former Coles Store, Adelaide

Architect Harry Norris designed a number of stores for the Coles retail chain from the late 1920 through to about 1940.

This store, located in Adelaide's Rundle Mall was designed towards the end of this period. It is no longer a Coles store and now serves as a retail arcade.

Norris completed the building in caramel coloured faience tiles providing a smooth surface. The metal frames of the horizontal bands of windows are painted a similar colour.

Above the top row of windows a row of cream tiles, set perpendicular to the facade, provide some measure of shading.

For me, this building demonstrates simple elegance as it curves around the corner with virtually no decoration.