Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Manhole Covers, New Zealand

Sometimes it pays to look down to find beauty. Like these New Zealand manhole covers.

Manhole Cover, Napier
a deco one from Napier

Manhole Cover, Wellington
and a more modern one (2005) from Wellington

Monday, July 29, 2013

former Warragul Playgroup Building

former Warragul Playgroup

I don't know much about this building at all but I pass it very often since it is on the way into Warragul off the second freeway exit. Signage in front of the building indicates that it was once the home of the Warragul Playgroup, a childminding centre I presume, but I am fairly sure that it is no longer used for that purpose.

former Warragul Playgroup

Lettering on the front edge of the awning reads 'Exhibition Hall' so I guess that is another former use. Sometimes when I've been going past there as been some activity in the building. I can recall a plant seller operating out of it for a few days and a bookseller at another time but theses occupations have been short-lived one-off events. It is 'on the wrong side of the tracks', so cut off by the Gippsland railway line, it is a bit of a hike from Warragul's commercial centre.

former Warragul Playgroup

Still, it is an attractive building and looks great in the afternoon sun against a blue sky. I suspect the pencil pines are part of the original planting since they are now taller than the building but they have been placed to reinforce the regular spacing of the windows.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Building, Napier

Napier, NZ

A nice corner Deco building from 1934 in Napier, NZ.

Napier, NZ

Friday, July 26, 2013

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

State Theatre, Masterton

State Theatre, Masterton

According to the Cinema Treasures website, the State Theatre in Masterton, NZ was built in the 1930s. The decoration around the upper storey windows and the leadlight windows in the shops at street level confirm the deco connection.

State Theatre, Masterton

State Theatre, Masterton

Reference:
State Theatre, Masterton, NZ, Cinema Treasures

Monday, July 22, 2013

Staircase, Urca

Staircase, Urca

If you've been paying attention you will remember I posted some photos of an amazing bathroom in a house in the Rio suburb of Urca. I also posted some pics of the front door with figures of a hunter and a gazelle incorporated into the metal work. This is the staircase that greets you once you get inside that front door.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Fish Creek Hotel, Fish Creek

Fishy Pub, Fish Creek

The Fish Creek, better known locally as the Fishy Pub.

Fishy Pub, Fish Creek

Saturday, July 20, 2013

KIngs Theatre, Bega

Kings Theatre, Bega

The Kings Theatre in Bega opened in 1935 and closed in 1992. Since then there has been talk of setting it up as a regional performing arts space. I'm not sure what the current status is but you can see that there is a furniture store firmly entrenched on the ground floor.

Kings Theatre, Bega

Reference:
Historic theatre pitched for new arts space, ABC News, 20 Jul 2011

Friday, July 19, 2013

Shanghai Building

Shanghai Building

I spotted this building off one of the major streets in Shanghai. I liked the view of the building through the trees with the cloud-filled sky in the background.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

former Police Station, Palmerston North

former Police Station, Palmerston North

The foundation stone, laid by the Hon. Peter Fraser, Minister in Charge of the Police Department on 28 Sep 1938, indicates that the police station in Palmerston North was designed by the Government Architect, J T Mair.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Commercial Road Primary School, Morwell

Commercial Road PS, Morwell

The Commercial Road Primary School (State School No 2136) was established in 1879 and moved to this site in the early 1880s. The timber school room still stands on the site but this is the later brick building designed by the Victorian Public Works Department under Percy Everitt.

Commercial Road PS, Morwell
Commercial Road PS, Morwell
Commercial Road PS, Morwell

Reference:
Commercial Road Primary School, Morwell

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Trafalgar Public Hall

Trafalgar Public Hall

There's a great public hall in the small Gippsland town of Trafalgar. The architect was F C Purnell and the foundation stone was laid by the Hon M McGregor MLC on 17 August 1934.

Trafalgar Public Hall
Trafalgar Public Hall

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Hotel Aramaya, Montevideo

Hotel Aramaya, Montevideo

This is the Hotel Aramaya on 18 de Julio Ave in Montevideo. I'd love to find out some more information about the building. I can see some stripped back Art Nouveau lines in the shape of the windows and railings but also some Art Deco lines, particularly on the corner tower.

Hotel Aramaya, Montevideo

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Westcourt, Hastings

Westcourt, Hastings

Westcourt, in Hastings, is a nice apartment block arranged in a 'U' shape around a courtyard.

Westcourt, Hastings
Westcourt, Hastings
Westcourt, Hastings

Friday, July 5, 2013

Hospital Buildings, Hastings

Hospital, Hastings

Here is a couple of buildings on the grounds of the Hastings Hospital off Omahu Road.

Hospital, Hastings

The first has a curved end while the second block in the distance has some Modernist touches.

Hospital, Hastings

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Hotel Waterloo, Wellington

Hotel Waterloo, Wellington

If you look at the sign above the corner entrance, you'll see that this is the Wellington Downtown Backpackers but in a former life it was the Hotel Waterloo. You can still see the old name on the façade of the building.

Hotel Waterloo, Wellington

The hotel was designed by Atkins & Mitchell and built for New Zealand Breweries in 1937.

Hotel Waterloo, Wellington

By the 1980s the hotel had fallen into decline and by the end of the decade had closed down. Thankfully the closure didn't last too long and in the early 1990s it was reopened as a backpacker's hostel. No doubt its location opposite the Central Railway Station helped in this regard.

Hotel Waterloo, Wellington

Reference:
Art Deco Heritage Trail booklet, Wellington City Council 1996 (2nd Ed. 2005)

Monday, July 1, 2013

Tower Corporation Building, Wellington

Tower Corporation Building, Wellington

The Tower Corporation Building in Customhouse Quay, Wellington despite its obvious bulk has some nice deco details which you can see along the original roofline, the spandrels and the panels below the windows.

Tower Corporation Building, Wellington

The glass above the main entrance is a real standout.

Tower Corporation Building, Wellington

And the side door isn't bad either.

Tower Corporation Building, Wellington

The building was designed by architect J T Mair and the foundation stone was laid on 5th October 1936.