One of Melbourne’s institutions, the last remaining grand hotel and Melbourne’s largest former coffee palace Windsor Hotel (formerly the Grand) is to be renovated and “modernised” by developers, the Halim Group who bought it for $37 million and want to spend another $45 million Personally I don’t see anything at all wrong with the [...]
Since living in Brisbane, where the whole idea of closing in verandahs on Queenslanders to create new room and space was a common practice, I’ve come to recognise the damage that this practice can do to our built environment.
While it is rarer in Melbourne, there are some criminal acts of urban vandalism which have continued [...]
I’m of the strong opinion that no city should demolish a previously tallest building, however old and ugly as they may seem at the moment. They are bound to be a landmark of their era and are more often than not a representation of the finest in architectural and engineering achievements of their time. [...]
Spotted on Fading Victoria a great article about an impressive small bluestone house restoration up at Craigieburn on the fringe of the metropolitan area in one of Melbourne’s growth corridors. Some great work there, both in the restoration and documenting it.The link is here …http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20080728XF9N3954/
I’ve read a lot of fors and against the practice facadism or facadomy (the practice of demolishing everything of a building but its facade), but what really disturbs me is the National Trust’s such staunch stance against it.
For some buildings it is the only change of retaining some heritage at all, and it would seem [...]
VCAT, citing the Victorian government’s Melbourne 2030 planning policy has approved a 10 storey residential development which could threaten Bridge Road’s heritage despite strong opposition from the local mayor of the City of Yarra.
The site at 234 Bridge Road, near the corner of Church Street is in a heritage overlay.
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The Bridge Road strip [...]
I’ve only just become familiar with the term “intangible heritage” over the last few weeks, and in particular the story of the National Trust’s fight to preserve graffiti art, but also how it applies to other cases and who’s role it is to preserve it.
Wikipedia defines cultural heritage as:
the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – [...]
Skipping Girl Vinegar neon sign in Abbotsford affectionately known as ‘Little Audrey’ was officially declared a Victorian Heritage Icon by the National Trust in 2007 but the neon has been on the blink for a decade and now they’re trying to restore it and get it going again so Melbourne’s skyline can have a get [...]
A fire broke out today at Rupertwood Mansion in Sunbury. Built between 1874 and 1876, the spectacular 50 room Italianate mansion has a 100 foot tower and is home to cricket’s famous “ashes”. It is one of the most distinctive boom style mansions in the Melbourne metropolitan area.
Fortunately the blaze was contained [...]
Myer and David Jones are currently having a redevelopment war in the Melbourne CBD with each vying to have the more impressive buildings. Unfortunately, this means several of their current buildings is getting in the way of their plans. Following the shock demolition of landmarks like the Victorian landmark Old Eastern Arcade, it [...]
