30 July 2023 So Cell Block B at the former Pentridge Prison has been turned into hotel (it opened in April). They knocked five cells together to create suites ‘something like an uber luxurious train compartment’ according a recent Age review. The ground level is bars, lounges and restaurants, and there’s a pool too. The … Continue reading Pentridge Prison – now a hotel →

Original post 26 July 2017: Ok people, especially anyone with a greek background, which one of these is the most architecturally exciting Greek Orthodox Church ? One architect designed, the other not. I’m looking specifically at postwar ones, 1950-1980, there are loads of others but honestly they're mostly odd, amateurish attempts at stylised byzantinish. So … Continue reading Best postwar Greek Orthodox Church ? →

29 July 2023 I saw this a week ago but immediately looked away - a wall of towers at the south edge of the Queen Victoria Market. The site is created by making the road there half as wide, and the tallest thin one is actually where the roundabout is, ie the middle of Queen … Continue reading A wall of towers at the Queen Vic Market →

Original post 22 July 2018: Repost 2018: The quite mad but fabulous #CaringalFlats, a bit of 1920s European #earlymodermism, but built 1948-51 - and in the middle of tony #Toorak, normally given to Tudor mansions. Built in Tahara Road by the James Family Agency, presumably as an investment, there’s 12 flats in a low curved … Continue reading Early modern in Toorak – Caringal Flats →

Original post 20 July 2018: In the middle of #StKilda is the cute little c1855 #GothicRevival house hidden inside extensive gardens (I snuck in for this photo). It’s behind #ChristchurchStKilda, and known as the Bishops House, though that use was only in the 1980s-90s, it was actually built as the #vicarage, then from the 1880s … Continue reading Old vicarage, Christ Church St Kilda →

17 July 2012: Residents just been to VCAT over this - Yarra Council unfortunately not much help - indeed officer said 'yes', but Councillors overode them, but then council's presentation at VCAT was not great. Architects Kennedy Nolan. Longer view Other side of street Update 2023: they built it, though without extra bit on top. … Continue reading Too Big in Kerr Street Fitzroy. →

13 July 2023 Parliament House with the forecourt it might have had. The plan above is how the Parliament House area might have developed if Robert Hoddle had been more creative in 1837. Some background- in the 1890s, the newly formed Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) surveyed all of Melbourne as part of … Continue reading Melbourne as it might have been, in MMBW style →

9 July 2023: The Age has been running a series of sometimes anti-heritage stories, putting the argument that listing restricts development and therefore increases prices. Last Saturday’s article was about a proposed listing of 196 places in Spotswood, including 28 modest 20s war service houses. The photo shows a proud owner restoring one, then the … Continue reading Heritage listing versus higher density – or is it ? →

Original post 6 July 2017: Much more stylish than I remember, the sadly demolished #KodakFactory Administration Building, Coburg, 1964. Designed by #HarryNorris, more famous for his 30s Deco stuff, and 74 when he designed this (or at least his office did, though he didn't retire till 1966, then promptly died). It was #heritagelisted, but #Metricon … Continue reading Kodak, Coburg →

8 July 2023 Did a bit of research on Gog and Magog, the figures installed in the Royal Arcade in 1892. Firstly, they come from a medieval tale about the founding of Britain, and there’s a famous pair in the Guildhall in London, on which ours are based. Comparing them, I think hours are better … Continue reading Gog and Magog →