Monday 1 July 2013

What is the collective noun for many caravans?

How do you describe a group of caravans? Is it a troop of caravans? A fleet of caravans? An armada of caravans? A caravan of caravans?

Well, whatever it is I saw a lot of caravans in the middle of suburbia on Saturday night for the Modernist Architecture and Design weekend. Each year (read about last year's here) the Australian Modern publishers, Chris and Susan, host a fun weekend of modernist architectural talks, films and entertainment. MAD!

This year didn't disappoint and the events were full to capacity. When we arrived we were treated to the sight of about eight vintage caravans parked in and around the mid-century homes in Carina. The theme was cool caravans and cocktails.

Some of the caravans (that travelled from as far as NSW) had actors inside doing a series of readings on topics like drive-in movies, the Mix-master and the typical caravan holiday. It was such a delight to sit in the caravans with lots of different people!

The lovely independent publishers of Vintage Caravan Magazine also provided each guest a copy of their mag. Yay!

Modernism and vintage caravans



After cocktails and dinner, we all congregated inside to watch architect Bud Brannigan's slide show presentation about a sympathetic renovation he worked on in St Lucia during the 1990s. The small mid-century home had been designed in the 50s/60s by renowned Brisbane architect Dr Karl Langer

Bud took us on this thoroughly engaging journey of the complete renovation design process. We learnt a little about the original owners who built the home, the sub-tropical designs Karl Langer and landscape architect Arne Fink collaborated on and about the new owners' dilemma of needing more space for a young family. 

The renovation was a fabulous success story with the owners being happy with the end result. And we, as the audience, were feeling all warm and fuzzy...until the last slide when Bud revealed the renovated home was sold a few years later and the new owners demolished the building to construct a project home. 

The full house screamed in collective horror, 'Nooooooo!" 

Such is life.
image from here
The next speaker was Scott MacArthur one of the principal Heritage Architects who worked on the mammoth three year renovation of Brisbane City Hall which was built between 1920 and 1930. What a privilege it was to hear him speak and to view his photographs of the restoration project. Again, it was another engaging talk and although not strictly modernist in nature, it provided an insight into the painstaking job of restoring the heritage listed building. 

I haven't seen the refurbished City Hall yet but I am now going to pay a special trip to see it. The new work looked stunning in Scott's photographs.

image from here
It is always such fun these MAD weekends. In my next post, I'll show you the photos from the interiors house tour that was held yesterday. And if you are keen to know more about the MAD weekends, drop Chris from Australian Modern an email and he can put you on the subscriber list for next year. 

14 comments:

  1. Sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable evening. I too yelled out "noooo" while I was reading that part about BB's slide presentation. How sad :( xx

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    1. It was like he announced a death! We were crushed. :(

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  2. Goodness, how devastating for an architect to see their work bulldozed for something likely to be very generic and of the McMansion ilk. I'm sure you are all still having nightmares. For me the sight of that "parade"of caravans would be the highlight of the night. Those curved edges. Sigh. mel x

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    1. I guess they would get used to it and maybe some are good archivists for that reason. And parade is a good one! xx

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  3. Wanted to say days ago but have been too frantic to comment, that I have the little green Figgjo two cup jug that is looking for a home and would love you to have it. My mum has the entire dinner set of the blue Lottie and that is what i grew up eating off. If you would like it just pop me an email. mel x

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    1. Oh yes! I didn't have to think twice. I'll send you an email. Thanks Mel! xx

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  4. The caravans (which we call travel trailers) are delightful. It seems like demolition of great architecture is a common theme these days on several of our blogs. I'm still following with disgust and dismay the demolition of a beautiful house here in Fort Worth.

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    1. It's sad, isn't it...and usually the substitute is never as good as the original. I think I read about that Fort Worth one...:( xx

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    1. It is but I guess it happens all the time. :(

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  6. Dreadful story. I couldn't imagine what it'd feel like to see a house one had designed and built demolished. Greed, I suppose.

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    1. I can't imagine knocking any house down which is structurally sound...and is the reason why I won't be rich!

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  7. It's always sad to see buildings demolished that have history, but it can be a hard call to decide what should be saved and what should go... My pet peeve is sub-division of blocks with Queenslanders on them - taking a perfectly placed house a a good sized block for raising a family, and creating a 'McMansion like' experience with two meters of land all around each house :o(

    On the caravan side when we were in the USA we saw a big revival on restoring and renovating those old curved 'bullet like' aluminium caravans. One show even restored one as a poolside entertaining area where the entire side of the caravan opened up - it was amazing!!

    Finally, it will be really interesting to see City Hall's renovation (and money well spent regardless of cost I might add). I was lucky enough to attend a ball a few years ago for 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment's 140th Birthday celebrations, and the hall was an amazing place to visit then. Hopefully you can post some pics when all is said and done.

    Cheers, Col

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    1. I agree it is a hard call...and some mid century homes were built after Queenslander homes were demolished on sites...

      And yes the demise of the back yard is a shame - our society is really changing.

      I have great memories of city hall too. It's just one of those buildings that impresses. Will do a post on it soon. x

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