July 2026 I’m posting an old pic first because trees and sun angles make a good new photo hard, but this curious building in Bourke Street near Russell sure has an interesting story. Firstly, it’s 1937, by noted Modernists #SeabrookAndFildes, with what looks like a modern curtain wall, but actually those blue enamelled metal panels … Continue reading Weber & Rice/Burnett’s 1937. →

Repost 2018: A #postmodern post in honour of the passing of #RobertVenturi, #EagleInsurance, William Street, from 1986 by #DentonCorkerMarshall, not much #complexityandcontradiction, but it does mark a return to decoration and pattern, a hint at the classical, with a base, middle and top, complete with #cornice, and a nod to history, with the #baywindow a … Continue reading Postmodern in William Street →

Repost 2019: Hanging out for a #protest, in the window of #VictorHorsleyChambers, in the #parisend of #CollinsStreet, 1924, by #BlackettAndForster - a rather nice bit of #GeorgianRevival, hard to see through the trees #tramstop etc. Actually I think it’s more like Victorian Revival, not that there is such a thing, but the elements are pretty … Continue reading Victor Horsley Chambers, 1924 →

Repost 2019: A nice bit of #ArtDecoMelbourne, normally hidden by #damntrees - Patersons Furniture, #BourkeStreet, 1934, by #ArthurPurnell (as Purnell & Pearce). Purnell had such a long and varied career, first 10 years in Canton (Guangdong), then in various partnerships back here after 1910, some great houses, some Chinesey looking things, offices, factories, clubs, and … Continue reading Patersons, Bourke Street →

Repost 2015: 1843! Didn't realise it was that old! The Devonshire Arms is not only Melbourne's oldest (former) pub, but nearly Melbourne's #oldestbuilding. Hidden away amongst the jumble of #stvincentshospitalmelbourne buildings, almost demolished in the 80s I think before it was realised how old it was (hence national trust pic from 1981). Restored and now … Continue reading Oldest pub in Melbourne →

Repost 2019: What were they thinking ? I mean the architects and I presume VCAT that let this happen. Gotta be the worst example of #facadism in #Melbourne. You can see they kept bits of roof, but to no effect, very small setback on one side, bigger setback on the corner, but the scale of … Continue reading Facadism, possibly the worst … →

19 September 2021 Having just read Judith Buckridge’s history of St Kilda Road ‘Grand Boulevard’, I wanted to see if I could work out what it actually looked like in its hey day, since there’s no postcards or film that show it clearly lined with mansions, which dome people still say they remember. So it … Continue reading St Kilda Road – was it really lined with Mansions? →

21 September 2016: My favourite house built for the #ministryofhousing’s #infillhousingprogram; it’s by #NormanDay, c1983, in #stgeorgesroad #northfitzroy, just where it meets Brunswick Street. Classical references in simple suburban materials - a giant #splitpediment in #redbrick, atop a formal inset square of #creambrick that curves inward for a little #baroque inflection, with vestigial pipe columns … Continue reading Ministry of Housing infill program 1980s →

18 September 2015: #Atlas. Featuring #Australia prominently on his shoulders. Relocated from the top of the 19th century building here at 404 #collinsstreet when it was replaced in the late 50s by a new #atlasinsurance building. Sadly a bit high up to appreciate, and backed by an aircon intake. Moved here (a second time) from … Continue reading Atlas Insurance, Collins Street →

Repost 2017: #ManchesterUnity, #MarcusBarlow, built within 12 months in 1932, symbol of hope in the depths of the #GreatDepression, #firstescalators, #tallesttower (actually not, but certainly best known) etcetera, but #hardtophotograph since it faces partly south, and the #streettrees have grown around it…so which one is best ? 20 December 2017: The rather excellent but somewhat … Continue reading Manchester Unity Building →