17 February 2024 This years M Pavilion, by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. I like it a lot. A few simple ideas, but quite delightful, intriguing, and achieves a sense of quiet emptiness (just saw that Ando described it as ‘an architecture of emptiness’, so he achieved exactly that!). Unlike other M pavilions, it’s quite enclosed … Continue reading MPavilion 10, Tadao Ando. →

Original post 17 February 2016, updated 2024 The Art Deco entry of the former #CapitolBakeries cnr Toorak Rd and Chapel Street. Originally built as a #cabletram #enginehouse in 1888, heavily remodelled in c1936 by #HarryNorris, into something equally unlikely for this now very prominent corner. In the 70s/80s it was the Fun Factory, complete with … Continue reading Capitol Bakeries, dem 2016 →

13 February 2024 The most spectacular lost mansion at 424 St Kilda Road, known as Illoura. Well known but not well researched - had to dig, found it was probably built in 1888 for businessman Henry Burrows, originally known as Fitzroy House, and almost definitely designed by James Gall, who did two very similar mansions … Continue reading Illoura St Kilda Road, dem 1963 →

15 February 2024: Chelmer Lodge, Park Street, #StKilda, delightful. It has great textured brickwork and bold curved forms, one with almost battlements, arched windows with lead lighting, all feels like Deco Tudor, without being clearly either. Nice courtyard garden entry, and even an arched driveway to a small carpark out back. Real estate photos of … Continue reading Interwar flats, West St Kilda →

13 February 2024 Not terrifically exciting, but these pillars at St Kilda beach framing the entry to Brookes Jetty, are thought to have been designed by Walter Burley Griffin, part of a larger scheme for the foreshore, never implemented, but no drawings have ever been found. Possibly c1925, or maybe later after the bathing pavilions … Continue reading Burley Griffin in St Kilda ? Probably not. →

24 May 2019 updated : Marvellous fragment revealed recentlyish as part of the #WesleyChurch development in Lonsdale Street, a real palimpsest of change over time. It’s what’s left of the back wall of the church’s 1888 Meeting Hall, which was covered by the construction of the Nicholas Hall behind in the 1930s. The Meeting Hall … Continue reading Wesley Church ghost facade →

10 February 2024 The former South Melbourne Post Office opposite the town hall is a rather bold essay in Edwardian Baroque, dating from 1912, designed by Comm Dep of Interior architect Horace MacKennal. When it closed (in the 90s?) it was reused as a library, and for some time has also housed the @cityofportphillip heritage … Continue reading South Melbourne Post Office and Police Station →

Original post 9 February 2016: The speccy 28 Holroyd Street Kew - late #artdeco c1942, but included as a contributory place to the Kew Modern #heritageprecinct of great 50s-60s houses around it. Update : real estate photos from 2013, speccy inside too, though don’t really like the decor. Probably all white and contemporary furniture now.

7 February 2024 Great bit of stylised Gothic at 340 Collins Street, just off Elizabeth, with Hardy Brothers Jeweller at ground level. One of Melbs many numerous tall narrow frontages, it was built in 1930, for well known developer and financier TM Burke, and was called Burke House (but on Collins - confusing !). Designed … Continue reading Burke House, skinny Gothic on Collins →

Original post 6 February 2017 and update : Amazing survivor on Chapel Street. I’m sure it hasn’t been McGrath Electrical for a loooong time. Update : not long after posting a 20 storey apartment tower was proposed straddling the rail line, and McGrath was demolished, but VCAT chopped it down to 9 levels as a … Continue reading McGrath Electrics, dem 2017 →