Another #IGAnderson creation from 1935, possibly the best one, #OstendFlats, sits boldly on the ‘golden mile’ of #BrightonVictoria, the only bit where properties have beach frontage, and this is the only #blockofflats. Great series of horizontal curves, opposed by the vertical stepped feature of the ‘tower’. Those things at the bottom were #boatsheds, not sure … Continue reading ‘Ostend’, fab Deco in Brighton →

5 February 2019 The really very interesting Avenue Court by #IGAnderson, 1934. Described at the time as showing how ‘deeply the machine era is impressing itself on residential work’, I guess meaning it was new and different and modem, rather than implying stark modernism, coz this is more about plastic overlapping curved forms than square … Continue reading Avenue Court, I G Anderson, 1934. →

Built as #MajesticMansions in 1913, this was a very early #blockofflats, though they only had ‘appliances for simple cooking’, with a central dining room for everyone, so not exactly like modern apartments. Built and designed by builder/developer #JRDaley, right after he did the Waldorf next door, and soon after did the Regal on the other … Continue reading Majestic Mansions, Fitzroy Street, St Kilda – glamorous flats for 1913. →

Repost 2019: Diatribe warning - this Edwardian era hotel has been compromised so much if it was up for #heritagelisting now it wouldn’t make it. Built in 1911 as the Warldorf by local developer/ builder #JRDaley, who built the Majestic Mansions next door in 1913; very sought after for decades, but after the 1950s like … Continue reading The Waldorf Hotel, Edwardian St Kilda style. →

Would you believe this is about 15 years old ? The owners of this house in #SeacombeGrove #BrightonVictoria built this in an extremely faithful Spanish/OldEnglish style, with correct #terracottarooftiles, textured coloured render, and #TapestryBricks - they might have copied some nearby house (or one in Toorak), but actually havnt seen a house with this combo. … Continue reading Old English Revival revival in Brighton →

In Ballarat Street, Brunswick, one block back from Sydney Road, there's this crazy thing - the former #BrunswickMarket was designed by #IGAnderson (who went on to do loads of great #ArtDeco flats later), and built in 1930, just in time for the depression to hit, and it went bankrupt in 1933 (it was a private … Continue reading Brunswick Market, IG Anderson, 1930 →

Another old interest - #earlycinema buildings; lots survive, where the later grander ones didn’t, because they were often just slightly elaborated flat-floored halls, sometimes with windows ! They also tended to be thinly applied classical/baroque rather than typical Edwardian / early 20s. The first is La Scala, later the Broadway Theatre (such grand names) in … Continue reading Early Cinema’s x 2 →

In Ballarat Street #Brunswick, this stylish #Modernist #factory was built in 1955 for #YAKKA #brand overalls ! Later #FletcherJones, then #PerrucciShirts. By the long-named #AKLinesMacFarlaneandMarshall, pretty intact, just the tiles on ground level painted; love the external skinny posts and long #steelframedwindows, with opening bits, and angled ground floor. I think even doors original ! … Continue reading Hard Yakka! Since 1955 →

The hall in the #SouthMelbourneTownHall is very grand, but just a bit bland; maybe in 1880 it had a far more decorative #colourscheme ? Quite likely. Don’t know but maybe this scheme is from the 1930s when it had a big renovation, the #blackwood panelling, doors, nice #terrazzo stair all date from then. Heard there … Continue reading South Melbourne Town Hall interior; 1880+1937 →

The 1887 #GothicBank chamber in all its glory; proof that Victorian interiors weren’t all gloomy (though plenty were). Lots of #goldleaf and #eaudenil (a pale aqua). Important to note that it’s now double the width it was originally; in 1887 it was a fairly intimate thing only three bays wide, with counters either side and … Continue reading The gorgeous Gothic Bank, a William Wardell triumph. →