OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Melbourne, July, 1939 No. 5
CONTENTS
LAW REPORTS 133
QUANTITIES: AGREEMENTS WITH MASTER BUILDERS 134
SCULPTURAL COMPETITION 135
CURRENT ARCHITECTURAL WORKS -_ 136
HORSHAM TOWN HALL, THE .:. 138
FRONTISPIECE: AN OLD LANDMARK PASSES 149
UNIVERSITY ATELIER SCHOLARSHIP 149
NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST 151
R.V.I.A. LIBRARY, THE 152
R.I:B.A. EXAMINATIONS 153
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION: LEAD CHROMES FOR PAINTS 153
OBITUARY: WILLIAM LUCAS 154
NEW DARWIN HOTEL 155
GOLF MATCH: R.V.i.A. VERSUS I.E:A. 156
PLATE ILLUSTRATIONS
,1884-1939" FRONTISPIECE
HORSHAM TOWN HALL—
FRONT ELEVATION 141
ENTRANCE TO MUNICIPAL OFFICES ... 143
LOBBY—ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 143
COUNCIL CHAMBER 145
MAIN FOYER TO HALL, GROUND FLOOR ... 145
GENERAL VIEW OF HALL 147
WALL TREATMENT OF THE AUDITORIUM ... 147
PUBLISHED MONTHLY FOR
THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
REGISTERED OFFICE: 53-55 COLLINS PLACE, MELBOURNE, C.1
Journal Committee
HORACE J. TRIBE (Chairman) LESLIE M. PERROTT
ROY K. STEVENSON
ALAN L. FILDES D. C. WARD O. A. YUNCKEN
Managing Editor —JOHN B. ISLIP
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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS JULY, 1939
JOURNAL
O F TH E ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Vol. XX XVII. Melbourne, July, 1939 No. 5
LAW REPORTS
As a new feature of the Institute Journal it is intended to publish in these pages reports regarding principles of law in relation to Architectural practice. The innova- tion will include reviews by members of the legal pro- fession regarding questions which are submitted to Courts of Law from time to time, involving general principles concerning the erection of buildings and the decisions made with regard thereto.
It is felt that this service should be of wide interest and value and the Journal Committee would be glad to receive any suggestions from members of the Institute, or from readers in general for the further development of this section of the Journal.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AS AFFECTING THE ERECTION OF DWELLINGS
N subdividing land owners frequently take steps with a view to providing that buildings erected on the area will not adversely affect the value of the remaining allotments.
Usually these steps take the form of covenants which restrict the actions of purchasers of allot- ments with regard to the erection of buildings on the land purchased. Such a document permits the purchaser and all subsequent owners to erect on the land concerned only such buildings as con- form with the provisions of the restriction.
The covenants may be framed in varying ways.
For example, an owner may specify not only the type of building which may be erected but also the materials to be used, the minimum amount to be expended, the street which the building is to front and the distance at which it is to be set back from the street alignment.
In recent years, sellers of land who issue coven- ants have become more careful to see that their intentions as to what buildings may be erected are clearly stated. In past decades, however, the usual and accepted types of buildings contem-
plated by owners were "dwellings," "shops" and
"factories." For instance, if an owner desired to ensure that only a dwelling could be erected on a certain area, a covenant to erect "no building save a dwelling house" or "no building other than one to be used for residential purposes" was considered sufficiently wide.
Villa flats, villa pairs and maisonettes were not contemplated by owners at that time.
The restrictions as originally agreed upon still obtain, however, and questions of law frequently arise as to whether in a particular instance the erection of a villa pair or a maisonette would breach the restrictive covenant. Obviously the answer must depend upon the way in which the covenant is framed.
A recent decision of the Chief Justice in relation to a property at Caulfield is particularly interest- ing in this respect.
The land in question was subject to a restrictive covenant which provided that there should not be built thereon "any building save one dwelling house." The owner erected on the land a brick villa which was divided into two dwellings by a brick wall extending from the front to the rear of the building and up to the height of the ceiling and not up to the roof. The wall did not run in a straight line from the front to the rear but was broken in such a way that it would not readily be possible to create a party wall easement or to obtain separate titles to each of the two parts of the building. Each part had a separate entrance and the dwellings did not have any means of inter- communication.
The owner (in this case, the applicant) sold the property to the respondent but was unable to comply to the satisfaction of the respondent's solicitors with a requisition for proof that the
133
building complied with the restrictive covenant.
The applicant thereupon took out a summons seek- ing a declaration from the Court that the building did not constitute a breach of the covenant.
Counsel for the applicant contended that the covenant merely prohibited the erection of more than one dwelling house or of a building used otherwise than as a dwelling house and that as the building erected was only a single building and was not used other than for dwelling house pur- poses there had not been any breach.
In his judgment the Chief Justice held that the building in question was erected in breach of the covenant. He stated that the vendor had erected a building which although under one roof clearly comprised two dwellings, each structurally com- plete and separated by a wall which prevented access from one to the other.
The Chief Justice stated that judging from ex- ternal appearances the building appeared to be of the kind usually referred to as a "house" but that external appearances were not the only test in determining the actual nature of thé structure. He declared that the building which had been erected could not reasonably be described as one "dwell- ing house." Either it comprised two dwelling houses under one roof or was a composite building which required some other word or phrase to de- scribe it. It would be helpful if some definite.
meaning could be given to the present day use of the term "dwelling house."
The judgment above referred to shows how dif- ficult it is to decide on the extent of a restrictive building covenant, and how unwise it is to make an attempt to circumvent one to erect a building which does not definitely conform with the restric- tions imposed.—M.J.E.
QUANTITIES
AGREEMENT WITH MASTER BUILDERS OR the guidance of members a copy of the
agreement which has been entered into on behalf of the R.V.I.A. and the Master Buil•
ders' Association of Victoria regarding Quantities is published hereunder.
The agreement, the purpose of which is to bring about standard practice between Architects and Builders in the matter of Quantities, consists of seven clauses, viz.:-
(1) For all Residential Work costing more than
£5000 and for which competitive tenders are publicly invited, Quantities shall be provided.
(2) For all Residential Work costing less than
£7000 and for which not more than six ten- ders are privately obtained, Quantities shall not be required.
(3) For all other work costing more than £6000 and for which competitive tenders are pub- licly invited, Quantities shall be provided.
(4) For all other work costing less than £8000
and for which not more than four tenders are privately obtained, Quantities shall not be required.
(5) In cases in which the work is of a repetitive character and the Architect is of opinion that Quantities are not necessary, the matter may be referred for decision to the President of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects and the Executive of the Master Builders' Association of Victoria.
In cases in which Quantities are not pro- vided, ample time shall be allowed tenderers to compute their own estimates. For all work costing more than £5000, each tenderer shall be allowed a minimum of five days to com- pute his estimates.
This agreement shall operate forthwith until 30th June, 1940, at the least and shall not cease until the expiration of three months' notice given by either party to the other.
(6)
(7)
INFORMATION SERVICE
Members of the R.V.I.A. are notified that the man- agement of the Institute Journal has established an Information Department for the purpose of supplying particulars regarding building materials and equipment,
prices, etc. The services of the Information Department
—which, it is felt should be of particular assistance to members of the profession—are available free of charge upon application to the Institute. Telephone Cent. 5125.
SCULPTURAL COMPETITION
l.,oneLted
L1the
SYDNEY WATER BOARD LT above is the entry placed firstin
LUSTRA
order of ED merit in the competition promoted by the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board, Sydney, for designs for sculp- tured panels to be placed above the main entrance doorway to the Board's new head office building at the corner of Pitt and Wilmot Streets.
The winning entry was submitted by Mr. Stan- ley J. Hammond, sculptor, of Melbourne, who has been commissioned to execute his design in cast bronze. A prize of £50 has been awarded Mr.
Hammond and a similar premium has been pre- sented to Mr. R. Walker, of Penshurst, N.S.W., whose design was placed second. A special prize of £25 has been awarded Messrs. F. C. & M. H.
Hinder, of Sydney.
The competition was open to all sculptors in Australia and the committee which adjudicated the competitive designs consisted of the President of the Water Board (Mr. Upton), the Director of the National Art Gallery (Mr. W. Ashton) and Mr. N. G. Mackey of Messrs. Budden and Mackey, Architects for the new building.
The winning design, which will be cast in Mel- bourne, provides for a group of three bronze panels each measuring 5 ft. 9 in. wide and 6 ft.
4 in. high, depicting progress throughout the years in the conservation and reticulation of water.
In an accompanying report Mr. Hammond states that he has endeavoured to produce a de- sign which is "not only appropriate in its symbol- ism but also in harmony with the strong horizontal and vertical lines of the architecture of the build- ing, part of which the panels are to become."
The panel on the left side is symbolic of the primitive methods employed by the pioneers to provide against droughts and floods; the panel on the opposite side depicts man's present-day control over water supply. The central panel symbolises the activities of the Water Board, the major figure holding cornucopias from which
"unlimited but controlled water runs to supply the needs of humanity and to aid industrial development."
In commenting upon the winning design the Assessors have stated that the subject "is quite appropriate and will be readily understood and appreciated by all who view the panels."
At the suggestion of the Assessors the left hand panel will be inscribed with the quotation from Pindar "The noblest of the elements is water";
that on the right hand is to bear the inscription
"Pure water is the best of gifts that znaa to man may bring."
Mr. Hammond, who prior to commencing private practice three years ago, was assistant to the late Paul Montford, a leading Melbourne sculptor, is lecturer in charge of the stone and wood carving classes and an instructor in model- ling at the Melbourne Technical College. He is a member of the Sculptors' Society of Australia and of the Victorian Artists' Society and has been successful in winning two previous sculptural competitions, the first being for the Pioneer Miners' Memorial at Deep Lead, Stawell and the second for the Donald Macdonald Memorial Fountain at Black Rock.
135
CURRENT ARCHITECTURAL WORKS
THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL
NEW ZEALAND
PREPARATIONS FOR THE BUILDING OF THE NEW HOSPITAL ARE IN AN ADVANCED STAGE AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE WORK OF CONSTRUCTION WILL BE COMMENCED AT AN EARLY DATE
A
rchilech
:STEPHENSON & TURNER
137 FACTORY
BEING ERECTED AT
NORTH MELBOURNE
_ rchitect: RHYS E. HOPKINS
INDUSTRIAL PREMISES IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AT SOUTH MELBOURNE
(
..ArchiEecb :
MELDRUM & NOAD
ea
THE HORSHAM TOWN HALL
A
LMOSTl, invariably the ecclesiastical, profes- siona educational, commercial and other types of buildings featured in the Institute Journal are within the metropolitan area. The selected building featured in this issue, however, is the Horsham Town Hall situated in the muni- cipality of Horsham, which is some 200 miles from the seaboard and in the centre of Victoria's most important wheat-growing area.Designed by and erected under the supervision of Mr. Charles N. Hollinshed, Architect, the newly-erected Town Hall was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor (Councillor Leonard Bowden) at a recent public ceremony. These. new local government offices are excellently appointed and stand as a monument to careful administra- tion in the past as the entire re-building scheme has been. executed without any necessity for an increase in municipal rates.
The building, which is constructed in brick, houses the municipal offices, including a Council chamber and Committee rooms, and a large audi- torium and subsidiary accommodation. The actual size of the structure is considerably larger than the front elevation to Wilson Street would indi- cate, and to stress the civic importance and dig- nity of the building the main facade has been set back several feet from the building line and shrubs have been planted in the space thus made avail- able. Colour-blended textured bricks and Hawkes- bury River stone form the facing materials of the front elevation, provision for the flood lighting of which on special occasions has been made.
MUNICIPAL OFFICES
The entrance to the municipal offices is through a porch which is paved with Harcourt granite and flanked with walls of Hawkesbury stone. The ground floor accommodation includes a public waiting space, offices for the Town Clerk, Rate Collector, Treasurer and the general staff, and a Committee room.
The lobby and main corridor have terrazzo floors in two shades of buff with narrow pink subdivi- sions and the wall treatment includes dados of the same material worked in horizontal bands of
buff and pink colours with a black skirting. The architraves to the doors are also of black terrazzo.
Above the dados, the walls are painted in a soft grey colour. The fibrous plaster ceiling is decor- ated in soft grey and fawn tones, the mountings being in rust colour. These tonings are used throughout the building. All doors on the ground floor are of solid core Queensland walnut, one inch wide vermilion and silver strips being inlaid vertically on the hinge side of each door.
Opening to the entrance lobby is an enquiry office, the main public counter fronting the ad-
joining corridor and being attached to the Rate Collector's Department. The counter is of Moun- tain Ash with a terrazzo front margin and maroon rubber inlay, a roller shutter being provided for protective purposes at the close of business.
The general office is partitioned into two sec- tions to house the departments of the Rate Col- lector and the Treasurer. The floors are covered with rubber in blended fawn shades which har- monise with the colour of the soft grey dados and ceilings, the latter being in a lighter tone. The window curtains are of fawn chenille.
On the opposite side of the entrance lobby are the offices of the Town Clerk and the Secretary.
These rooms are provided with ample natural light—as are all other departments—and the fur- nishings include wall to wall carpets of henna col- our and window curtains of royal blue chenille.
Adjoining the Town Clerk's office is the Com- mittee room, the general treatment of which is similar to that employed in the general office.
Natural light is provided to this room from a light court on the west and, on the south, by medium of a partition wall which is composed of thick glass lenses on a steel frame. The Muniment Room, in which are stored the records of the Town Council, and which is of fire proof con- struction, is adjacent.
The first floor of the municipal offices includes the Council Chamber, the Engineer's Department and a suite of three rooms for the use of the Mayor, . Mayoress, and Ladies' Committees, this suite being convertible into one large Reception
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
Room on ceremonial occasions. The decorations and furniture of each of the three subdivisions are similar and include a lounge and arm-chairs up- holstered in hide, blackwood tables, and occa- sional chairs covered with a fabric material.
A double door of solid Queensland walnut, French polished, gives entrance to the Council chamber. This room is furnished in blackwood, the chairs being upholstered in hide. The desks of the Mayor, Town Clerk and Engineer are situ- ated on a dais, the background of which is panelled in blackwood. Inscribed on the panelling is a castellated crown embodying in relief the Town's coat-of-arms which depicts two sheaves of wheat and hay, a horse's head and a ram. The Council table is 12 ft. in length and is surfaced in hide, the margins and joints being tooled. Seating accommodation for approximately twenty mem- bers of the public is provided. The floor of the Council Chamber is covered by a wall to wall carpet of a. henna colour and green curtains are provided to the two front and two side windows.
Electric lighting in satin-silver fittings is provided by medium of a recessed well and four square inverted lights above the Council table.
The remaining administrative accommodation on the first floor includes the offices of the En- gineer, the Clerk of Works and the Inspector and a Plan Room. The ' furniture in the municipal offices consists generally of fiddleback blackwood, upholstered in hide. All departments are equipped with an inter-office telephone system which enables conversations to be conducted between any or all sections.
AUDITORIUM
The main entrance to the auditorium is situated at the eastern side of the frontage to Wilson Street and is separated from the administrative offices.
From the ticket lobby glass doors lead to the main foyer and to the adjoining cloak rooms.
The auditorium is 54 feet in width and 90 feet in length with seating accommodation for ap- proximately 725 persons. The chairs chosen for the auditorium are in groups of three and four, upholstered in sponge rubber, with coverings of brown and grey flecked fabric. They are col- lapsible which facilitates their expeditious removal and storage when the floor is required for dancing or other social purposes. The flooring which is surfaced for the purposes of dancing consists of narrow boards of kiln dried Mountain Ash 11 in.
in thickness. Four hundred couples can be com- fortably catered for on the dance floor.
The walls of the auditorium are 28 feet in height and are decorated with a textured plaster, which is finished with a wax stumble in tones of fawn, biscuit and brown. The main ceiling is of fibrous plaster, three deep recesses running for the full length from north to south. Amber-tinted lighting is provided by means of wall brackets and fittings suspended from the ceiling. Emerg- ency lighting equipment, served by a 12 volt accumulator, is installed for use in the event of a failure of the general lighting system.
Along the eastern side of the hall is an alcove which is separated from the main floor by a row of large circular columns. The alcove is carpeted and furnished with chairs and small tables and forms a feature of the general treatment.
The balcony at the southern end provides seat- ing accommodation for 224 persons (giving an approximate total of 950 for the hall) . It is carried between the side walls in one span. The main approach from the foyer on the ground floor is by a stairway leading to a balcony lounge space which is carpeted and furnished in an attractive manner.
A projection. room for the showing of films is provided at the rear of the balcony.
The balcony seats, which are fixed to the floor, are upholstered in sponge rubber and covered in green ribbed moquette, the standards being gilded.
The stage opening is flanked by two fluted pilasters supporting a soffit of Queensland walnut.
The footlight trough and stage fascia are finished in walnut and have been extended to form a recess for floral decorations. The main front curtain is of crushed velvet in tones of gold, the side framing being in crimson and the heading in black. When this is drawn aside, a second curtain, of a brilliant yellow-gold satin, is displayed. By means of chang- ing the stage lights the colour reflection of the curtain may be changed at will.
The roof of the stage is fitted with windows which are secured in a closed position by fusible metal links. In the event of a fire taking place on the stage and the temperature exceeding a certain degree the metal links would melt, causing the windows to open automatically and create an up- draught which would assist in confining the fire to the stage.
The stage appurtenances include two large dressing rooms and accommodation from which
HORSHAM TOWN HALL
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FRONT ELEVATION
-drehitect:
CHARLES N. HOLLINSHED
Illustration by courtesy of Rupert F. Anderson
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS JULY, 1939
_ --
4 1`~_~--~--_-
HORSHAM TOWN HALL
ENTRANCE TO MUNICIPAL OFFICES
Illustration by courtesy of Lodge Bros.
._AchiEecE:
CHARLES N. HOLLINSHED
LOBBY-
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Illustration by courtesy of De Marco Brothers
4
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE 0/ ARCHITECTS
HORSHAM TOWN HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBER
Illustration by courtesy of Brooks, Robinson Pty. Ltd.
J/rchiEecE:
CHARLES N. HOLLINSHED
HORSHAM TOWN HALL
GENERAL VIEW OF HALL
•
~frciciEecE:
CHARLES N. HOLLINSHED
**
WALL TREATMENT OF THE AUDITORIUM
Illustration by courtesy of Brooks, Robinson Pty. Ltd.
d
oul^l2cal o/THE ROYAL VICTORIAN INSTITUTE
Of %
ARCHITECTS
■
O/ianrnarb ctiJeJ —
THE FRONTISPIECE Of this issue will be recognized as the familiar corner feature of the old Royal Bank.
The building was of massive construction, and was erected in 1884 for the City of Melbourne Bank, the Architects for the work being Messrs. Terry &
Oakden. Following the collapse of this bank during the land boom ten years later, the premises were acquired by the Royal Bank of Australia, which con- ducted its business in the building until its amal- gamation with the English Scottish & Australian Bank Ltd., in 1927.
For many years this stately pile, now demolished to make way for modern banking premises for the English Scottish and Australian Bank Ltd., had watched over the Elizabeth—Collins Streets inter- section with an almost grandmotherly dignity.
When one passes in the shadow of the new edifice perhaps a thought will be spared for the rows of composite columns, or for the dignified—if ill lit—banking chamber of yesterday. Others will re- member the news vendors' wares spread fanwise on the bluestone steps after banking hours, or the old woman who sat mutely with her matches.
The photograph is by Ralph Illidge.
the stage lighting and the sound amplification equipment are controlled.
An attractive Supper Room, attached to which is a well-equipped kitchen, adjoins the auditorium.
This room is capable of seating 200 persons and may be used for the purposes of small dances, lectures, and similar functions.
The building is centrally heated from a boiler room situated on the ground floor. Recent ad- vances in the science of central heating have been incorporated in the equipment to ensure the main- tenance of a comfortable temperature, in con- junction with natural ventilation.
The boiler is of the cast iron sectional type de- signed to burn hard fuel and has a capacity out- put of 200,000 B.T.U.'s per hour. The piping cir- cuit is designed on the two-pipe return system, this ensuring that each radiator is served with hot water direct from the main flow. A centri- fugal pump is employed to accelerate the flow, giving greater flexibility to the system and a faster flow through the pipe circuit, so providing a
higher temperature on the return main. The radi- ators may be controlled individually to suit the occupants of the various rooms.
In planning the acoustic properties of the build- ing careful thought has been given to the char- acteristics of the various rooms, with successful results. To enhance these properties sound-absorb- ing tiles have been fixed to the ceiling and rear wall of the main auditorium and to the ceilings of the Council Chamber and the general office.
The structural design of the building is par- ticularly interesting because of the unusual treat- ment of the foundations. To a depth varying up to twenty feet, the soil in the district consists mostly of river alluvium having an abnormal range of expansion and contraction, this being due to a wide variation of moisture content.
With a view to counteracting the effect of this, heavy foundations and continuous lintels have been used in several of the buildings erected in the town in recent years. Nevertheless several show obvious signs of movement. The method adopted in dealing with this problem in the erec- tion of the Town Hall differed from the foregoing in that the placing of concrete piles down to a solid base was chosen. The piles were not driven but were constructed on the site in 10 in. diameter holes which were excavated by specially fitted borers and filled with concrete.
The new Town Hall provides a dignified civic and social centre with all the material attributes essential to the continued advancement of Hor- sham and the surrounding district.
UNIVERSITY ATELIER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD FOR THE CURRENT YEAR
On the following page is reproduced an ex- ample of the Atelier work carried out by Mr. A.
Mealand to whom the Board of Architectural Education has awarded the University of Mel- bourne Architectural Atelier Scholarship of the R.V.I.A. for the ensuing year. The Scholarship is to the yearly value of £15/15/- and is awarded to the student who is adjudged most successful in the First Year of the Atelier course. Under the con- ditions governing the annual award, the Scholar- ship must be devoted to advancing the winner's Architectural education at the Atelier.
149
UNIVERSITY O/MELBOURNE ARCHITECTURAL ATELIER
AN EXAMPLE OF THE DRAWINGS EXECUTED BY Mr^....~í. 11/eaiajtcI
IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF THE COURSE FOR THE DIPLOMA OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
MR. MEALAND HAS RECEIVED THE AWARD OF THE R.V.I.A. ATELIER SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE CURRENT YEAR
C.
Miss Edith Ingpen
NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST
THE PRESIDENT
In a letter to the Institute Council the President (Mr. Leslie M. Perrott) , who is touring abroad, states that he recently visited Mexico. The Pre- sident in his comments mentions that he has found great interest in making a study of Mexican hous- ing projects and of the hotel buildings of that country, several of which, Mr. Perrott remarks, are unusually successful in design, plan and equipment.
Leith (F.) and Stanley T. Parkes (A.) also are members of the panel.
4-
Mrs. Lorna Phillips (A.) is engaged upon a visit to the British Isles and the Continent. Mrs.
Phillips carries letters of introduction from the Institute to the President of the R.I.B.A. in Lon- don and to Architectural societies in other
countries.
+
Having passed the qualifying examina- tion, Mr. Raymond Schmerberg h a s been admitted to Associateship of the Institute. Mr. Sch- merberg studied Ar- chitecture at the Brunswick Techni- cal School and later obtained the Dip- loma of Architec-
Mr. Raymond Schmerberg
aural Design at the University of Melbourne Architectural Atelier. At the completion of his Atelier course Mr. Schmer- berg was awarded the Grice Bronze Medal which honour may be bestowed by the University upon a graduate who obtains the highest average num- ber of marks in his final year, provided that his markings attain a specified standard. Mr. Schmer- berg is at present engaged upon a visit overseas for the purpose of advancing his Architectural education.
+
Mr. John S. Gawler (F.) has been elected Chairman of the Architects Registration Board of Victoria in succession to Mr. Kingsley Henderson (F.) who has retired from membership of the Board.
Mr. Charles E. Serpell (F.) has been appointed Chairman of the Victorian panel of the Timber Sectional Committee established by the Standards Association of Australia. Messrs. G. Burridge
The Institute Council has appointed Messrs.
A. J. Ainslie (Chairman), John R. Freeman, W.
Race Godfrey, E. Keith Mackay, Stanley T. Parkes and P. Maxwell Shaw to comprise the personnel of the House Committee of the R.V.I.A. for the ensuing year.
The following named Associate members of the Institute have been admitted to Registration as Architects under the provisions of the Architects Act of Victoria:—
Mr. Arthur C. Collins Mr. D. H. McLean Mr. E. A. Hunt Mr. L. V. Mitchell
Mr. Horace J. Tribe
+
Miss Edith Con- stance Ingpen, a Bachelor of Archi- tecture of the Mel- bourne University, has been elected an Associate member of the Institute.
Miss Ingpen matric- ulated at Tintern Grammar School, Hawthorn, and ser- ved Articles of Pup- ilage with Messrs.
E. J. and C. L. Ruck, Architects, of Melbourne.
After having completed the Degree Course at the University she was appointed a member of the firm of Desbrowe-Annear and Associates. Later Miss Ingpen—who is Registered as an Architect under the provisions of the Architects Act—estab- lished private practice, her office being situated at 60 Market Street, Melbourne, C.1.
151
..n
LIBRARY THE k.V.I.A.
"LUMINAIRE MODERNE"
0
NE of the most interesting books added to the R.V.I.A. section of the Allied Societies' Library at Kelvin Hall in recent weeks is "Luminaire Moderne" by Gabriel Henriot, regarding which Mr. D. C. Ward (A.) has written the following review. Members and students are reminded that the Library—which embraces a wide range of books and periodicals relating to Architectural practice—is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5.15 p.m.Illumination — once the Cinderella of the Sciences—has now assumed its rightful place as one of the essential services of modern archi- tecture.
Interior decoration, particularly in buildings used for entertainment or the disposal of mer- chandise, is becoming more and more the archi- tecture of light. Light shapes the form and colour of ceilings and walls, and light sources become the principal elements in the interior design.
Buildings serving a specific purpose, such as Simpson's Store in Piccadilly, some of Mendel- sohn's Berlin shops, and cinemas typed from the Universum in the Kurfurstendam, wear street facades which combine form by day with function by night—the latter, through the medium of light, being to act as a selling agency.
I think one's most colourful memory of recent world expositions must be of leaping shafts of liquid light lining grand avenues and revealing cardboard palaces in all the borrowed beauty of false colours.
From the welter of anachronism and experiment of the Paris Exposition of 1937 comes "Luminaire Moderne," a folio of plates portraying a very choice collection of light fittings; which, if dis- tributed among some of the electrical showrooms in our cities, would effect a heartening transfor- mation of the usual array of glittering pseudo- chandeliers and artificial candles.
These examples strike a happy mean between the globular reticence of departmental store light- ing and the almost floral flamboyancy of the more daring flights of fancy one often sees in the aver- age home. They are typically French, very foreign in their suave sleekness of finish, their sweet sim- plicity of conception and perfect appropriateness of design for a particular purpose, combined with considerable imagination, a few fine materials and the light but sure touch of the craftsman.
The book is a treasure-trove of light. Here we have light served up in a variety of ways for every conceivable place and purpose in a building, and there are motifs to meet all moods, motifs that combine adequate light with definite decorative value.
This folio of forty-eight plates is devoted almost entirely to illustrations, superbly presented and each suggesting innumerable variations of the original theme. Ceramics, transparent marbles, lustre bronze, wrought glass, crystal and other beautiful materials are used here with refreshing originality and consummate skill.
On Plate 5 is a table lamp, the base of which is a bowl of flowers which appear to thrive in the warmth of light reflected downwards—or perhaps the flowers are artificial like the light! In succeed- ing plates, considerable ingenuity is shown in the artful use of vases and other bric-a-brac which adorn occasional tables and pedestals, as sources of light.
Most of the plates depict single fittings or groups of fittings, but there are also occasional ensembles—notably of the Illuminating Pavilion at the Paris Exposition—which show how im- portant is the relationship between a light fixture and its setting. Generally these examples show a certain chaste restraint, but at times, as on Plate 13, an eruption of phantasy will occur and illum- inated inset panels will assume shapes that have their origin in surrealism. There is no glare; the light is concentrated where it is wanted and the general illumination is well diffused. Such fittings
1
O//ceri o/ ivtjtit&tte or /939-40
PRESIDENT . . . LESLIE M. PERROTT PAST-PRESIDENT ALEC S. EGG LESTON VICE-PRESIDENT W.O.McCUTCHEON HON. SECRETARY P. H. MELDRUM HON. ASSIST. SECRETARY . E. KEITH MACKAY HON. TREASURER . . O. A. YUNCKEN
~embev3 o/the Ço tncd:
A. J. AINSLIE . . . STANLEY T. PARKES W.A.M.BLACKETT . JOHN F.D.SCARBOROUGH ROBERT S. DEMAINE . CHARLES E. SERPELL KEITH a'B. KLINGENDER . ROY K. STEVENSON SECRETARY OF THE INSTITUTE . JOHN B.ISLIP
are nearly perfect technically and are aesthetically pleasing.
'Luminaire Moderne" deserves the attention of architects, manufacturers, and all those who are concerned with efficient and attractive lighting practice.
NEO-GEORGIAN HOUSING
With acknowledgments to London 'Punch"
The Book of Modern Housing is a fair if in- tcntionally favourable sampling of what has been built in England since 1904. And if it is reassur- ing to discover on the best authority that concrete wears badly and that three-ply is the favourite haunt of the death-watch beetle, no one can say that Professor Patrick Abercrombie, as editor, has failed to permit the advocates of modern mediums of expression to say their say. His fourteen col- leagues, however, are on the whole traditional- minded. Mr. Stanley C. Ramsey, dealing with
"The Ready Built House," has the hardest row to hoe. Jerry-designing (he says) is more pre- valent than jerry-building—and why not a panel architect to help the poor? At the opposite pole of value is the lady who deals with "The Interior,"
which must be devoted to Glamour and/or
Hygiene and the "dramatizing" of life. In con- nection with one of the most "functional" of the twelve-score designs in this sumptuous volume it is pleasant to recall that its architect lives in a highly inconvenient eighteenth-century cottage.
One suspects that on the whole the "functional"
is kept for customers.
R.I.B.A. EXAMINATIONS
Members, students and educational authorities are notified that copies of the questions set at the Intermediate, Final and Special Final examinations of the Royal Institute of British Architects held twice yearly in London, may be obtained upon application to the Secretary of the R.V.I.A. Board of Architectural Education, Kelvin Hall, 53-55 Collins Place, Melbourne, C.1.
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION Lead Chromes for Paints
The Standards Association of Australia an- nounces the issue of a draft Australian Standard Specification for lead chromes for paints.
The draft specification includes clauses dealing with description, composition, organic colouring matter and coarse particles. During the prepara- tion of the draft it was suggested that a method of testing the stability of colour should be inserted.
The Association advises, however, that although it recognises the importance of such a test, for the present at least a method has not been inserted in the specification, as it is considered that means sufficiently exact for standard practice are not available for adoption at the present time.
Copies of the draft specification may be ob- tained upon application to the office of the Stand- ards Association, 422 Collins Street, Melbourne, C.1.
NATIONAL DEFENCE
At a General Meeting of the R.V.I.A. to be held at Kelvin Hall on Wednesday, 20th Septem- ber, Major J. J. L. McCall, D.S.O., the Director of Civil Defence and State Co-operation, Common- wealth Defence Department, will give an address regarding National Defence. The Chairman of the R.V.I.A. Air Raid Precautions Committee (Mr. O. A. Bayne) will address the meeting upon air raid precautions in Victoria.
153
OBITUARY
WILLIAM LUCAS
N passing of William a on July 10th, the
the
Architectural professionL uc
lost s
one who, par- ticularly in the early part of his career, was a leader of Architectural affairs and who in later years was a guide, philosopher and friend to many younger members of the profession.
Throughout his unselfish life, he retained a sin- cere interest in the Architectural life of Victoria and many Architects will recall occasions in the early years of their profession upon which they received letters from Mr. Lucas congratulating them upon the merits of a building, or even a feature of a building, just completed. Such kind thoughts were greatly appreciated and proved in- centives to higher attainments, coming as they did from an elder who, knowing the complexities of Architectural problems, was always quick to realise the study necessary to produce aesthetic results.
Born and educated in Melbourne, Mr. Lucas, who was 78 years of age, served Articles of Pupil- age in England and returned to Australia in 1883,.
becoming a member of the firm of Wight &
Lucas. He became a foundation Fellow of the Vic- torian Institute of Achitects (the prefix "Royal"
was awarded by the Crown in later years) and was elected to membership of the Institute Council.
In 1894 Mr. Lucas transferred to South Africa where he practised for twenty years. Notable among his`works in that country are the Post Office at Pietermaritzburg, capital of Natal, and the Town Hall at Newcastle situate in the same pro- vince. He was a foundation member and was elected President of the Natal Institute of Archi- tects and also became a member of the Council of the Transvaal Institute of Architects.
Mr. Lucas was a Fellow of the Royal Geogra- phical Society (London) an honour conferred
upon him in recognition of his explorations on the Zambesi.
During the Boer War he was one of the pioneers of the field service activities of the Young Men's Christian Association, which service was amplified and extended during the Great War till it served the troops on all fronts.
Resuming residence and practice in Melbourne in 1915, he was appointed Hon. Treasurer of the R.V.I.A. and also gave valuable service as a mem- ber of the Board of Examiners and as Hon. Editor of the R.V.I.A. Journal of Proceedings.
A design submitted by Mr. Lucas in the Vic- torian National War Memorial competition was placed second in order of merit and later in an Architectural competition for designs for an Aus- tralian War Memorial at Villers Bretonneux his entry won first prize.
A keen student in England in the 80's, he pos- sessed and retained a personal contact with some of the leading English Architects of to-day. With this background of personalities and a fund of architectural experience and observation, his con- versation was always interesting and inspiring to the younger Architects who were privileged to sit at the feet of Gamaliel" as it were and debate the changing conditions of Architectural taste.
For many years he was an honoured member of the Collins Street Baptist Church, Melbourne.
A sincere Christian in heart and deed, he fre- quently referred to the inspiration of the Great Architect and those who knew him will agree that in his contract with his Maker, William Lucas completed it well and has earned the spiritual reward.—E.K.M.
155
SEW DARWIN HOTEL
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To meet the clamant need for additional and up-to-date hotel accommodation for the capital of the Northern Territory it is the intention of a South Aus- tralian syndicate to proceed with the construction of an hotel with accom- modation for one hundred guests. It is anticipated that the new Darwin Hotel
will be ready for occupation by the end of the year.
Messrs. Stephenson & Turner are the Architects for the work.
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RRANGEMENTS are being made by the House Committee for the holding of the third annual golf match between repre- sentatives of the R.V.I.A. and of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, Melbourne Division.
The match will be played on the links of the Victoria Golf Club, Cheltenham, on Friday, 15th September, and will take the form of four-ball best-ball handicap games. Players may enter individually or in pairs.
Permission has been given by the Victoria Golf Club to enable any members of the R.V.I.A. or the I.E.A. to play on the morning of the match should they so desire. Members who may wish to avail themselves of this facility for morning play should arrange their own matches.
Luncheon will be available at the Club House at 12 o'clock and play will commence at 1 p.m.
Members wishing to take part are invited to notify the Institute Secretary as early as conveni- ent and in any case not later than Monday, 11th September, in order to facilitate arrangements.
The two annual matches already played were heartily enjoyed by all who took part and it is interesting to note that the representatives of the R.V.I.A. and of the Institution of Engineers have each been successful on one occasion. The first match of the series was played on the links of the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in 1937 and resulted in a win for the representatives of the Institution of Engineers by six games to four, one being squared.
Last year the match was played on the Com- monwealth course at Oakleigh and was won by the R.V.I.A. representatives by ten games to four.
The forthcoming match, therefore, will be looked forward to with more than usual interest.
Statements contained in correspondence and articles which are published in the journal should be regarded as being the views of their authors and not as representative expressions of the Institute.
Library Digitised Collections
Author/s:
Royal Victorian Institute of Architects Title:
Journal of proceedings (Royal Victorian Institute of Architects): 1939-1940 Date:
1939-1940 Persistent Link:
http://hdl.handle.net/11343/112375
