This grand edifice in #ChapelStreetPrahran was built as the Colosseum Department Store in 1914, after a fire destroyed their previous shop built just 6 years previously. Designed by #TompkinsandTompkins it’s pretty much a copy of London’s Selfridges, completed only 5 years before (complete with flags!), designed by US architect #DanielBurnham. This was the earliest large … Continue reading Neoclassical Colosseum, another Tompkins & Tompkins.
#MichaelsBuilding, cnr Lonsdale & Elizabeth, 1916, think we learned about this in architectural history classes - it’s earlyish #ReinforcedConcrete, a fave subject of Prof Miles Lewis, and allowed the extensive seemingly unsupported windows (the supports are hidden at the inside corners). Great little building. By #ArthurPurnell, a prolific architect best known for his few Chinese … Continue reading Michaels Camera Store, a 4th generation business.
I saw the plans for these in the 90s before they were built and I couldn’t believe what they were proposing....but they were being serious. Canterbury Road, #Toorak.
29 December 2018: #MitchellHouse, #HarryNorris, 1937 - I remember when only us #archinerds admired this building, sitting rather prominently on the edge of the retail district, full of odd little showrooms and companies and architects offices - now it’s full of #creativeindustries, super well known, and also right now surrounded by cranes, even that danger … Continue reading Art Deco landmark – Mitchell House, Harry Norris, 1937
Not large but manages to impress, with its deep scoring and prominent tower - #Dorijo, #VictoriaParade, #EastMelbourne, by #IGAnderson, 1934; Anderson went on to do a whole lot of flats after this, mostly with that extra bit of flair, like this one (just renovated after years of flaking pink paint, with a name possibly made … Continue reading Dorijo, East Melbourne, another IG Anderson triumph
The #FlemingtonFireStation, built 1896, across the road from the 1891 #FlemingtonCourtHouse, almost but not really a civic precinct. Love the #horseshoearch (note it’s not a #keyholearch, slightly different), no architect listed, but this arch pretty much the same as the #ElsternwickFireStation, same date, so prob same architect, #JTKelleher. It stopped being a fire station in … Continue reading Flemington Fire Station – horseshoe arch for horses.
December 2018 Looks a bit like a Russian church, but it’s #FlemingtonPostOffice, 1890, another wonderfull eclectic design from the #PublicWorksDepartment when they went all creative in the 1890s. Flemington for some reason has a great bunch of public buildings arrayed up a side street, taking advantage of the pointy corner sites, but a long way … Continue reading Flemington Post Office, a real eclectic delight.
Look what I found wandering home up a side street from #christmaslunch - the fabbo #FlemingtonCourtHouse, built 1891. Lombardic Romanesque ? Italian Byzantine ? All of the above ! Designed by #AJMacDonald, at a time in the later 1880s when the #PublicWorksDepartment were let loose to be inventive after decades of classical restraint. The police … Continue reading A J MacDonald PWD star !
This odd #redbrick wall right on the street at the corner of #PuntRoad and Commercial Road in #SouthYarra is actually #FawknerMansions, built in 1910, and Melbourne’s oldest extant #blockofflats. Reputedly the first to be purpose built self contained flats, with 25 'complete suites' of 5 rooms each. Designed by Ernest Willis in that severe red … Continue reading Melbourne’s oldest BlockOfFlats !
Original post 19 December 2018: As you know, I do love suburban #MockTudor shops (#OldEnglish is the proper name), and #ToorakVillage has the best examples. No 474-6, south side east end is the best one, dating from 1932, Built for William Ford chemists, and designed by #RobertHamilton, who said ‘I wanted to show the good … Continue reading Toorak Tudor
If the Nazi's never took power, would Berlin have Europe's tallest skyscraper and East Prussia be a honeymoon destination ?
