Random photo from the archives, Xmas 2015; the fabbo shops in #FaradayStreetCarlton, built 1886, long occupied by #Brunettis before they moved round the corner in 2012. They’re by designer/builder #NormanHitchcock with his characteristic #HighVictorian elaboration, with #cherubs, extra flowery brackets, giant faces, #Corinthian everything, and solid ‘muscular’ details, namely the fat fluted window #pilasters. He … Continue reading Norman Hitchcock goes to town. →

I reckon this looks quite good, even through the trees. Not sure why, maybe it’s the unusual #pattern or colour combo, or just because the slightly green #blinds go well with the trees (or do they look green because of the trees?). Maybe because of its unusual genesis ? It’s a #palimpsest, grey #barcode cladding … Continue reading Curtain wall through the trees – London Assurance, 1959 →

The #Skyrail stations are actually huge compared to the crappy 30s-60s shops next to them (in one case less than a metre!), but it doesn’t feel bad, or cramped it even ‘under’ probably because it’s so high, that you tend to sort of look under it, and the station itself is off to one side. … Continue reading Skyrail stations →

The landscaping around the #Skyrail stations by @aspectstudios is attractive, nice coloured tiles, a bit contemporary angly, lots of Melbourne bluestone (too much maybe) and solid, hard wearing by the looks. Simple anti-skateboard notches. Not sure too many people will actually sit here though.

So the ‘Skyrail’ under-parks (#underline?) actually well used, or at least the #pingpong and basketball bits - so many kids, not many adults - I guess there arnt too many similar things so easily accessible and ‘surveilled’. The path itself, called #DjerringTrail not so busy, but there were some cyclists. A successful design by @aspectstudios. … Continue reading Sky Rail underparks – Djerring Trail. →

Rebuilt and upgraded #AlexanderTheatre at #MonashUniversityClayton, originally 1967, #EgglestonMacdonaldandSecomb, a small scale monument in 60s idiom - @peterelliott.architects valiantly retained as much as possible given OH&S, expanded brief and #asbestostile cladding (!) (even though it’s not #heritagelisted), and stripped it back to structure, rebuilt and reclad - I like the patterned precast on the tower, … Continue reading Monash Clayton update →

Burwood Methodist Church, 1961, Alexander Harris and Associates. One of the best examples of the popular A frame applied to Modernist churches. I’d never noticed it, it was once much more of a landmark on the #BurwoodHighway as in the early photo; the #gumtrees have hidden it away from the busy intersection it once dominated. … Continue reading Suburban Modern Church -Burwood Methodist 1961 →

Suburban high rise - three high rise #apartmenttowers in #BoxHill, with more to come. Strange juxtaposed but I don’t mind downtown Box Hill becoming a high rise living district, there’s a train station, tram line, buses, shops, TAFES and hospitals etc. There’s about 6 more high rise planned and another 10 mid rise.

The fabbo if dilapidated #APMboilerhouse (actually #powerhouse) in #Fairfield which I tried to make waves about exactly a year ago (#SaveAPM !), after the Minister overturned #HeritageVictoria’s recommendation to list it. Thought it would be gone by now to make way for yet more apartments in a development that’s going to have 2500 of them. … Continue reading APM Power House hanging on…. →

December 2018 Labassa, Caulfield, what we see dates from c1890, designed by German born architect #JABKoch for #CobbandCo magnate Alexander Robertson in a full-on #HighVictorian, with lots of delicate, rich detailing on an otherwise fairly typical #VictorianMansion form, a couple of bay windows joined by a #returnverandah, which is arcaded on both floors- there is … Continue reading A truly grand mansion : Labassa, Caulfield, 1890 →