Melbourne: a construct of its discourse

Abstract

This research began with an interest in theory and criticism in architecture and its relationship to the built form. The observation was made that if there is a committed effort by the architectural community to discuss and analyse the architectural environment around them a richer built architecture will result. Initial research uncovered a lack of dedication to intellectual architectural discourse in New Zealand. This view was supported by the conspicuous void of written material on theoretical and critical discourse in this country. In the 1990s New Zealand architects and artists have been able to read a number of scholarly art and architecture journals coming out of Melbourne. The production of these journals suggests the existence of a level of commitment to intellectual discourse and the promotion of art and architecture within society. One such journal is Transition; a discourse on architecture. Its first editorial, and the first evidence of an intellectually rich architectural community within Melbourne, influenced the following research. The hypothesis for this study was that a rich architectural discourse leads to good built work. The method undertaken was a study of the architectural community of Melbourne through its written culture; specifically that of Transition. This report hoped to conclude that there is a link between a commitment to intellectual discourse and the production of good built architecture, and from this conclusion influence New Zealand's architectural community into making a commitment to its intellectual discourse. The result from the research was that the method of study was not specific enough to determine whether a rich architectural discourse leads to good built work. The suggestions of this research report is that the architectural qualities of Melbourne are unique and therefore are not transportable. But that further study into Melbourne's built architecture would be beneficial for the understanding of the effects of a commitment to an intellectual discourse. From the study involved in compiling this paper a framework for further research can be constructed to research this hypothesis. This paper hopes that the reader will have attained an initial understanding and an interest in architectural discussion.