That's what I'm talking about, Stubbo! And some BIG screens, for the footy.Locate the pub in the middle, and in certain locations surrounding the pub and within the grounds of the beer garden locate a burger bar, yiros bar and a fish and chips bar for the drunk to congregate around, providing alternate focal points.
To lower the discussion to considerations of design, architects etc, in answer to Prince George: I agree that M. Mitterand and his ilque are no role models. I was referring to the 'notability factor' of the constructions. Prince G, you might read an essay by the design critic Kenneth Frampton on what he called 'critical regionalism' - the power of a local culture to express itself above the deluge of US West Coast/smartypants European culture which swamps the western world. In their arrogance and presumption, whatever you like to call it, you could say that the Grande Arche and Pei's pyramid were quintessentially French.
A community which is comfortable with its idea of itself is best placed to express 'critical regionalism'. We use corrugated iron and verandahs, for example, and bluestone etc happily and without apology in our domestic architecture. But we cringe when it comes to what we see as important statements. We want them to be 'world class', but they often end up like a copy of something out of a 1995 copy of Arkitektur - an unexceptional expression of 'contemporary international design'. It's very hard to avoid this sort of cultural cringe, in fact, but I think the best, most memorable work does avoid it. The less we avoid it the harder it becomes to avoid it in the future. Melbourne seems to be doing better at this than we are - they seem more confident about who they are, despite their stupid ads.
An international design competition isn't inconsistent with the idea of critical regionalism. Jorn Utzon's Sydney Opera House, in my opinion, says as much about Australia, Sydney Harbour, etc than anything you could think of. Sometimes a good designer can see the essence locals might miss.
On another point, it's not a good start in urban design to say 'We must do something and we must do it now'. Urban design is expensive stuff and we tend to be stuck with it for a long time.
to ramble on - Adelaide's major problem is in Light's design. For various practical reasons the centre of energy of the new city quickly drifted to the northern edge of the grid, instead of staying around Victoria Square and the grand boulevard of Grote/Wakefield streets, so we're left without a proper civic centre.
As for Rann and Foley, their administration is a pain, but arrogant as they are, they haven't yet reached the heights of pomposity of some French politicians. Only Gough has achieved that in this country, although Malcolm (Fraser) is well on the way.
so it was you who pulled the plug!
