Asha Tsimeris curates a photo blog about the Northbourne housing precinct which is at the centre of a debate about the value of heritage and the future character of Canberra's gateway.
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TT: Why did you start the blog?
AT: I live near the Northbourne housing precinct and walk past the buildings and through their garden spaces often. I love their uniqueness – the rhythm of their windows, balconies, courtyards and their integration of building and landscape. They still appeal to me as modern after more than 40 years.
When I heard it was proposed to demolish most of them, I felt that I had to do something to try and save them. I am especially motivated as they are often portrayed in a negative way. My photos attempt to capture the beauty I see and show the precinct in a way that people may have not seen it before. I hope to stimulate the public's imagination as to how this precinct could be adaptively reused and sympathetically developed.
I am also trying to connect people with the history of these buildings. The precinct consists of five distinctly different and innovative housing types and is the only known large housing group in Australia that was directly inspired by the teaching of the Bauhaus. It also has an interesting social history. It was designed originally to accommodate the large number of public servants then being transferred to Canberra, and later many immigrants lived there, including Augustin Petersilka, the beloved founder of Gus' Cafe.
Most people I talk to initially are against retaining them. However, I've been pleasantly surprised that, with more consideration, almost everyone comes to appreciate them.
TT: Can we keep the Northbourne housing precinct and increase density?
AT: Yes, Northbourne Avenue needs to increase in density. However, we need variety and smaller buildings too. If we want one of our main avenues to be lively and active, we need to ensure we are focused on its character.
The buildings can be adaptively reused including for cafes and bars, boutique offices and shops etc. Imagine turning some of the paired housing to rooftop bars or the common green space inside the garden flats to be an outdoor eating area. As Canberra becomes denser we need to remember that it is human-scaled spaces that make cities great. Who wants continuous tall apartment towers or in between spaces that are shaded? Who wants to sit outside in winter without any sun?
I imagine this precinct could become as popular as New Acton or Braddon. It would be another unique attraction for the city and being on the light rail line, make a great place to meet for coffee.
TT: The ACT government says it needs to demolish to maximise the sale value of the land. How do you respond to this?
AT: What we need is a developer that can see the potential in the precinct and is willing to adapt it. Look at New Acton as a great example – the Molonglo Group centred their development around the heritage-listed Hotel Acton. Seeing it as an asset, they gave it new life with professional offices, a design hotel and great venues such as A Baker and Parlour Wine Bar. Perhaps even the ACT government could develop the Northbourne housing precinct themselves and therefore capture the full value of its revitalisation.
I am inviting people to write to me their ideas as to what they would like it to be.
For more information, visit northbournehousing.tumblr.com
