WHOA

so like srsly, people stop looking for heath ledgers funeral eh!? i got like 20 referals from google yesterday for Bowra and Odea , etc. leave him alone! im guessing this is why, coz they are handling that shit. or else a buttload of randoms are wanting to book bulk funerals soon. oh well. aint no info here! what a crappy 100th post.  umm… more buildingz soon! i promise! and while we are talking about deaths, RIP the commonwealth building on hte corner of william and hay. crying shame this is gone. pics from wa library archives.

Helenic Community Centre

This is the Helenic Community Centre in northbridge, opposite that park. I know no information, and didnt really spend that long looking at it, nay even venture to look inside it. But it caught my eye, as a very interesting, peculiar, and if i dare say it, australian building. I love the mash of culture, with a sort of uncomfortable mid point between it being a comfortable mesh, and a total rejection. There are arguments for both, but i like that complexity and contradiction that exists within the discourse… Its half late 20th C perth modernism, with those floating aggregate panels, projecting corner volumes, and entry canopy, and fenestration patterning, but then sculptures and grecian frieze motifs along the top and other assorted cultural signifiers thrown on top. Wonderfully eclectic. Who says there is not a diversity and mixin of culture in perth! mmm, diaspora..

Windsor theatre

this be the windsor theatre on stirling hwy, done by W Leighton, in hte same kind of vein as his Cygnet, Astor, Piccadilly etc. Very good art deco theatre, sporting all the trademarks, vertical elements, decoratif friezes or motifs, and aerodynamic expressionist flourishes. My favourite bit about the windsor is , i think mroe so than the others, it draws on the ‘modern’ technology at the time, in this example the steam ship, and thouroughly exploits and explores the forms. THe railings, rounded geometric boxes and particular to this, porthole details are really supreme! i could write more, but its way hot and im tired. Oh, ive thrown in hte rug shop next door, i know nothing of it, im sure it was probably done around the same time, if not part of the same development. its wikid sticks as well! art deco roolz!

oh, and the difference in light on the pics, is exactly the length of atonement. so there. what  great movie!

Some print shop

so i completely forgot the name of this place, but its in northbridge, on some street on the left of the park.. great description. Anywyas its just a really nice facade excercise in what is otherwise a warehouse programmatic requirement. A decorated shed if you will… Anyways its a nice modern facade with absoulutely stunning mosaic work, with popping red highlights. Rythmic structural members, which also double as mullions, and nice strip windows. The interior entrance lobby area, which is dominated by the staircase is very nice, and shows that some thought was carried on through the building, not just 300mm of meaning. Nice.

BEATTY PARK

This is Beatty park leisure centre and Beatty park pool, in north perth. It was constructed in early 60s, for the 1962 Commonwealth games held in perth in that year. It is one of the most intact and important relics from those landmark games. Along with Pery lakes stadium these were the major sporting facilities constructed. They are both quite similiar, and Absolutely amazing examples of perth late 20th century modernism. Some of the other relics from that era, and beatty park are now demolished which is beyond a crying shame. Notably the BP kiosk by howlett. ill post some old photos of that later, such a shame… Anyways this centre was designed WA McI Green( town planner at the time), Milton Boyce(CoP architect) and LH Steenbohm. This trio was responsible for a lot of structures constructed at the time for the games. Theres not much more i can say for the building, its fairly self explanatory. All the modern hallmarks, and great detailing, just a fabulous stadium. Particularly love: the mosiac work, Staircases and red handrail detail, The blue fixed panels in the curtain wall, the typefaces and signage throughout the whole stadium. Those are just the standouts, there are many many more excellent aspects. One point of note however is the staff who graciously let us in to the complex to photograph it. Thankyou, you are the kindest and most accomodating people i have come across. Most buildings i try to photograph, my camera is either confiscated and all pictures deleted(im looking at you jewish synagogue!), told to leave(king edward memorial!) or when my father tried to take pics of midland traino( hte police told him to stop) and many others. And yet a swimming pool let us! that is beyond nice! i am massively impressed. any readers who go there, say thankyou, or at least respect them, as they are the nicest employees ive encontered! and the rest of the state, stop being so into yourselves and wake up, your synagogue is not gonna get blown up, an i am not a terrorist. gosh! terror state much?

BTW

by the way if anybody feels the need to contact me, or feels like sending in photos, or encouraging remarks, job offers, tips on how to get a grant, or building ephemera, contact me at countdookulives@hotmail.com thanks bye.

Claremont Sub Station

This is the Claremont Sub Station, now St John Ambulance Australia building. I found some information on it on the heritage register, but im not sure if its for this one, or the one next door. they are both great, but this one isnt fluro blue and orange at the moment… if it is the right one, then it was built in 1923/24. Anyways whichever it is, its really nice. Its art deco but a more restrained georgian style art deco. Nice stepped facade with those five band vertical elements on each junction. This is essentially the only decoration on the building. I love the way the extending entry canopy has the same stylistic devices, and they line up with the roof line ones at a certain angle. the way it sits on hte street is really good as well, it speaks to the street, kind of awkwardly, yet still engages. its a sort of complication i really like within htis small structure. it doesnt seem quite comfortable or sure of itself, yet, it still asserts a certain grandeur within its own scale.

MAYFAIR FLATS

this is the mayfair falts on carr st in West Perth. They are a really beautiful, well preserved and strong example of Inter War Art deco. Strong horizontal brick banding that stretches around the facades, and down the sides, the vertical entry hall, and brick detailing above the entrance, as well as the nautical railings are exquisite. The icing for me, was the green piloti underneath the 2 first floor balconies. So good. Really reminds me of Rober Mallet Stevens stuff in paris, cant be more specific than that sorry. Just gorgeous. The lettering is also just superb.

Scotch college Mega Post

check the brick patterning^ wild!

This is Scotch college in claremont, and its a rather large post, and it wont be very detailed, as obviously each building really merits its own entry, but time is of the essence punters! short and sweet. um, its a really good school. its got heaps of wikid stciks buildings, its a really nice collection, and timeline of WA architecture. Like a museum almost. Which is good, and also is beneficial to the state, as it provides a ground for cultivating and allowing architecture to flourish. Other school do it differently, which is fine(like christ church who have used one architect predominantly) but this is a good showcase, and a great tour. It features buildings from Forbes and Fitz (2 eras i believe) Flower and Clifton, Taylor Robinson, and others i dont know about. Really good. Starting with the darling QueenAnne federation reception house, which is just the beez kneez. Genius corner turret, strong vertical, highly derocative chimneys, flared out bullnose verandah etc. Then it goes through early 30-40s modernism, 50-60s modernism and excercise in brick patterning and detailing, 70s onwards brutalism and expressionism, and then 80s space frame pomo stuff ,and now TR new sports centre.Just great. Especially the intense amount of bricks, red paint, and my favourite bit is the concrete columns everywhere formed in plastic tubing, so industrial, so beautiful. There is a church there by F&F that i will save for a later post, because that is sock blowingly awesome, and needs a separate post. so enjoy.

CLAREMONT COP SHOP

this is SOOOOOOOOOOO nice. i have gloved this building for a long while now, it is an outstanding example of WA modernism, and in a lovely position. I hear on the grapevine its slated for demolition. if so, another ( in a stupidly long line) utter tragedy for this cities built culture. lovely breezeblock detail, and the 3 panel shopfront glazing with fixed panel is so good. lovely etry way, and relation to the street. anyways, its good.