Signing off

Unless we get some other miracle extension, this is it for my construction blog. They weren't all happy days, but i have learned a lot. One of the hardest things about construction as a subject is finding clear resources to study. I've found the blogs and the A+B gallery invaluable sources of inspiration and information. I'm gonna miss this little blog. Well, maybe not miss.....

Major project posters

Article Review: St Kilda redevelopment

The Age reported on Saturday that Ashton Raggatt McDougall have been awarded the contract for a $300 million dollar facelift for St Kilda. The development incorporates lots of green space, and an attempt not to turn the foreshore into a "Chadstone bu the sea". One of the features of the proposal is a large, sculpural wrough iron facade for the cinema complex. Sydney based developers Citta Properties will handle the construction.

Article review: Soccer stadium

The Age reported this week that the state government has agreed to spend $268 million on a new soccer stadium to be built in Edwin Park. The stadium is due for completion in 2010. The interesting thing from a construction point of view is that they have agreed to a capacity of 31000 seats, but with foundations that will support a future upgrade to 50000.

site visit: victoria parade

This site is on victoria parade, fitzroy. From the back it looks like it'll be a carpark, but perhaps with some offices or something at the front.
This shot shows the scafffolding for the concrete roof to be poured onto metal decking. The scaffolding remains in place until the concrete is set.
A whole bunch of C purlins ready to go.
The formwork and reo, complete with bar chairs, and ditches for edge beams, plus a waterproof membrane. Almost ready for the concrete pour.

The connection between the tilt up panels and the supports. I'm using brick at the moment for my warehouse, but I wonder whether Mies might have embraced pre cast concrete if they'd been around in his day?


here is one of the load-bearing, reinforced concrete columns. notice it is in place before the concrete slab footing for the rest of the floor is poured.

check out the tilt-up panels on this baby, with the supports still in place.

this shot shows the reo in the slab on ground and the plumbing sticking out.

site visit - car dealership

This is a car dealership on victoria parade in the city that i've noticed a few times but had never really checked out properly. It's a steel, curved truss system that takes advantage of its northern exposure. the building reminds me of a sold-out glen murcutt.

no safety mesh here. who wants to walk on a curved roof anyway?

i think this is quite a beautiful detail.


the camera and the truss.

site visit: St Vincent's hospital, Nicholson st, Fitzroy

Cheers to Vicki for pointing out these beautiful pre-cast concrete panels on Nicholson street. i hope i'm not cutting your lunch by posting these pics, i was in the neighbourhood and i figured what if you didn't get around to photographing them and then our fellow classmates would have missed out forever.

In thesecond pic you can see through the window how the internal cladding is bracketed to the concrete.