this is directly opposite the st lawrence church, and thought id add it, becasue it is a really stellar example of restrained inter war art deco housing, and really well executed. Lovely flowing waterfall front and curving balconie and great layering of masses.
This is the anglican church on viking road in Nedlands by Hawkins and Sands, in 1957. Antoni Solarski was the project architect. It is a really great modernist sculptural expolaration of form ,and is very strong and bold in its execution. The large bell tower and corbusian free standing brix soleil device are the standout elements. Great blockwork creates some really good patterning and shadow play. Ian Moleyneux said’ One of the finer buildings of the modern movement period”. about sums it up.
This is a ridiculously hard place to photograph, and to find info on, but it’s an extension to a house in Myrtle street north perth, by Kate Hislop, currently one of the most interesting architects active currently. This addition was designed around a street full of heritage single story cottages, and tough restrictions applied. So viewing angles were created and then used them to carve away the space. Whats left is barely visible from the street. Its kind of like a deflated balloon on the back of the house. So brilliant. Sorry no more pics, but its hard to look at, almost impossible to find unless your looking for it. Which it seems, is the point.
My apologies again for lack of posting, very busy at the moment. So here are some snaps from the archive, they aint great, but the buildings are. This is the public toilets on the esplanade by Paul Ritter the CoPerths town planner in the 1960s who did many a good thing for this city. This a small indexical remain and its brilliant. although now its kinda gross and a beat, and a chromers paradise, it was once a very beautiful place. Well it still is, you just cant get close. Very good example of high modernism with a wonderful sculptural metal roof form and great mosaic work on the walls inside the toilets. as well as the iron work on the gates to the toilets at night. a shame its become such a lampooned area for gays and chromers. lame brain.
so anyways following on from last post, in case your interested in your bloggers life, this is what i spend my 9-5s on. 18 the esplanade. its quite fun so far. Maccormac architects, wiv BatesSmart. I get to do stair details and the like. Anyways thats all.
sorry for the lack of posts, but i just gots a new job and its 9-5 so my ability to get out and look at things is severely limited. Unless you just want photos of buildings in the city, which i could do… Anyways i will try keep up, just posting will be down to like once a week. But stick with me! This is the Fremantle Library, which is a damn fine example of West Australian modernism, but i cant find any information on it! My guess would be Hobbs Winning and Leighton, as by reading through the records of Freo modernism from this era, it seems like HWL pretty much built the town. Golly there is some good stuff! THis building is just great, beautiful entry statement and signage, and i absolutely had kittens over that sign board out da front.
This is the former squash courts in fremantle by the exceptionally talented Raymond Jones. I lost the origial article that discusses this in the architect, and would love to dig it out, so unforch my information is pretty scant. I would imagine late 60s. Its really good expressionist modernism, particularly reminds me of the McIntyre house in Kew, melbs. Great little squashed building, almost apppears to be wedged in between the 2. Great little building, i would have loved to see it remain as squash courts, but at least its been preserved! must be the luckiest accountants in perth. Imagine working in squash courts! i really want to go inside. Also of note, the accountants are Jones. Architect was Jones. Relation???
This has nothing to do with perth, but i just came across this blog the other day and its really interesting and well worth a look. Boyd for those who dont know is one of the most important pioneering modernists Australia ever produced and had a heavy influence on Perth Modernism. http://boydhomesgroup.blogspot.com/
Just a quick addition these are 2 very nice modern top story places in the hay street mall, and london court, not so much best, as most intriguing.
