16 May 2024 Re: replacing whole housing commission estates, here’s an example in North Melbourne, on Abbotsford Street - a triangular block that was cleared of old housing in the 60s (possibly mainly timber cottages), and replaced with two storey apartment blocks zigzagging across the site with lawn and some trees between. Possibly the idea … Continue reading Social Housing redevelopment North Melbourne →

14 May 2024 Nice to see a building in a park covered in greenery ! This is the Parks Victoria office and depot in Albert Park, designed by Archier and Harrison and White, with sustainability by @hipvhype and landscape by @_openwork, built in 2019. It’s got wide eaves with planted roofs and trailing plants, while … Continue reading Albert Park – Parks Victoria →

14 May 2024 On Hotham Street East Melbourne rather unexpectedly there’s a modernist ex church. Built for the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, for those from Northern Europe, such as Latvians and Estonians (who were in the first wave of postwar migrants, drawn mainly from the Baltic states). Designed by Godfrey Spowers Hughes Mewton & Lobb … Continue reading Modernist Church, East Melbourne →

13 May 2014 : Always fascinated by this wildly unusual building on the corner of Drummond and Pelham Streets Carlton, which I now know was built as the #childrenshospital. They first located here in 1875 when Redmond Barry donated his rather large house and grounds, then rebuilt starting 1899 all in Edwardian #redbrick #dutchgable style … Continue reading Ex Children’s Hospital, Carlton →

17 May 2024 (photos 2014) : Edwardian terraces arnt that unusual, but an individually designed one like this one is, spotted at 155 Drummond Street Carlton. Built in 1915, it’s got great Art Nouveau wrought iron brackets, and an elaborate pier/pediment thing above the bowed balcony above the entry. Pity about the verandah being glassed … Continue reading Edwardian terrace Drummond Street →

13 May 2024 Architect Nahum Barnet is quite well known for designs such as the Auditorium Building and the Wertheim Factory in Richmond, but perhaps would be even better known if some of these had survived - he was very prolific in the city between 1900 and WW1, but most are gone; this is a … Continue reading Nahum Barnet, architect →

November 2025: The delightful #MajorcaBuilding in #FlindersLane, which lines up perfectly with Degraves Street. There’s lots of #bluetiles and jolly #fishies and #seagod faces in the decoration, suitable for something named after a Mediterranean island. Plus some Spanish flavour seeing as it’s a Spanish island. This was architect Harry Norris having great fun in 1929, … Continue reading Majorca House →

10 May 2017: #SleighHouse (later #EldersHouse), corner Bourke & Queen, #BatesSmartMcCutcheon, 1964, could be criticised as a design that hovers uncertainly between slick modern and decorative, but I did always secretly love the #goldmosaictiles that emphasised the verticals, which are being rendered over ! 😡 60s revival never more popular, but grey on grey clearly … Continue reading Gold no more →

9 May 2019, updated 2024 : Swann House in William Street was built in 1921-2 for the #StateElectricityCommission. Designed by their architect AR La Gerche, it’s rather plain, described at the time as ‘severe simplicity’, and a bit spoiled by two extra floors added in 1949. I saw a month ago it was scaffolded up, … Continue reading Swann House →

7 May 2024 A bit of a local landmark, Arden sits at the beginning of Marine Parade, opposite Luna Park, and looks a bit exotic too. Originally a pair of Victorian terraces, it was given a makeover in 1934, designed by HV Gillespie in something that’s rather Tudor, or perhaps Moorish, but also rather flat, … Continue reading Moorish Tudor on the beach →