Angelo Korsanos
@akorsyd.bsky.social
Father to 2; Lesser Half to 1; Architect; Lecturer of Practice in Architecture; Student of Guitar; Casual Cyclist; Believer in Housing Equity, Urbanity, Music and Karma (do good, or suffer!)
also: www.redshiftaa.com.au
also: www.redshiftaa.com.au
Pinned
Angelo Korsanos
@akorsyd.bsky.social
· Dec 9
For those new [or old] to my work, trying to figure out whether to follow, here is a thread 🧵 of articles (with the associated questions answered); connecting the dots in a bigger picture for greater housing diversity and equity in Sydney, and the associated strategies surrounding scale & location.
“Australian households spend twice as much of income on mortgages than five years ago, report shows”.
The only answer towards flattening the cost of dwellings ownership - highlighted by the graph below - is increased housing diversity; alternatives to houses. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The only answer towards flattening the cost of dwellings ownership - highlighted by the graph below - is increased housing diversity; alternatives to houses. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
“Australian households spend twice as much of income on mortgages than five years ago, report shows”.
The only answer towards flattening the cost of dwellings ownership - highlighted by the graph below - is increased housing diversity; alternatives to houses. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The only answer towards flattening the cost of dwellings ownership - highlighted by the graph below - is increased housing diversity; alternatives to houses. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Economics 101 from a cartoonist!
A brilliant one nonetheless.
And yet…. we repeatedly apply these strategies to making housing more affordable! 🤯
NOT REAL SOLUTIONS!
A brilliant one nonetheless.
And yet…. we repeatedly apply these strategies to making housing more affordable! 🤯
NOT REAL SOLUTIONS!
October 2, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Economics 101 from a cartoonist!
A brilliant one nonetheless.
And yet…. we repeatedly apply these strategies to making housing more affordable! 🤯
NOT REAL SOLUTIONS!
A brilliant one nonetheless.
And yet…. we repeatedly apply these strategies to making housing more affordable! 🤯
NOT REAL SOLUTIONS!
Interesting analogy to our current housing predicament.
So what should be the new (more sustainable) rules of the game?
So what should be the new (more sustainable) rules of the game?
September 30, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Interesting analogy to our current housing predicament.
So what should be the new (more sustainable) rules of the game?
So what should be the new (more sustainable) rules of the game?
I stand with the em dash! Can’t live (or write) without it! Too valuable for connecting and elucidating ideas.
My petty gripe: not only am I losing my livelihood to AI – now it’s stealing my em dashes too
The humble em dash is being used as a tell that something is written by a large language model. But it’s James Shackell’s favourite piece of punctuation, and he’s not ready to lose it
www.theguardian.com
September 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I stand with the em dash! Can’t live (or write) without it! Too valuable for connecting and elucidating ideas.
Must admit, that I didn’t think this building would eventuate. Promising to see greater use of timber structure as a meaningful strategy towards mitigating carbon emissions. But we’ve got a long way to go towards broad application and anything close to zero in construction.
September 29, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Must admit, that I didn’t think this building would eventuate. Promising to see greater use of timber structure as a meaningful strategy towards mitigating carbon emissions. But we’ve got a long way to go towards broad application and anything close to zero in construction.
An outline of a more democratic web from the person that gifted it to the world:
Why I gave the world wide web away for free | Tim Berners-Lee
My vision was based on sharing, not exploitation – and here’s why it’s still worth fighting for
www.theguardian.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
An outline of a more democratic web from the person that gifted it to the world:
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the effectiveness of the NSW Low to Mid-rise (LMR) planning reforms and NSW Housing Pattern Book.
These reforms have been touted as the ‘the most ambitious planning reform in decades’, but does the potential add up to the hype?
You be the judge!
These reforms have been touted as the ‘the most ambitious planning reform in decades’, but does the potential add up to the hype?
You be the judge!
Testing the capacity of the NSW LMR and Pattern Book Initiatives — Redshift AA - Architecture + Advocacy
The NSW Low to Mid-rise reforms (LMR) have been referred to as the most ambitious planning reforms in NSW in decades. But does the policy reflect the ambition? And, do the more recent and compliment...
www.redshiftaa.com.au
September 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the effectiveness of the NSW Low to Mid-rise (LMR) planning reforms and NSW Housing Pattern Book.
These reforms have been touted as the ‘the most ambitious planning reform in decades’, but does the potential add up to the hype?
You be the judge!
These reforms have been touted as the ‘the most ambitious planning reform in decades’, but does the potential add up to the hype?
You be the judge!
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
Shock. Developers will build where they can maximise profits. The Minns plan will not, repeat not, deliver affordable housing. www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
‘Focus on the north shore and east’: Developers deserting western suburbs
One developer used to build in Liverpool but its newest acquisitions are in Northbridge and Rose Bay.
www.smh.com.au
August 24, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Shock. Developers will build where they can maximise profits. The Minns plan will not, repeat not, deliver affordable housing. www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
Developers cant get their feasibility to stack up in parts if Sydney - if only there was a large entity who could exploit economies of scale, build innovative construction industries and deliver public housing to fill the gap…🤔
‘Focus on the north shore and east’: Developers deserting western suburbs
One developer used to build in Liverpool but its newest acquisitions are in Northbridge and Rose Bay.
www.smh.com.au
August 24, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Developers cant get their feasibility to stack up in parts if Sydney - if only there was a large entity who could exploit economies of scale, build innovative construction industries and deliver public housing to fill the gap…🤔
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
Quick audit of public land & public housing in Sydney - some wins, but so many more possible, too many opportunities lost
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
More than two-thirds of NSW public land suitable for housing sold to private developers
Exclusive: Despite Labor policy to prioritise government land for public housing, Homes NSW has bought just three of 55 sites and expressed interest in further seven
www.theguardian.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Quick audit of public land & public housing in Sydney - some wins, but so many more possible, too many opportunities lost
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
This does not mean there are not still bad housing policy ideas out there that should be challenged. But getting better housing policy is not as simple as overturning a particular ‘dominant view’ - if anything, it’s more about educating and compromising.
August 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
This does not mean there are not still bad housing policy ideas out there that should be challenged. But getting better housing policy is not as simple as overturning a particular ‘dominant view’ - if anything, it’s more about educating and compromising.
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
unit diversity of the kalkbreite initiative cooperative in zuerich sure is wildly different than anything in the US
97 homes - and vast majority are not studios or 1-bedrooms. family-sized homes... cluster apartments. abundant flex space. even a hotel
97 homes - and vast majority are not studios or 1-bedrooms. family-sized homes... cluster apartments. abundant flex space. even a hotel
August 13, 2025 at 7:15 AM
unit diversity of the kalkbreite initiative cooperative in zuerich sure is wildly different than anything in the US
97 homes - and vast majority are not studios or 1-bedrooms. family-sized homes... cluster apartments. abundant flex space. even a hotel
97 homes - and vast majority are not studios or 1-bedrooms. family-sized homes... cluster apartments. abundant flex space. even a hotel
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
I think basically if the federal government doesn’t fund analyses of it the answer is “yeah nobody does their job.”
We went through this with zoning, and now we're going through it with building code: trillion dollar industries depend on these things, yet a bunch of precocious bloggers can swoop in and expose these institutions as full of pseudoscience. Does nobody do their job? @aarmlovi.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I think basically if the federal government doesn’t fund analyses of it the answer is “yeah nobody does their job.”
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
It was great chatting to @ginarush.bsky.social for today’s ABC Long Read. Our little ragtag crew at @greaterbrisbane.org have been trying to spin a new story about how our city could work. More than Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane’s been fixated on a suburban lifestyle that’s not sustainable anymore.
YIMBYs vs NIMBYs in the battle for your backyard
The Yes In My Backyard movement is lobbying for denser cities and more housing in places people want to work and live and YIMBYs want these homes built yesterday. But the NIMBYs haven't given up yet.
www.abc.net.au
July 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
It was great chatting to @ginarush.bsky.social for today’s ABC Long Read. Our little ragtag crew at @greaterbrisbane.org have been trying to spin a new story about how our city could work. More than Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane’s been fixated on a suburban lifestyle that’s not sustainable anymore.
Planners here in Australia also fail to understand (or implement) this fundamental principle.
Height and smaller side setbacks gives you consolidated landscape.
Conversely;
Restrict height (for the same FSR) and you get fat dark buildings on lots where there is little or no space for landscape.
Height and smaller side setbacks gives you consolidated landscape.
Conversely;
Restrict height (for the same FSR) and you get fat dark buildings on lots where there is little or no space for landscape.
America’s aversion to buildings taller than ~three stories and love of side setbacks significantly degrades our urban neighborhoods by forcing small apartment buildings to cover most of their lots, leaving little room left for green space.
July 31, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Planners here in Australia also fail to understand (or implement) this fundamental principle.
Height and smaller side setbacks gives you consolidated landscape.
Conversely;
Restrict height (for the same FSR) and you get fat dark buildings on lots where there is little or no space for landscape.
Height and smaller side setbacks gives you consolidated landscape.
Conversely;
Restrict height (for the same FSR) and you get fat dark buildings on lots where there is little or no space for landscape.
With interest rates easing it seems we (or at least Brisbane) are reverting to our usual ways; ‘Sprawl or nothing’ (except TOD). And (in the case of Brisbane) the state government has eased its control over local council (Nimbyism).
When will we learn?
When will we learn?
Sprawl or nothing: medium density advocates despair as Brisbane swings back to urban expansion
Queensland has tightly restricted the construction of townhouses and apartments for decades, and that’s the way it seems set to stay
www.theguardian.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:23 PM
With interest rates easing it seems we (or at least Brisbane) are reverting to our usual ways; ‘Sprawl or nothing’ (except TOD). And (in the case of Brisbane) the state government has eased its control over local council (Nimbyism).
When will we learn?
When will we learn?
Reposted by Angelo Korsanos
This is bonkers. I moved to Vienna from the UK in January to a district that is entirely new-build. Within a 5 minute walk of my front door there are 4 supermarkets, a chemist, a doctor, 6 playgrounds, a park, a tram stop and at least 3 schools. Why is it so outlandish to expect the same in Britain?
July 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This is bonkers. I moved to Vienna from the UK in January to a district that is entirely new-build. Within a 5 minute walk of my front door there are 4 supermarkets, a chemist, a doctor, 6 playgrounds, a park, a tram stop and at least 3 schools. Why is it so outlandish to expect the same in Britain?
July 25, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Ok… it’s seemingly official.
At 55 years of age, I am old!
🤯
At 55 years of age, I am old!
🤯
Australian employers view their older workforce with contempt. They need to understand 70s are the new 50s
A survey by the Australian HR Institute and the Australian Human Rights Commission found that nearly one-quarter of employers classify over-50s as ‘old’
www.theguardian.com
July 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Ok… it’s seemingly official.
At 55 years of age, I am old!
🤯
At 55 years of age, I am old!
🤯
An interesting overview of the issues surrounding permissibility of the NSW Pattern Book solutions. Suggests that Torrens Title is permissible as complying development.
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Pattern Book Developments and CDCs | Lindsay Taylor Lawyers
From 30 July 2025 a range of residential development will be able to be carried out as complying development, with a complying development certificate (CDC) to be issued within 10 days, if the develop...
www.lindsaytaylorlawyers.com.au
July 21, 2025 at 1:36 AM
An interesting overview of the issues surrounding permissibility of the NSW Pattern Book solutions. Suggests that Torrens Title is permissible as complying development.
1/2
1/2
The prominent economist Ken Henry spelling out the need to work within our environmental and biological constraints, and how that it the productive choice.
Protecting the environment has always made economic sense. Now we have proof | Nicki Hutley
The failures of our environmental protection laws mean we are not only failing nature but also undermining productivity – at a huge cost
www.theguardian.com
July 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The prominent economist Ken Henry spelling out the need to work within our environmental and biological constraints, and how that it the productive choice.
This seems unlikely to end well; Replacing (demolishing and rebuilding) social housing already pitifully at small proportions <3% with a mix of community and social housing is a step in the wrong direction. But regrettably governments in Australia have lost the nerve, will and skill to deliver.
‘I come to save the system’: why Melbourne tower residents fear for the future of public housing
Victorian government plan to redevelop 44 estates described as ‘foolish’ and ‘insulting’ by locals at first hearing of parliamentary inquiry
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This seems unlikely to end well; Replacing (demolishing and rebuilding) social housing already pitifully at small proportions <3% with a mix of community and social housing is a step in the wrong direction. But regrettably governments in Australia have lost the nerve, will and skill to deliver.
Developers can choose whether to pay a $12k levy (that already applies) or build ‘roads, parks & schools’ as ‘in-kind’ payment.
What could go wrong?!
What could go wrong?!
Chris Minns to reveal NSW plans to bolster housing construction
‘You can’t build new homes without roads, parks and schools to match, and the community shouldn’t have to wait for them,’ premier says
www.theguardian.com
June 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Developers can choose whether to pay a $12k levy (that already applies) or build ‘roads, parks & schools’ as ‘in-kind’ payment.
What could go wrong?!
What could go wrong?!
Tightening up policy surrounding of the influence of lobbyists to curtail the big and currently undisclosed business interests would certainly help make policy more equitable and sustainable.
Leading players urge Labor to tighten rules for cashed-up political lobbyists
Stronger powers and bigger penalties needed to ‘investigate and punish’ unregistered lobbyists and those who break government’s code of conduct, critics say
www.theguardian.com
June 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Tightening up policy surrounding of the influence of lobbyists to curtail the big and currently undisclosed business interests would certainly help make policy more equitable and sustainable.
Eat your vege’s people!
Well, not quite that simple, but disappointing how tenuous the connections to diet are stated given broader evidence.
Well, not quite that simple, but disappointing how tenuous the connections to diet are stated given broader evidence.
Australia’s bowel cancer rates are world’s highest for under-50s. Scientists wonder if the gut microbiome is to blame
Incidence of bowel cancer is up to three times higher among Australians born in the 1990s compared with the 1950s cohort
www.theguardian.com
May 28, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Eat your vege’s people!
Well, not quite that simple, but disappointing how tenuous the connections to diet are stated given broader evidence.
Well, not quite that simple, but disappointing how tenuous the connections to diet are stated given broader evidence.