Chemistry Building - University of Tasmania #2

From the old photographs that document the new buildings going up at the Sandy Bay Camps, the Engineering Building was one of the first, being built about the same time as the Engineering Block.

This building employs the iconic style of the period, the glass curtain wall design, a first for Hobart.  This is apparent as you enter towards the main entrance.  Viewing the main entrance from the facade, the building takes on an L shape and the impressive glass wall design is what you first view.  The building has been built in yellow brick, of which I have been told was a prerequisite of building many of the buildings on campus.  The cream bricks have been used to great visual effect within the glass wall, showing through the transparent blue tinted glass.

The main entrance is impressive and 3 concrete columns certainly a grand and make a statement.  The entrance is built from glass and aluminum, creating a contrast between the 'heavy' feel of bricks and the 'lightness that glass and aluminum gives. 

Whilst aluminum may not be given a second thought today as a design tool, after the War the use of the material was cutting edge and replaced the more expensive steel frame windows that were popular in the inter War-period. These buildings like many other designed after the War had constrains on them such as access to resources and keeping costs to a minimum were always a main attribute in Government buildings where style went up against efficient use of tax payer money.  Advertisements throughout the 1950s and 1960s promoting the use of aluminum and glass doors and windows are immense. 
Whilst post war Architecture is under-appreciated, realising that the use of innovative materials such as aluminum and glass are the key materials in post-war architecture, much like the steel frame windows and curved bricks of the Art Deco period.