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http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/people/staff/grovesd.html
There’s no place like Holmes
Media Release, Thursday 1 September 2005
Architects and students of architecture can learn about their craft from
authors of crime fiction such as Sherlock Holmes’ creator Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, according to a University of Melbourne researcher.
Dr Derham Groves will discuss his new book ‘There's No Place Like
Holmes: Exploring Sense of Place Through Crime Fiction,’ at a public
lecture held by the University’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and
Planning today (1 September).
He says that designers can appreciate the intimate detail with which
Holmes and Watson describe space, as it is this that sticks in a
reader’s mind, and is ultimately useful in a design setting.
“The entire design or architectural process is started by someone
describing a place, and the architect imagining it as a reality before
designing the actual building or structure.
“A builder can build someone a house but to capture the spirit and
meaning of a place, that is what architecture is all about. The central
need in this is an appreciation of space, and, if possible, an
imagination as active as Doyle’s.”
Dr Groves noted that crime fiction authors are experts at describing
place because spatial details often help a reader to solve the mystery,
as well as being central to a good story.
“It is the description of place in these novels from which readers can
garner clues and try to solve the mystery, and unless a certain level of
detail is provided the game of solving the crime is spoiled,” he said.
“Many of the best crime fiction writers were involved with architecture
in some way. Australian writers such as Barry Maitland and Michael
Jorgensen were architects. Mary-Rose MacColl’s detective is an
architect. Even Doyle’s father was an architect.”
“Then there was Arthur Upfield, who used to draw up plans of his
imaginary rooms and buildings before writing about them, so he could
visualise the details of the space.”
Dr Groves’ students also throw themselves into crime fiction to try and
draw out clues for better designing. One exercise involves reading a
Sherlock Holmes story, and then designing a house for the villain in
that story.
“The goal is to have the colourful personality of the villain projected
into the architecture. The design of the building is drawn from the
qualities and character of the resident,” he said.
“Successful designers will invoke the feeling or character of a company
or individual in the space which they are planning.”
What:
Public Lecture: ‘There's No Place Like Holmes: Exploring Sense of Place
Through Crime Fiction,’ part of the Architecture, Building and Planning
Research Seminar Series 2005.
Who:
Dr Derham Groves
Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne.
When:
Thursday 1 September, 1-2pm.
Where:
Japanese Room
1st floor of the Architecture building
University of Melbourne.
cont'd....
http://uninews.unimelb.edu.au/articleid_2706.html
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It's elementary, according to Dr Groves
By Royce Millar
October 6, 2005
Question: Who were the three main characters in Arthur Conan Doyle's
Sherlock Holmes books? Answer: Holmes, Watson, and their living-room at
221B Baker Street. Or at least that is the view of Melbourne University
architecture lecturer and Holmes buff, Dr Derham Groves.
cont'd...
http://www.theage.com.au/news/books/its-elementary-according-to-dr-groves/2005/10/05/1128191779403.html