In the suburbs of Australia, there is a transformation of domestic architecture taking place. Robin Boyd in 1960 wrote of this idea in a publication called – The Australian Ugliness, a seminal investigation Australian architecture.

From the independent weekly by Teri Louise Kelly

A nation of gross architectural incompetence and negligence where foreign opinions and plans override local initiatives. A stark, incomplete, “she’ll be right mate” attitude to planning, giant kitsch, plastic flowers, jobs for the boys, not what you know but who you know, old school ties, pseudo colonialism, faux Americanism hitched to successive short-sighted leadership … it all pretty much sounds like The Australian Ugliness could have been released this year.

Some 50 years later the wrecking balls are sounding through the suburbs of Melbourne, crushing masses of unremarkable yet well considered domestic dwellings for built outcomes squeezed on their plot in ones, twos, threes and fours.

For every vacant lot there is a promise of poor architecture, short sighted land management and a range of materials that are mostly skin deep, cheap and fragile. May good luck be with these owners in a decade or so; when the product guarantees expire, veneer flakes off, the external walls sag, silicon seals unfix and general wear and tear takes place – quite possibly the wreckers ball will be called upon again.

Over several months one has witnessed this palace rose out of the ground, like one strange mushroom. One wonders what this thing is trying to be – Neo Georgian architecture, crossed with desert chic. What have English Coach lights got to do with blonde rendered sand stone finish and round lights straight from the isles of supermarket hardware – alot it seems in the land of Design-It-Yourself.

In a street filled with mostly functional architecture, this dwelling appears to be a parody of the concept house, an art project even inspired by the works of Australian artist Callum Morton. Sadly the project seems to be a real outcome, as two dominant and separate dwellings are squeezed onto a suburban block, that once had one unremarkable home.

One thing that any budding artist or, designer learns from an early stage of their working life – is that if you are prepared to design and make something, then be prepared to have it critiqued. The process of critique helps all involved to understand and learn from an outcome in the hope that next time something is produced the result at the very least will be an improvement from the last expression. Let’s hope that the house being wrecked around the corner has a critical, studied and considered designer behind the plans – as unlikely as this situation will be.

May collaboration with the architectural process in range of variations from kit, off the plan homes to bespoke concepts be common place soon.

Read about Melbourne architect and writer Robin Boyd here

Read about artist Callum Morton here

In closing it is worth while mentioning a comprehensive gallery of built projects recognised by the Australian Institute of Architecture Awards programme, for people looking to develop new buildings. There are countless projects here with detailed reviews and images representing a range of budgets.

Visit the AIA Awards gallery here

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