so i have news!!! and im not pregnant! There is a talk on tomorry night at the bakery, Iredale Pederson Hook and Joe Chindarsi are speaking, so come down if you care about architecture and love perth. 2 really great firms. 5 clams if your a student, 10 if not. 6 oclock. be there and square. show your support.
love me.
This is the Mcness Memorial gardens in the CBD, just opposite QV1. So surprising to find great little landscaping gems in the city, so often overlooked. This was moved from its original location, but it was still retained which is great! It is a wonderful art deco bit of landscaping, designed by one of our leading Art Deco practitioners WG Bennet, creator of the Raffles for one.. Such a wonderful space, but it has kind of lost some love, looks a bit like a junky/chromer hang out. oh well, it rules.
This is my first bus stop posted, but I will do more. They are a wonderful addition to the West Australian streetscape. They are so brutal, and so magnificent. And so slept on. This is not as good as the concrete versions, but i love the simplicity, form, and honesty in this unassuming piece of design. Form follows function, yet still shines. The new bust stops have nothing on these. Photo by Clam Walnut.
This is Raymond Jones’ hosue in Fremantle. I dont have much to say about it, becuase it blows my mind so much I plan on investigating it much further. I have not felt this strongly about a piece of architecture on first sight in a very long time. It literally melted my brain. To have this, sitting in the middle of the suburbs, quietly existing on the periphery astounds me. It reminds me of the house in Mon Oncle. It is so modern. In every sense of the word. Shapes, materials, execution, everything. The cladding is so shiny, and harsh, the windows are so severe and interesting. The way it reasts to the street, and to itself is so good. Anywyas, I dont want to rattle on to much, just enjoy the pictures.
This is Perry Lakes stadium in Floreat, design for the commonwealth games held here in 1962. It is an important piece of our history, and a great piece of modernist architecture. It is however, being demolished and making way for progress. sigh. Although this new plan has merits(the stadium is an obvious white elephant, is in a terrible state of disrepair,and the design is unsuitable for our climate etc), it is still a sad loss. I am unsure of the architect apart from PWD. Possibly william Green. If you know, tell me! Such beautiful details, and is a great place to explore, the details are wonderful. Fenestration arrangement, finishes, light fittings, stairs etc etc. Its just awesome. Goodbye perry lakes. you will be missed!
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.
