This Long-neck turtle carapace is the scale of a small shelter. With the minor modification of a hole, it becomes an architectonic device capable of generating ontological insecurity. The central hole allows for a visitors head to protrude, exposing it to the universe at large. The hole also acts to vent the hearth if a fire is lit. As a child I heard of ghastly colonial horseback beheading’s, the victims were indigenous children buried up to their necks in sand. I could not reconcile this brutality with the cosmos of life’s possibilities orbiting my school age mind. Realised at the scale of a large car, I imagine the turtle carapace becoming a spiritual destiny chariot to be piloted by satirical neo- pagan youth theatrically departing a compromised planet. Long-neck is capable of providing dignified refuge to the needy and a practical picnic destination. A nod to the moral responsibilities of public sculpture, and the glorious youth whom spit upon rules.

I campaigned for Greenpeace to save whales in 2006. 3 months later I was director for a permanent Ice sculpture exhibition in Lofoten islands - Norway, we found tonnes of whale meat buried behind 5000tn of Herring. Humpback gunship mythology. “cherry blossom” Formally in military service, was found washed up on the coast of Darwin mid 20th century. Modified to transport woodchips from Tasmania to Japan.

Quite high thus design driven by fall considerations. Easily clogged up with children. Hard to unclog. Children have no agency. Repainted now and I don’t like it as much. The roof pattern is nice.

I call it a white man dragon. Wanted to make a native lizard corpse - roadkill, rotting and wasted glory. But, it ended up a white man dragon. Landscape plan is really nice, worked with Gary Ford and team at Outlines LA. Smart guy. Gary is a really good LA.

My house, designed by my brother Chris Gilbert, an excellent architect, is a wonderful place to live. Chris laughed when I proposed using waste concrete blocks, but the result is remarkable, with locally sourced timber salvaged from a big storm and unique features like a veranda roof that rolls back. The house is actually a caretaker's residence on the site of an old sawmill, which operated when we were kids. When I discovered it, the place was derelict, overrun with thistles. Now, it hosts the first community battery for Indigo Power, providing energy security to the network. The shed includes a 65kW PV system, and we repurpose materials, stealing logs from green waste and making briquettes from sawdust. Featured on Grand Designs (Series 6, Episode 1, 2015), it also won the AIA National Award for Regional Architecture.