Another fine Moderne/ArtDeco house in Elwood Street Brighton, which looks a lot like the Armadale one I posted recently- and yes designer #IGAnderson recycled the ideas (probably it was him) - and apparently someone sued someone over it. I think the big glazed part on the left is a recentish addition. It’s a huge block … Continue reading Moderne mansion in Brighton →

3 July 2019, updated: Hadn’t really noticed this one before, in Elizabeth Street up from Collins, turns out to be a super narrow Victorian thing that was done over in early 1930 for Ackman’s Furniture, who’s main store was in Smith Street (behind that propped up Woolworths facade). See the A on top ? The … Continue reading Ackmans in Elizabeth Street, 1930 →

July 2026 Carnong Courts, 29-33 #RobeStreetStKilda, another example of grand terrace houses converted to flats. This was built as Raglan Terrace in 1858, designed by Crouch & Wilson. There were 5, and the southern end one was much wider (see MMBW map 1897). It was converted in 1926, designed by #AandKHenderson, in a sort of … Continue reading Carnong Courts, Robe Street →

Repost this day 2017: Former #MelbourneTeachersCollege, now part of #MelbourneUniversity, and called the #1888building (even though it was built 1889-91). By far the most OTT example of #queenanne plus #Elizabethan, or maybe it's #Jacobethan ? Architect #GBHAustin for the #PublicWorksDepartment. Impossible to take a photo of the whole building it's very wide, lots of trees … Continue reading Teachers College, 1888 →

I’m doing a bit of a survey of postwar churches, which by the early 60s became almost competitively look-at-me, so here’s a selection of the pointiest ones: Methodist, Katamatite, 1961, Muir & Shepherd; St Bernadette’s, East Ivanhoe, 1962, Robert Ellis; St Peter’s, Clayton, 1963, Ivan Anderson; the next four all by church specialist architect Keith … Continue reading Pointy Modern Churches →

3 July 2021 Sad to see the 1954 #APMBoilerHouse is now being demolished. It was added to the #HeritageRegister in 2017, due to its dynamic massing (especially the south side) and pioneering multi-storey all glass curtain wall - but thanks to a vocal local group that hated it, and a looming state election, Minister for … Continue reading APM Boiler House – demolition →

July 2021: Another bit of #LostMelbourne, which only lasted about 25 years, and was demolished over 80 years ago ! An Edwardian ‘chambers’ for doctors and dentists, built 1912, designed by Oakden & Ballantyne. It’s nice enough though a bit unresolved as they say, it gets plainer going up except then there’s an extra floor … Continue reading Lost Melbourne – but 80 years ago. →

Repost this day 2018- remember the pagoda ? And the slim box ? The campaign ? Which resulted in a review, handed down August last year (which I havnt read) - but I see that 3 weeks ago, the management change was announced, which the creation of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Co (missed that) and … Continue reading Fed Square – new management →

Repost this day 2019: The back of the old #HoytsMidCity cinema centre is more chunky-#brutalist than the front. And surprisingly intact, even the rich red #pebblemix finish. Built 1970 as a speculative venture with two screens, a squishy arcade and parking, by the entrepreneurial architect Gordon Banfield who had also developed the Total Carpark, so … Continue reading Pink Brutalism →

30 June 2021 Right there on #ToorakRoad, there’s Langi Flats, a bit of Chicago 1900s #PrairieSchool, as interpreted by #WalterBurleyGriffin and #MarionMahonyGriffin in 1925-6. It was a rebuild of a 1915 house in front, and new build behind- that bit has plainer walls but more exciting geometric patterned gates and panels below the windows. The … Continue reading Langi Flats, Toorak →