University of Tasmania Arts Building #5

The University of Tasmania Arts Building is a substantial design standing on the southern end of the University complex. The white painted sections are complemented by green panels that break up the uniformity of the building. The use of coloured elements is a common thread throughout many of the buildings on the University of Tasmania campus.

The main entrance has interesting features that include original small tiles and square and rectangle shape windows that follow the main central staircase.

The interior spaces have remained pretty much intact since the building erected in the 1960s. As such the spaces are quite small in relation to the number of students using the building.

It has been suggested that some of the original 20th century buildings on the campus would need to be demolished in the future to make way for expansions.

University of Tasmania Hitton Hall #4

(Source: Archives Office of Tasmania: AB713-1-6938)

Hitton Hall is an imposing post war design that stands alone on the hillside. It was originally designed to accommodate students, but to my knowledge it is now used as the School of Education Building.

The building is an excellent example of this period of architecture, built at a time when funding and building materials were at a shortage.

There is a clear move away from the decoration of the Art Deco period, with adornments stripped to their essentials. Features are expressed through the central staircase column and glass paneling. There is a second floor verhanda, and the roof has an interesting angular shape.

Since this archive photograph was taken, the young gum trees have grown large around the site.

University of Tasmania Morris Miller Library #3

The University of Tasmania Library is currently undergoing redevelopment, but the majority of the building is still largely in its original state. The windows throughout the building are red and clear glass panels; a feature that is carried out though many of the campus buildings.

The interior staircase is an impressive feature made with a range of elements including linoleum, steel iron work and plastic and concrete. All these elements come together to form a functional yet pleasing design.

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.

University of Tasmania - Engineering Building Block #1

This section of the Engineering Block (pictured above) was one of the the earliest buildings to be erected at the new Sandy Bay campus. This section of the Engineering Building is akin to an industrial factory of the same period, with its large expanse of glass windows and steel frame windows, with green painted timber panels above the large series of windows. The roof is designed in what is referred to as the saw-tooth style.

Whilst not a high building, the glass panel facade can be considered an early example of glass curtain wall design.  As future posts will highlight, UTAS boasts a large number of glass curtain wall designed buildings.  UTAS can lay claim to being the first in Hobart, and indeed Tasmania to employ the design.

What will become apparent thorough this special look at the University Buildings is the extensive use of coloured glass and/or concrete.

The windows of this section of the Chemistry Block are tinted different shades of blue which is simply fascinating to view and photograph.  Industrial buildings around Tasmania that you can see this design in are found in buildings such as the former Burnie Paper Mill

Source: Archives Office of Tasmania: PH30-1-3607

In the photograph above, the second building to the left is the Student Union Building, already erected. The building on the opposite side of the road is the shell of the Chemistry Building going up, and behind that is the the section of the Engineering building featured in this blog entry being built.  The text in the photograph states that a new University is being constructed at the cost of 3 Million Pounds.

 This photograph (above) highlights the use of coloured glass against transparent glass to great effect.

Close up view of the Engineering Workshop entrance that highlights the elaborate use of glass