Capitol House, 109-117 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Capitol House, 109-117 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 109268
Level of description:
Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)
Type of materials:
Graphic materialsTextual material
Part of:
Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedOpen access.
Use restrictions:
UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.
General notes:
RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2023:__________________________________________________DATE: 1924;ASSOCIATIONS: A. J. J. Lucas; Herman E. Phillips, Raynes Dickson; J.E.P Howey (directors);DESIGNER: Griffin, Walter Burley and SA Peck of Peck & Kemter in association;BUILDER: Byatt, H and Rogers, W.S.Period: Inter-WarSculpture: Cast metal untitled by Ian Bow.VICTORIA HERITAGE REGISTER H0471What is significant?Capitol House, Swanston Street was built in 1921-24 to house a theatre and shops and a ten level office tower. It was designed by Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony, in association with Peck and Kemter, and incorporated Melbourne's first picture palace. Threatened with demolition in the 1960s, the building was retained, however it was extensively altered.In the early 1920s, this block in Swanston Street was at the heart of the city retail trade. In 1921 it was purchased by two companies, headed by Greek community leader, philanthropist and restaurateur; A. J. J. Lucas; American entrepreneur and film expert, Herman E. Phillips, and Raynes Dickson. Lucas was instrumental in securing the services of Walter Burley Griffin who had already undertaken architectural work for him. Brought into the Capitol building company for his film knowledge, Phillips was one of the brothers responsible for Luna Park (1912, VHR H0938) and the Palais Theatre (1927 VHR H0947). Lucas and Phillips visited the United States and England to inspect the latest theatres and to purchase the necessary fittings, including an expensive Wurlitzer organ, one of only four in the world at the time.The main contracts for the building were let in 1921. Built of steel and reinforced concrete to the maximum permissible height of 132 feet (40.3 metres) by the principal builder, John Monash's Reinforced Concrete and Monier Pipe Construction Company, the building was technically advanced in its construction. The use of reinforced concrete enabled the complete elimination of internal columns to support the dress circle in the auditorium and also allowed construction of a daring cantilevered street verandah.Capitol House was designed to include more than one hundred offices, six shops, a large auditorium to seat more than two thousand people, and associated lobbies, lounges and staircases. The building was designed to be exposed on all sides, unlike most city buildings at the time. The highly modern Swanston Street facade incorporates vertical piers which extend the entire height of the building, capped by deep cornices and grouped in three to produce two pylon-like motifs. Revivalist themes are eliminated by the lack of detail on this facade.The Capitol Theatre opened in November 1924, displaying an auditorium designed to create pure fantasy. The main feature is the cave-like crystalline modelled plasterwork ceiling with concealed coloured lights which change systematically through a range of hues and brightness. Foyers were also cave-like with stepped, illuminated ceilings, decorated columns and interpenetrating voids.Paramount Pictures leased the Capitol Theatre until Hoyts took over the lease in 1940. The early 1960s saw the demise of a number of Melbourne's large cinemas and in 1963 Hoyts did not renew their lease on the Capitol Theatre. This resulted in proposals for demolition, or alteration, of the building and instigated a campaign for its rescue. A compromise resulted in the retention of the auditorium ceiling, but the destruction of the ground level foyer and stalls, due to the insertion of a new floor within the original auditorium. The main elements of the theatre, including the upper foyers and the front facade, remain substantially intact.How is it significant?Capitol House, Melbourne is of architectural, historical, aesthetic and scientific (technical) significance to the State of Victoria.Why is it significant?Capitol House, Melbourne is of architectural significance as a unique expression and highly advanced design concept by the creative and well known architects, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony. It is of significance as one of their greatest works and as their largest commercial building project.Capitol House, Melbourne is of architectural significance for its highly original combination of offices, shops and an entertainment venue in one building. Although not unique, it was an advanced concept at the time, developed on a major scale with the inclusion of a vast auditorium.Capitol House, Melbourne is of historical significance as the first of three great picture palaces built in Melbourne in the 1920s. Predating the Regent Theatre (VHR H0690) and the Forum Theatre (former State Theatre VHR H0438) by five years, it exposed Melburnians to a totally new phenomenon that was to become a fundamental part of popular culture.Capitol House, Melbourne is of historical significance as the focus of one of Melbourne's first conservation campaigns. This included support from the National Trust, the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects and architectural writer, Robin Boyd.Capitol House, Melbourne is of aesthetic significance for its foyers and auditorium interiors, which are extraordinary and were highly advanced in concept in the 1920s. The auditorium ceiling design, with its spectacular lighting effects, is of particular importance.Capitol House, Melbourne is of scientific (technical) significance for its highly innovative structural design which explored the limits of steel and concrete.[Online Data Upgrade Project 2008].GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites RAIA 20th Cent. Architecture Reg. and MURPHY ARCHITECTS, JOHN AND PHYLLIS 1976_________________________________________MURPHY ARCHITECTS, JOHN AND PHYLLIS 1976. HISTORIC BUILDINGS STUDY OF PART OF THE C.B.D. MELBOURNE : { AREA 1} WITH MURPHY, JOCK, FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION COUNCIL.7.14109-117 Swanston Street -Capitol HouseConstruction Date: 1924-27 :Architect : WaIter Burley Griffin, in association with Peck & KemterIt has been said that only two of Melbourne's buildings have been designed by international architects of note. These are St. Paul's Cathedral and the Capitol Theatre, designed by Walter Burley Griffin who arrive-d in Australia from D.S. in 1913 after being commissioned to plan the. federal Capital of Australia as the result of a competition. The ceiling of the Capitol Theatre is renowned, and although the building has now been altered internally the ceiling has been kept intact. It is included in the Register of Historic Buildings and is classified by the National Trust. Robin Boyd described the ceiling as having become of the nature of abstract sculpture (for want of a better term) and its effect is magnificent .Thousands of coloured light bulbs . hide in an acoustic labyrinth of fibrous plaster".Although not generally considered an exciting building externally, it is of interest to note again the comments of Boyd. "Griffin …had planned for the top floor to be recessed behind a front balcony, a feature that was too radical for the owners. The facade finished as a number of plain white piers linked by recessed windows and spandrels and capped by a heavy cornice which was all that Griffin could salvage from his balcony idea. In spite of the leadlighted windows, it is still one of the city's most sensible facades" .1. Boyd Robin, Victorian Modern, Arch. Students Society of R.V.I.A., Melbourne (1947), P 26._________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)1924The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)Wednesday 24 September 1924 - Page 15https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203665027THE CAPITOL..NEW BUILDING IN SWANSTON-ST.The new building opposite the Town Hall, in Swanston-street, to be known as 'The Capitol Theatre and Capitol House, will be ready for occupation towards the end of October. The land originally formed part of the well-known Howey estate, and was acquired from the estate and from Mr. A. J. J. Lucas in 1921 by two proprietary companies. The site has a frontage to Swanston-street of 86 feet by a depth of 224 feet to Howey- place. The commercial block has a depth of 66 feet on the north, and 80 feet on the south. This block rises to the city height limit of 132 feet. The main en trance is on the south side, and will give a direct way from Swanston-street to Howey-place. Three high-speed elevators are installed, one of which will run express to the fifth floor during the busy hours of the day. These give access to about 110 rooms -and offices on the various floors. The whole structure is of steel and rein forced concrete, and in addition an efficient system of fire hydrants and chemical fire extinguishers exist on all floors. The floors are of parquetry, and all the office fittings are of silky oak. The main entrance to the theatre is in the centre of the block, and is 30 feet wide, opening into a finely designed vestibule and lobby, the latter having domed ceilings, intersecting each other immediately in front of the spacious doorway entrance to the auditorium. In the construction of the building 12,000 tons of concrete, have been used, in which is embedded 700 tons of bar steel and 500- tons of structural steel. The roof beams over the theatre are massive pieces of work, with a 60-foot span, and weigh each about 80 tons. When completed the electric light system will account for sixty miles of wire and four thousand lamps. One of the features of the theatre will be a fine Wurlitzer organ, which will be used to supplement the orchestra. The buildings have been planned by Mr. W. B. Griffin and Mr. S. A. Peck, architects in conjunction, and the work has been under the direct supervision of Mr. H. Byatt, assisted by Mr. W. S. Rogers..News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 - 1954)Wednesday 1 October 1924 - Page 10https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129862606MELBOURNE STRUCTURE"Triumph of Construction""THE CAPITOL"Regarded as a triumph of architectural and engineering construction, "The Capitol," a new building in Swanston street, Melbourne, opposite the Town Hall, is nearly ready for occupation. Its interior design is extremely beautiful. In addition to shops and offices, it contains a picture theatre. It is expected that "The Capitol" will house the elite of the business enterprises of Melbourne. In Swanston street, Melbourne, a colossal structure of steel frame and concrete has lately been stripped of its trappings of scaffolding and stands now revealed to thousands daily passing as a noble architectural feature, set in the heart of the city. The new building is to be known as "The Capitol", (says 'The Herald,". Melbourne).It will contain a remarkable picture theatre, surrounded by shops, and surmounted by offices, housing, it is believed, the elite of the business enterprises of the metropolis. The theatre arrests attention because citizens of Melbourne have hoped for years for the appearance of a play house in the centre of the city, where they could pass in a few minutes from the tram or train into that wonderful field of world-wide observation that the modern picture show affords. The entrance hall, visible from the street, is broken by a low flight of semi-circular marble steps leading to a broad landing, ceiled with ornamented white plaster and shallow gilt domes brilliantly lighted. Straight forward a broad Moorish arch leads to the floor of the house, while right and left of this, horse-shoe arches open on the stairways to the foyer and dress circle. An array of stout pillars, in arabesque design, supports a low roof heavily girdered in white-coated concrete. Upstairs. the foyer surrounds a balustraded light area, from the floor of which people will be able to look down upon the assembling crowds in the auditorium.PICTURE THEATRE.The theatre itself is not yet susceptible to minute description, because it is still filled with a maze of scaffolding used by craftsmen engaged in decorating the ceiling and in fitting the lights that are to flood the auditorium in every part. All that can be said of the theatre interior at this stage is that its stalls, dress circle, and boxes will accommodate about 2,600 people. The dress circle is a gallery sloped back to the foyer. The ceiling is low, but over the stalls it breaks upwards, and becomes very lofty, the ceiling here being stepped from side to centre, the steps taking the form of concrete white plastered ribs, and the rises being glazed to admit electric light in a multitude of hues and intensities, variable at the will of the picture producer from a control switchboard. There are no pillars in the whole auditorium, the roof being carried on concreted steel girders of immense strength. The entire building has a frontage of 86 ft. to Swanston street, and, including the theatre block, runs back 224 ft. to Howey place. The commercial block occupies space to a depth of 66 ft., and comprises a basement 13 ft. 3 in. below the footpath level, two shops facing Swanston street, and ten floors above these. This block rises to 132 ft. above the street. The main entrance is on the south side, with a marble floor, and plateglass wall cases on each side. Passing through the copper-plated collapsible gates a small shop is found, placed immediately adjoining, the elevators shaft. Three high-speed elevators are installed, one of which will run express to the fifth floor. These give access to about 110 rooms and offices on the various floors. Each floor is provided with spacious corridors running north and south, connecting the main south stairs with a smaller staircase on the north side. Both the stairs extend to the flat roof, from which a really fine view of the whole of Melbourne and its surroundings can be obtained. Many of the rooms are fitted with lavatory basins; the whole block, is heated by a system of hot water pipes and radiators. Small balconettes on the second and tenth floors extend over the footpath; the view from those on the tenth floor is unique. Each room is equipped with electric light, with special fittings and power.IMPRESSIVE APPEARANCE.The front elevation presents an impressive appearance of strength and solidarity. Although somewhat severe in its lines, the conception is very fine. being bold in the treatment of detail, which blends harmoniously with, and add to, the massiveness aimed at by the architects. The awning is a note worthy piece of engineering construction, Weighing approximately 25 tons, built on the cantilever principle, of reinforced concrete and structural steel. Reinforced concrete is the material used by the architects in the construction of the whole building. Externally the finishing is obtained by cement plastering. The main entrance to the building has been contrived so that beautifully designed show stands for jewellery and other attractive merchandise flank a passage clear through to the side of the theatre. Here a right-of-way, converted into a shop-lined arcade, with glass roof, leads to Howey place, and thence through the Howey House Arcade into Collins street. Another right-of-way on the north side practically completes an island site sur rounded by shop fronts. One of the most remarkable structural features are the escape staircases, all completely isolated in concrete. These descend on both sides outside the theatre, but turn in on the ground floor, so as to give landings clear of the public way. .Although many of the interior fittings of the theatre now being installed must await further description when completed. it may be noted here that the Wurlitzer organ that is to provide the theatre music in addition to the large orchestra is one of the most remarkable instruments in the world. The keyboard, semi-circular in shape, is no wider than an ordinary office table, yet the multitude of keys and stops operate the notes of a full range orchestra of over 100 instruments, including a be- wildering variety of stringed and wind instruments: Only three or four of these wonderful organs have yet been installed in any part of the world, in the largest and latest theatres of England and America..The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Saturday 8 November 1924 - Page 5https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244843605CAPITOL OPENSPolice Keep Crowd BackIMPRESSIVE PICTURESpeeches in admiration of the new Capitol Theatre and Capitol House were delivered last night at the- official opening….Everyones.Vol.4 No.245 (12 November 1924)https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-558645690/view.
Related material link:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1264052
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 109268 | 1 PDF : 2,747 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |