16 August 2023: You might have seen this in the news - it’s Rotherwood, Riversdale Road, Camberwell, just up from the junction. Built in 1939, it was a bit upmarket, with just 9 flats, a front garden (with a huge pin oak), and tennis court to the rear. It was built by builder Eric Humphries, … Continue reading Rotherwood →

10 August 2023: It was 4 years ago that The #HotelWindsor tower was declared off ! Here’s what I said then : 11 years after first proposed, #RichardWynne #MinisterForPlanning has refused to extend the permit. It was already extended by VCAT twice, and the last time they said it should be the last. So now … Continue reading Windsor Hotel high rise proposal →

12 August 2018 Postmodernism. The #urbanruin of the #AllanPowellHouse, 1989, Victoria Street, #StKilda. #AllanPowell was the architect for this house for the Crigan family, but it was so well known, it was known by the architects name. I certainly knew it as that ! Always puzzled by it too, the faux ruin parts less prominent … Continue reading Crigan House, Allan Powell, St Kilda →

Original post 14 August 2017: Relova Redressing Laundry, #HoddleStreet, Richmond, 1937, architect Walter Mason. The big drum held the water tank (at least that's always been my understanding). I remember this from archi school lectures in the 80s held up as a notable example of #ArtDeco, so I was surprised to learn while working at … Continue reading Relova Redressing Laundry, Hoddle Street, Richmond →

Original post 2 August 2016 Still can’t believe this loss - Looks like nothing is left of the distressed classical style 1987 interior of Rosati's in Flinders Lane - once THE place to see and be seen. From memory designed by the restauranter/entrepreneur Piero Guesueldi, with the help of Italian mosaic artists. Beautiful mosaics, great … Continue reading Rosati, Flinders Lane →

27 July 2023 Fenagh Cottage in Burnett Street St Kilda is a prefabricated timber house from c1857, a surprising survivor. I’m pretty sure it used to be obscured by a lush garden, but it’s quite visible now. It was built either by the lot owner William Cleary, or the man who leased it in 1857, … Continue reading Prefabricated house, St Kilda →

30 July 2023 So Cell Block B at the former Pentridge Prison has been turned into hotel (it opened in April). They knocked five cells together to create suites ‘something like an uber luxurious train compartment’ according a recent Age review. The ground level is bars, lounges and restaurants, and there’s a pool too. The … Continue reading Pentridge Prison – now a hotel →

Original post 26 July 2017: Ok people, especially anyone with a greek background, which one of these is the most architecturally exciting Greek Orthodox Church ? One architect designed, the other not. I’m looking specifically at postwar ones, 1950-1980, there are loads of others but honestly they're mostly odd, amateurish attempts at stylised byzantinish. So … Continue reading Best postwar Greek Orthodox Church ? →

29 July 2023 I saw this a week ago but immediately looked away - a wall of towers at the south edge of the Queen Victoria Market. The site is created by making the road there half as wide, and the tallest thin one is actually where the roundabout is, ie the middle of Queen … Continue reading A wall of towers at the Queen Vic Market →

Original post 22 July 2018: Repost 2018: The quite mad but fabulous #CaringalFlats, a bit of 1920s European #earlymodermism, but built 1948-51 - and in the middle of tony #Toorak, normally given to Tudor mansions. Built in Tahara Road by the James Family Agency, presumably as an investment, there’s 12 flats in a low curved … Continue reading Early modern in Toorak – Caringal Flats →