Qld Trade Mission to China
Posted on the 28th 2011f June, 2011
We are just back from China today where we accompanied several other architectural firms as part of the HEAT initiative developed by the QLD Government Department of Employment Economics and Innovation.
Oldest Catholic Church in Shanghai
Four days of intensive tours and meetings in Shanghai and Nanjing has left us feeling excited and energized by the opportunities that China has for Queensland architects.
View from Bund
Of particular interest was the workshop with Professor Ruan Yisan from Tongji University where we heard about Adaptive Reuse of buildings. Robert Riddel (Riddel Architects) and Ian Mitchell (Conrad Gargett Architects) jointly presented their own Adaptive Reuse projects in Brisbane, and Professor Zhou Yian spoke about the huge effort required in China to stem the demolition of valuable heritage properties that tend to be bulldozed in the quest for fast redevelopment.
Detail of church
We were delighted to see a huge exhibition of beautiful posters in the Shanghai Airport departure lounges of the architectural projects, which aim to educate the public about the importance of architecture and the valuable history our architecture displays. What a great educational venue the airport is.
Heat Team in front of Expo China Pavillion
We presented some of our projects and of particular interest was the Aged Care work. China, with their one child policy, will end up with one (child) supporting two parents, and four grandparents.
Ballroom dancing in the park on Sunday morning - Roly gives it a go!
We are keen to share our Aged Care building experience with China, as it will be a necessity in the near future. While the concept of high rise aged care is only in its infancy in Australia, there is no other option in China. As their cities are full of a staggering number of high rise appartments, it makes sense that some of these will need to be adapted to suit its aged population.
A Nursing Home For Architects?
Posted on the 25th 2011f February, 2011
Ferrier Baudet Architects keeps an eye on the latest projects & trends and we just spotted this interesting building:
It is a new nursing home in Portugal by Aires Mateus Arquitectos. The style is similar to the one of the Childcare Centre by Alejandro Muñoz Miranda that we posted a few months ago: simple but well articulated geometric shapes, white façade with a checkerboard effect, big windows with clever recesses to provide sunshading and individual balconies to each room. The insertion in the site is also very clever as the building meanders in the landscape and almost disappears into the hill at one end.
Geometric facade
Checkerboard effect
Insertion in the hill
The interior, well… maybe a little sterile…
A very white interior
We wonder about the lack of visual contrasts between the different surfaces and the absence of textures and colours. How appropriate is it for the elderly who have very specific needs?
A resident’s room
The reactions to this new building vary widely and we have to say that we have heard the term ‘nursing home for architects’ a few times –and probably with good reasons-!
On the other hand, this project clearly states that nursing homes don’t have to be traditional (read ‘boring’). It is good to see that there are attempts here and there to come up with something different –with more or less success…-!
All photos by architectural photographer Fernando Guerra and for more photos have a look at: http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/07/house-for-elderly-people-by-aires-mateus-arquitectos/
Toward The Light
Posted on the 24th 2011f February, 2011
In our recent research we found this fantastic funeral home in Alicante – Spain by COR Architects.
The 495m2 building is organised around a number of little courtyards and sits in a garden planted with 29 Japanese maples. The full-height glazing wraps around the courtyards and allows visual connection with the outside. The interior is simple, subtle and all the spaces freely flow into one another, combining with ease all the different functions that a funeral home should host.
Glazing that wraps around the different courtyards
The balance between glazing and opaque surface is exquisite.
Light and simplicity: a peaceful environment
This building stands in stark contrast to what we usually imagine for a funeral home! No more dark and stuffy environment, it is all light, air and openness!
For more details: http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/13/funeral-home-and-garden-in-pinoso-by-cor/
Flood Relief / Assistance and Architectural Services
Posted on the 2nd 2011f February, 2011
We were lucky here at Ferrier Baudet Architects as our office sits on a hill in St Lucia and we did not get directly affected by the flood. We were also happy to hear that out of the 20 schools that we were commissioned to refurbish or build new buildings for under the BER program in the Lockyer Valley, only two suffered minor damage. In most cases, the water rose up to the school gates but amazingly didn’t enter the buildings!
Unfortunately devastation is just around the corner. A lot of houses near our office and along the river suffered major flood damage so did UQ (University of Queensland) and some of the surrounding colleges. The Lockyer Valley suffered tremendously and the recovery process will be long.
Today, a couple of weeks after the flood, our thoughts are turned to helping people that weren’t as lucky as us and were affected by the disaster.
To keep up to date on what to do and how to approach it all step by step, we have attended professional seminars organised by the Institute of Architects along with Emergency Architects Australia and Archi Centre who have been heavily involved right from the beginning.
If you have been affected by the flood, you can:
1. Contact Emergency Architects Australia for a free inspection of your damaged house by a team of professionals (architect & structural engineer). All the teams are composed of volunteers who are happy to give their time and travel to remote areas to help.
Call 3846-5621
E-mail: info@emergencyarchitects.org.au
http://www.emergencyarchitects.org.au/
2. Call Archicentre as they also offer phone consultations and provide advice on what to do after the disaster, step by step.
Call 1300-134-513
3. Get in touch with your local Council / Community to get more information on what is possible in terms of approvals and rebuilding. Ipswich City Council for example has put together excellent documents and help sheets to get everyone started.
4. Contact us, Ferrier Baudet Architects, as we can assist in the reconstruction of your home or business and we can offer professional advice on improving recovery times. With more than 30 years of experience, we can help you with the following:
- Advise on re-building timeframes
- Review and possibly change the design of the existing house (review height levels, setbacks, materials…)
- Explain and organise Building Applications (BA) and/or Development Applications (DA)
- Organise Structural Certification
- Organise work with Contractors and handle contract administration
- Or simply offer a more complete package of building design services
Do not hesitate to give us a call on 3371-6200 or email catherine@ferrierbaudet.com.au
Peter Marino in the New York Times
Posted on the 27th 2010f July, 2010
Ferrier Baudet spotted this article in the New York Times about Peter Marino, New York based architect, as famous for his luxurious projects as for his unconventional outfits!
Peter Marino has designed a number of high-fashion boutiques for Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Zegna and just attended the opening of his latest creation: the new Louis Vuitton’s store in London.
Catherine Baudet’s brother, Paul Ferrier, has been working with Peter for over 10 years.
Full story at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/20/fashion/20iht-fmarino.html?_r=3
Childcare Centre / Alejandro Muñoz Miranda Colours!
Posted on the 4th 2010f July, 2010
Ferrier Baudet love this sophisticated child care centre in El Chaparral – Andaloucia, Spain designed by Alejandro Muñoz Miranda.
The building displays an amazing range of bright colours: all communal spaces are identified by multicoloured glass while the classrooms have simple clear windows, giving the children a clear sense of space.
Ferrier Baudet like to use inspirational examples as ‘idea generators’ in their current child care projects.
Photos by Fernando Alda
For more photos and the full article:
http://www.dezeen.com/2010/06/18/educational-centre-en-el-chaparral-by-alejandro-mun%CC%83oz-miranda/
Vogue Living – Moody Hues Bathroom
Posted on the 30th 2009f June, 2009
Ferrier Baudet Architects – as featured in Vogue Living – illustrating a charcoal palette to dramatise the industrial aesthetic of the renovation of a historic building, Brisbane.
Our Win – Lady Gowrie Early Childhood Centre
Posted on the 2nd 2009f June, 2009
Creative use of corian in reception area
We are very excited about winning the Corian Design for the Lady Gowrie Early Childhood Centre in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Please follow the link to see the work of Catherine Baudet and project architect Julie Bonfield on the Corian Web Site.
Monash University Accident Research Centre, Falls Study
Posted on the 31st 2008f October, 2008
Extensive research since 2000 has found the design and construction of buildings to be responsible for a great majority of serious injuries caused by slips, trips and falls. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) commissioned a study by the Monash University Accident Research Centre to investigate these important findings. The study aimed to decipher the precise risks the design and construction of buildings creates.
(more…)
Creative Women Architects
Posted on the 31st 2008f October, 2008
Zaha Hadid is probably the most famous female architect in the world. Not only does she design amazing buildings, like the London Aquatic Centre, but she also designs shoes. Like many of the starchitects now, Zaha is designing luxury products. Norman Foster and Phillipe Starck are both designing bathroom fixtures.
It shows the versatility and creativity of architects!
London Aquatic Centre, by Zaha Hadid
Shoes by Zaha Hadid
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