Auditorium Building, facadism

9 July 2018:

The fabbo #AuditoriumBuilding, #NahumBarnet, 1913, so named cos it was built like the Chicago one with offices above, privately funded concert hall below. Built by the Tait theatrical family, it didn’t really pay for itself, became a cinema by 1915, completely rebuilt as the Metro Collins 1935, closed in the 70s, then it was a high end shopping thing called Figgins Diorama, that closed, finally what was left was demolished in 2012 – in fact everything but the facade went, and a glassy office block went up, nearly twice the ‘discretionary’ height limit. ☹️ The new lobbies are vast empty glassy spaces, a far cry from the active entertainment spaces once here. Perhaps doesnt deserve to be on the register any more. Old pics from Cinemas and Theatres of Australia FB page.