In 1935, the first part of the draft standard regulations was printed and circulated for public criticism. Henderson at the awarding of the first degree in architecture at the Melbourne College of Technology on October 10. Tonight we witnessed the awarding of the first Bachelor of Architecture to an architecture student by the Melbourne Technical College.
In my humble opinion, the university cannot educate the student without the help of professional practice. Can we train enough skilled architects to do the work required of the profession? In applying that description to architects and the coming of the future genius, I think something should be added.
SCHOLARSHIP
In this I quote the late Penleigh Boyd, who dined with the late Rodney Alsop and me a few evenings before his tragic death. When you travel, do it in silence, having only the intention of increasing your store of impressions and increasing your sensibility and increasing your ability to criticize your visions through increased learning and culture. And to older practicing students I would say, "Share your secrets." We do not share our secrets properly with young students.
The only method I know of for imparting the secret would be to enroll all senior practitioners in list form and invite them all as guest lecturers in specific areas to all schools of architecture. Of those who passed I would mention one only by name, for in my opinion he possessed all the virtues of a teacher. He lives unhurriedly, his attitude is always "How well can I do what is assigned to me regardless of the reward." He had a great character, mind, thoughts, actions, habits—he had all those qualities which produce character; he lived a relatively modest but graceful life; he had a Cecil Rhodes attitude about architectural training, and what followed his frugality he graciously gave to architecture students for all time in the form of a generous traveling stipend.
FRONTISPIECE
To be able to look at any place in city or suburb or forest or erase and close your eyes and think and then clearly see the building with which you would adorn a particular place is a tremendously important power - in any project to be able to walk around and walk through your building and turn down a corridor and know what you will see, to open a door and know what will meet you in the apartment and from its windows. I believe that the power of clear • visualization, plus talent and cultural training, is the greatest asset a student can possess and develop. Only by knowing our own country and seeing our own visions and by trained sensitive self-criticism will we develop in our architecture.
I don't mean that when they are still too young we should stuff them with high theory and high practice, but that we should map out the way and tell the student about it. The photographic memory of what awaits us along the way will make the road infinitely more interesting.
GEELO\G GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The overall theme of the color scheme is simplicity, with the wood panelling, plaster walls and window moldings and frames being painted in an ivory matte finish. The floor is parquet, and the seating consists of chairs with chrome steel frames and hardwood seats and backs. A decision has been made to set up an organ at a later date; for this purpose built-in channels are installed.
An interesting feature of the building is the library, whose long windows overlook the garden. The library has a pleasant atmosphere, and students are encouraged to use this meeting place in their spare time, as there is built-in equipment for radio and recorded music. The walls and ceiling are colored in oyster grey, the hair band flooring is in a neutral tone and the hangings in maroon.
The Music School is one of the largest buildings of its kind in the empire, and its acoustic treatment is the result of intensive research. The architects received valuable information on acoustic problems from the British Broadcasting Corporation. The floor of the building is made of concrete, which is covered with a heavy cork carpet.
The interior walls are made of brick, covered with insulation board and the ceilings have heavy backings. Each room is individually built and the intake ventilation is double glazed with fixed wings, parts of which are positioned to allow sufficient air to enter yet no sound can escape from the room. The proportions of the studios and concert hall were determined after the architects considered the special uses to which each room would be devoted.
The main materials used in the sound treatment were acoustic plaster and tiles, wood paneling and insulation boards.
BARNETT'S BUILDING
In the planning of the services, the placement of a squash racket game in the front part of the fourth floor has been decisive. This made it necessary to place the stairs and elevator at the back of the court, leaving enough space for all services to be located along the west wall, on the right side of the passage. The first floor contains three shops and a window-lined corridor to the lift and stairs.
This material has a tough impervious surface and can be easily cleaned without damaging the color or texture. The second floor consists of offices and changing rooms for the College of Health and Strength and also houses the college's medical and massage departments. The rear of the fourth floor consists of shops and lunchrooms, while the squash court and gallery occupy the front.
The flat covered lantern lights of the squash court provide sunbathing platforms on the roof above, and even provide shadowless illumination in the court itself. The location of the squash court created an unusual height feature, as it necessitated the provision of a 20-foot blank wall at the top of the facade. This space carries an incised mural, colored in blue and burnt orange on a background of rich cream, symbolizing the work of the Health & Strength College.
The structural form of the building is emphasized by a heavy aluminum painted frame surrounding the windows, BARNETT'S lettering in 4ft. Reéded glazing preserves the privacy of the floor and diffuses light from the sash windows across the front. Ltd.; Hairdressers and Perruquiers, occupying the basement, the first floor and the rear of the fourth floor.
Weber & Rice occupies the second and third floors and the front of the fourth.
BAR N ETT'S BUILDING
BÀRNETT'S BUILDING
DOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST
Minister of Public Works (the Hon. public offices in Geelong. The presentation is made on behalf of Geelong Architects and the group portrayed in the photograph includes the following members, viz. Mr. "To follow, examine and report on all bills state and federal that are likely to affect the construction industry and advise the B.I.C.
The Vice-President (Mr. Leslie M. Perrott, F.) represented the Institute at the inaugural meeting of the Sight Conservation Movement in Victoria on 7 September. Gawler (F.) was re-elected as a member of Box Hill Town Council on 24 October and Mr. 34;Strathallan," after being four years in England and on the Continent.
Gillam, who holds a Diploma of Architectural Design from the University of Melbourne, made a special study of the design and planning of town halls and bank buildings. Wilson (A.), who has occupied the position of Head of the School of Architecture at the Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong, for the past eighteen months, has resigned to accept an appointment with Mr.
TIMBER RESEARCH
It is along the lines of the books of tables issued by the steel industry that architects and engineers could turn to for information. The third section of our work is directed at using the information gathered to design grading rules for timber that will enable buyers to order timber under more rational conditions than at present. These grading rules are based on the quality of wood available and on the real and not the imaginary requirements of the job.
The powder pile drills live on starch that is only present in the sapwood of wood, for example certain Australian hardwoods. They do not affect the rest of the wood, which never contains starch, and are therefore immune. In the case of an attack by powder pile drilling in interior fittings the problem is more serious as the appearance of the wood is definitely compromised and in this respect the appearance is of utmost importance.
This has been convincingly demonstrated by the most extensive research into the starch content of Vic-. It is not the wood that is to blame for decay, but the conditions in which it is used, and the precautions, or more truly, the lack of precautions, taken to prevent it. It is obvious that the use of more decorative types requires a much larger number of fans if the air flow under the building is to be adequate.
Because of time (as far as is known, it is impossible to accelerate this phenomenon) little research has been done on this problem in Australia or overseas. Attention is paid to the possibility of using small model specimens instead of wood of larger dimensions, which is used in commercial practice. In addition, its shelf life is not long due to the small cells used in its manufacture.
We took great care to test all the wood we used on the job and prevent the floors from being laid too quickly.
CURRENT ARCHITECTURAL
WORKS
MINUTES OF GENERAL MEETING OF INSTITUTE
