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 →

Repost from this day in 2017: Grand #neoclassical #terracepair #PrincesStreetStKilda. Found a ref to 1865, could be earlier. Rather clumsily turned into four flats maybe 1920s; what might have been #castiron balustrade made solid, infilled ends, but the fence and all the #ioniccolumns perfectly intact. Possibly still one owner, no sales, just rental ads. Ones … Continue reading Neoclassical terraces St Kilda →

Repost 2 years ago - and looking at it again, what’s with the big grey and pink squares ? Prefer refined simplicity, or all out colourful mosaic : The new #SouthMelbournePrimarySchool on the edge of Southbank is huge ! Designed by @hayball_arch with @tractconsultants landscape, it’s our first #verticalschool, five storeys, and no fence or … Continue reading High rise primary school →

Repost this day 2018: The simply wonderful 1972 #VenetoClub in Bulleen by Italian/Slovenian Australian architect #ErminSmrekar, whose work was quite outside the mainstream of Australian architecture in the 70s and early 80s. From the beginnings in the late 60s he showed a love of geometry like the quarter circle elements seen here, as a well … Continue reading Concrete club in Bulleen; another Smrekar triumph →