Looking spooky in the rain yesterday - this black tower on the corner of Swanston and Little Collins was built for Cann’s Drapery, in two stages, the first 6 floors in 1919, designed by #NahumBarnet, using Monier #reinforcedconcrete (photo 3) which allowed for another 2 floors in 1935, designed by #MarcusBarlow (who did the same … Continue reading Cann’s Ladieswear, Swanston Street →

Repost 2015 (!) : Surprised to learn recently that this was not just a stylish block of #artdecoflats in #alfredcrescent #northfitzroy but was originally built late 30s as a #policestation, and designed by my favourite architect #percyeverett, chief architect of the #publicworksdepartment!

Repost this day 2014 (my first Samsung had a pretty good camera) : Totally #neoclassical #terracehouses on VictoriaParade on the East Melbourne side - always admired these for stolid proportions and #unpainted finish and being uncommon for a #victorian design. Turns out that's because they're not ! Built 1910 designed by G W Vanheems best … Continue reading Neo Classical in East Melbourne →

20 July 2017: Fabbo #VictorianHouse in Mills St #MiddlePark, when one #fretwork #gable isn't enough, even when you've already got #polychromebrick. Spose it's more #SwissCottage than Italiante, but basically it's a #HighVictorian pileiton ! Sept 2024

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 →