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Level 1, 152-160 Hunter St, Newcastle 0404935276

HACK architecture

Creating Character

How Healthy is your home?

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Here is a truly inspiring video about a grass roots project that has made a profound impact to peoples lives. It is also a demonstration of the impact that our environment on health and well being. Here we see the environment in which people live having huge impact on their health, and when it is explain so clearly from outsider looking in it appears very logical that these basic elements are critical to health. Whilst I have no research at hand, I would assert that these very same principals are at work on some level in our cities and in the houses that most of us live. The sort of thing I am suggesting is things like mould that is developing in our homes, traffic noise that we think we have tuned out to, lack of natural ventilation in the home. The list would go on. This video is shows results of creative team looking for tangible solutions from the research.

What is your home environment like? what impact do think it might be having on your well being? Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts or if you have some solid research you would like to share that would be great too.

Sustainable Liveable Homes

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Contemporary residential architecture is plagued by the fascination with shiny white jewellery boxes that we are supposed to aspire to live in. All our life style magazines are filled with these images of bright white boxes with glass on glass and stainless steel trims and things. Where has the richness of the tactile gone? where is the space that is like a pair of comfy old shoes? Do we really accept that the brightly finished two pack polyurethane cupboards have a place in our so called sustainable home.

What is the ideal project for HACK architecture?

I have been thinking about this for a while now, what would constitute the ideal project be for HACK architecture. There are a few assumptions made here, the first of which is that you understand a little of what we are about. So I think there is actually more then one single ideal project that we would like to see walk in to the office, but for a residential project it would be a daring client that has an existing house that they would like to see taken apart piece by piece and re-worked back into a new form. This inherently starts off on the right foot for a sustainable design. Some materials maybe used in there whole form, but others maybe reused in totally new ways. Of cause there would be new materials required to get to an acceptable end point. I think this is one of those constrains that offer a rich field for exploration and they end results never really known until they are reached. As I said, this requires a brave sole to go on such a journey and one keen to achieve a sustainable design.

Why would you do this?, I here you ask. There are a couple of reasons for this, first, some of the best designs come out of having some strange or odd constraints and the answers to these constraints require exploration to find the solution. Secondly, it adds layers of the past representing itself in a new way. A layer of richness that can only be gained from the time and the meaning that we place on objects over time. This can redefine the old, but also inform the new in a way that can not be gained from a blank canvas approach.

What are your thoughts on this type of approach? or do you prefer the shiny white boxes?

HACK architecture Now Nesting in the Roost

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This is just a quick update to let you know that you can now find HACK architecture nesting in the Roost Creative. What is the Roost Creative I here you say? For those of your not familiar with it, it is a project as part of Renew Newcastle.
OK, lets start here with Renew Newcastle. This is an initiative to regenerate the CBD area of Newcastle. Since the departure of BHP from Newcastle the CBD has been in constant decline. Empty unused retail and office space all over the city. This is not desirable for the Landlords, the City Council or other businesses that remain open, in fact this is not of benefit of anyone other then a potential Vandal. What renew Newcastle seeks to do is create projects that inhabit these spaces till a permanent tenant is found. They put together short term lease arrangement that are low cost to allow the emerging talent (enter HACK architecture here), artist and new businesses to get the space they need to get start. One possible upside to this is of cause is they grow take up a permanent lease. The biggest side effect is that it creates a rich and vibrant place to come and attract more people to the CBD, halting the decline and ultimately generation new commercial activity and move the CBD into it’s next phase of life. One which I am looking forward to, as I think it will be exciting, rich and diverse future beyond the current slow down.
So, the Roost Creative is just one of these project. It is essentially a shared work space for the likes of graphic designers, film and media artists, architects and the like. If you are interested to learn more check it out here. In coming weeks we will further explore this idea of the city and the renewal process. It is not a new idea, but a very current one as we face the issues creating sustainable cities. What are your thoughts on this?

Find Us @

The Roost
Level 1, 152-160 Hunter St
Newcastle NSW 2300

m. 0404935276
e. hello@hackarchitecture.com.au

Nominated Architect:
David Kidston NSW 8732

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