Cassandra Fahey
{{Short description|Australian architect}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
Cassandra Fahey (born c. 1972){{Cite news| title = More bang for your building| url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/more-bang-for-your-building/2006/04/22/1145344315081.html?page=fullpage| publisher= The Age| date=23 April 2006}} is an Australian architect and interior designer residing in Melbourne. She is Director of the architecture firm "Cassandra Complex". She emerged in the public spotlight in 2000 because of the controversial 'Newman House', located in St Kilda, designed for media and football identity Sam Newman. She is also known for her works on "The Smith Great Aussie Home"{{Cite web|url=https://architectureau.com/articles/eugenia-lims-the-australian-ugliness/|title=Ambassador of taste: Eugenia Lim's The Australian Ugliness|website=ArchitectureAU|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-12-17}} and the BHP Billiton Healesville Sanctuary "Platypusary". Her work has received a number of awards as well as being featured in many local and international publications.{{Cite web|url=https://cassandrafahey.com/awards/|title=Awards|website=Cassandra Fahey|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-17}}
Career
Cassandra completed the Bachelor of Architecture at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in 1998.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0FR5a-Y2yv4C&pg=PT263|title=Next Wave: New Australian Architecture|last=Jackson|first=Davina|date=2007-10-15|publisher=Princeton Architectural Press|isbn=9781568987354|language=en}} During her studies she traveled internationally to produce a documentary on Architects practicing at the turn of the millennium. Among these were Sir Norman Foster, Peter Eisenman, and Jean Nouvel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/22.htm|title=Sam Newman House|website=skhs.org.au|access-date=2018-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415194005/http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/22.htm|archive-date=15 April 2011|url-status=dead}} Whilst in New York she met Richard Serra and was influenced by his sculpture in its original setting in a converted New York City garage. The effect of this can be seen later in the design of her own house, "Chameleon".{{Citation
| last = Amelar
| first = Sarah
| title = Architectural Record
| volume = 193
| issue = 9
| pages = 108–115
|date=September 2005
}}
Back in Melbourne, in her earlier career she received guidance from Tom Kovac and Edmond Corrigan and soon registered her own practice which she named the Cassandra Complex. In 2005{{Cite web|url=http://architecture.rmit.edu.au/projects/pavilions-for-a-new-architecture/|title=PAVILIONS FOR A NEW ARCHITECTURE|website=RMIT Architecture and Urban Design|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-12-17}} Fahey was engaged in a Masters in Contemporary Art at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.
Fahey developed a unique approach to architecture using different styles{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/technology/more-bang-for-your-building-20060423-ge26fo.html|title=More bang for your building|date=2006-04-23|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}} in each of her projects rather than developing a common theme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/beyond-the-box-20060810-gdo4z5.html|title=Beyond the box|last=Crafti|first=Stephen|date=2006-08-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2018-12-17}} Her influences within this "no one way" approach{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/platypusary-healesville-sanctuary-20050823-ge0qn9.html|title=Platypusary, Healesville Sanctuary|date=2005-08-23|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-12-17}} have been "so-called nature", Emily Kame Kngwarreye and the "whole bang lot".{{Cite web|url=https://dynamic.architecture.com.au/gallery/cgi-bin/awardssearch?option=showaward&entryno=20063104|title=BHP Billiton Platypusary – Architecture Gallery – Australian Institute of Architects, The Voice of Australian Architecture|website=dynamic.architecture.com.au|access-date=2018-12-18}}
Notable works
=Sam Newman House=
Fahey was given a completely open brief
{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/reviews/platypusary-healesville-sanctuary/2005/08/22/1124562798944.html|title=The Age|date=23 August 2005|location=Melbourne}}
for the Sam Newman House—named White Noise after Robert Venturis Term 'Billboard Façade'{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTMlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA184|title=Hypersexual City: The Provocation of Soft-Core Urbanism|last=Kalms|first=Nicole|date=2017-03-31|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317028277|language=en}}—in St. Kilda West, Melbourne.
{{cite web
| title = World Press
| date = 13 December 2006| url = http://guerrillaligger.wordpress.com/2006/12/13/pamela-anderson-full-frontal-in-st-kilda/}}
It features Cassandra's 9 m by 8 m façade design comprising patterned glass and contains a Pamela Anderson mural,
{{cite web|url=http://www.skhs.org.au/skhsbuildings/22.htm|title=Saint Kilda History Society|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415194005/http://www.skhs.org.au/SKHSbuildings/22.htm|archivedate=15 April 2011|url-status=dead}} with a garage door opening at her mouth.{{Cite web|url=http://www.walkingmelbourne.com/building702_sam-newman-house.html|title=Sam Newman House – 270 Canterbury Road. ST KILDA [Walking Melbourne Building Information]|website=walkingmelbourne.com}} Post-modernism co-habits seamlessly with minimalism.
It was completed in 2001 and its mural received the Best New Residential Building in the RAIA Victorian Architecture Awards.{{Cite web|url=http://www.milkbarmag.com/2012/03/19/the-sordid-tale-of-sam-and-pam/|title=WhateveThe sordid tale of Sam and Pamr happened to Sam Newman's house? {{!}} Milk Bar|access-date=2018-12-18}} The design of the house's exterior was controversial however, encountering objections and incorrect planning applications.{{Cite web|url=https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/finding/location/vic/14079-pamela-anderson-house-built-for-sam-newman-on-the-market.html|title='Pamela Anderson house' built for Sam Newman on the market|website=propertyobserver.com.au|date=30 October 2011 |access-date=2018-12-18}} It became known as the house that Melburnians love to hate.
=BHP Billiton Platypusary=
File:Platapusary image02.jpegPlatypusary at Healsville sanctuary (also known as BHP Billiton Platypusary) was opened to the public on 12 May 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/ffa40234d9c06a70ca256fff0083d39b|title=Legislation Victoria|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322025632/http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/b0222c68d27626e2ca256c8c001a3d2d/ffa40234d9c06a70ca256fff0083d39b|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Its façade comprises gold panels with inscribed leaf shapes and encloses a ponds of water running like a native creek. The passing of sun over these leaves casts complex shadows and reflections onto the marble ground of the platypusary.
{{cite web
|title = Architecture Awards
|url = http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=20063104}}
The movement of the water through the pools provides different refractions cast upon the gold panels, reiterating the constant connection and reflection. Awelye represents ceremony in aboriginal culture of Australia.
{{cite web
|title=Aboriginal Shop
|url=http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/awelye-1.php
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612143022/http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/awelye-1.php
|archivedate=12 June 2011
}}
=Smith Great Aussie Home=
File:TheSmithGreatAussieHome 01.jpg
The Smith Great Aussie Home was designed for the self-made businessman Darren Smith. The $1.6 million "trophy home"
is located at Black Rock, Melbourne, Victoria.Cassandra Complex, [http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2007030209 The Smith Great Aussie Home], The RAIA Award for Residential Architecture – Houses, Architecture.com.au, 2010
=New Gold Mountain Bar=
Designed by Fahey in 2003, New Gold Mountain is a bar located in Melbourne's CBD.{{Cite web|url=http://www.peterbennetts.com/project/view/project/new-gold-mountain|title=New Gold Mountain {{!}} Architecture/interiors {{!}} Peter Bennetts Architectural Photographer|website=www.peterbennetts.com|access-date=2018-12-18}} Fahey's concept surrounds an old tailors studio on the outskirts of the city's Chinatown district with a space replicating the unique theme of an opium den. Distorted images of opium smokers form repeated patterns, wallpapering the walls and soft furnishings. Upstairs tantric red wallpaper and sectioned caverns create a strong mood for conversation and company. There are glistening beads, pink opium moments and multi coloured skirts hanging from the ceiling.
File:NGM 000059.jpg, Australia in 2003]]
=Other notable works=
Husk Boutique,{{Cite web|url=https://dynamic.architecture.com.au/gallery/cgi-bin/awardssearch?option=showaward&entryno=20063103|title=Husk Collins Street – Architecture Gallery – Australian Institute of Architects, The Voice of Australian Architecture|website=dynamic.architecture.com.au|access-date=2018-12-18}} Melbourne, CBD
Crowning Glory,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcqRDgAAQBAJ&q=cassandra+fahey%2C+Crowning+Glory&pg=PT218|title=Hypersexual City: The Provocation of Soft-Core Urbanism|last=Kalms|first=Nicole|date=2017-03-31|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317028260|language=en}} Monash Museum of Art
Chameleon warehouse conversion,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/569705421585434785/|title="Chameleon", by Cassandra Fahey for a warehouse conversion in Melbourne {{!}} Glass {{!}} Pinterest {{!}} Glass, Warehouse conversion and Warehouse|website=Pinterest|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}} North Melbourne
A bathroom for Jonathan Mills
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Russell Street, Melbourne
Breamlea House
Menorah House,{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/wild-and-wonderful-dwellings-20090613-gdtl3v.html|title=Wild and wonderful dwellings|last=Adams|first=David|date=2009-06-13|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2018-12-18}} Hawthorn (unbuilt)
Awards
- 2007 Bulletin Smart 100 – Best Australian Designer 2007{{Cite journal|url = http://www.simoneleamon.com/smart-100-australias-best-and-brightest/|title = 100 Australia's Best and Brightest|date = 26 June 2007|journal = The Bulletin}}
- 2007 Marion Mahony Interior Architecture Award – New Gold Mountain, Melbourne{{Cite web|url = http://www.raia.com.au/i-cms?page=9699|title = 2007 Victorian Architecture Awards: Award Winner List|website = Australian Institute of Architects}}
- 2007 Residential Architecture – Houses Award – The Smith Great Aussie Home, Blackrock
- 2007 Interior Commendation – National Award – The Smith Great Aussie Home, Blackrock{{Cite web|url = http://www.architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/national-architecture-awards---national-office/national-architecture-awards-%281981---2013%29.pdf?sfvrsn=0|title = AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 1981 – 2013|publisher = Australian Institute of Architects}}
- 2006 Institutional Architecture Award – BHP Billiton Platypussary, Victoria
- 2006 Commercial Architecture Award – HUSK Collins Street, Melbourne
- 2006 Dulux Color Awards – Chameleon (Warehouse conversion), North Melbourne
- 2004 Residential Architecture Award – Chameleon, North Melbourne
- 2004 The Interior Award – National Award – Chameleon, North Melbourne
- 2004 IDA Interior Design Awards – Chameleon, Refurbished Residential Interior
- 2003 Residential Architecture Award – Sam Newman House, St. Kilda
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190106022815/http://www.cassandracomplex.com.au/ Cassandra Complex] (broken link)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150325190810/http://architecture.rmit.edu.au/About/Alumni_Profiles.php RMIT Architecture -] {{failed verification|date=May 2013}}
- [http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200711&article=18&typeon=2 ]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110410081010/http://www.msd.unimelb.edu.au/events/and-lectures/archives/2004/fahey.html AND Lectures : MSD Events : Melbourne School of Design : University of Melbourne]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101218082942/http://www.thecolour.com.au/tag/cassandra-fahey/ Cassandra Fahey | The Colour]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fahey, Cassandra}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Australian women architects
Category:Architects from Melbourne
Category:RMIT University alumni
Category:20th-century Australian architects
Category:21st-century Australian architects
Category:20th-century Australian women