Discourse
Arch
itecture as Material Culture, The work of Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Introduction by Kenneth Frampton
Architecture as Material Culture documents the first ten years of fjmt’s practice. Fjmt’s body of work explores the evolution of architectural form, through the synthesis of site and programme, to embody human values and aspirations.
In The Field: a world first venetian blind style facade on 36 storey Sydney building
ByDesign ABC
‘In The Field’ takes you to a new multi-storey commercial development under construction in Sydney’s CBD. What is unusual about this building is that its facade skin is made of wood and glass – not concrete or brick or stone. A sophisticated venetian blind-style system will form the exterior skin of this 36 storey commercial building at 200 George St near Sydney’s Circular Quay.
People Places
Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp
Public Library buildings continue to change and develop. People Places: a guide for public library buildings in New South Wales (3rd edition, Sydney: Library Council of New South Wales, 2012) is an important planning tool for New South Wales public libraries. This publication, endorsed by the Library Council of New South Wales, contains practical advice and tools to assist in the planning of public library buildings to meet the needs of your community.
The Power of Smallness
Introduction Richard Francis-Jones, Skyplane
Published within the book Skyplane, ‘The Power of Smallness’ examines Raymond Abraham’s Austrian Cultural forum to critique the global phenomenon of the tall building and its adaptation to the Asian-Pacific context.
High Price of High Rise
Skyplane Launch, UNSW
Four leading architects and the editors of Skyplane, Richard Francis-Jones, Lawrence Neild, Dr Deborah van der Plaat and Professor Xing Ruan, discuss the effects of high-rise building on the culture and sustainability of our cities and how they have been adapted to the Asia-Pacific region.
Transparent Law Building at Sydney University
ByDesign ABC
The Law Building opened at Sydney University. Barbara McDonald was part if a jury of six who chose this design from an international competition. Here she takes ByDesign on an insider’s tour of this significant new building on the eve of its opening.
Conversation with Richard Francis-Jones
By Design ABC
Richard Francis-Jones talks about the ideas that interest him and drive his design practice. He discusses how architecture is changing and major challenges in Australian culture.
Architecture and the Culture of Globalisation
Richard Francis-Jones
Presented at Critical Visions CV08, RAIA National Conference, Sydney, NSW, April 10, 2008
This paper addresses the deeper issues associated with the culture of globalisation including; social and economic equity; shared values and aspirations; and venturing beyond the superficial allure of form and technology.
Zeitgeist, Nostalgia and the Search for Authenticity
Richard Francis-Jones Presented at NZIA Professional Development Day, Wellington, May 25, 2007
Published in “Time Regained” ArchitectureNZ 4 (Auckland: AGM, 2007): 26–30
Richard Francis-Jones addresses the paradoxical relationship between Zeitgeist and nostalgia in contemporary architecture. Francis-Jones uses contemporary examples to explore how appropriation is about context and the role of intuition in escaping the momentary speed, flux and superficiality of our lives.
Practice, Theory and Intuition
Richard Francis-Jones
Presented at Tectonic Form and Critical Culture, RAIA NSW Chapter Conference, Sydney, NSW, June 19, 2004
Arranged under the key themes of practice, intuition, engagement and theory, this short essay poses a fundamental question; within the today’s world of practice, how does the architect launch the architectural project and thoughtfully respond to contemporary theoretical issues.
Search for the Universal
Richard Francis-Jones
Presented at On Monumentality: Place, Representation & The Public Realm, RAIA NSW Chapter Conference, Sydney, NSW, October 11–12, 2002
Published in “Search for the Universal” On Monumentality (Sydney: RAIA, 2002): 8
Drawing on Louis Khan’s essay ‘Monumentality’, this short paper comments on the way in which temporal human values, deeds and the glorification of individuals will continue to be the subject of architecture as an attempt to represent and monumentalise. Francis-Jones suggests the social element of monumentality is our desire to connect to others and move beyond ourselves towards something greater than our individual being.
The [Im]Possibility of Slowness A note on globalisation, ideology and speed in contemporary architecture
Richard Francis-JonesPublished in UME 13 (Melbourne: UME, 1999) : 10–13
In this paper, Richard Francis-Jones discusses the role of globalisation, ideology and speed within contemporary architecture. He argues that we have an overwhelming amount of information, space, stimulation, individualisation and speed but so little sense of being, community or place and so little time. The discussion is neatly arranged within various ideological frameworks including; internet, speed, paradigm, homelessness and reconciliation.
Architecture Not Language – A Note on Representation
Richard Francis-Jones Published in UME 3 (Melbourne: UME, 1997): 50–51
Francis-Jones debates the interconnectedness of architecture and language. He contends that representative nature of architecture, unlike language, This paper goes on to suggests that architecture is a social and collective endeavour whereby representations should not simply present a record or expression of reality but provide critical frames within which to understand our human condition.
Labyrinth of Images
Richard Francis-Jones
Published in “Labyrinth of Images”, Architecture Australia March (Melbourne: Architecture Media, 1993): 71–3
Contemporary architectural practice is in a state of pluralism; postmodernism, deconstructivism, neo-modernism and regionalism all have currency. This paper suggests Architecture is primarily an image presented for consumption and draws upon contemporary cultural theory to address key themes including, commodification, silence, tectonics, content and site.
Architecture of Learning
Jeff Morehen
This paper addresses the ways in which contemporary learning reflects a departure from the pedagogy of the past and how design of spaces must facilitate these new processes of learning. Morehen argues that today’s learning environment must not be limited to a single building but instead considered as a cohesive campus that extends beyond the constraints of the envelop and projects a new ‘built pedagogy’.