The House of Laudanum’s team scripted a story set on the proposed site, then created two one minute videos for the competition. Combining three-dimensional models, live action footage, graphic elements and environmental sound, these videos were a dynamic elaboration of the standard architectural renderings and models.

Many of the architectural team were closely involved with us in all stages of the creation of the videos. Their design process and our own fed back into one another’s work, informing and enhancing the final submissions.

Against a strong field that included multinational developers and world-renowned architects, the second stage of the design competition was won by the Sydney team.

“The winning plan draws on an understanding of the site’s place in Sydney – its physicality, history, scale, program and potential – to propose an authentic new piece of the city.”

– Philip Thalis, Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects.

This ‘tattooed’ chalk head from the Manning Strait in the Solomon Islands represents a Tindalo – the spirit of a dead man who, in his lifetime, possessed great mana or power. It was traditionally placed in a sacred spot associated with the man. The Australian Museum acquired the head in 1911 from Mr Percy Black, a shipping company employee. It is smaller than it looks at 150mm high and 90mm wide.

We took an Eee PC connected to an old Garmin III running Kismet. Lid down. Earpiece pinging. Raining. Shoes with holes. I’m certainly glad the police didn’t tap me on the shoulder. Go rider!

We post-processed the logs in Python to generate Google Earth KML files depicting the coverage. For an old girl the Rocks is certainly rocking to the WiFi.