This is just a real quick addition, an awesome example of late modern public furniture, this time in fremantle, great use of brutal forms and aggregate mix results in a stunning piece of design. sadly they are all slowly going or being destroyed. shame!
This is the First church of Chrsit Scientist on St Georges tce, just before the Arch. It is a delightful example of inter war art deco, and was designed by Ochiltree and Hargrave. It is that strain of art deco that is particularly phallic in composition, with very stong geometry colliding and thrusting upwards. Particularly the rectangular prism of the entry way. The decorative elements are all exceptional and delightful, with a slightly bizzare addition of a classical portico, all add to make a wonderful church, that is also quite imposing in its stance.
This is the Fremantle Port Authority building by Hobbs Winning and Leighton in about 1963. They are the architects responsible for a large percentage of Fremantles port buildings and other important building sin the port town in the 60s to 70s. This is a wonderful excercise in post war international style, with many delightful features, like the folding concrete canopy roof that stretches on for ever, rigourous fenestration patterning and use of interior courtyards. And the entire worlds supply of mosaics, in one building. I especially love the door handles to the main entrance, and of course the signage. The typeface, kerning and size is just perfect. So austere, and so effective. Old photos, from the state library and taken by Fritz Kos.
This is the Mt Eliza flats, designed by Krantz and Sheldon in 1964. A bold and striking addition to the skyline, the ‘thermos’ is a wonderful example of late experimental modernism in Perth, and according to the Architects (in 64), the only example of a truly circular multi story flats in Australia. 360 views from every floo, and central twisting stairs are some examples of the great features of Mt Eliza. Information and image taken from ‘Krantz and Sheldon’ by UWA press.
This is a small building down a side road at the Leederville Tafe. To be honest, I have no idea what this building is, and unfortunately I have no information on it. This building is so beautiful, one of the strongest, crispest and finely executed early modernist pieces I know of. In the manner of Dudok, it has very strong geometry and bold forms, with brilliant entry statement; a flowing concrete canopy that stretches across the long front and curves onto the forward projecting volume, tying the 2 forms together. Strong rhythm and fenestration control all add to make this such a strong building. Great colour with the brickwork and window frames as well. Excellent.
The Large Animal Facilty at UWA was done by Donaldson and Warn in 1999, and is a great addition to a remarkable campus. This building is for housing of large animals(!) and to provide support and a base for research, development, training and testing. The building on a whole fits into the UWA context perfectly with the cream brick and tile roof, along with raw concrete flourishes, yet creates a highly individual and interesting building. The almost fascist cues in style and uncomprimising use of materials in large slabs, creates a very powerful and dominant structure to occupy the space within the campus. The strong vertical blocks that stretch across the 2 long facades are both dominant features and also house the main services to supply the building, and they allow ease of access for replacement/repair/inspection etc. But for me the most interesting(and frankly baffling) aspect of this building is the infiltration of Venturian imagery. A concept explored several times before in Australia with varying success, this building fits into a very high intellectual train of thought, mostly dealing with the Australian condition. See comparison shot above! All in all, a finely executed building with lovely detailing and strong elements that blends into its surrounds perfectly.
Another house in Cottesloe I have no idea as to the architect, year of construction etc, but I can say that this house is wonderful. A great mix of high modern details, like strip windows, flat roof and bold, asutere facades, paired with a West Australian dryness. The use of cream bricks and other almost mundane suburban elements combine for a really strinking and simple house. Bold geometry and great subtle brick patterning.
This is the Poll House by Gary Marinko in Nedlands, completed in late 2002. It is one of Perth’s finest examples of contempory residential architecture, and is easily the most well known and widely published example of such. A house that while distinctly West Australian in approach and aesthetics, is perfectly at home in international design compilations. The house is especially notable for me, in the reinterpretation of the classic suburban house model, and the complexity that arises from the juxtapostion of elements. The house blends into its surroundings, borrows subtle imagery from them and reinterprets them to create a wondeful, yet slightly askew, new building. The hipped roof with bullnosed verandah, typical of working cottages and the low rectangular box underneath is taken and warped, the bullnose stretched, fattened and windows squashed and pushed to the periphery, or dissapeared all together. Also the use of industrial suburban elements, like tilt up concrete walls, gutter-less rounded roof bullnose and fencing taken from pools, schools and industrial estates are taken and inserted into a new setting, and made beautiful. Just a superb, intelligent example of contempory Perth residential architecture
Boans. A department store around from before i was born. I never got to experience any of its delightfulness. And what a pity it seems. From my research, Boans had some killer stores. This is from the skyscraper city forum, courtesy of Rob. I know nothing about it except it is in morley, and burnt down in the 80s. This is astounding design, why does documentation of this not exist? it is phenomonal! anyone got ANY information, or pictures, please let me know!
This is the Chauvel hose in cottesloe by Donaldson and Warn in the early 90s. One of their most importnat establishing projects and done in an exciting time of a new wave of intellectual architecture crossing the country, centred around transition. Very well executed refined dwelling, with a great use of concrete blocks and contrasting timber framed areas. Its a house that actively engages with the street and is a great mix of details, that creates a house that operates just outside the fringe of the norm. Some askew angles and austere, closed stair well, contrasting with the adjoining open, large glazed living area, just some parts of this house that are exceptionally interesting and finely resolved. Amongst the great pieces of west australian residential design.
