theage.com.au

The following links provide access to a couple of interesting and applicable articles I found on The Age website:

ARCHITECTURE, NOT ART

Published July 7 2004, this article is written by Peter Brook who is the design director of Peddle Thorp Architects in Melbourne. Brook addresses the often unaknowledged factors of design that an architect must balance in order to create 'good' architecture through exemplars including Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena. (Click here for Rod Laver Arena post, dated 11 March 2008).

ZERO BUILDING AND THE SEARCH FOR THE HOLY GRAIL OF GREENNESS

This article, written by Natalie Craig, was featured in The Age on March 26 2008. It deals with the issue of sustainablility in architecture and details the hypothetical proposal put forward by a Melbourne architectural team for a 19-storey office complex that would generate no carbon emissions. This concept provides a solution to a major issue facing current and future generation architects.

ROD LAVER ARENA

In 1985, under an initiative of the Victorian Government, sections of Flinders and Yarra Parks were set aside as an easily accessible, city site for a new Natural Tennis Centre to replace the existing Kooyong Venue. Melbourne-based architectural firm Peddle Thorp Learmonth, headed by design director Peter Brook, were commissioned to the design of a multi-purpose venue for not only tennis, but mass entertainment events including rock concerts, classical performances, super-cross motorbike action, conferences, dinners, and in 2007, the FINA World Swimming Championships which saw a 50 metre temporary pool built on the arena floor.

The construction of Rod Laver Arena was completed in 1987 and features a 16,000 seat centre court with fully-retractable roof. A vital design specification of the roof was that as well as being retractable, it must be reliable, strong and must not rust. Its completed design - an innovative world’s first, is formed by two rolling sections, each spanning the court with arched trusses that give the arena its distinctive image. The roof takes just 20 minutes to open or close, ensuring that tennis can be played despite Melbourne’s often inclement weather, and that the venue can be used throughout the year for concerts, arena spectaculars and other functions. As well as the retractable roof, the arena also features removable seating at the southern end which converts the venue from a continuous seated bowl for sporting events, to a three-sided concert venue.

Over 1 million people visit Melbourne Park every year to play or watch sport, or to attend functions or concerts. The facilities are maintained at world class and world best standards, giving Australian and overseas visitors exciting entertainment options in a safe and comfortable environment.

PLEASE NOTE:
All information and text was supplied, with courtesy, by Melbourne & Olympic Parks (www.mopt.com.au). For further information, please visit Rod Laver Arena at its official website or in the Peddle Thorpe Architects' project gallery.