Building frenzy

Adelaide is really caught in a building frenzy at the moment. Corner block after corner block is torn down, the earth scraped clean and re-built shiny new. Everyday it seems a new press release heralds the virtue of living in building A, or B, or C etc. City living is where you can now find the 'Great Australian Dream'. Sky homes, penthouses, New York style lofts, funky Parisian apartments. C'mon lets all move up in the world. But hurry, selling fast, buy yours off the plan today, get with the program, but don't delay.

This is all ok. The city is becoming more cosmopolitan as the young sophisticates stake their claim. But a certain blandness is creeping in. These new, cubist blocks of steel and glass seem well... boring. Not too much to differentiate between them. To me they seem to be lacking in something. Oh, that's it. Originality!

If you have been to the Docklands in Melbourne or stood in Federation Square then you will witness first hand a city that values original expression and embraces unique and compelling design.

In Adelaide our biggest failing is mediocrity.