In 1974, Lewis Baltz’s seminal work, “The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California”, explored a common American theme (the promised land defiled) in an uncommon place. For Baltz, industrial parks were a new phenomenon which would “cause severe dislocations in the local economy”. He was interested in “the effect of this kind of urbanism … Was it a world people could live in? Really?”

The Australian landscape rarely elicits such blatant anger. Our notion of landscape seems very different. Baltz documented the short term impact of money on place, while Lane’s project explores the mildly subversive impact of people after the event (more erosion than explosion), transforming Baltz’s stark Californian minimalism into an ethereal antipodean nocturne.

Lane and Baltz’s aims seem different, and yet, they are very much connected. Both projects are rooted in an exploration of place and time, there and here, then and now, Lane and Baltz.

"An extended dialogue with the late Lewis Baltz's seminal 1974 work "The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California" transforming Baltz's stark Californian minimalism into an ethereal antipodean nocturne. Australian landscape has rarely elicited such blatant anger. Our notion of landscape (and what is built upon it) seems very different. While Baltz documents the short term impact of money on place my own project explores the inevitable and mildly subversive impact of people after the event (more erosion than explosion). Our aims and methods may seem different and yet they are very much connected. Both my project and Baltz's "New Industrial Parks" are deeply rooted in an exploration of place and time. Consequently "Older Industrial Parks" provides the context and structure for a dialogue between there and here, then and now, me and him."