White Night Melbourne

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<p>Once again Melbourne’s all night festival of art, music and light projections has delighted hundreds of thousands in Melbourne’s CBD. The 2016 edition of White Night is the fourth time that it has been run in Melbourne. After only a few years the cultural event has clearly been readily accepted as an important part of Melbourne’s busy events calendar</p>

<p>The biggest highlights this year were dominated by Melbourne’s top architectural masterpieces. Whilst some expressed disappointment at the limited number of projection art pieces between these landmarks, the quality of work at these key locations held up as some of the best produced so far.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vy4TEKRmoQQ" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2>National Gallery of Victoria</h2>

<p>In past years, visitors have been treated to an array of work from international artists. This year however the curatorship looked to internationally recognized Australian artists for some of the most important pieces.</p>

<p>Projected upon the monumental bluestone of the National Gallery of Victoria, indigenous artist, Josh Muir, along with Ample Projects produced a beautifully animated story of Melbourne’s indigenous people. Entitled ‘Still Here’, this piece perfectly resonated with the time and place that it was created for. The imagery of animated trams rolling along the St Kilda Road facade, reflected off the pools of water was truly a memorable experience.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7291.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="National Gallery of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7291.jpg?itok=t-fQyFhz" title="National Gallery of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>National Gallery of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith</figcaption></figure><p>Inside the gallery, behind the water wall, the NGV was open for exploration the entire night. The extraordinary exhibits, which are still available for viewing, included the Ai Weiwei and Andy Warhol exhibition, a couple of extraordinary inflatable rabbits by Michael Parekowhai, and the NGV pavilion by John Wardle Architects.</p>

<h2>Federation Square</h2>

<p>In past years it was the Forum Theatre, and adjoining buildings on Flinders Street which were given the ‘flashy treatment’. This year it was Federation Square’s turn. Again it was fantastic to see that an indigenous artist had been commissioned for this technically challenging task. Reko Rennie with The Electric Canvas produced an artwork of vibrant patterns specifically tailored for the complex geometry of Federation Square.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7347.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Federation Square. Image © Michael Smith"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7347.jpg?itok=IT38jH6F" title="Federation Square. Image © Michael Smith" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Federation Square. Image © Michael Smith</figcaption></figure><h2>State Library of Victoria</h2>

<p>As we have come to expect from White Night, the State Library of Victoria was a dazzling spectacular both inside and out. From Swanston Street the Library dazzled in rich graphics, architectural sketches and photographic imagery. The facade illumination and animation experience entitled ‘Landscaping Architecture’ was put together by Amanda Morgan and James HH Morgan with music by DJ JNett.</p>

<p>Within the iconic reading room, visitors were taken on a journey through the spheres of human knowledge, in a celebration of the wonders available through libraries. This brilliant piece entitled ‘Ideation’, was the creative work of Nick Azidis, Lisa Greenway, Adem Jaffers and Bentley Dean.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7491.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="State Library of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7491.jpg?itok=Zra6CVMk" title="State Library of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>State Library of Victoria. Image © Michael Smith</figcaption></figure><h2>Royal Exhibition Building</h2>

<p>Perhaps the most successful piece of this year was the full facade masterpiece on the Royal Exhibition Building. This work was a collaboration between an indigenous group from Ballarat known as the Pitcha Makin Fellas and the Portuguese creative studio OCUBO. The result was a masterful piece of storytelling, animation and soundscape upon the backdrop of Australia’s first World Heritage listed building.</p>

<p>For those who attended White Night in 2015, there was a similarity between this piece and the piece entitled 4 Elements. Both pieces described the changing of the seasons and yet the power of the Australian story told by Australians, with the animation created specifically for this building, made this an even more compelling installation.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7450.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Royal Exhibition Building. Image © Michael Smith"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7450.jpg?itok=a2Sc5FpO" title="Royal Exhibition Building. Image © Michael Smith" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Royal Exhibition Building. Image © Michael Smith</figcaption></figure><h2>An event like no other</h2>

<p>White Night is a Melbourne event like no other. It is a celebration, which is not based on sport, but instead upon art and architecture. With a record attendance this year of well in excess of 500,000 people, White night 2016 is a testament to Melbourne’s credentials as a city that values creativity and diversity. As always thanks must go to former Premier Ted Baillieu who had the foresight to make White Night Melbourne possible back in 2013, as well as those like current Premier Daniel Andrews for crucial support in backing this cultural behemoth.</p>

<p><em>Michael Smith is a principal at Ateiler Red+Black. This article originally appeared on the <a href="https://theredandblackarchitect.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/white-night-melbourne-2016/">Red and Black architect blog</a>. Michael also operates the <a href="https://ratemybuilding.com.au/">Rate My Building website</a>.</em></p>
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redblackarchitect

White Night Melbourne 2016

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<p>Over the weekend Melbourne’s biggest celebration of art, music and architecture delighted a massive half a million people. White Night Melbourne, a one-night-only sensory spectacular, saw a diverse crowd of people flood into the central business district for the serious business of soaking up all the cultural events on offer. With over 70 events spaced over a large area it was impossible to meaningfully visit every site within the 12 hour festival, however here is a selection of the delightful experiences of 2015.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Zo0huDmgcfA" width="640"></iframe></p>

<h2>Keyframes</h2>

<p>This lighting exhibition used stick figure like lighting sculptures and carefully programmed lighting sequences to animate and imply movement. Watching the figures move across the NGV reflection pond brought to mind flip book style animation. The piece was put together by Groupe LAPS under the artistic directorship of Thomas Veyssiere. The quick movement and at times comedic sound track made this a crowd favorite at the southern end of the festival.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/keyframes.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Keyframes"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/keyframes.jpg?itok=AqtRGTml" title="Keyframes" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Keyframes</figcaption></figure><h2>4 Elements – Royal Exhibition Building</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4086.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4086.jpg?itok=ZTxN29vm" title="The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before</figcaption></figure><p>This was really the biggest highlight of White Night 2015. Projected upon the World Heritage listed Royal Exhibition Building, this multimedia experience perfectly blended the art forms of animation, dance, music and architecture to create a truly memorable event. At times the facade appeared to have been overgrown by vines which then catch fire as a figure dances across the massive canvas. With artistic direction by Nuno Maya, and an original sound composition by French composer Sylvain Moreau this carefully curated projection piece was a big crowd favorite.</p>

<p>The Royal Exhibition Building is arguably the most significant building in Melbourne. It was design by prolific architect Joseph Reed and construction was completed in 1880. It is the only still surviving Grand Hall to house a 19th Century International Exhibition. This building was also used for the opening of the first Federal Parliament of Australia in 1901.</p>

<p>The original exhibition of this piece was in Cascais, Portugal on a much smaller and less ornate buildings. It is interesting to see what a difference the change in architecture makes to this piece. The scale and monumentality of The Royal Exhibition Building makes it the perfect canvas for projections. If you wanted to see 4 elements, it was best to see it in Melbourne.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4111.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4111.jpg?itok=-SSXSRPB" title="The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Royal Exhibition Building as never seen before</figcaption></figure><h2>Old Melbourne Gaol</h2>

<p>A trip to the Old Melbourne Gaol impresses upon the visitor the power that a space can possess over an individual. Matched with a sinister history of captivity and executions this building oozes an uneasy atmosphere. This atmosphere and history overwhelmed the temporary and slightly out of place art exhibition of ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ by artist Terry Taylor.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/seven-deadly-sins.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Seven Deadly Sins within the Old Melbourne Gaol"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/seven-deadly-sins.jpg?itok=L2fpijlZ" title="Seven Deadly Sins within the Old Melbourne Gaol" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Seven Deadly Sins within the Old Melbourne Gaol</figcaption></figure><h2>Eat Me</h2>

<p>Inspired by the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland, this multimedia projection was located within the State Library Reading Room. The striking visual experience was created by renowned French artists Antoine + Manuel and set to a beautiful soundtrack by Sui Zhen. Like the Royal Exhibition Building, the State Library of Victoria was also designed by Architect Joseph Reed. His work on the reading room created a spectacular space. To transform this iconic chamber with a projection of millions of stars is something that had to be seen to be believed.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/eat-me.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="‘Eat Me’ Inspired by Alice in Wonderland"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="394" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/eat-me.jpg?itok=q5rzN9YM" title="‘Eat Me’ Inspired by Alice in Wonderland" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>‘Eat Me’ Inspired by Alice in Wonderland</figcaption></figure><h2>Draw/Delay</h2>

<p>This event explored the artistic methods of drawing as a performance piece. The collaboration between artist Kellie O’Dempsey and musician Mick Dick, was an action collage with sketches on paper projected on to a wall merged with simultaneous paint brushed directly upon the ‘canvas’, all set to a moody soundtrack. The live nature of this event showcased the creative process of the artist rather than just the ‘finished product’ making it an ideal inclusion in the White Night programme.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4151_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Draw / Delay saw traditional drawing artwork colide with multimedia to create a performance piece"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4151_0.jpg?itok=L11pcvEJ" title="Draw / Delay saw traditional drawing artwork colide with multimedia to create a performance piece" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Draw / Delay saw traditional drawing artwork colide with multimedia to create a performance piece</figcaption></figure><h2>Ghostly Machines</h2>

<p>The experience of visiting Hamer Hall is in itself something special. The ‘Ghostly Machines’ performance was conceived by the production technicians at Arts Centre Melbourne who use the high tech Sound lighting and scenery mechanisms to deliver the venue as performance art.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ghostly-machines.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ghostly Machines"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="647" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/ghostly-machines.jpg?itok=N9ZOtsVq" title="Ghostly Machines" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ghostly Machines</figcaption></figure><p>With approximately half a million people flocking into the Melbourne CBD this event really challenges the notion of what Melbourne culture is. Yes we have our sporting events, such as the Melbourne Cup or the AFL Grand Final but this event is something different. Unlike most of our sporting carnivals with long histories, this is only the third Melbourne White Night. It is also refreshing to have an event which is not associated with alcohol consumption or gambling.</p>

<p>White Night in many ways marks a significant step in the evolution of Melbourne from a single purpose commercial precinct to a 24 hour multipurpose hub. As a city – through creative pursuits of art, design, architecture, dance and music – Melbourne has shown of its credentials as an international city with a creative soul.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4161.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Illumination and imagination"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4161.jpg?itok=EBrdpWCw" title="Illumination and imagination" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Illumination and imagination</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_4271.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Crucible, fire breathing dragon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4271.jpg?itok=mWZbpFq5" title="The Crucible, fire breathing dragon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Crucible, fire breathing dragon</figcaption></figure><figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/flinders-st-wonderland.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Flinders Street Wonderland"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/flinders-st-wonderland.jpg?itok=8Yydhl9M" title="Flinders Street Wonderland" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Flinders Street Wonderland</figcaption></figure><p><em>Michael Smith is Director of Melbourne architecture firm Atelier Red + Black. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theredandblackarchitect.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/white-night-2015/">The Red + Black Architect blog</a>.</em></p>
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White Night 2015

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<p>White Night was a celebration of Melbourne’s Urbanism and culture on an unprecedented scale. From the National Gallery of Victoria in the South, to the Melbourne City Baths in the North, the city was turned over to the people to explore, feel, participate and spectate over 100 separate activities and installations. Estimates suggest that half a million people flooded in to the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/feed/conservatory-melbourne-adds-another-446-units-to-the-central-business-district">Central Business District</a> to take in the festival. At its peak, Swanston Street seemed to have narrowed with the sheer volume of people taking over the street.</p>

<p><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-26.jpg"><img alt="White Night Melbourne 2014" height="478" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-26.jpg?w=640&amp;h=478" width="640"></a></p>

<h2>Flinders Street Illuminated</h2>

<p>Perhaps the most iconic aspect to White Night was the Flinders Street Projections. The artwork created by Electric Canvas transformed the Flinders Streetscape into an intense canyon of colour and movement.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-11.jpg"><img alt="Flinders Street Station Illuminated" height="406" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-11.jpg?w=640&amp;h=406" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Flinders Street Station Illuminated</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-13.jpg"><img alt="Flinders Street Illuminated" height="856" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-13.jpg?w=640&amp;h=856" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>‘Wonderland’ Flinders Street Illuminated</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-14.jpg"><img alt="The Forum Illuminated" height="856" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-14.jpg?w=640&amp;h=856" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>The Forum Illuminated</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-12.jpg"><img alt="Drawing on Architecture in  Chapter House Lane" height="838" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-12.jpg?w=640&amp;h=838" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Drawing on Architecture in Chapter House Lane</dd>
</dl>
<h2>The State Library of Victoria</h2>

<p>The State Library was projected upon both inside and out. From the outside images of roman antiquities artificially aged the neoclassical facade back 2000 years. Moments later a brilliant projection of macro scale plant forms transform the facade into something else entirely.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-10.jpg"><img alt="State Library Illuminated" height="478" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-10.jpg?w=640&amp;h=478" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>State Library Illuminated</dd>
</dl>
<p>Once within the reading room, the viewer is exposed to a 360 degree projection entitled Molecular Kaleidoscope ‘Virus One Billion Times’. The animation features super sized virus cell structure and DNA chains that pulsate colour around the room to an intense soundtrack composed by Franc Tétaz. The reading room is a perfect location for this expression which mixes science and art so successfully.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-29.jpg"><img alt="State Library, MOLECULAR KALEIDOSCOPE – ‘VIRUS ONE BILLION TIMES’" height="779" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-29.jpg?w=640&amp;h=779" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>State Library, MOLECULAR KALEIDOSCOPE – ‘VIRUS ONE BILLION TIMES’</dd>
</dl>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/U7pAbsJEXsk" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2>Melbourne Central Shot Tower</h2>

<p>Of all the fantastic projection and illumination pieces on offer during White Night, one of the most eye-popping pieces was I Heart Melbourne by Kollide Projections. The way that the artist used the brick canvas to create an illusion of folding and sliding bricks was brilliant.</p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FJpa8ahkCek" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2>National Gallery of Victoria</h2>

<p>One of the most popular attractions of White Night was National Gallery of Victoria. The iconic stone facade designed by Roy Grounds provided the perfect canvas for elaborate projections of tattooed bodies by Nicole Reed and The Electric Canvas. The piece entitled Tattooed City played upon the link between street art on our buildings and tattoos on our skin.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-25.jpg"><img alt="Tattooed City, National Gallery of Victoria Illuminated" height="478" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-25.jpg?w=640&amp;h=478" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Tattooed City, National Gallery of Victoria Illuminated</dd>
</dl>
<p>Within the gallery, The Melbourne Now exhibition was in full swing with some additional events such as a silent disco and a RRR Radio Live broadcast.</p>

<p>Aside from the beautiful Roy Grounds masterpiece, a clear highlight is the much publicised <a href="http://cargocollective.com/roryhyde/Bin-Dome" target="_blank">‘Bin Dome’ by Dr Rory Hyde</a>. Constructed primarily from plastic rubbish bins sourced from Ikea, the geodesic dome sits boldly within the space. It is a sublime piece of design which highlights the confidence and competence of Melbourne’s architectural industry.</p>

<p>Naturally for a night like White Night it would not suffice for the dome to be used as a chill out space. Instead a mini dance party was taking place in front of a live DJ to ensure a dynamic audio and visual experience was combined.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-28.jpg"><img alt="Bin Dome by Dr Rory Hyde" height="856" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-28.jpg?w=640&amp;h=856" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Bin Dome by Dr Rory Hyde</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-27.jpg"><img alt="From within the Bin Dome by Dr Rory Hyde" height="856" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-27.jpg?w=640&amp;h=856" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>From within the Bin Dome by Dr Rory Hyde.</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-30-copy.jpg"><img alt="NGV Ceiling Reflection" height="668" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-30-copy.jpg?w=640&amp;h=668" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>NGV Ceiling Reflection</dd>
</dl>
<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gidFvjSwfk4" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<h2>Purple Rain</h2>

<p>Who would have thought Melbournians would queue for up to an hour, just to see rain. Who would have thought that this wait would be well worthwhile? Purple Rain was an installation art piece by Pierre Ardouvin which creates a truly remarkable sensory experience. Set against the backdrop of the Old Melbourne Gaol, participants are equipped with transparent umbrellas and then enticed into a purple mist. Naturally the experience is capped off by the amplified soundtrack, Purple Rain by Prince.</p>

<dl>
<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-32.jpg"><img alt="Purple Rain experience" height="478" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-32.jpg?w=640&amp;h=478" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Purple Rain experience</dd>
	<dt><a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-31.jpg"><img alt="Purple Rain backdrop" height="478" src="http://theredandblackarchitect.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/photo-31.jpg?w=640&amp;h=478" width="640"></a></dt>
	<dd>Purple Rain backdrop</dd>
</dl>
<p>White Night 2014 was an experience like no other Melbourne has seen. Part arts festival, part street party, part exhibition, Melbourne has never looked more like a cultural hub. Key to this is the world class architecture, the cornerstone of Melbourne’s cultural expression.</p>

<p>Architecture is for Everyone.</p>

<p><em>Michael Smith is Director of Melbourne architecture firm <a href="http://redblackarch.com.au/">Atelier Red + Black</a>, and this article originally appeared on The Red and Black Architect <a href="http://theredandblackarchitect.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/white-night-melbourne-2014/" target="_blank">blog</a>.</em></p>
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