We have five copies of this book (retailing at $84.99) to give away to the next five new members who sign up as The Fifth Estate member.
Among the gems that Hannah Lewi and Cameron Logan revealed last week at Gleebooks for the launch of their book, Adapt, Designing New Lives for Old Buildings, is a novel concept – that a value capture mechanism could be applied to areas with old buildings
Because it hardly needs saying – but most people love to be among the character and graceful charm of buildings from another era. Generally they will also pay more for the privilege of being amongst them.
As long, of course, as they’re not required to maintain or pay for the often expensive task of restoration themselves, or heaven forbid – be forced to retain an old building when they want to throw up six storeys of apartments instead.
Another concept in financial incentives to keep our old stock was offered by Ashley Dunn of DunnHillam who joined the authors on stage to help launch the book. Quite often, he said, old buildings have generous ceiling heights or other design characteristics that lend themselves to uses outside of the norm – art galleries for instance.
Another driver for keeping older buildings is of course the emerging sensitivity around embodied carbon.
The authors have undertaken enormous research for the book from their role and access as academics.
Logan is an urban and architectural historian in the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, and Lewi is a professor at the University of Melbourne, with expertise in architectural design, history and theory.
Featured among an array of detailed case studies and interviews by the authors are some of Australia’s best known architects, among them Conrad Gargett, DunnHillam, Fieldwork, Gilby + Brewin, Kerstin Thompson, Lahznimmo Architects, Neeson Murcutt Neille, NMBW, Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design, Spaceagency, SJB, Six Degrees, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Williams Burton Leopardi, Williams Boag Architects.
There are also contributions by some experts well known to The Fifth Estate readers: Robert Crawford, Behnaz Avazpour, Christhina Candido and Kerstin Thompson.
The book was launched at Gleebooks in Sydney and is published by Uro, retailing for $84.99.
The Fifth Estate will publish an excerpt from the book soon.