Things that make you sad.

[Footy Chick]

WHy can European Cities still maintain relevant old buildings then and still be "progressive"

I drove past the GPO the other day, a beautiful iconic Adelaide building - now surrounded by Glass monstrosities and almost looks out of place.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I think there is a fine line of progress and respecting heritage.

I think the old stylish building adds character

[mighty_tiger_79]

The 2 young female jockeys who lost their lives this week.

[shoe boy]

The fact that my fellow Australian citizens voted for a circus of a government .

[Footy Chick]

Not me!

[gossipgirl]

The fact that my fellow Australian citizens voted for a circus of a government .

Can we please have some adults in charge ... please please please

[Failed Creation]

WHy can European Cities still maintain relevant old buildings then and still be "progressive"

I drove past the GPO the other day, a beautiful iconic Adelaide building - now surrounded by Glass monstrosities and almost looks out of place.

I agree with you there, FC. But what's more important to me is finding a way of keeping our young people from leaving to move to Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

[HH3]

WHy can European Cities still maintain relevant old buildings then and still be "progressive"

I drove past the GPO the other day, a beautiful iconic Adelaide building - now surrounded by Glass monstrosities and almost looks out of place.

I agree with you there, FC. But what's more important to me is finding a way of keeping our young people from leaving to move to Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

I hate young people. Ship em all off I say. Little whippersnapper dickheads

[Failed Creation]

This is sad...

[Booney]

WHy can European Cities still maintain relevant old buildings then and still be "progressive"

I drove past the GPO the other day, a beautiful iconic Adelaide building - now surrounded by Glass monstrosities and almost looks out of place.

Two fold, some modern architecture is outstanding, I think the SAMHRI Building is one such piece. When the nRAH is finished and the precinct around it completed I think it will be a real landmark.

On the other hand is how we integrate the new with the old and what the future holds in way of design, where does this all fit in.

I deal with architects quite a bit in my role, daily actually. I'm not sure what they do to them when they get to University, but they give them some sort of idea that anything they can lay awake at night and dream of someone in manufacturing / industry can make it.

Not so.

[heater31]

WHy can European Cities still maintain relevant old buildings then and still be "progressive"

I drove past the GPO the other day, a beautiful iconic Adelaide building - now surrounded by Glass monstrosities and almost looks out of place.

Two fold, some modern architecture is outstanding, I think the SAMHRI Building is one such piece. When the nRAH is finished and the precinct around it completed I think it will be a real landmark.

On the other hand is how we integrate the new with the old and what the future holds in way of design, where does this all fit in.

I deal with architects quite a bit in my role, daily actually. I'm not sure what they do to them when they get to University, but they give them some sort of idea that anything they can lay awake at night and dream of someone in manufacturing / industry can make it.

Not so.

Yes I too like the 'Spaceship' of the SAMHRI. Would have been a bitch to build though. Also was a big supporter of the Federal Court building when first completed.

Yes as someone who has been around the industry all my life and studied at University, Architects only think about how it is going to look, they don't care about how the thing is going to be put together.

Considering my background in the practical side of things I think it's a good move that I could be studying Architecture next year off campus as I might punch out the lecturer if I was on campus!

[Psyber]

I've heard from a senior court official that several modern buildings in Adelaide already have "concrete cancer" and are becoming risky to occupy.
Older stone and brick buildings may get salt damp but their basic structure does not usually threaten to crack up.

I like the modern look, too, but, while the ideas are easy to come up with, the execution of the construction often suffers from deliberate short cuts, or from the builders' inability to follow the complex plans and specifications.

[Booney]

Yes Psyber, builders are given a budget, they take short cuts when and where possible and maximize profits.

I give architects "budget" pricing on a daily basis and from there the client will ultimately have a costing in mind, so it isn't a matter of pockets being too shallow it's just someone looking to make a dollar. Can't blame them.

There are plenty of "sick buildings" around Adelaide many of which boast 5 Star Green Star efficiency and occupant comfort levels, yet in reality fall well short of these claims.

The ETSA Building ( 1 Anzac Highway ) and the SA Water Building ( Victoria Square ) are long time sufferers of sick building and one very large project on North Tce that is under construction also has many foibles. some of which will become public knowledge, I'm sure.

[dedja]

well thankfully that 'sick' building on North Terrace shouldn't have to go far to get treatment ... oh, hang on

[Footy Chick]

I've always wondered how building constructed predominantly of glass can be 5 star energy efficient, the cost on air con alone to keep it cool in our hot summers would be ridiculous.

I think the cheesegrater is a horribly ugly building - but I'm a bit old fashioned apparently.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I've always wondered how building constructed predominantly of glass can be 5 star energy efficient, the cost on air con alone to keep it cool in our hot summers would be ridiculous.

I think the cheesegrater is a horribly ugly building - but I'm a bit old fashioned apparently.

I like tradition also FC, but I actually don't mind the cheesegrater

[Booney]

I've always wondered how building constructed predominantly of glass can be 5 star energy efficient, the cost on air con alone to keep it cool in our hot summers would be ridiculous.

I think the cheesegrater is a horribly ugly building - but I'm a bit old fashioned apparently.

Geothermal cooling of chilled beams ( water is pumped underground over night {therefore cooled} then pumped through chilled beams {water carrying "blocks" built on or into the concrete slabs} to cool the buildings "core" and reduce costs. Lift risers used as pressurised chambers to draw in fresh and exhaust hot/stale air. The New Engineers Building in the U of A is a very good example.

High induction air diffusion equipment mixing room air faster, heat loads being calculated and moved across a building as the sun rises and sets. ( The West of a building will always need more cooling in the afternoon than the East will ever as the sun lacks "bite" in the early part of the day )

Lots of clever cookies doing lots of clever things.

[dedja]

The SAHMRI building is basically a greenhouse ... in the atriums (one each side) which go from level 4 to 9, an enormous amount of heat is trapped.

The design allows for fresh air to be circulated through the building but despite it's claimed green rating, it is still essentially an energy inefficient building (but excellent considering the glass design), and that's not taking into account the enormous cleaning costs as those glass triangles get extremely dirty (especially when the building is completely surrounded by building sites) and don't clean themselves.

That said, it's an awesome building, inside and out ... especially the technology.

[Booney]

Check out the smoke spill grilles that run along the full length of the building on the top level. Impressive kit.

[dedja]

sponsored post there Booney?