Nov 2019 Built for #Kodak in CollinsStreet near Swanston in 1935, designed by #OakleyAndParkes, it was notable for using #StainlessSteel in the spandrels, as well as the shopfront, which has just been reconstructed ! Looks pretty accurate, except maybe the curve is bigger, and doesn’t have the vertical framing. Don’t know if @thehourglass_australia got a … Continue reading Kodak’s Art Deco shopfront reconstructed! →

The #AlbertParkHotel, yet another case of #facadism, but at least you can’t tell. And it looks like there wasn’t much inside to tell of it’s history, having been altered many times, the first being a 1930s #Moderne makeover of the Victorian original. But being so picky like I am, they could have retained some of … Continue reading Albert Park Hotel – more facadism. →

I knew the #acousticshed over the #melbournecitysquare site for the #melbournemetro town hall station was going to be big, but seeing it is another thing. It’s 20m high, 30m wide and 90m long. And it’s going to be there for about 5 years. Ps I think no need to build a new city square I … Continue reading Great big shed in Swanston Street →

#LowtherHall in #Essendon was in #openhousemelbourne but I missed it ! Closed at 2. But you can see from the street, and I found lots of historic photos. Became Anglican #GirlsSchool named after the then Archbishop in 1919, bought from #EWCole, of #ColesBookArcade, he bought it when he was in his 80s, that’s him in … Continue reading Gone with the Wind Mansion in Essendon →

When the plans say ‘retain heritage building’ but they mean ‘retain two walls and the appearance of a heritage building’. Huge #studenthousing project on #SwanstonStreet, #Carlton, designed by @hayball_arch. The 3D rendering clearly implies it was more or less staying, but I’ve got the plans, and it’s clearly marked ‘retain this bit of wall demolish … Continue reading Facadism No 9 →

Rather fetching, and apparently built in 1944, during the war. Huppert & Co engineering must’ve been an essential industry. Very nice #ArtDecoFactory with a hint of Modernism - that grid of #squarewindows, still with original steel frames. Unfortunate addition on one end, and not sure that the double openings at that end arnt newish, the … Continue reading Deco morphing to Modern in 1944 →

The #FootscrayPsychiatricCentre is a real #Brutalist beauty ! (photos by @johnjovic) - I helped write the nomination to #HeritageVictoria, and today they said yes ! Being a good example of #Brutalism, with all that sculptural #offformconcrete (the big slightly yellow panels are actually#precast) was only one reason, it’s also demonstrative of the #deinstitutionalisation that started … Continue reading Brutalist Footscray Psychiatric Centre heading for the VHR. →

The #OxfordandPeel apartment project by #jacksonclementsburrows, completed 2016, is one of their most respectful of context, namely that Oxford Street is entirely lined with the big Edwardian #redbrick buildings of the #FoyandGibson manufacturing empire, by #WilliamPittArchitect. I might have liked it even better if it was in exactly the same #redbrick, but I guess it … Continue reading Contextual in Collingwood →

25 July 2019 The #FoyAndGibson buildings in #Collingwood occupy a number of whole blocks down hill from #SmithStreetCollingwood, which are more monolithic in my mind than a photo can capture but you get the idea. They had a huge #departmentstore in 3 buildings on Smith Street and basically made everything here ! From wool to … Continue reading Foy & Gibson Collingwood red brick streets →