26 October 2017

Lyon Court, a most unusual block of #StKildaFlats in Jackson Street nr Acland. Designer unknown. Port Phillip heritage study says c1920, but I’d say later; found some adds for flats to rent here in 1927, so bet it was built then. It has elements that can be traced back to the 1890s Chicago architect #LouisSullivan, namely the big arch and the panels of vaguely Celtic ornament, but it also has the horizontality of early Frank Lloyd Wright – but perhaps it’s mostly influenced by #walterburleygriffin, especially his even more horizontal #langiflats in Toorak of 1925/6 (last photo), which would tally with the 1927 date. It’s quite small, only 4, shallow block, tiny back yard, and appears to still be single owner, since I couldn’t find any sale notices.

Update : @davidnhelms, port phillip heritage planner, tells me it is indeed 1927, and by EF Billson, who had worked for WB Griffin from 1916 to 1922.

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