| About SAW. | |
The
content of our walking tours is historically informed, our context contemporary. If a work
of architecture or art addresses the world in a sustainable way, we
draw attention to it. If it provokes, we take note. Like detectives
gathering evidence in an unfamiliar landscape we tell the
stories and explain the concepts behind the concrete shells,
glass skirts and sandstone facades that define Sydney. |
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Tours we've done in other cities left us cold. You know the kind I mean; cheap suit, little badge, politically correct, pitched to the lowest common denominator, full of the same old facts and figures and driven by the same old tourist sites. But no insight. And they assume you're stupid. The architecture tours are even worse. Dry conversations full of dates, facts and figures like some join the dots. We prefer tours that offer a particular point of view, that look at the city through a particular lens. |
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We are friends and we are architects and designers
and we love cities. Especially this city. We spend much of our spare time roaming the streets, looking
for signs of life – those small pockets of resistance
where a city's inner machinations can be seen volcano-like bubbling
through its crust. |
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| SAW guides are city experts. Our lens is architecture, public art and design. Our urban conversations revolve around the ideas and concepts, the political events, personalities, cultural and social attitudes that pull and push at Sydney like its tides. Through its architecture Sydney's story unfolds. | |
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| SAW is a member of the Guiding Architects Network. We are a group of architects and architectural critics that organise tours across 34 cities around the world. | |
| SAW Guides. | |
EOGHAN. Originally from Adelaide [don't believe what anybody says - its a great place ], Eoghan Lewis created SAW in 2000 between a teaching post at Sydney University and a design practice he runs called Eoghan Lewis Architects. |
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| For him, SAW is an extension of teaching and a chance to ramble on about the things he loves. He reckons cities are society's greatest cultural expression, and a city's architecture is there to be clambered over and talked (walked) about. He tries hard to cultivate a bohemian look [if anyone knows what that is please email us] & is often caught staring out of windows and muttering to himself I wonder what Utzon would do – most embarassing for anyone present. | |
| A couple of his recent projects are published here and there. | |
| HUGO. Hugo Moline loves Sydney for its arrogant wild beauty and the complicated, saggy and broken things below the surface and around the edge. Through his practice Milkcrate Urbanism, Hugo designs and builds little pieces of city: housing cooperatives, adaptable street furniture, hand-made maps, personalised vehicles, suburban games, conversational infrastructure, and so on. Hugo is co-author of the beautiful yellow ductwork periscopes in Skittle Lane. |
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| Hugo enjoys noticing trees growing in brickwork cracks, reading what people write on train seats and watching the rivers of bats at dusk. | |
JOHN. |
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| A couple of years in China (mostly Beijing and Qingdao) fed John's fascination with the metropolis, with the vast possibilities of cities and the people that inhabit them. He likes to explore on foot, allowing the city to unfold gradually as he moves amongst the buildings, streets, sights and smells of a new space. John loves architecture that projects well beyond the property line and helps shape the city. | |
SIMEON. Apart from being an avid architect, designer & urban designer, Simeon King is a cityist. He loves cities and their spaces, especially Sydney's. Simeon worked on the Sydney 2030 plan over recent years and at City Projects leading up to the Olympic Games and knows pretty much everything worth knowing about the city – especially the juicy stuff. He has travelled to cities far and wide – wearing out a couple of pairs of shoes in the process, walking the walk. |
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| Simeon is director of Lifesize and Anagram. in 2009 Eoghan and Simeon were named as two of Sydney's 100 Creative Catalysts by the City of Sydney. "honouring and exposing 100 inspirational and innovative Sydneysiders who have made a unique contribution to the city’s creative culture". | |
| Newspaper & Magazine Reviews. | |
| InDesign Live Walking the Talk with Eoghan Lewis Alice Blackwood | 12 April 2012 |
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a series of "quiet conversations about the city". The language of these narratives is simple and inclusive, but the ideas are rich and resonant.
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Sydney Morning Herald Spokes and Specs |
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a tangential and fascinating tour that explores how ideas, money and history have shaped the city's bricks and mortar.
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Habitus Living SAW Bike Tours |
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fantastic bike tours
taking in some of the city’s most intriguing, often hidden, architectural experiences. |
The Australian Skyscrapers and Secret Gardens |
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It's all about the Sydney Opera House, flaunting itself on the harbour-front like an A-lister. Behind it is a crowd of extras, but there's a conversation happening between Utzon's masterpiece and the city's more vertiginous structures, and it's beautifully decoded
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| Timeout Take a two-wheeled architectural safari and the city will never look the same again Darryn King | August 2011 |
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The conversations around these sites are fascinating, mercifully theory-free and specially catered to the group. It’s the sort of thing that just might change the way you see and appreciate Sydney. |
Sydney Morning Herald Walk on the Tiled Side Kylie Davis | June 6-7, 2009 |
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Lewis fits the stereotype of a passionate student of architecture: thin, wild haired, long elegant hands that emphasise points and an artistic turn of phrase that shows deep thought, strong research and reverence, balanced with humour.
The Sydney Architecture Walks are the urban equivalent of stopping to smell the roses or, rather, stopping to notice the fine detail on the parquetry and run our hands over the terracotta. Artworks, previously invisible aginst the hubbub of the city suddenly come into focus. It has changed how I feel about my adopted hometown - revealed a depth I never thought it had and shown me the link between architecture and cultural expression. |
Cartoville Sydney Florence Lagrange-Leader | January 2009 |
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De géniales "conversations architecturales": un must! |
Sydney Morning Herald Sydney's Best Walking Tours | Lisa Dabscheck | October 27, 2007 |
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If the style is a touch undergrad, the substance is more PhD. Lewis effortlessly compresses two centuries of history, geography, sociology, architecture and art into two hours - while giving the impression he’s simply sharing a few off-the-cuff anecdotes. The result is like taking a stroll in the CBD with a clever friend. Lewis leverages enough intellectual weight and industry asides to satisfy the pointy heads - while giving the design illiterate concepts we can understand. |
The Sun Herald What
Cultural Cringe? Sydney has an Architectural Wonder to Rival the
Best Simon Webster | July 9, 2006 |
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History, politics, philosophy - his quiet, compelling commentary
covers lots of ground featuring heores (Joern Utzon, creator of
the Opera House), and villains (former premier Robert Askin, who
wanted to demolish The Rocks and extend the Cahill Expressway
to Centennial Park, half of which would have turned into carpark) |
The Sydney Morning Herald A Sorbet for the Jaded Urban Palate Elizabeth Farrelly | September 24, 2002 |
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A refreshing exercise for the jaded urban palate is to flip
into foreigner mode and walk our city streets as if they were
exotic. Sydney Architecture Walks (SAW), the brainchild of architects
Eoghan Lewis and Simeon King, is just such a sorbet, offering
a handful of downtown routes. Lewis and King make intelligent,
articulate and energetic guides, offering
insights into architecture's non-visible world of unbuilt designs,
political tensions and historical twists. Here's
a chance to remember how vivid and exciting Sydney can seem. Recommended, three hats [out
of three!]. |
The Australian Every Storey a Picture Kate Hamilton | November 2, 2001 |
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Lewis' passion for the art and life of the city structures
breathes through his language. He describes the buildings in terms
of their energies - the structures are "quiet", "honest",
and they are "clad in a zinc skin" or "glass skirt".
Their designers are poets, mathematicians, magicians. This piece
of urban theatre... a 2 1/2 hour walking narrative taking in the
city's design icons... is perhaps the most innovative of Australia's
architecture tours. |
| Punters. | |
| Architect from Santa Monica | Tripadvisor review | |
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Whether an architect (I am) or an informed lay person (for whom these walks are intended), this is definitely likely to be the most worthwhile few hours and modest fee you could invest during your exploration of Sydney. Don't miss this! |
| Fernando Romero | Founder of the Laboratory Of Architecture | |
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Thank you for all your kindness and for the most magnificent tour I had ever had at the Opera House. |
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Thank you very much for your amazing talk-walk (SAW1 - SYDNEY), Elodie and I are still assimilating the huge information you gave us this morning. Your explanation about the five main ideas of Utzon's work (we expect to hear about the 2 left on Saturday!) have made us think about our designing way... the conscious and the unconscious. |
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The BARCELONA ARCHITECTURE WALKS are inspired by the SYDNEY ARCHITECTURE WALKS, directed by EOGHAN LEWIS, with his narrative intelligence and ironic brilliancy he shows Sydney’s city to ”aesthetes, literati, flaneurs and locals who loves familiar terrain from a different point of view”. |
Alex Popov | Alex Popov & Associates |
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To Eoghan from Alex. Thank you for opening up Utzon to the general public. |
Roland Scheen | Sydney Architet |
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We really enjoyed the bike ride with you a few weeks ago and would recommend it to all who can make it. A nice tour with lots of little known corners of the city, an interesting selection of projects, enjoyed the commentary and the conversations with the other participants. The tour can be enjoyed by architects as well as architecture and urban design enthusiasts and it is a nice bike ride (and quite manageable for those who like me don't ride a bike every day !). |
Michael Zaretsky, Assistant Prof of Architecture, University of Cincinnatti |
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I am writing to thank you for the brilliant time I had on the Utzon walk on Saturday. In my 8 years living in Sydney, the walk was the single most intellectually stimulating, entertaining, and rewarding experience I've had! |
Phil Amos | Sydney |
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Having been on many architecture tours in Australia over the last seven weeks, I can definitively say that you are in a league of your own. You rock! |
Pamela Bennett | Sydney |
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Just wanted to say what a great SAW tour I experienced today – lovely narrative with unexpected and gorgeous insights to my city. Thank you, I’ll be back with my friends. |
Florence Lagrange-Leader | Author of French Cartoville guide book "Sydney" |
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I will never forget the two visits ("SYDNEY", "UTZON") with you, so interesting and thrilling: thankyou so much! The text I wrote on the Opera was inspired by what I learnt with you. |
David Lodder, Lodder Architects | Sydney |
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You covered a tremendous amount today (on the Utzon tour)and on reflection can see you feel deeply about architecture and the origins of cities and buildings. I was particularly intrigued with your comments on the 5 fundamentals that made Utzons method so unique. |
Sumi Natarajan | London |
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Carlo & I were among the privileged few who walked with you (SAW 1) on Wednesday the 13th January 2010. You were, well, how can I put this ? We both liked the way you think - your passion for architecture and Sydney, your enthusiasm, your way of talking, your sense of humour, your patience in answering questions, your love and admiration for Utzon, your amazing way of making others see Sydney and its wonderful buildings through your eyes, your ability to make the buildings come alive - it was like listening to architectural poetry. We couldn't get enough of it and couldn't stop talking about you & SAW. |
David Robertson | Victoria |
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I went on your UTZON Opera House tour in August 2005. I think pound for pound, it was the best tour I have ever been on and I've been on tonnnes. The tour was so comprehensive that it went for around 3 and a bit hours. The coffee afterwards added a really nice touch to the tour. |
Dr.
Yvonne Perczuk | Sydneysider |
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We wanted to congratulate you on the remarkable UTZON architecture
walk we experienced a few weeks ago. As we are both architecture
novices, the walk was an absolute revelation. The guide's enthusiasm
was infectious, his depth of knowledge impressive and his wit
and humour were a bonus. Keep up the truly inspiring work! |
Cathy Benitez | USA |
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Just wanted to thank you for the architectural walk yesterday. As I told you at the close of the walk, I really enjoyed it. I've done some fine arts study and always loved researching artist motivation. Your presentation was inspiring and it's clear that you are passionate about what you do. What a great idea! Everyone in the group seemed fascinated with the information you shared. |
Michael Basso |
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I was on today's SAW02 UTZON walk. I just wanted to write a short note to say how great it was and how much I enjoyed it. The walk was interesting, well-organised and suitably paced. The walk leader was entertaining, extremely well-informed, passionate and a great story teller. I will be recommending the walk to others and look forward to completing the other walks myself. |
Dr Graham Meltzer | Architecture Professor, Queensland University of Technology |
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The guide employed an impressive knowledge and understanding of these projects to speak engagingly and with passion. He was able to capture the spirit of the projects and talk to subtle matters of symbolism and design intent as well as more obvious aspects of technology and construction. |
Michael Rudko | Architecture graduate from Adelaide |
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Thanks again for the walk today (February 2006). I think it was by far the most intense tour I've ever experienced which is great (I would say tour de force but that would be far too cheesy); I feel like I just sat through a whole semester course in Johnson, Utzon and Piano |
Pam
Best |
Perth |
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I'm writing to express my thanks x 10 for the wonderful architecture
tour I did today (October 2005) to the Opera House. I was bowled
over by the depth of knowledge displayed and the passion with
which it was all delivered. It was so good no one seemed to want
to let our young architect go at the end of the tour. |
Rachael
Lee |
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Good
morning. Comments on the architecture walks: SYDNEY was excellent,
HARBOURINGS was fantastic, UTZON was superb! Thanks for a fun
and enlightening time. |
Marilyn
Miller | Melbourne |
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Did the SAW2 UTZON walk today [May 2006] and it was fantastic.
Got out of my sick bed (mostly because I’d prepaid) but
soon forgot about myself as [the guides] passion and vast knowledge
of Utzon’s work was pretty hard to resist. The walking was
not too strenuous, so that was enjoyable too. I flew back to Melbourne,
talking constantly about the ingenuity of the Opera House platform,
its clever drainage system and the sails that are really clouds.
Will certainly be recommending the walk to my friends and colleagues. |
Melanie Galea | Sydneysider |
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I just wanted to pass on my thanks for such a fabulous tour yesterday. You presented the design principles and history with such enthusiasm and clarity; on a level that still felt accessible for someone with no design background. I will definitely be recommending it to friends. |
Leon
Buker | Sydneysider |
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Thanks for setting up SAW. I love the blend of architecture, history
and politics. |
Kim
Philip | architecture student | New Zealand |
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It was particularly refreshing to hear an 'exposed' account (unlike
other tours designed solely to glorify a city for the tourists).
To a budding young architect such as myself, I gained most benefit
from discovering the undercurrent and contextual issues that shaped
the architectural responses, at a range of different scales. It
enabled a first-timer to Sydney the ability to apply ideas to
personal follies of exploration, and make informed interpretations
of architectural idiosyncrasies. As I came to know about you,
I intend to recommend that any of my architectural buddies who
are planning on visiting Sydney do one of your walks. |
Richard
Carver | architect | New Zealand |
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Just wanted to say that we thoroughly enjoyed our UTZON tour Saturday
13th August. It was the highlight of a 3–day Sydney trip.
Thanks very much to the young guide. His enthusiasm and excellent presentation
were a definite highlight and he needs to be congratulated. |
Rinske
Geerlings | Final year architecture student | Netherlands |
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Must say I really enjoyed the tour yesterday! You collected the
nice and comprehensible background information and also the spicy
details on the stuff. You managed to let us share in your enthusiasm,
which is quite something. |
Samantha
Goates | Textile designer | Scotland |
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I did your BRILLIANT UTZON talk a few weeks ago on the weekend....
been raving to anyone and everyone about it since you'll be pleased
to know. Even suggested to the boss that we take all the interstate
folk on your walks for our next conference....!!!! |
| Dr Janice Hirshorn | Texti | |
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I participated in an excellent
architectural walk on Wednesday February 9 2005. It was a pleasure
to see selected buildings through the eyes of a young architect
together with the other tour participants, most of whom were visitors
from overseas. I was so relaxed at the end. |
Ilana
McCorquodale |
Sydneysider |
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Thank
you for your super lecture on UTZON on Saturday. Both Ilana and
I were really inspired and appreciated your real interest in the
Opera House and its story. We were really interested in your explanation
of the (unbuilt) glass construction - how we wish it could be
recreated to Utzon's dream one day. |
Michael
Kinsella | Sydneysider |
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I was delighted to meet you on your guided tour of Sydney
architecture 10 days or so ago (SAW1 SYDNEY). I thoroughly enjoyed the Tour
and it served to get my "creative juices" flowing again
in my new post retirement state. I found your narrative fascinating
and enjoyed the anecdotes. |
Alison
Haywood |
City Planner | Britain |
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I just wanted to say "thanks" for the UTZON walk on
Saturday. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot more than i had
expected to. It's things like your walks that allow the lay person
as well as the professional to appreciate something that they
would never normally take in, and i think it acts as a forum for
people to feel good about themselves - it means that their weekend
didn't go to waste in the Coogee Bay Hotel (obviously, not me...i
wouldn't do that!) but have actually learned something. |
Lorna
Low | Sydneysider |
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Today my daughter, who is also an architect, and i enjoyed your
wonderful narrative walk of Utzon's House. Your knowledge and
passion for this truly exceptional mans talents were a joy to
behold. I've always grieved for our failure at the time, when
we were so insensitive a people with a poor government to allow
such a tragedy... Iv'e always loved it but will now look at it
differently. I learned so much. Thanks a million! |