More on Federation Square

from w
Here are some of the photos I took yesterday - no gimmicks, no 'fixing'. I couldn't help but get myself into some of the photos! The little palm trees are rather pathetic. When I looked up Federation Square on wikipedia to see who designed this triangle-obsessed billion dollar block, it seems there was a competition that didn't work out properly. And then I read the following:

In 2009, Virtual Tourist awarded Federation Square with the title of the 'World's Fifth Ugliest Building.'[16] Criticisms of it ranged from its damage to the heritage vista to its similarity to a bombed-out war-time bunker due to its "army camouflage" colours. A judge from Virtual Tourist justified Federation Square's ranking on the ugly list claiming that: "Frenzied and overly complicated, the chaotic feel of the complex is made worse by a web of unsightly wires from which overhead lights dangle."[17] It continues to be a "pet hate" of Melburnians and was recently discussed on ABC's Art Nation[18]

For a while after its opening on 26 October 2002,[13] Federation Square remained controversial among Melburnians due to its unpopular architecture, but also because of its successive cost blow outs and construction delays (as its name suggests, it was to have opened in time for the centenary of Australian Federation on 1 January 2001). The construction manager was Multiplex.[19]

The designers of Federation Square did not get any work for six months after the completion of the A$450 million public space, but did receive hate-mail from people who disliked the design.[20]

However, the negativity was short-lived[citation needed], with approximately 90% of people surveyed reported liking at least some part of Federation Square.[21] Despite fears that the plaza would remain empty because of its location on the edge of Melbourne's centre, the open space has proved to be a remarkably popular place for protests, performances, cultural gatherings, celebrations and just 'hanging out'. Federation Square won five awards in 2003 at the Victorian Architecture Awards, including the Victorian Architecture Medal.[21] TheAustralian Financial Review later reported that Melburnians have learned to love the building, citing the record number of people using and visiting it.[22]
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Okay, it's certainly unique and a bit crazy with this obsession for triangles, steel and glass, but I do like the tiles/bricks that we walk over, nice wood in the stairwells, but an absence of views of the river. Curved lines, arches are more attractive in my book such as the Sydney Opera House. Melbourne's 'icon' is bizarre.

No time for drawing this week

from w
With visitors from Fiji staying with us, is too much talk and cooking nice meals, taking the couple around Geelong and so on, that I haven't done any drawings and paintings lately. Here are just a few photos messed about with - from my trip to Melbourne last week - of Federation Square and nearby. We are really having a good time with Rev Waisake and his wife Mere as they tell us stories of Navua, Rakiraki, Taveuni, all places we know. They are an amazing couple, - church planting in a difficult place. Here, many good things are happening each day such as a gift of many lilies, succulants, and plants to split up and repot or plant in the garden. We have many thoughtful friends so I guess the motto is to pass it on. There is also some interesting news from our relatives in Fiji too - that 'money for jam' is coming our way as a weather radar tower may be built on one of the hills on the Ratawa land. This is a gift that can provide money for school fees and development projects.

Looking around Federation Square

from w
Today was a train trip up to Melbourne to meet Penny and look at art galleries in Federation Square. We looked at Aboriginal art, the Brown Collection, weird and wonderful sculpture and extraordinary clothes, then lunch in a gale at Southbank. Thank you Penny and John for the beaut time together.

The drawings above are of part of a sculpture and window view, and some of the Tiwi sculptures. I'll work on the drawings of the day and post some others later. I really liked the Clothes for Modern Lovers by Katie Pye whose designs can be seen on her website.