Author: Rohan Storey
Repost 2020: Just got the 1983 book Australian Iron Lace (published in Sydney so I’d never heard of it) and the first street I look at - Ward Street, South Melb, near the market - about half the terraces have the same cast iron, though the houses themselves are different. So clearly after the first … Continue reading Six houses, same cast iron, Ward St, South Melbourne.
‘Shandon’ sits majestically on #BeaconsfieldParade near Fitzroy St #StKilda, looking might fine. Built 1885, no architect, but the unusual ‘uneven arcading’ is supposedly inspired by Pistoia Cathedral, but this is actually way more uneven. Also interesting that it’s built like a mini-palace, with the main rooms on the first floor up a grand staircase, with … Continue reading Intentionally uneven arches on Beaconsfield Parade
Now that’s how you make an entrance ! There's fabulous figures by each of the three entrances of #NondaKatsalidis’ 1994 Melbourne Terrace. They were sculpted by #PeterCorlett, and they must make every occupant here happy just to get to their front door. This one is an #atlantes, a male figure that holds up something, in … Continue reading A gift of sculpture – Melbourne Terrace, Franklin Street, 1994.
The poor old 1888 #SpurlingHouse in Brighton has been in the news again; this is a photo I took last year, this is what happens if there’s a fire just after you buy it, you refuse to spend the $1.5 mill insurance on repairs and instead spend it on a bunch of experts who argue … Continue reading Spurling House Brighton saved from demolition but not actually saved yet.
‘Sunset Beach Tower’, #BeaconsfieldParade, #StKilda, 1969. Not my favourite beachfront #highrise, a bit severe, but interesting patterned panels, but no #sunshading or balconies at all, must get hot ! But great views. Also needs a paint, or possibly take the paint off. Odd angled struts at the top. It’s another #SolSapir, quite different to his … Continue reading Another Sol Sapir, but not like the others.
21 November 2019 Toorak Park Towers, Sydney Street, Armadale, 1974 another design by Sol Sapir, king of the first high rise boom. The exterior is pretty much a repeat of his 1968 Miami on Beaconsfield Parade, pic 2; then Toorak vs Miami closer up. I like the way the panels kind of stop short of … Continue reading Sol Sapir repeats a design, not for the first time.
11 January 2020: I often walk past this on the way to the tram, a very inventive example of the #polychromebrick ‘#lombardicRomanesque’ applied to a typical house form; designed by #PercyOakden (while he was part of #OakdenAddisonAndKemp) who was a bit more #avantguarde than most, taking up the #Ruskinian approach of #structuralpolychromy with interest created … Continue reading Structural Polychromy in St Kilda.
Not enough poles they said! Take this then. (this one led to some heated discussion on my post, I wasn't expecting that!)
#BurnleyHorticulturalCollege, in beautiful grounds in Burnley, #Richmond, established in 1865, has a great centrepiece building by #PercyEverett, Chief Architect of the #PublicWorksDepartment, built in 1947. His post war work was pretty much the same as his pre war work, in his trademark Modern/ #Moderne, but a bit squarer and and simplified than before, eg all … Continue reading Burnley College, 1947, another Percy Everett.
It was a surprise coming to see this, didn’t know it loomed quite so much ! The building is now on its fourth life; built as the #WertheimPiano factory in 1909, designed by #NahumBarnet, it then became the Heinz canned soup factory in the 30s with little change, then in 1956 Melb’s first commercial #TVstation … Continue reading Channel 9 is now flats – Industrial conversion in Richmond
If the Nazi's never took power, would Berlin have Europe's tallest skyscraper and East Prussia be a honeymoon destination ?
Storey of Melbourne 