English Scottish & Australian Bank, 453-457 Elizabeth Street & 129-137 Franklin Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
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Total copies: 1
Title:
English Scottish & Australian Bank, 453-457 Elizabeth Street & 129-137 Franklin Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 103229
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:
Period: Post-WarConstruction date: 1958-1960Notable features: Frank Lloyd Wright influence, successfully materialised; 1965 guide to Melbourne..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER 2021:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThis bank replaced an earlier branch of the same institution and was heralded as the first use of stone, the traditional stuff of banking, on the `facade' for many years. `Cross-Section' thought its deep balcony and roof overhang were creditable responses to the climate, despite the initial eastern orientation of the shading overhang. They were pondering the intended nine extra floors and their deep balconies, to three sides of the building, shown in an `artists impression'. They wondered `in this age of curtain walls' that clients could be persuaded to give so much of their site away to such extensive balconies. All glass curtain walls had already taught the folly of discarding sun control: the `decorative' precast concrete sun shading and its ability to absorb heat, and shade from radiation, were congratulated as a further means to unload the air- conditioning.`Cross-Section' also remarked upon current bank designs and the predilection for an `espresso-bar' treatment in their design. The construction stage of this bank had raised their expectations but completion brought an anti- climax. Perhaps what `Cross-Section' had failed to realise was that the architects, Chancellor and Patrick, were dedicated to the Prairie School and the bank's strong forms, natural materials and geometric decoration were all part of an American tradition commenced by Wright in the late 19th century. The builders were Clements Langford Pty. Ltd.DescriptionIn the Wright, `Falling Water' mode, the familiar structural pi-sign, thrusting cantilevered balcony and roof slab, rough stone cladding and geometric precast screens provided for a design which was unusual for the city. Wright aside, the design also had roots in the E S & A architectural department's products at Ringwood (1954) and Malvern. The bank's Collins Street head office (qv) had also been progressive, for a bank (1941) but in a different mode.External IntegrityGenerally externally original.Streetscape`Cross-Section' had correctly remarked that its heavily modelled elevation and materials were contradictory to the surrounding Victorian period streetscape.SignificanceA successful interpretation of the prairie school style, achieved against the economics and architectural precedents of prevailing city architecture,by the style's most proficient Australian exponents of the period..GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?In the Frank Lloyd Wright, 'Falling Water' mode, the familiar structural pi-sign thrusting cantilevered balcony and roof slab, rough stone cladding and geometric precast screens provided for a design which was unusual for the city but not for its designers, Chancellor & Patrick who specialised in reinterpretations of the Wright oeuvre. The influential periodical `Cross-section' published illustrations of the existing 1st stage and the proposed 2nd stage of 9 additional floors to the limit height of 132 feet (as existing in 2010). The report notes that the 1st stage looked monumental because of the missing 2nd stage, dominating its surroundings. It was a `clear statement of opposition to the glass house idea'.The innovatory nature of the design also had roots in the E S & A architectural department's products at Ringwood (1954) and Malvern. The bank's Collins Street head office (qv) had also been progressive, for a bank (1941) but in a different mode.Recent major upper level additions have interpreted the proposed second stage of the original design, completing the project in a similar architectural character to the Hoyts Cinema Centre. The additions have reduced the integrity of the building to its construction date but not to the original intent and have not removed the significant elements cited above.How is it significant?The English Scottish & Australian Banking Co. is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?English Scottish & Australian Banking Co. is significant aesthetically as a successful interpretation of the Prairie School style, achieved against the economics and architectural precedents of prevailing city architecture by the style's most proficient Australian exponents of the period.Historically it and the Commonwealth bank on the opposite corner exemplified the new branches in the City perimeter to serve the post Second War expansion. The bank was also the subject of professional periodicals and cited in the 1965 `Building Ideas' guide to Melbourne architecture..RAWORTH, B 2002. REVIEW OF HERITAGE OVERLAY LISTINGS IN THE CBDfor the City of MelbourneHistory and DescriptionThe former ES&A Bank was constructed in 1958-60. It was designed by prolific Mornington Peninsula architects Chancellor & Patrick and built by Clements Langford Pty Ltd. The bank is unusual both within the CBD and within the catalogue of Chancellor and Patrick, who are remembered principally for their residential work in outlying areas of Melbourne. This is their only commission within Melbourne proper. As such, it is unique and substantially original example of their commercial design and demonstrates a clear alternative to the glass box approach which had come to dominate commercial design in Melbourne during the 1950s. The bank consisted visually of massive corner pylons faced in coarse stonework, with grille work infill panels and a floating flat roof Although principally designed in steel and concrete, the building was acclaimed for its liberal use of Dromana granite. The former ES&A Bank was designed for eventual extension to the height limit although only three storeys were builtThe design recalls not only the geometric Prairie School designs of Frank Lloyd Wright but also of Walter Burley Griffin's symmetrical pylon compositions, and can be seen as a precursor to innovative designs for branches of the ES&A hank at Ringwood (1954) and Malvern (1959-60) by the bank's own architectural department.In recent years the bank has vacated the premises and the multiple entries to the original banking chamber now service different tenancies. Consequently, the two entries have been painted to reflect the different tenants within. While this has, to sonic extent, undermined the unity of the composition, the building remains in excellent original condition and is a notable and distinctive clement within the CBD.The building has been classified by the National Trust.Statement of SignificanceThe former ES&A Bank is of aesthetic significance at a local level as a unique example of bank design within Melbourne's CBD. It is of note both for the quality of its design and as the only work by noted architects Chancellor & Patrick to be constructed within the CBD..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites Graeme Butler, 1982-3, Twentieth Century Architecture Register of Royal Australian Institute of Architects: cites Cross-section 1/9/1960: illustrations of existing 1st stage and 2nd stage of 9 additional floors (see as existing ) notes 1st stage monumental because of missing 2nd stage, dominates surroundings..CITY OF MELBOURNE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATIONSBuilding Permit Application 9/6/1958: 32381..MCC i-Heritage: Central Activities District Conservation Study - Graeme Butler, 1984 (BIF): Notable features include unpainted decorative stone work. Frank Lloyd Wright influence, successfully materialised - 1965 guide to Melbourne. See Victoria Illustrated: 8 (note: since - major upper level additions- based on original C&P sketches?)NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC)National Trust of Australia (Vic) , File Number B6258Level StateStatement of Significance`The former English Scottish and Australian Bank, designed by the prominent Melbourne firm Chancellor and Patrick, and built between 1958-1960 by Clements Langford Pty Ltd, is architecturally of State significance as a rare and notable city example of a regional manner that developed in Melbourne during the 1950s and 1960s. Generally intact, the steel and concrete building is of interest for the emphasis on stonework in the design. The use of Dromana granite for the massive rock faced corner blocks was a deliberate reference by the architects to stone as a traditional building material of the city, the building clearly showing an affinity with the work of Griffin and Wright. The thrusting cantilevered balcony and roof slab, vertical piers, and geometric precast screens breaking the roofline, evidence Chancellor and Patrick's alignment with the then current interest in structure by a number of Melbourne architects. At the same time the bank draws out of Chancellor and Patrick's "post and beam" regional work on the Mornington Peninsula, acknowledged as part of a "Peninsula Style". It is also seen to have roots in the ES & A architectural department's innovative designs at Ringwood (1954) and Malvern.With its intended nine extra stories the bank design sits at counterpoint to the surrounding streetscape, particularly the warehouses of the area, and to the then prevailing city architecture of the curtain wall façade. That such continuity in their work was achieved against the economic pressures for use of the curtain wall in commercial building, in both Sydney and Melbourne, is also to the architects' credit.'.DIRECTORIES OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE-SANDS AND KENNY, SANDS & MCDOUGALL1961 453-457 ES&A Bank LtdHowden, J & Co Aust P/L engineers
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1205388
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 103229 | 1 PDF : 2,121 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |