Kerstin Thompson
@kerstinthompson.bsky.social
Founding Principal_Kerstin Thompson Architects; 2023AIA Gold Medallist; AM; Adjunct Prof of Architecture RMIT & Monash Universities. Melbourne, Australia.
Architecture, Landscape, Ecology, Cities.
projects @kerstin_thompson_architects & @more_kta on IG
Architecture, Landscape, Ecology, Cities.
projects @kerstin_thompson_architects & @more_kta on IG
“I hit the deadline and I couldn’t spend any longer fucking things up” _ Brian Eno
October 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM
“I hit the deadline and I couldn’t spend any longer fucking things up” _ Brian Eno
Essential read on D&C.
“How can any architect in their right mind claim to know what’s been installed on a building when others routinely change specification without regard to the documentation setting out what needs to be done?”
@russellcurtis
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
“How can any architect in their right mind claim to know what’s been installed on a building when others routinely change specification without regard to the documentation setting out what needs to be done?”
@russellcurtis
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
The Grenfell inquiry missed the elephant in the room: design and build
The Grenfell report fails to grasp the wider lessons of this tragedy by ignoring the warped procurement culture that encouraged so many awful decisions, argues Russell Curtis
www.architectsjournal.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Essential read on D&C.
“How can any architect in their right mind claim to know what’s been installed on a building when others routinely change specification without regard to the documentation setting out what needs to be done?”
@russellcurtis
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
“How can any architect in their right mind claim to know what’s been installed on a building when others routinely change specification without regard to the documentation setting out what needs to be done?”
@russellcurtis
www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion...
“You give space to the listener - he can go inside and live there.”
Beautiful observation by Bjork during her interview of Arvo Pärt in 1997.
#arvopärt
Beautiful observation by Bjork during her interview of Arvo Pärt in 1997.
#arvopärt
September 13, 2025 at 8:41 AM
“You give space to the listener - he can go inside and live there.”
Beautiful observation by Bjork during her interview of Arvo Pärt in 1997.
#arvopärt
Beautiful observation by Bjork during her interview of Arvo Pärt in 1997.
#arvopärt
Can’t understand why the Australian Parliament begins each term with a church service. How is this appropriate for the multicultural community it supposedly represents?
July 21, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Can’t understand why the Australian Parliament begins each term with a church service. How is this appropriate for the multicultural community it supposedly represents?
Never enough women’s toilets. Meanwhile men’s empty…the sooner we go all gender the better. #melbourneairport #allgendertoilets
July 13, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Never enough women’s toilets. Meanwhile men’s empty…the sooner we go all gender the better. #melbourneairport #allgendertoilets
On close reading…
“As you read, a line might hit you. You feel struck. You pause. Here’s where close reading happens. Hold up. Linger with that line. Read it again, a few more times. What gives it its force here in its immediate moment? Work out its power.”
defector.com/close-readin...
“As you read, a line might hit you. You feel struck. You pause. Here’s where close reading happens. Hold up. Linger with that line. Read it again, a few more times. What gives it its force here in its immediate moment? Work out its power.”
defector.com/close-readin...
Close Reading Is For Everyone | Defector
In Sigrid Nunez’s 2018 novel The Friend, a famous writer kills himself. Not long before, he complains to the narrator about readers: “People talking about a book as if it were just another thing, like...
defector.com
May 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
On close reading…
“As you read, a line might hit you. You feel struck. You pause. Here’s where close reading happens. Hold up. Linger with that line. Read it again, a few more times. What gives it its force here in its immediate moment? Work out its power.”
defector.com/close-readin...
“As you read, a line might hit you. You feel struck. You pause. Here’s where close reading happens. Hold up. Linger with that line. Read it again, a few more times. What gives it its force here in its immediate moment? Work out its power.”
defector.com/close-readin...
Sharp & needed perspective by author #richardflanagan on unexpected outcome thrown up Aust Federal election.
Through a combo of LNP disfunction, complexities of preferential voting…& luck, Labor finds itself with oh so comfy majority. 1/3 of nation who voted otherwise 1/10 seats
Through a combo of LNP disfunction, complexities of preferential voting…& luck, Labor finds itself with oh so comfy majority. 1/3 of nation who voted otherwise 1/10 seats
May 14, 2025 at 12:43 AM
May 12, 2025 at 9:23 PM
“If Melbourne’s middle suburbs – those between two and 20 kilometres from the CBD – were as dense as those of Toronto, that increase in density alone could accommodate all of the 800,000 extra homes the state government plans to build over the next decade.”
theconversation.com/victorias-pl...
theconversation.com/victorias-pl...
Victoria’s planning reforms could help solve the housing crisis. But they are under threat
Councils have made it hard to build more townhouses and apartments in the suburbs. That’s why these planning reforms are needed.
theconversation.com
May 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
“If Melbourne’s middle suburbs – those between two and 20 kilometres from the CBD – were as dense as those of Toronto, that increase in density alone could accommodate all of the 800,000 extra homes the state government plans to build over the next decade.”
theconversation.com/victorias-pl...
theconversation.com/victorias-pl...
‘The lost art of neighboring’
Savannah Fishel discussing intergenerational & communal living on #lifematters @abcnewsbot.bsky.social
Savannah Fishel discussing intergenerational & communal living on #lifematters @abcnewsbot.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
‘The lost art of neighboring’
Savannah Fishel discussing intergenerational & communal living on #lifematters @abcnewsbot.bsky.social
Savannah Fishel discussing intergenerational & communal living on #lifematters @abcnewsbot.bsky.social
‘Listening to the student voice to learn about thriving in vertic(all) schools’
What a great workshop full of insights - & videos - from an impressive range of students & principals too.
Hosted by Prof Jill Willis
&
Dr Jenna Gillett-Swan
#LEAConference
#2025Odyssey
#LEA
What a great workshop full of insights - & videos - from an impressive range of students & principals too.
Hosted by Prof Jill Willis
&
Dr Jenna Gillett-Swan
#LEAConference
#2025Odyssey
#LEA
May 7, 2025 at 7:26 AM
‘Listening to the student voice to learn about thriving in vertic(all) schools’
What a great workshop full of insights - & videos - from an impressive range of students & principals too.
Hosted by Prof Jill Willis
&
Dr Jenna Gillett-Swan
#LEAConference
#2025Odyssey
#LEA
What a great workshop full of insights - & videos - from an impressive range of students & principals too.
Hosted by Prof Jill Willis
&
Dr Jenna Gillett-Swan
#LEAConference
#2025Odyssey
#LEA
April 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
It should be easy to obtain a planning permit for a new house such as this, regardless of heritage overlay. When heritage drives the design of new buildings we risk poor patterns being replicated. Better to thoughtfully reconfigure to reflect today’s living/amenity expectations.
April 27, 2025 at 7:13 AM
It should be easy to obtain a planning permit for a new house such as this, regardless of heritage overlay. When heritage drives the design of new buildings we risk poor patterns being replicated. Better to thoughtfully reconfigure to reflect today’s living/amenity expectations.
Says The Australian.
Love the irony.
Love the irony.
April 13, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Says The Australian.
Love the irony.
Love the irony.
Bandaids rather than wider reform of the major issues facing the nation - climate, housing, inequity etc - apparently enough to retain government because there is no competition.
The serious problem of no serious opposition.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
The serious problem of no serious opposition.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
Voters lose out as Dutton implodes and Albanese coasts
The election is becoming a choice between ‘more of the same’ versus ‘we’ll work it out at some point’, and we all end up losing.
www.thenewdaily.com.au
April 13, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Bandaids rather than wider reform of the major issues facing the nation - climate, housing, inequity etc - apparently enough to retain government because there is no competition.
The serious problem of no serious opposition.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
The serious problem of no serious opposition.
www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politic...
Stupid.
Isn’t the purpose of an Aus standard to set out specifications to help make products/services safe & reliable?
Why then accommodate vehicles that increase injury to pedestrians & cyclists?
Increase applicable tax not space for these beasts that btw kill streets too.
Isn’t the purpose of an Aus standard to set out specifications to help make products/services safe & reliable?
Why then accommodate vehicles that increase injury to pedestrians & cyclists?
Increase applicable tax not space for these beasts that btw kill streets too.
Truely regressive move by Standards Aust to increase both parking spaces & aisle widths to cater for these gross vehicles.
They’ve ignored;
-more tarmac & so urban heat
-less landscape
-bigger excavation, so more truck movements & concrete
-more construction cost
-more technology in vehicles parking
They’ve ignored;
-more tarmac & so urban heat
-less landscape
-bigger excavation, so more truck movements & concrete
-more construction cost
-more technology in vehicles parking
March 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Stupid.
Isn’t the purpose of an Aus standard to set out specifications to help make products/services safe & reliable?
Why then accommodate vehicles that increase injury to pedestrians & cyclists?
Increase applicable tax not space for these beasts that btw kill streets too.
Isn’t the purpose of an Aus standard to set out specifications to help make products/services safe & reliable?
Why then accommodate vehicles that increase injury to pedestrians & cyclists?
Increase applicable tax not space for these beasts that btw kill streets too.
“Tradition is not something that is received as a legacy, but rather something that is built everyday.” - Gae Aulenti
Aulenti’s adaptive re-use projects are more and more pertinent to our everyday.
Eg her masterful transformation of railway station to Musee D’Orsay.
Aulenti’s adaptive re-use projects are more and more pertinent to our everyday.
Eg her masterful transformation of railway station to Musee D’Orsay.
March 10, 2025 at 1:04 AM
“Tradition is not something that is received as a legacy, but rather something that is built everyday.” - Gae Aulenti
Aulenti’s adaptive re-use projects are more and more pertinent to our everyday.
Eg her masterful transformation of railway station to Musee D’Orsay.
Aulenti’s adaptive re-use projects are more and more pertinent to our everyday.
Eg her masterful transformation of railway station to Musee D’Orsay.
House Australia too.
Make Melbourne a City of ‘Yes’. Balance risk & opportunity to ease adaption of existing buildings to house people.
BVN hosted a terrific session last week at MPavilion - #citiesofyes - around just such possibilities.
www.houseeurope.eu/19-join-now
Make Melbourne a City of ‘Yes’. Balance risk & opportunity to ease adaption of existing buildings to house people.
BVN hosted a terrific session last week at MPavilion - #citiesofyes - around just such possibilities.
www.houseeurope.eu/19-join-now
HouseEurope! Join now!
The European Citizens’ Initiative for Renovation.
www.houseeurope.eu
March 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
House Australia too.
Make Melbourne a City of ‘Yes’. Balance risk & opportunity to ease adaption of existing buildings to house people.
BVN hosted a terrific session last week at MPavilion - #citiesofyes - around just such possibilities.
www.houseeurope.eu/19-join-now
Make Melbourne a City of ‘Yes’. Balance risk & opportunity to ease adaption of existing buildings to house people.
BVN hosted a terrific session last week at MPavilion - #citiesofyes - around just such possibilities.
www.houseeurope.eu/19-join-now
Clifton Towers. 1963.
A wedge shaped block of 9 apartments by Architects Lewis Martin and George Porter.
One of several excellent towers along Oriental Parade in Wellington, NZ.
A wedge shaped block of 9 apartments by Architects Lewis Martin and George Porter.
One of several excellent towers along Oriental Parade in Wellington, NZ.
March 9, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Clifton Towers. 1963.
A wedge shaped block of 9 apartments by Architects Lewis Martin and George Porter.
One of several excellent towers along Oriental Parade in Wellington, NZ.
A wedge shaped block of 9 apartments by Architects Lewis Martin and George Porter.
One of several excellent towers along Oriental Parade in Wellington, NZ.
Almost there:
144 new dwellings in North Richmond for Homes Victoria.
Architect designed for high amenity, high performance, safe, secure, accessible & modern public housing.
1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.
We hope it offers a welcome & inclusive homecoming to residents, reflective of this community.
144 new dwellings in North Richmond for Homes Victoria.
Architect designed for high amenity, high performance, safe, secure, accessible & modern public housing.
1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.
We hope it offers a welcome & inclusive homecoming to residents, reflective of this community.
March 1, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Almost there:
144 new dwellings in North Richmond for Homes Victoria.
Architect designed for high amenity, high performance, safe, secure, accessible & modern public housing.
1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.
We hope it offers a welcome & inclusive homecoming to residents, reflective of this community.
144 new dwellings in North Richmond for Homes Victoria.
Architect designed for high amenity, high performance, safe, secure, accessible & modern public housing.
1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.
We hope it offers a welcome & inclusive homecoming to residents, reflective of this community.
Ken Henry on populist governments acting in their, & their constituent’s, self-interest, not in the interest of future prosperity & equality.
“I will state it plainly. Those who believe this nonsense cannot be trusted with the wellbeing of future generations.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“I will state it plainly. Those who believe this nonsense cannot be trusted with the wellbeing of future generations.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘Wilful acts of bastardry’: former Treasury secretary says young Australian workers ‘robbed’ by tax system
Ken Henry made comments at a tax summit in Melbourne, arguing fiscal drag is seeing taxes go up while real incomes fall
www.theguardian.com
February 21, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Ken Henry on populist governments acting in their, & their constituent’s, self-interest, not in the interest of future prosperity & equality.
“I will state it plainly. Those who believe this nonsense cannot be trusted with the wellbeing of future generations.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“I will state it plainly. Those who believe this nonsense cannot be trusted with the wellbeing of future generations.”
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Very good use of balustrade
February 15, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Very good use of balustrade
Eucalyptus cneorifolia, the Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee.
In silhouette such magnificent road tracery.
In silhouette such magnificent road tracery.
February 14, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Eucalyptus cneorifolia, the Kangaroo Island narrow-leaf mallee.
In silhouette such magnificent road tracery.
In silhouette such magnificent road tracery.
“For those of us who run, or have run, a practice, it’s all too familiar…It’s almost shocking how little has changed – the business of architecture, once the frills & flounces are removed, is basically the same.”
Stuart Harrison on Maria Larkin’s Gromboyd book.
architectureau.com/articles/gro...
Stuart Harrison on Maria Larkin’s Gromboyd book.
architectureau.com/articles/gro...
Grounds, Romberg and Boyd: A practice united by ambition yet divided in opinions
Maria Larkins’s book chronicles the story of the famed Australian architectural firm Grounds, Romberg and Boyd – how it worked and didn’t as both a collaboration and a business and then how it famousl...
architectureau.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:04 AM
“For those of us who run, or have run, a practice, it’s all too familiar…It’s almost shocking how little has changed – the business of architecture, once the frills & flounces are removed, is basically the same.”
Stuart Harrison on Maria Larkin’s Gromboyd book.
architectureau.com/articles/gro...
Stuart Harrison on Maria Larkin’s Gromboyd book.
architectureau.com/articles/gro...
