Another #LostModernism office block - Pearl Assurance, cnr Bourke & Queen Street was completed in 1961, and designed by #LeslieMPerrott (later most famous for the Gas & Fuel towers). Nice but not the most outstanding of the mid century curtain wall office blocks. Unusually big and striking signage, and there was also a pearl on … Continue reading Lost (but not) Modernism →

Repost this day 2019: The most famous thing in #DrummondStreetCarlton : “Although once known as the old 'Weather Bureau', the building never served that purpose.” It was just a house, but a quirky one ! Built 1866. Also known A’s ‘Cinnabar’. Very unusual cantilevered balcony, and that cute tower topped by a #weathercock (originally an … Continue reading (Not) Old Weather Bureau Carlton →

A bit of industrial #facadism I posted this day in 2014! Young Street Fitzroy. And #streetview has it a bit earlier, just a wall (and theres a matching one behind in Kent Street). Makes me think of the olden days when people actually converted factories into houses, very spacious, with timber trusses etc, instead of … Continue reading Industrial facadism in Fitzroy →

Recording #crapitecture since 2013. Corner of Lygon and Brunswick Road. There are now equal sized but slightly more attractive blocks on two of the other three corners, and another coming on the last. I’m not bothering to look up architects.

Repost this day 2019: Some #traminfrastructure : this is the ‘Grand Union’ #tramcrossing at the corner of #HawthornRoad and #BalaclavaRoad in #NorthCaulfield. Just an ordinary intersection, but when the #PrahranandMalvernTramwaysTrust was building the electric tram network in the south east burbs in the 1910s, they decided they needed to be able to turn #trams in … Continue reading Grand Union Junction →

Repost this day 2018: HarleyHouse, a ‘chambers’ built for the medical profession (named after the once famous medical street in London #HarleySteeet), 1923, in a broadly #CommercialPalazzo form by #SydneySmithOggandSerpell. Said to have Greek and Egyptian motifs, but I don’t see them - I see Georgianish arches, #ChicagoSchool #bayWindows, a giant stylised classical #cornice, in … Continue reading Harley House, 1923 →

A very nice modernist house - that was put up in St Kilda Road as part of a raffle for the #QueenVictoriaHospital in 1958 ! It was designed by #BernardEvans (soon to be knighted and become Lord Mayor of Melbourne) but that’s all I know about it. No idea if the winner got to pick … Continue reading Lost Modernism (and a winning ticket) →

The #NewZealandInsurance Co building in Bourke Street was completed in 1961, and was a rather slick, late example of #glasscurtainwall by #BatesSmartMcCutcheon, who had pioneered them in the mid 50s. Lots of great photos by #wolfgangsievers at the @library_vic, and one later colour one by #peterwille. I think it was demolished in the 80s, with … Continue reading Lost Modern in the CBD →

Repost this day 2018: Not outstanding but the former #Presbyterian, now #ManninghamUniting, Church, by #KeithReid, was actually quite radical for 1962, with its solid, almost #brutalist expression of a plain volume with textured #clinkerbrick walls. The domestic style entry pergola and the rather suburban planting are a let-down, but help it blend in to the … Continue reading Templestowe Presbyterian Modern →

13 June 2019: The #absolutelyfabulous #CollingwoodPostOffice; this bonkers #HighVictorian front was added in 1892 to an 1868 building, don’t know why, guess the #PublicWorksDepartment (or someone) thought it didn’t stand out enough ! They even included a clocktower / mansard thing. It really is a very thin front, check out the photo I took in … Continue reading Collingwood Post Office →