Houston’s Beer Can House
From 1968 until his death 20 years later, Milkovisch, a retired railroad upholsterer, emptied 50,000+ cans of beer and used the empties to clad...
The Baroque glories of Schloss Eggenberg
Europe has more magnificent castles than you can shake a stick at. Few, however, match the glories of Austria’s Schloss Eggenberg. Apart from...
New Zealand Parliament’s home
The Government of the day was in no hurry to spend money on new accommodation, and it was not until February 1911 that Prime...
A Dinky-Di 75th . . .
The bridging of Sydney Harbour took 117 years. The notion was first voiced in 1815 by convict and architect-about-town Francis Greenway, who designed many...
The simple dignity that is Avebury
Avebury has always affected me deeply. I saw its standing stones first in 1973. It wasn’t their immensity, nor their simple grandeur — rather,...
Dwelling with Gaia
The primary concern here is with so-called earth houses, aka earth berms, as opposed to rammed-earth or earth-sheltered homes. Earth homes are set...
M. Eiffel’s Eyesore
In 1887 Gustave Eiffel got the nod from the Paris authorities to begin construction of his tower. It was intended as no more than...
Australia’s Parliament House turns 25
In 2013, our Aussie neighbours are celebrating more anniversaries than you can poke a stick at. A number of bicentenaries relate to the opening...
Hundertwasser’s heating plant
Hundertwasser is one of few that could convert a garbage-fuelled power plant into a work of art, one that is now a major tourist...
Worcester’s Hive
Dr Kerry Rodgers considers how a splendid appearance does not always match practical usage.
In one of my more sardonic moods...