Now this is a building that I walk past quite often, but had never thought much about the style of architecture. I suppose that is because the external decorative elements are minimal, and I cannot guess at the date.
Helen, I too have often walked past this building and not paid any attention to it until late last year I when to see an exhibition there and noticed some deco features.
I agree it is hard to date but given the minimal decoration I would guess late 1930s or perhaps even after that.
I know it rather well as I had a studio in the roof space (former caretakers flat perhaps ?) in the late 80s and early 90s. Its also in the current '99 buildings' about to be listed by the City of Melbourne, which gives its date as 1935 and the designers as the prolific Tompkins Bros. The lobby is great with terrazzo and coloured tiles and even the lift car is more or less intact. Sadly the chromed steel letters 'Pawson House' and one set of numbers that once stretched across the doorway have gone one by one - only '143'on the right hand side is left
Thanks for the additional first hand info. Sorry to hear that the lettering and numbers have gone but as you say there are still a few deco gems inside.
My great-aunt and her husband, Jack Daniels, were importers in the 1920s and had an office on the first floor. In the 1950s, my father started his perfumery business in that office. Many happy memories
Now this is a building that I walk past quite often, but had never thought much about the style of architecture. I suppose that is because the external decorative elements are minimal, and I cannot guess at the date.
ReplyDeleteHelen, I too have often walked past this building and not paid any attention to it until late last year I when to see an exhibition there and noticed some deco features.
ReplyDeleteI agree it is hard to date but given the minimal decoration I would guess late 1930s or perhaps even after that.
I know it rather well as I had a studio in the roof space (former caretakers flat perhaps ?) in the late 80s and early 90s. Its also in the current '99 buildings' about to be listed by the City of Melbourne, which gives its date as 1935 and the designers as the prolific Tompkins Bros. The lobby is great with terrazzo and coloured tiles and even the lift car is more or less intact. Sadly the chromed steel letters 'Pawson House' and one set of numbers that once stretched across the doorway have gone one by one - only '143'on the right hand side is left
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional first hand info. Sorry to hear that the lettering and numbers have gone but as you say there are still a few deco gems inside.
DeleteMy great-aunt and her husband, Jack Daniels, were importers in the 1920s and had an office on the first floor. In the 1950s, my father started his perfumery business in that office. Many happy memories
ReplyDelete