Comments on: 12 Grey Street St Kilda – Inspired Infill or Heritage Disaster ? http://www.melbourneheritage.com/2008/11/23/12-grey-street-inspired-infill-or-heritage-disaster Your Trusted Victorian voice for Historic and Architectural Preservation and Conservation Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:51:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: heritagepoliceman http://www.melbourneheritage.com/2008/11/23/12-grey-street-inspired-infill-or-heritage-disaster/comment-page-1#comment-72 heritagepoliceman Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:46:14 +0000 http://www.melbourneheritage.com/?p=139#comment-72 Actually, I think its not as bad as it looks. Or perhaps I mean as good as it looks. I saw the plans back in 2001, and yes it is a wierd not necessarily great facade made up of baubles really, but in the end, it's not going to stand out too much next the huge bulk of the George, at least in views from the juntion. The image makes it look much more glaring and shiny than it really will be - its just metal strips with little globes on it over a perfectly plain galss facade. I think I may have commented at the time that it would be much better however if it was one or two storeys lower, so it wouldnt dominate in views in the other direction along Grey Street. In fact, come to think of it, I think it was one storey taller (hence the now setback top floor). Cxertainly be better if the next top floor was also setback. I think there wasnt anything there before - it was orignally hotel land, and was just a yards / delivery area. While the back of the hotel is great, its been altered, and was never meant to be 'seen'. The other non-heritage concern was that it was all one-beds and bedsitters, many with windows only onto the lane. Probably end up a gaudy backpackers. Actually, I think its not as bad as it looks. Or perhaps I mean as good as it looks. I saw the plans back in 2001, and yes it is a wierd not necessarily great facade made up of baubles really, but in the end, it’s not going to stand out too much next the huge bulk of the George, at least in views from the juntion. The image makes it look much more glaring and shiny than it really will be – its just metal strips with little globes on it over a perfectly plain galss facade. I think I may have commented at the time that it would be much better however if it was one or two storeys lower, so it wouldnt dominate in views in the other direction along Grey Street. In fact, come to think of it, I think it was one storey taller (hence the now setback top floor). Cxertainly be better if the next top floor was also setback.

I think there wasnt anything there before – it was orignally hotel land, and was just a yards / delivery area. While the back of the hotel is great, its been altered, and was never meant to be ’seen’. The other non-heritage concern was that it was all one-beds and bedsitters, many with windows only onto the lane. Probably end up a gaudy backpackers.

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