Yours sincerely,

Christine King.

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[1] As well as many other WSUD recommendations from councils in Australia, many of which are available online, this fact sheet offers some practical suggestions that might be worth considering, obviously making adjustments to satisfy conditions specific to Albany: Water Sensitive Urban Design in the Sydney Region, Practice Note 7, Landscape Measures. Available from http://www.wsud.org/planning.htm, Accessed 24^th September 2009.

Rezoning Spencer Park

Albany City Council is proposing a change in zoning ratings in Spencer Park, which means an increase in permissible density.

Full document: http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/website/uploads/2472_AMD171_240909.pdf (accessed 3rd September 2009)

I'm in a hurry to get this posted, and haven't had a good look at the document.
If you have any comment to make about this or other proposed changes, including cycle ways, you have only got about a week to do it. Check out the council website:

Albany City council website: http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/

Public comment page: http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/your-council/public-comment/
(This is the first in the list of articles for public comment.)

Why Spencer Park?
What will it do to the character of the suburb?
How will these changes affect our imaging of place, as Albany evolves into a city?
What about water sensitive urban design?

design a city

group exercise.

characteristics of moments from our everyday:

	DOG	Free roaming
	ROLLING CHAIR	Directed roaming
	GUMBOOT	Protective roaming
	TRAIN	Directed
	CUP	Delivery
	COMPUTER	Free roaming	Free roaming	Delivery
	DISHES	Cleanliness	Place
	AFTERNOONS	Chill time	Other time Own time	Sunny	Relaxed
	iPOD	Free roaming (not fixed)	Delivery	Transportation	identity
	JUMPER	Warmth	Wind protection
	TIN ROOF	Shelter	Phenomenological	Experiential	sound

Use these characteristics to design a city.

Afternoon: what are the material properties of an "afternoon" site?
Where would you put the afternoon?
If this is a plan of a street, then:


Put the afternoon on top of a hill so it gets lots of sunlight. Then the morning is down the bottom, so you don't have to walk so far, and the evening is on the south side, away from the sun, because there isn't any then. Move between the different times of day.
A localized delivery system at the bottom of the hill for internet access, might become a transfer station: cold water moving down hill might capture heat produced by an internet service provider hub, and use that warm water to...warm a green house: transfer of enegry from isp to growing plants. Localised energy production at these sites, related to needs for each part of the day.


Move between days of the week. A circle of hills is a city layout, so that you move gradually from one day to the next.
Hill Friday might have a longer profile to accomodate the larger number of people there, and the delevery systems needed to supply what constitutes Friday, like alcohol, comfy couches, dance music...