East PErth Train Station

This is, in my opinion, the best example of commercial large scale architecture in WA. Its a big call, but its a big building. It is also one of the most polarising buildings here, you either adore it, or hate it worse than cancer.  If your cool, you fall into the former. This is one of those buildings that proudly put our architecture at the forefront of an international movement. It is an original, and peculiarly West Australian structure, that sets it apart from a lot of our canonised architecture. For example, whlie we produced a lot of great modernism, it was universal throughout the world, and ours wasnt particularly ground breaking( there are cases for it, but excuse the blatant and dumb sidestepping) this example, brutalism of the highest order, was not an entirely universal concept, and WA was one place that jumped upon it in its infancy. And the brutalism we produced is of the very highest order. It is unfortunately a style that operates outside the popular permaters of good taste and acceptability. Tony Brand is one of the most important architects the state has seen pass through it, yet he is constantly on the periphery of vision. Anyways, enough incoherent ramble, this building is soo good. It looks like an aircraft carrier. Thank god it was heritage listed. if this got knocked down, i would kill myself. or at least move to Chandigarh.

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Perth at night. Amazing. Lights. Soo good. thanks jess for the photo!

Glick House

this is the glick house in leederville by Donaldson and Warn with Jane Wetherall, date unknown. It is one of the most exciting  residential experiments in perth, and questions the suburban model. Built for Artist Rodney Glick, it clearly draws on an industrial aesthetic, transported to the suburbs, and mashed with  a high quality materiality, kinda on a Rem tip. Fits on too a very tight block, and creates a magical structure that is both alien and familiar to the surroundings, acting in a similiar  manner to the Wherehouse. A sort of messed up suburban diaspora. I think it has the best letterox/meter box front gate thingo i have ever seen. And cyclone fencing in housing. drool.

Enigineering school

this is the UWA engineering school, by GW Finn at the same time as the lecture theatre, blogged a while back. Very very nice, rigorous and thorough example of exceptional high modernsim. It doesnt get more refined and pure international style than this. Stellar. I love the mosiac work and patterning used from experince in his south american trips, and the finger system of planning. The fingers of the buildings spread back towards fairway street with great facades projected to the streets. So beautiful. Also of course the best typeface in the universe at its peak. the kerning is just delicious.

Hale school church

FACE MELT. this could be the most innovative, expressive and charming use of brickwork i have seen in perth. The sheer repetitiveness, scale, patterning and sun play is overwhelming. It is large. So imposing and brutal. Marshall Clifton 1969. Very similiar in form to the Forbes and Fitz church round the corner. Stained glass work is great, and the stepped up seiling line, with a broken arch thingo going on. wonderful. the pictures speak for themselves in this case. A wonderful example of highly expressive WA modernism.

Public Furniture

this is some really, really beautiful public furniture done by Jim Murray for Forbes and Fitz in the 80s, in central park, now mostly removed, and replaced by utterly soulless junky benches. Really well executed, modern and functional furniture, perfect for the setting. i wish i had gotten a seat when it was removed.

Trinity college part 2

this is part 2, which is right next door to the Howlett stuff below. It is by Forbes and Fitz done in 62-66 i beleive. This is a just a very nice and well thought out example of high west australian modernism. Lovely arrangement with a lush central park area, with the buildings running the perimeter. Great brix soleil and aggregate panelling, and great brick piered promenades around it. Also features nice mosaic work , and an outstanding corner window detailing.

Trinity college pt1

This is trinity college at UWA, the first of 2 posts on it. I am not quite sure why out of everything at UWA this is waht i chose to post first, but whatevs. This part of trinity is by Jeffrey Howlett, not sure what year, and is an excellent example of his later stylistic developments, and experiments in more expresive architecture. The brick texturing is rich and full, and develops a wonderful depth to the complex.  The slipped mansard roofs, that look like they are slippiung, and being pulled to the ground over the buildings, develop a rich complexity and tension in form. A nice contrast between very modern ‘bases’ with strictly controlled rectangular forms, with a roof form that recalls the older parts of the campus, and this contradiction between modern and old forms works brilliantly. Its just a really well thought out, beautifully executed cluster of buildings, in a particularly beautiful setting.

Alexander buildings

this is the alexander buildings on the art deco corner, aka: walcott and Beaufort. the buildings here are magnifique! i wish id got the rest… later. anyways this is one corner, and very nice indeed!

Astor theatre

 

this here punters, is the astor theatre in mt lawley by Leighton. A very nice art deco theatre, i dont really need to say much, ive pretty much posted every art deco theatre in this dust bowl, and needless to say this is a great example of high inter war art deco theatre acrchitecture. this example is interesting for its severe lack of curves and streamlined aesthetics as per the other ones. still got the strong verticals off set by striping horizontal work, portholes, great lettering etc. In one of perths art deco hotspots. great