Gehry in Sydney too

On the occasion of its opening, I posted a lengthy piece about the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at the University of Technology Sydney.  

My emphasis was on the remarkable way in which Gehry adheres to a highly disciplined, almost simplistically rational diagram, while producing wildly innovative sculptural buildings.

The first part of that proposition went down like a lead balloon, in the midst of much bluster by local critics and architects.

Now, looking for something altogether different, I come across a thoughtful article which actually pre-dates my piece, and about which I wish I had known at the time.  The title says it all:
Look past its facade: new UTS business school designed by Gehry from inside-out

Of perhaps greatest interest to me is the claim that the project is 'Australia’s first true 3D-documented building'.  We hear often enough of Gehry's use of Digital Project, the 3D design tool developed by Gehry Technologies as an overlay of the original Catia aircraft design software.  But we rarely have enough of a description of its consequences in how his uniquely complex buildings are tendered and built.

This easily read article adds welcome additional information, images and a video.  It should give anyone who is interested a significant extra understanding to Gerhy's success as arguably the most interesting architect alive.

I am also happy to report that the architectural tourist will be amply rewarded seeking out the building - the University keeps it surprisingly open and accessible.  You can indeed look behind the facade.

Rational Gerhy, rational critics

The paper bag opens

With much brouhaha, in the presence of the celebrated architect, Sydney's one and only Frank Gehry building was opened  this last week. And the opening was accompanied by the same vehement, self-serving misinformation that has been dished up about it during its construction. It's the building that people love to hate, but they are too lazy to really think about.

Typical was the rant by Elizabeth Farrelly, Sydney's resident public intellectual architecture critic. Before I quote her, let me be quite clear: I am really pleased that Farrelly can survive by her writing, and she has every right to a fairly held opinion. I am even more pleased that Gehry's building prompts Sydney people to be interested in architecture, and to debate it. So what does Farrelly have to say?  First ad hominem, attack the man:

"Frank Gehry is the Kim Kardashian of contemporary architecture: all curves, no content."