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You are browsing the archives of 2009 October 27.

While many of us go for a functionalist, pick’n’mix approach to home decor (”I need curtains: oh, that will do” etc.), let us be upstanding for the financially brave, creatively passionate and unashamedly geeky souls who transform their homes into miniature versions of their favorite corners of modern culture, as these 8 thoroughly unique examples [...]

“The Denser we make our cities, the more we can sustain our ecosystems.”

Bruce Mau 

I could in no way let this article from the Australian slip through… This is bold, and absolutely supported I’m sure by the greater design community.

Many people in Perth see density synonymous with slum living, this is far from the truth. To consolidate our suburbs by adding a few more families/people (not houses) extra per hectare would mean less strain on the fringe condition of the city, though more obviously needs to be done. Density is key to sustainable living, you only have to look into the work of Rob Adams and Tone Wheeler to see positive urban consolidation that is making a difference.

The article from The Australian is below. I wish you all the best with progress Mr. Rudd. To meet a truly “sustainable” agenda densification or population restrictions are your only hope… and you can only imagine the shit storm the latter would create.

KEVIN Rudd wants to seize greater control of urban planning by denying infrastructure funding to states and councils that won’t agree to improve public transport and ban haphazard housing development.

Planners might also have to prohibit development of land subject to possible inundation from rising sea levels and agree to slash carbon emissions to qualify for federal funding.

The Prime Minister’s thrust into areas traditionally left to local government could even extend to insisting on standards of “world-class design and associated architectural integrity”.

Mr Rudd outlined his plans in a speech to the Business Council of Australia last night in which he declared it was time for national leadership on urban planning.

He vowed to produce national planning criteria and said he was considering formally tying observance of the standards to funding.

“If the commonwealth is to foot any significant part of the urban infrastructure bill - the commonwealth will legitimately expect to have confidence in the integrity of the strategic planning system in our major cities,” Mr Rudd said. “The goal is that our cities have strong, transparent and long-term plans for growth and high-quality urban development.”

The proposed overhaul mirrors Mr Rudd’s attempts to improve the quality of state-run schools and hospitals by tying funding increases to reforms in transparency and the delivery of services.

It comes amid new predictions to be published in the forthcoming Intergenerational Report that Australia’s population will climb 60 per cent to 35million by 2049 and follows Monday’s release of a parliamentary committee report warning of the risk that climate change could cause coastal regions to be inundated.

As Mr Rudd told the BCA annual dinner of his plans he invoked the spirit of the Chifley, Whitlam, Hawke and Keating governments, which he said had played positive roles in urban development.

But he accused the Howard government of having “vacated the field” on urban planning and infrastructure development, passing the responsibility to states which were burdened by financial and planning constraints. “Clearly, the commonwealth should not take over state responsibilities for land planning or have a direct role in the day-to-day decisions of state and local governments,” Mr Rudd said.

“No commonwealth minister wants to decide development applications or where to lay sewerage pipes.”

But Mr Rudd said the nation must accept the economic reality of the 21st century if it was to accommodate its rising population while preserving living standards, including limiting congestion and travelling times.

He said one great problem facing cities was historic under-investment in public transport, which meant services were under heavy strain or, on city fringes, non-existent.

Better planning was needed to ensure communities were not separated from jobs and services.

“Isolated communities breed social exclusion and entrenched disadvantage,” Mr Rudd said.

‘Increasing density in cities is part of the solution to urban growth, alongside greenfield development.”

He said the development had to happen with regard to climate change, with carbon emissions reduced through better design and greater consideration of water use.

“With Australia facing rapid growth in the decades ahead, the time has now come for the Australian government to take a much greater national responsibility for improving the long-term planning of our major cities,” hesaid.

“History shows that when the commonwealth steps into the urban arena, working in partnership with the states and territories, it has played a strong and positive role.”

Mr Rudd said he would pursue the urban development agenda next year through the Council of Australian Governments.

“I urge all Australian governments, companies, community organisations and citizens to work with us to build the productive, liveable and sustainable Australian cities of the future,” he said.

Unless you are planning on building your house suspended at a high altitude above beautiful landscapes, it cannot get better than this: building a place where you can wake up and see the mountains everyday and falling asleep after enjoying a beautiful sunset by the sea. This house comes from Suppose Design Office and it [...]

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

The House Caught Between The Sea And The Mountains

The Swedes never cease to amaze us with their extensive use of white and their fine details that have been refined to perfection for their home interiors. Large windows that allow lots of light, contemporary furniture and everything sitting in the right place, these are all things that define the minimalist theme of any Swedish [...]

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Swedish Inspiration – White Apartment in Goteborg

You’ve seen a lot of color combinations here on Freshome, some of them vivid and bold, others more classical. Today we would like to present a mix: Vetronica Kitchen from Meson’s brings together items that are black, white and yellow.  The overall design is elegant, bold and classy in the same time. Designed by Micro [...]

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Vetronica Kitchen From Meson’s

If you never considered living in the woods, wait till you this amazing villa in the woods of Soest in the Netherlands. Designed by the creative minds from Zecc Architects, the house meets the ground and embraces the space with a lot of stacked stone that gets the eye. With an interior that promotes open [...]

This is a post from the Freshome Magazine, who bring you the latest news in Interior Design, Decorating, Furniture and Architecture.

Living in the Woods – Stone Finnished Villa in the Netherlands