I should know who designed it but I don’t. But I do like it, simple but effective. #Citylink vent stack, for exhaust from the #BurnleyTunnel, which opened Dec 2000. There was a little hooha at the time that the people in the nearby new apartments would be breathing in the smoke, but experts / someone … Continue reading Vent Stack →

Repost this day 2018: The #PrinceofWalesHotelStKilda, a nice design by #RHMcIntyre (father of Peter) built in 1936. Actually it’s a tad disappointing, it could have been, I don’t know, more streamlined or more decorative; there’s better deco designs around. This is notable though as a mid scale hotel, much larger than your average #pub, but … Continue reading Prince of Wales Hotel, St Kilda →

Repost this day 2018: Another case of that St Kilda thing- transformed #TerraceHouses; originally Queens Terrace, built 1880s, two of them converted to one huge #guesthouse in 1941 by #WHMerritt. Curiously solid balconies, rather blocks the view of the bay across the road ! Also v unusual having been 4 storey terraces originally (there’s a … Continue reading Queens Terrace, demolished, transformed →

Repost this day 2018: #RailwaysAdministrationBuilding, #SpencerStreet, designed by the railways (and architect unknown, perhaps a committee?), 1893. Biggest office building in 19thC #Melbourne for the biggest employer in the state. Which grew a bit more adding a new Edwardian style top floor in 1912 (losing the big pediments and knobs) and another attic floor in … Continue reading Railways Administration Building →

This time in 2017 I was excited about the designs for the #MelbourneMetro CBD stations (designed by #HassellStudio with #WestonWilliamson, UK metro specialists) because they reminded me of the #MoscowMetro, where the stations are all great, eg the steel arches of #MayakovskayaStation, 1938. But the designs have changed since then, with #RogersSirkHarbour added, and now … Continue reading Metro station designs – could have done better →

18 July 2021 Hadn’t stopped to admire the 2017 #ABCSouthbank refresh till now, not bad, jazzy, not OTT, good signage, and SO much better than the 1994 original with that spindly little tower, by Peddle Thorpe (pic 3). The expansion and new facades are by @coxarchitecture, retaining the white tubular atrium of the original, which … Continue reading ABC Southbank →

This project was announced in 2015, and still hasn’t opened - but it’s probably complete. This is what I said in 2017: Finally found out where the 1880 dome viewing platform of the #RoyalExhibitionBuilding was located. Plans are progressing to make it accessible again, with a lift escape stair etc hidden within the south transept … Continue reading Dome Promenade at the REB →

Repost this day 2017: #KewSynagogue/ #KewHebrewCongregation, 1963, #BridgeHayden or just Tony Hayden; #repost from 2016 cos I just found photos of the interior, surprisingly traditional with that arched roof, seems like most of Melbourne’s modernist synagogues are traditional, certainly not shy to use decorative elements like the balcony front pattern here and the lush crystal … Continue reading Kew Synagogue →

The #VictorianPrideCentre is finished ! Or at least opened, I havnt been in yet - I took these photos last week. The design, by @grantamonarchitects and @bauarchitects.urbanists, doesn’t attempt to represent LGBTQI in some obvious way (thank goodness) but instead the exotic style of st kilda, as seen in the arches, re-interpreted as circles and … Continue reading Pride Centre completed →

Repost this day 2018: #MacRobertsonGirlsHigh (aka#MacRob), built in 1934 with funds provided by chocolate king #MacPhersonRobertson. Recently returned from Europe, young achitect #NormanSeabrook won the competition ushered in European #Modernism to Melbourne - or at least the Dutch post-expressionist bricky sort, as developed especially by #WillemDudok in the 1920s - #HilversumTownHall is the prime example, … Continue reading Macrob Modern →