Issue No. 215 October-November, 1970

ville, designed by Lund, Hutton, Newell Paulsen Pty. Ltd., architects (See C-S No. 209, April '70) received this award. The Commercial category saw a winner in Stephenson & Turner's T. & G. Building in (See C-S No. 199, May '69). ¶ Peter Blake successfully and entertainingly delivered the second Architectural Papers Oration in October, to a large audience. He speculated on the term "oration", hoping it did not mean a speech at the funeral of architecture. His aims were to talk about some of the new forces and attitudes that have emerged in the last 25 years which he illustrated having as much luck with the projector as J. M. Richards did last year. His main themes were Pop, technology and the unfinished, open-ended society. Blake believes the first architect to understand pop is Robert Venturi who follows the existentialist view that the environment around one is to be accepted and not considered degenerate and one improves it if possible rather than imposing an aesthetic ideal. Venturi talks of buildings being decorated sheds and loves the "dumb" and the "boring" building that happened and does not draw attention to itself by its excited or imposing form. It's a matter of the designer "learning to love the status quo", the quality of life expressed in Nixon's silent majority — not a high or the low style but the Mid-style which Venturi seeks to progress. Venturi is aware of and loves facadism found in say the Western pioneer towns and the flat pierced front appears in many of his designs. Venturi's atti- tude is: the building is just there and forget it. The design is unpretentious with no allusions to signifi- cance or to one ideal, but carefully considered and worked over though it is. On the issue of technology Photo: Richard Edwin Stringer being a force in latter day architecture, Blake stressed This fountain was designed by the Assistant U. Archi- the technology of services. Mies expressed structure tect K. S. Crump with Prof. G. H. McKay, professor in the habitat which was a realisation of the structural of civil engineering and N. Bailey, mechanical engi- aesthetic of bridges etc. in the 19th C. The 20th C. neer, for the lake at the U of . An attempt engineer is involved in producing the megalithic ser- was made to achieve a height and width of water vice system programme construction, seagoing oil rigs movement, thrusting about 70 feet up (about 21 metres) etc. which is having its impact on proposals for and spreading about 50 feet (about 15 metres), which habitat e.g. the Archigram and Metabolist schemes would be in scale with the lake and its surroundings. for megalopolis. Lou Kahn with the Med labs. in In this aim the fountain seems successful. The whims Philadelphia, expressed the service cores and not the of wind play the infinite variety of patterns of moving structure where Mies would have centred the services water. Submerged pumps force the jets of water inside the outer perimeter of symbolic structure. through copper sheathed P.V.C. pipes set at heights Blake enthused about the new windowless research ranging from 4 feet (about 1 metre) and 12 feet (about lab. at Cornell U. formed in the sentiments of Kahn 4 metres). When not operating the columns appear where the fortress-like indented reinforced concrete as simple man-made elements like piers. At night structure is "covered in brick sauce". This is "archi- the vertical jets are lit to their full height by incan- tecture out of plumbing". Illustrating the mobile descent lights within each column and the horizontal multi-storey structures and the giant vehicle assembly jets lit by submerged fixtures. Brisbane architects building at Cape Kennedy, in which a microcosmic are considering the fountain the best in that city. storm cloud might form and drop rain, he remarked If The Queensland Chapter of the R.A.I.A. has just had that only babies and architects are still building out its turn at presenting awards by architects for archi- of mud. Rather unsatisfactorily the lecture rounded tects. The Bronze Medal was for Malleys Limited off with comments and illustrations on buildings administration block at Wooloongabba designed by which complied with the needs of a growing population Prangley & Crofts (See C-S No. 207, Feb. '70). Six rather than with the nature of the present day social other buildings in different categories received cita- condition of perpetual change which the third theme tions of merit. The prized house was the Carter resi- promised. Illustrating the Lincoln Centre and John dence in , designed by P. J. Moroney. The Andrew's Scarborough College, he said of the first that ecclesiastical citation was awarded for St. Mark's it was a typical 16th C development terminating Catholic Church, Inala, designed by Cullen, Fagg, Hargraves, Mooney & Cullen. In the Institution category, eccentrically a New York vista and of the second its the community building at the Q. Inst. of Tech. de- greatest virtue was its extendable internal linear signed by the State Works Department with design street giving access to more spaces of the same kind and documentation work by Hayes and Scott was when needed. Blake politely brought his audience up merited. In the Scientific building class the Agricul- to date on the assumption that no-one was. ture and Entomology building at U. of Q. designed If Architect G. J. Watt has been awarded the R.A.I.A. by James Birrell & Partners was cited (See C-S No. 203, Victorian Chapter's inaugural $2,000 Kingsley Anketell Sept. '69). In the Urban section Lowths Hotel, Towns- Henderson scholarship. If Neville Quarry, the immediate past editor of C-S, has been appointed Professor of Architecture at the Papua New Guinea Institute of Technology in Lae. Dr. Balwant Saini, another former editor of C-S, and newly appointed reader at the U. of Melbourne, has been appointed to the Council of the P.N.G.I.T.

Photos: Laurie Richards

The atmosphere of the friendly residential country Photos: Harry Sowden pub is retained in this reconstruction of the Victoria Hotel at Elmore in Victoria. The outward expression The waterfront site to the Myers House, Mosman, of the rural sloping roof is retained internally by N.S.W., is only 48 feet wide, (about 14.5 metres) and timber lining the upper side of the rafters substanti- restricted by building alignments to a cul-de-sac street ating cosy informal clerestoried spaces. All walls have and water line. There are 4 bedrooms, a study, living, been constructed primarily from hand made bricks dining and kitchen/family rooms and a boatshed under from the original 1873 structure (it's a pity they had the house totalling 35 squares (about 325 square to be bagged and painted white). For 603.5 square metres). The design makes no attempt to look out from metres (65 squares) the cost was $150,000 including the restricted side elevations but is heavily fractured air-conditioning, carpets and all furniture. Architect: in plan and section to gain see-through glimpses of James Sadler of Carlton and United Breweries Ltd. the water view from almost every room. The steep Engineers: Kinnaird Hill, de Rohan and Young. Land- slope of the site is echoed in the roof planes. A series scape consultant: Robert K. Skerritt. Builders: Warren of small courtyards lead from all rooms and, at the & MacMahon. lowest level, a timber deck opens the view to 180 ¶ Three major motor hotels (what's happened to the degrees. The bricks were obtained by the client prior term "motel"?) worth altogether nearly $10 million will to architect engagement and are very old sandstocks be built by Mainline Constructions Pty. Ltd. One is a from Liverpool. Their orange and red hues are carried $1 million 64 suite building of 7 storeys at Artarmon through other materials with Western Red Cedar win- dows and boarding, terra cotta tile floors and roof. on the Pacific Highway, N.S.W. Architects: Frank Kolos Architects: Ancher, Mortlock, Murray & Woolley Pty. and J. H. Bryant. An 81 suite $1.3 million nine-storeyed Ltd. (Partner in charge: Ken Woolley). The house em- structure is scheduled for completion in 1971 in New- bodies the aspirations and sentiments evident in Syd castle. Architects: Laurie & Heath. Construction of the Ancher's earlier domestic designs for picturesque $7.5 million Convention Hotel overlooking 's identification with bush suburban site, using what Lake Burley Griffin begins this year with 215 suites in were once inexpensive materials. a 16-storey tower block. Architects: Peddle Thorp & Walker. ¶ A Mentone, Vic., building firm — Kurth Bros. Pty. Ltd. — has been commissioned by the Sultan of ¶ Construction on a new $500,000 hotel is under way Muscat to prefabricate a $75,000 motel for his Arabian in Belconnen, A.C.T., the first pub in the suburb. Archi- desert kingdom. tects: Kevin J. Curtain and Partners of Sydney. for all time. 7. The Melbourne City Council, represent- ing the people of Melbourne, and working in the community interest, has the final say on how the Civic Square and associated buildings will look — nobody else. 8. The eastern boundary of the square has a LOW building along it which will not exceed the height of the Town Hall and St. Paul's Cathedral. The other three sides front streets. (Observe the illustration — Ed.). 9. The Council will receive $601,000 in rent, plus rates, which could add up to $1,000,000 a year for every one of the next 94 years — money which can be applied to community needs. 10. This will be one of the finest squares in the world. 11. You will have ONE FULL ACRE of delightful open space for your relaxation — day or night. The paved open space will be landscaped, visually linking St. Paul's Cathedral and the Town Hall. 12. Your comfort has been written into the contract between the Council and developers. Wind tests — to the satisfaction of the Council — are part of the contract." Now we know. ¶ If you put rubbish into a computer you get rubbish out of it." So begins an article on traffic planning by Peter Samuel in the "Bulletin" 10/10/70. Mr. Pak-Poy of an Adelaide-based consulting firm: "Of the total funds and effort spent, too little has been devoted to preparation of the input plan and its resulting impli- cation and too much to a detailed elaboration of a transport system." Town Planning concerns would now suggest a rapport between model and its impact — try a transport layout and then discover its possible implications on land-use — then the layout should be modified and tested again on what could happen to land-use. John Paterson while working with the Urban Research Unit at the ANU found that transport plans based on the theory that land use will grow on its present pattern are out of touch. Employment etc. has decentralised to the suburbs. The comment the article gathers suggests that there should be com- munication facilities through the outer areas of large Australian cities rather than coverging on the inner central area. "Unlike some of the architects, the planners are not turning against cars. They are simply ¶ In the continuing story of Melbourne's proposed suggesting that the major effort should go into build- Civic Square, here is the next chapter (See C-S No. ing freeways in the new areas rather than in the inner 214, Sept. '70). The Save Our Square committee has suburbs" says Mr. Samuel. Some of the planners of presented a petition with 30,000 signatures to the course have been known to turn against the car in city council calling on it to stop the project. The the inner area. council is still negotiating for the purchase of 3 ¶ A N.S.W. Auditor-General's report tabled in State Collins Street properties still one of them being the Parliament shows that Joern Utzon has been paid from Theosophical Society building. The council to date has spent about $7 million for buildings to clear the the inception of the Opera House in 1957 to 1970, fees sites for the city square and the tower (See C-S No. of $1,275,000. The panel of three architects replacing 212, July '70). A director of the developing company him in 1966 have been paid fees of $1,704,029, but then D. Mark Cato hinted that the tower might drop in the expected total cost of the Opera House has risen height and that more ground floor area might be given considerably since Utzon departed. over to the square. Meanwhile, a pamphlet was distri- ¶ A contract worth $4.7 million for the building of the buted by The Men from Anti-Knock. Two big pics of Adelaide Festival Theatre (see C-S No. 204, Nov. '69) the model of the square, one of which is illustrated was awarded in September to A. V. Jennings Industries are captioned in 1" high lettering — "This is how (Aust.) Ltd. your civic square will look — great!" It continues: ¶ The NCDC has let a $5.7 million contract to Civil This pamphlet is issued by the Men from Anti-Knock, and Civic Pty. Ltd. to build 2 seven-storey office blocks a committee comprising (there follows six names and for the first of the Campbell Park office complex. At addresses) dedicated to protecting valuable com- least two more office blocks at a future date will form munity assets against ill-formed criticism". It makes the complex with an ultimate office population of the following points. "You should know: 1. The Scheme 4,000. Architects: Commonwealth Department of Works. was adopted by the UNANIMOUS vote of the City If A 33-storey building is planned for Collins St. Mel- Council, including Labour and Civic Group members. bourne for the Commonwealth Banking Corporation 2. Should any new members be elected to the Council, and demolition of century-old buildings on the site these would be insufficient to alter the decision has already begun. Architects: Bates, Smart & McCut- unanimously made. Even if it was possible to reverse cheon. the decision, the City of Melbourne could expect a ¶ Before looking at old Melbourne, have a look at massive claim for damages from the developers. 3. A "National Trust Guides, Melbourne" by John P. Rogan. contract to build the square and the two adjacent Jacaranda Press, $1.35. buildings was signed months ago. 4. The developers have paid $750,000 to the Council and a further ¶ Melbourne architects Perrott, Lyon, Timlock and $3,000,000 is due to be paid at the end of the year. Kesa are the designers for the proposed $5 million 5. There are three separate projects involved — (i) CML office block of 16 storeys in central Melbourne. The Civic Square. (ii) A low-level building fronting ¶ At the U of Melbourne plans have been announced the square on its eastern side, and (iii) the Tower for $600,000 376-vehicle capacity underground carpark building, alongside the low-level building, on the side for staff only. The park produces a n acre roof which furthest away from the square. 6. The City of Mel- will be landscaped with areas of grass and seating and bourne will own the whole site — and the buildings — paved walkways. Engineers: Harris, Lange and Partners. Heat loads in air-conditioning plants are North-westerly significantly reduced, resulting in improved performance, frequently a smaller unit can be installed. aspects Reflecto-Shield transmits adequate working light into the building while eliminating the annoying distraction of glare. cramping your Visibility from within the building during style? daylight is unimpaired. We'd like you to learn more about Reflecto- Shield and have you discuss your design When you're designing a building with problems without obligation with our highly a north-westerly aspect you can do one of qualified Technical Consultants: Mr. F. R. three things to combat Richards, C.Eng., M.I.MECH.E., M.N.Z.I.E., hot afternoon sun: F.I.H.V.E.; Mr. D. Hassall, B.E., M.Bdg.Sc. 1. Put up a solid wall. You'll no longer be up against a brick wall 2. Make the windows when faced with a north-westerly aspect. small. 3. Design ugly and unnecessary window shutters and screens.

But specify Reflecto-Shield window insulation and you've solved design problems like these. Reflecto-Shield solar control film has been developed for application to windows to reduce the transmission of heat and glare from the sun Reflecto-Shield window insulation consists of polyester film which can be adhered to glass with a special adhesive system without causing optical distortion. It is metallised with a precision-controlled density of aluminium, and coated for protection. Heat flow through window glass can be cut by up to 75% depending on the grade of Reflecto-Shield film selected. WINDOW INSULATION EGIS -A v MAKERS OF SISALATION AND SI",ALKRAFT • Sydney 76-0531 • Melbourne 46-1684 • Brisbane 5-3357 • Adelaide 45-5353 • Canberra 95-6597 • Perth 65-1155 • Hobart 23-7058 • Devonport 27-2221 SR 5445/70 Photo: Richard Edwin Stringer The new administration building for the Northern • Electric Authority of Queensland is a tough-finished classicising arrangement of elevated thick planes and paired niches supported by a free-standing flat-finned colonnade. Situated at Townsville, it was designed by the firm of Lund, Hutton, Newell, Paulsen Pty. Ltd. ) Maintenance is to be kept to a minimum by using sand blasted concrete for the structural members and ' rock face concrete masonry infill in shaded reveals with ceramic tiling to soffits. Deepest windows and • r ground floor colonnade help reduce the load an the air conditioning plant. This is also assisted by the subdivision of the plenum system into zones so that portion of the plant need only be used as departments actually require it. Like so many buildings with car park surrounds, amenity and beauty will increase as the trees grow. Structural engineer: J. Koeter. Mechani- • " cal: Ariotti, Norman, Hamilton and Bruce. Landscape architect: L. Thomas of the Townsville City Council. • Quantity Surveyor: N. B. Sheridan. Builder: Dowsett Engineering (Aust.) Pty. Ltd.

4

Photo: Richard Edwin Stringer • From the point of view of services provision a dental school must be one of the most complicated build- ings about. In addition to all those rare and complex pipes that hospitals specialise in, a great number of „ individual service points must cope with the vast sea of dental chairs. The earlier dental school had a between-floor, wall-to-wall duct complete with its own windows but this new building for Queensland Uni- versity manages to handle all within a 2' 0” deep ' suspended metal pan ceiling and central vertical ducts. Floor to floor height is 10' 0". Construction is • off-form jaw-breaking r.conc., and not as one might have symbolically expected, cavity and infill. Con- . siderations such as the steep site, underground rail- way activity and the necessity of patients arriving from the high level of the existing building next door have ruled out excavation and led to the elevated structure with an airy undercroft along the rock face. • Vehicle access is from high ground at the rear and a straightforward bridge cleanly connects with the earlier building. Architectural and structural design were by the Queensland Government Works Department with • A. E. Axon and Associates, electrical and mechanical engineers; Rider Hunt & Partners, quantity surveyors and the builder was T. J. Watkins Pty. Ltd.

\ Photo: Geoff rey Harris , Winter Park is the latest in a series of experimental housing groups by Merchant Builders P/L. This scheme consists of 5 houses, and is the first stage of a cluster development of 20 houses grouped around common access courts and facing onto a large common park. The houses are all refined versions of the original Merchant Builders' standard project homes, and were designed by Graeme C. Gunn (seen above with from I. to r. John Ridge, Graeme Gunn, David Yencken, Ellis Stones). For display purposes the interior decor of each house is different from its neighbours: success- fully ranging from Queen Anne to Domus 1970. Trees, rocks, courtyard walls, and brick paving have been sensitively used by landscape architect Ellis Stones to unify building with environment. The development is being sold under Strata Title.

The brief for these cottages required two adjoining holiday homes at Portsea (Vic.) that blended with early Portsea architecture. The architects Chancellor and Patrick might have produced a Wrightian building in this beach holiday resort in other circumstances which they have done long and well. The small units as an addition give the characteristic M shaped roof finished in brick-red Roman tiles. White painted bag- ged prickwork completes this present day view of the cottage of Victorian days. While the total form is assymetrical it still evokes those humble classicised shelters. Builder: Vindin Suares Pty. Ltd. ¶ Hobart is to have a new 15-storey Commonwealth offices planned for occupation in 1973 and costing $4,600,000. It will be the first stage of a Hobart Com- monwealth Centre. Looking at, say, Melbourne's Com- monwealth Centre developed so far, C-S wishes Hobart good luck. ¶ In Perth the W.A. Main Roads Department has awarded a $61- million contract to Citra Australia for five road bridges and a foot bridge for the Narrows interchange project. ¶ Architects and planners Clarke, Gazzard and Partners ' have submitted a plan for Surfers Paradise and have had it approved by that area's Council. Three short- comings of the existing conditions are proposed to be rectified by road husbandry (closing old roads and opening new ones), more space for pedestrian circula- tion in shopping centres and a central bus terminal to alleviate the nuisance of many bus-stop points. ¶ C-S welcomes its second new back-page advertiser. Inquiries for advertising space should be directed to the Editor, Cross-Section, School of Architecture and Building, , Parkville, 3052. Talk to your friendly business exec. will you? Next month's issue will contain a subscription form.

Library Digitised Collections

Title: Cross-Section [1970-1971]

Date: 1970-1971

Persistent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11343/24064

File Description: Cross-Section, Oct 1970 (no. 215)