You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone - St Helens Shop Destroyed

There are times when I reflect on Tasmanian Modernism and the lack of protection and awareness of our 20th Century buildings. Sometimes it's of a grand building left to ruin like the C.H Smith Complex in Launceston and other times it's scenes of no buildings at all that trigger reflective thoughts of how quickly buildings can disappear from our landscape.

This photograph I took of an empty site barricaded has a story behind it. When I took this photograph in the coastal township of St Helens, only a week had passed since a fire gutted what was once a shop. The day before I took it there were bulldozers ripping apart what remained of the building and only the chimney stack survived... By the time I had returned it too had it's fate sealed.

These kind of scenes to me are very powerful and emotive as they highlight that the places we often taken for granted and have been part of our communities can just as easily disappear forever. Whilst I was taking this photo, a couple walked past, the clouds were building and the presence of the security fence summed up the sombre mood of a building that was once part of peoples collective experiences and memories, a sense of history and place forever erased from the landscape.

Australian 20th Century Modernist Architecture - 20,000km in pursuit of Modern Gems

Ever wondered what Australia has to offer in regards to Art Deco & Modernism architecture and design? Check out my sister-blog "Australian Art Deco & Modernism" to check out my project exploring 20c design from Melbourne to Mossman in tropical Far North Queensland. 20,000KM of driving in the pursuit of Modernist design!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT ART DECO AND MODERNISM AUSTRALIA

Hobart Modernism - Commercial Tower Block

Whilst Hobart is one of the smallest capital cities in Australia, it has its fair share of high-rise commercial office buildings. After the Second World War Hobart experienced a major construction boom. Prior to the 1960s Hobart's tallest buildings would have been no higher than 2-4 stories. Whilst many of the tower blocks are not tall in comparison to other Australian cities, the construction of these buildings at the time dramatically transformed the city landscape.

This weeks feature building stands near the CBD on a busy artery road. I really enjoy this buildings lines and as it's painted white and stands alone as a tall building, it really highlights it's presence from many vantage points.

High-rise buildings contribute to cities being cities, and whilst Hobart and Tasmania suffers from a "ye old sandstone" ideology, there are many examples in Hobart, and throughout Tasmania, of High-rise tower blocks that have contributed to the progress of Tasmania.

Check out the Art Deco & Modernism poll to the right of the main page and cast your vote!

Modernism down the toilet - Columba Falls Toilet Block

I wonder sometimes what some people must think when one photographs a period toilet block! Nonethless no building is left alone in the pursuit of finding Modernist design, the search takes us to places where others do not dare venture!

This 1950/60s toilet block at the iconic Columba Falls walking track on Tasmania's North East stands out amongst the temperate rainforest. The design is classic 1950/60s with each end of the building jutting on a slight angle and the square windows another give-away and interesting use of stone on each corner.

The Mercury Newspaper Printing Building - An Art Deco Industrial Building

Followers of my blog may remember a post I did back in February 2010 about the landmark Art Deco offices of the Hobart Mercury Newspaper head office.This weeks post is of the Mercury printing rooms, where the newspaper production happens. It's just around the corner from the towering Art Deco main offices and there are a number of interesting details of the building including the steel frame windows and the clever use of bricks to add detail above the windows as well as the striking central detailed column. Often it's the main period buildings that are in the central streets that are noticed, but if one walks down side streets than it's where one often finds exciting period details!

Scottsdale Art Deco - St Barnabas Hall

Scottsdale in Tasmania's North East is home to St Barnabas Hall designed in the Art Deco style and has several interesting and intriguing features. First up the "patterned" brick work was popular in Tasmania and can be seen on many buildings, especially residential buildings. Often this style of brick wasn't painted over.


Whilst the facade has been painted, if you walk around the side of the hall, you can witness it in all it's unpainted glory.

There is something not quite right about this hall. What I mean is, the main entrance looks as if it doesn't fit with the original 2 story facade. I could be wrong but it just looks out of place, something tells me it was a later extension. The aluminium windows may look good on a streamline 60s build, but they don't do anything for this building. It's amazing how much the original windows can create cohesion with this design. Then there are the port holes on the building, were these once windows, or were they always non-transparent?

The stepped detailing on the top of the building is very interesting as is the concrete butterfly effect at the bottom of window. Whilst Scottsdale doesn't have a lot of Modernist buildings, this Art Deco Hall is an interesting addition to the street-scape.