Norman Foster is 84 and he Instagrams better than you:
Norman Foster only began to casually upload photos to Instagram in 2017. But don’t be fooled by his short tenure on the social media platform, writes ArchDaily.
What makes his feed more charming, they say, than Bjarke Ingels’, more impressive that Richard Branson’s, is a mix of je ne sais quoi, athletic prowess, and a taste of ‘he’s just like us!’
Foster posts behind-the-scenes images that reflect a full life – of exercising, spending time with family and taking holidays – as well as working.
If we are moving beyond the age of ‘cults of personality’ cultivated by the media, say ArchDaily, “it’s fascinating to see Norman Foster take full advantage of the one-to-one relationship between public figure and the public by openly showing us what he enjoys, treasures, and strives to achieve.”
Norman Foster’s Instagram feed.
Adorable koala drinking fountains help them hydrate:
In Gunnedah, a remote, rural part of Australia, six hours’ drive from Sydney, summer heat waves hit 45°C (113°F). To help local koalas survive the heat and drought, researchers are testing water fountains, writes Fast Company.
Koalas usually get their water from eating leaves, not drinking. But climate change means that the leaves no longer contain enough water. Eucalyptus leaves also can’t be eaten in huge quantities to try to access more moisture, because toxins inside them can make koalas sick.
The University of Sydney researchers tested fountain prototypes in trees, including a complicated platform. The koalas ignored it. But they did drink from a simple bowl – rigged up to automatically refill from a larger tank via a gravity-fed system.
Over the first 12 months of the study, koalas drank from the water stations on 400 visits, often ravenously.
“I have footage of animals drinking for seven, 10 minutes straight. That’s impressive for any animal, let alone one that is not supposed to drink much,” says Valentina Mella, postdoctoral research associate in life and environmental sciences.
The fountains could be useful throughout Australia, say the researchers, with the town of Campbelltown also starting to test water stations. The researchers have published tips for private property owners on how to build fountains of their own.
To celebrate the unveiling of the Piatto Chair at our annual product launch party with AILA NSW in Sydney, Jazz at The Mint, clients were invited to enter this quirky contest. The competition called for teams to incorporate Piatto Chairs into an ‘Awkward Family Photo’ portrait, for a chance to win Piatto Chairs of their very own. Congratulations to the creative crew from Yerrabingin, who delivered the strongest awkward family vibes on the night. Highly commended goes to the entrants below, and the full photo gallery from the event is available for viewing. Please contact marketing@streetfurniture.com if you would like to request a high res file to print and frame for your best room.
Clients from Sydney, Adelaide, California and Texas joined Street Furniture Australia and AILA NSW to celebrate the unveiling of new products on March 14, 2024, with margaritas and live music. Jazz at The Mint is an annual product launch held at The Mint, an iconic site in the heart of the Sydney CBD. It is an elegant affair and a unique opportunity to connect with landscape architects and built environment professionals at a global scale. This year’s party featured the new Linea Planter System and upcoming Piatto Chair, a single-seater hybrid between cafe and robust public space furniture – available now for specifications. The gathering was opened by Uncle Allan Murray, representing the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council, with speeches from: Ben Stockwin, AILA CEO, acknowledged the 10 year relationship with …
The Street Furniture Australia factory, in Regents Park, Western Sydney, is both a manufacturing hub and R&D studio for our Australian-designed and made street furniture products. We run fun and informative group events for customers throughout the year, to share how products are designed, tested and built, and the latest products and projects. This tour is open to design specifiers such as landscape architects and architects, and place custodians including Councils, government agencies, developers and other place managers. Director of Tract Julie Lee said: “It was a great opportunity for our team to look behind the scenes and understand the innovation, research and climate positive outcomes Street Furniture Australia is focusing on. Thank you for having us!” Place Design Group Associate, Liam Isaksen, said: “The factory tour is a fun …
A guide to surveillance in the city: Google sister company Sidewalk Labs has created a system of urban signage that reveals the technologies it is using to track people in public spaces. The signs are intended to be a visual representation of the privacy policies the company is developing to go along with its data collection technology. While the project goes some way to address privacy concerns around data collection, there’s still no way for people to opt out of being tracked in public. The signage is being trialled in Toronto, Canada, but could be taken up in other cities. To find out more about the signage design, purpose and placement, see the article by Fast Company. Image: Sidewalk Labs. Controversial designs for new Notre-Dame spire: The redesign of the …
Risky playgrounds could be better for kids: Studies show that kids develop greater risk detection, creativity, and self-esteem through riskier playgrounds, says Vox in an episode of By Design. Studies have found that risky outdoor play is a key part of children’s health, promoting social interactions, creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. Some communities are even experimenting with “adventure playgrounds,” a format with origins in World War II Denmark, where bomb sites became impromptu playgrounds. Filled with props like nails, hammers, saws, paint, tires, and wood planks, these spaces look more like junkyards than play spaces – and parents are often kept outside the playground while children are chaperoned by staff. Now, that question of keeping children safe versus keeping children engaged is at the heart of a big debate in playground …
Wanted, A New Public Space for Melbourne: The Future Park International Design Competition invites entrants to propose a new signature space for the city’s centre. The contest is organised by AILA and the University of Melbourne, with up to $20,000 in prize money to be allocated. Participants are challenged to think about how parks shape Melbourne’s urban form, and uncover new possibilities. Restricted to a 10km radius from Melbourne’s city centre, designers are asked to present a rationale for the location of the proposed space and consider how their design responds to challenges facing the city in the 21st century, including climate change, growing population, biodiversity and community. University of Melbourne senior lecturer in Landscape Architecture Jillian Walliss says the competition aims to enhance the role of landscape architecture in …
