Hedley Bull Centre for World Politics
Melbourne architectural and urban design practice Lyons has completed a new research centre at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. The hexagonal-shaped building is wrapped with “digitally designed pre-cast concrete panels” and accommodates three Colleges specialising in international relations and comparative politics. Located at one of the University’s principal entry gateways the building forms the hub of a new international studies precinct.
Conceptual seed archive
New Zealand architecture student, Britany Bell, has designed a concept for a seed archive to preserve plant types that might otherwise become extinct or endangered, with design lines reminiscent of Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava. “Each year, more and more types of plants that become extinct or endangered,” Bell said. “The New Zealand government has proposed the idea to create the archives to seed the Pacific home to the original plant and preserve them for future generations.”
Taking the form of a growing cytoskeleton of a plant, the building needed to be able to adjust and change to an unpredictable future environment. “It continues to grow and adapt to prevailing wind, rainfall and sun exposure,” Bell said. “The wings on the sides of the structure are heat sensitive and move to accommodate the protected plants within.”
Can of ham, London
Foggo Associates' 90m-tall commercial building in the City of London won planning approval last week, despite objections from Cabe and the City Heritage Society. The 18-storey elliptical building, nicknamed the “can of ham”, will replace two existing buildings in the east of the city. It will include 370m2 of retail space at basement and ground-floor level. The City of London’s planning officer Peter Wynne Rees said he felt the City Heritage Society would oppose any tall building in the city, without due consideration. But City Heritage Society chair Anne Thomas hit back saying: “We are not against all tall buildings, but this is just a lump and it doesn’t enhance the street scene.”
