Textured Bricks & Curves Make A Hobart Art Deco Home

This home in Hobart uses textured bricks that sweep around the home in order to achieve an interesting and striking Art Deco residence.  This brick was used widely throughout Tasmania, but what makes this home rather unique is that the original bricks haven't been painted over, as has been done with many other homes that are of a similar style.  It's almost an early version of the Brutalist style was to follow after the War, in exposing concrete instead of hiding it through paint etc.  The front door is also period styling with angles timber and glass a main feature.

J Minty & Co Sheetmetal Workers

This corker of a 1960s design is located on the outskirts of the Hobart Central Business District.  It looks like you could have walked straight into a 1960s set. This commercial building, it's a very interesting 1960s design, with elaborate use of glass and steel frame "curtain wall" design, typical of the period, allowing ample natural light into the workspace. The main advertising that jutts out from the center of the building  is a period piece in itself with the custom made "Minty's" logo featuring boldly.

Former Devonport Maternity Hospital Saved from Demolition

The iconic post-War built Devonport Maternity Hospital has been abandoned for some time now, and since then it has been badly damaged and has been given a lot of media attention in regards to issues surrounding health and safety.

It's been reported that the complex has been sold to a Melbourne developer who plans to convert the site into 50 apartments.   The previous developer had plans submitted for apartments too, but nothing eventuated from this.  Let's hope that this new owner comes through and converts a Modernist gem. Let's hope that the iconic period features, such as the curved balconies, are retained.

To view a photo essay on the former Devonport Maternity Hospital click here

Steam & Boiler Plant - Royal Derwent Hospital

 Whilst the Royal Derwent Hospital closed down in 2000, the large boiler block designed in the 1950s still stands, dominating with it's high brick facade and towering chimney stack.  On the side of the building there is a sign (that now looks quite old itself) informing people that the building is for sale.  I would be interested to know how this building could be adaptively reused?  A highrise 1950s style apartment conversion perhaps?

Royal Derwent Hospital Wards - Demolition Eminent?

These photographs of of some of the wards at the former Royal Derwent Hospital.  The land that all the former wards occupy is proposed to be redeveloped and many of the 1950-60s wards will be demolished to make way for the new development.

Ward 7 and the Ha-Ha pit were the first buildings to demolished just days after the heritage status of the buildings were overturned in a tribunal hearing.

 Rocks and Earth piled up beside the former Hospital Wards

The other wards have remained, but tiles from the roofs on many of the buildings have been partly removed, cleaned up of the strewn objects inside of them and spray painted numbers on each of the wards showing their location.  On the opposite side of the road that divides the western Wards, a large housing complex is being designed and built, and the encroachment is getting ever closer to the former hospital buildings.

Tiles have been removed from many of the buildings

One can assume that it will be only a matter of time before the buildings will see the same fate as Ward 7, but it's a guessing game as to when they will come tumbling down.

How much longer will this site be around?

To view a photo essay on the former Royal Derwent Hospital Complex click here

Future of Historic Art Deco Buildings Remains Unclear - Former Royal Derwent Hospital Complex

The historic and heritage listed Art Deco oval precinct buildings (Glenora House, Esperance House & Franklin House) at the Royal Derwent Hospital have been in state of decay and vandalism since it's closure in 2000. It was the oldest operating mental institution in Australia, operating from 1830-2000.

The iconic Art Deco period buildings form an historic link to the history of what is a massive site with a wonderful diversity of Architectural styles. I recently contacted Derwent Valley Councilor, Damian Bester to to find out about the future of these Art Deco Buildings.

If we rewind to the early part of 2010, the Council put the oval and buildings out to pubic tender.  There was no outright successful Tender, but I have been informed by recent correspondence by Cr Bester that in a closed Council meeting on May 11th that is was decided

"to directly negotiate with four of the unsuccessful tenderers to bring about the sale of the oval. The council proposes to put a yet-to-be-determined project to the tenderers and ask which is prepared to build it."

But what about the oval ward buildings themselves?  What of their future? There needs to be greater transparency in regards to what has been mentioned as the "yet-to-be-determined project".  Surely the public has a right to know what is planned? Will the oval be lost to a car park, shopping complex, apartments?  All just assumptions, but there can only be assumptions without transparency.  The heritage listed Art Deco Oval precinct Buildings need to be taken into consideration if the oval is to be built on.  Buildings something unsympathetic to the heritage listed Art Deco wards is just as bad as leaving them to ruin.

Cr Bester has informed me that at a Council meeting on 20th May, 2010 it was announced that the Council would negotiate with the State Government to transfer the entire Willow Court site back to the State Government.  The question is, does this mean the transfer of just the 1800s designed Willow Court Precinct, or ALL council owned buildings, including the oval precinct wards?

Cr Bester in relation to this question has said that in his opinion "the decision on May 20 to negotiate to transfer the whole of the site to the government, should over-ride the earlier decision to negotiate the sale of the oval, but I would appear to be on my own there"

Watch for future blog updates as Cr Bester has informed me that there was a Councillor Workshop held on the 8th June "to discuss the requirements of Council for the Oval space". Cr Bester was unable to attend this meeting but has informed me that he has "asked for a report to come before a proper council meeting for a decision"  Maybe this report will answer many questions that remain, at present, unclear.

Clear and transparent action needs to be taken urgently before these historic and heritage listed buildings are lost forever

To view a photographic essay of the former Royal Derwent Hospital click here

Apartment Highrise Living - Hobart

This set of apartment blocks in Hobart are a rare example of 1960s highrise living in Hobart.  I really enjoy these apartments, heir design allows them to take advantage of being tall to allow maximum number of residents, but they are not at all demanding on the surrounding landscape.  The glass and aluminum windows are broken up by using colours, brown vertical ones on the apartment block to the left, and green horizontal lines to the building on the right. 

In a period when urban sprawl is placing demands on the very places people utlise such as shops, and recreational areas in Hobart, future planning should be committed to looking at a mix of highrise buildings within Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie in order to cope with future population booms and demands on city resources.

The post war period, especially the 1950s and 1960s hasn't been given the recognition and credit it duly deserves. The Architects of the period produced innovative ideas through their building designs that incorporated responses such as environmentalism and urban planning issues well before Politicians in the contemporary context caught onto the idea.

The 20th century has to also be accepted as part of our collective history and identity. If all Modernist buildings in Tasmania were to be demolished, there wouldn't be much of Tasmania left!  Similar to the cultural cringe that was evident some 20 years ago in relation to convict history, Modernist Architecture is now suffering the a similar denial, but this time on the premise of considered 'ugliness' or 'not fitting in' .

Accepting Modernism and it's contributions to Tasmania, both positive and negative, will help us to better understand where we have come from, who we are and aid in helping guide us to a better built environments for the future. 

To deny our recent past in favour of some kind of 19th century Tasmanian Utopia is misguided and in the long term doesn't address contemporary issues of city pressures such as urban sprawl.

Streamline Red Brick Home - Launceston

The use of red brick was very common in Tasmania in the 20th century, and this Streamline Moderne home in Launceston is no exception.  It's use of curved brick forms is captivating and really makes the home stand out from the crowd, as does the winding footpath leading to the front door.  The impact comes from the use of different toned red bricks, as it apparent through the darker bricks that form the external fireplace, and make it a real centerpiece of the design, as was common in many Modernist homes of the period.

Queenstown Art Deco - The Paragon Theatre

The former Queenstown Picture Theater has been bought back from the dead. Since its original use as a Theater it was used in many ways such as an indoor cricket ground.  Whilst I walked around the grand space in the day time, the owner told me how the walls were painted a vivid green and that the roof had caved in when he had originally bought it!

The hours of work and effort have paid off and a grand transformation has since occurred.  The moment you enter through and up the grand period staircase the views of the Theatre room are immense and dramatic - a massive space in terms of the sheer height and width of the venue.

The owner tells me that the the marble floor stone work design that he has installed was influenced from the Chrysler Building, another Art Deco gem, and as you look to the ground and view the lines and geometric angles it certainly leaves an impression.

The feel of the place is one that just has to be experienced - sofas and couches that are so comfortable you could fall asleep in them if it wasn't for the entertainment of the movies screening, and it beats any lure of a city cinema trying to entice people in with special deals and the like. To experience the Paragon is the experience.

Tasmanian Modern Architecture Photography Exhibition Dates Extended

For those who haven't had the chance to view my major exhibition, Tasmanian Modern: The Forgotten Architecture, the good news is that there is still time to see the show as it's been extended until mid June.

Venue: The Atrium Café, 113 Cimitiere Street, Launceston Time: Mon - Fri. 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Admission: Free