One of the delights to lift the clouds during last year was the publication of a new book from Cameron Bruhn entitled MMXX (Roman numerals for 2020). The book is big, bold and beautiful with full-page glossy images, plans and large-font text.

With a foreword from Professor Leon van Schaik and 10 essays by prominent practitioners, academics and curators, it’s then on to the almost 60 projects from Australian architectural practices from 2000 to 2019. Here we have the chance to explore some of Australia’s most interesting buildings of this time and discover the breadth of talent that is our national architectural community.

Yagan Square, Perth by Lyons with iredale pedersen hook architects and ASPECT Studios. Photo by Dianna Snape.

The size of the book is near A3 and so it will take up the lion’s share of the coffee table top but MMXX draws the reader into the ‘world of Bruhn’ as we enjoy his reflections of architecture over this two-decade span. Is it definitive? Almost, and it’s a wonderful place to view a slice of what Australian architecture is all about in all its various manifestations.

There is also an injection of humour to the layout of the projects; little facts that make one pause and ponder. Each project has been given a number; whether that is the number of shearers on a property – one (Deep Water Woolshed); the number of residents of a building – 138 (Casba) or the number of babies born – 1544 (Bendigo Hospital) and so on. These add lightness to the text and establish a human connection to each of the projects by delving into how people actually use, reside in and relate to the buildings they inhabit.

This is a wonderful book and Bruhn should be rightfully proud. The soft cover presentation is an eye catcher and the premise of the book engaging. However it is the images and words that draw the reader to explore and devour each page and then to savour what is uniquely our own, the powerhouse that is Australian architecture.

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