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London Insurance Building, 468-470 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 101181

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 2024:__________________________________________________DATE: 1957-1959;ASSOCIATIONS: London Assurance Company;DESIGNER: Evans, Bernard & Associates;BUILDER: McDougall-Ireland Pty. LtdPeriod: Post-WarNotable features 1985: Early curtain wall, unusual hopper sash. Classic simplicity of era___________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryWith the announcements in 1959 of stone facades proposed on the Colonial Mutual Life and Guardian Insurance buildings, came the completion of this highly successful glass curtain wall. Cross- Section magazine hinted at the death of the `glass box' after a short six-year life span. Cross-Section also announced that (Sir Bernard Evans) this building's architect, had just been elected Lord Mayor. The London Insurance Building whichhad begun in mid 1957 was estimated to cost 300,000 pounds.An aluminium and glass curtain wall is set back from the front of itsconcrete casing to create a picture frame effect. Slim black-framedhopper-sash windows open unexpectedly from alternate mid-points of the window glazing. By contrast, the curtain's frame is natural aluminium and is proud of the glass, tracing a fine pattern of squares across the glazing. The much favoured mushroom colour has been chosen for the spandrel glass.Completing the illusion of total transparency, an almost mullionlessglazed entry screen fills the whole gap left by the structure withlittle fuss. A miniature replica of the building's structural casing, surrounds twopivoted, slimly framed glass doors central to the entrance; completingthe symmetry and simplicity of the façade and providing a vehiclefor a modicum of upmarket polished stone.External IntegrityGenerally original, externally.StreetscapeIsolated.SignificanceAn elegantly transparent all glass curtain-walled office building which was begun only three years after Melbourne's first city examples. The building also represents the growth of `insurance architecture' heralding the emergence of large national insurance companies opting for construction and naming rights of new City office buildings.______________________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER & ASSOCIATES 2011, CENTRAL CITY (HODDLE GRID) HERITAGE REVIEWStatement of SignificanceWhat is significant?With the announcements in 1959 of stone facing to facades proposed on the new Colonial Mutual Life and Guardian Insurance buildings, came the completion of this highly successful glass curtain wall on London Assurance House. `Cross- Section' magazine hinted at the death of the `glass box' after a short six-year life span starting with Gilbert Court, Collins St. `Cross-Section' also announced that this building's architect (Sir Bernard Evans), had just been elected Lord Mayor. The London Insurance Building which had begun in mid 1957 was estimated to cost ₤300,000.The professional journal `Architecture and Arts’ noticed the new building and observed that it was on the site of St Patrick’s Hall where the first Victorian parliament met in 1851: they cited a bronze commemoration plaque retained on the site. They also noted that the London Assurance company had been operating since it received its Royal Charter from King George I in 1720. The new building however was totally modern, with use of light-weight building techniques such as open web floor beams protected by vermiculite. One upper level had been set aside for car parking accessed from the rear and the latest elevators were installed and despite the hopper sashes on the façade, all floors were air-conditioned by a high velocity medium pressure double duct system. The entrance attracted their attention with its travertine faced walls, green marble, gold ceramic tile panels, and marble stairs and floors. It also had an illuminated ceiling that was then a very new concept (removed). The service core ran down the east side of the building.The periodical `Building Ideas' created a special edition to display the City's architectural wealth, with tour guides compiled by architect and academic Neville Quarry and others for the Fourteenth Australian Architectural Convention. London Assurance House was listed among the showcase of modern and heritage architecture in the 1965 guide to Melbourne's best architecture prepared for the architectural profession.London Assurance House was created in an era of the 1950s and early 1960s that saw a major development surge in insurance or assurance architecture in the Capital City Zone, cementing Melbourne's preeminent role in the state for financial institutions.An aluminium and glass curtain wall is set back within the building's façade to create a picture frame effect, bordered by stone facing to the perimeter frame. Slim black-framed hopper-sash windows open unexpectedly from alternate mid-points of the window glazing. By contrast, the curtain's frame is natural aluminium and is proud of the glass, tracing a fine Mondrian pattern of squares across the glazing. The much favoured mushroom colour had been chosen for the spandrel glass (since modified).Completing the illusion of total transparency, an almost mullionless glazed entry screen fills the whole gap left by the structure with little fuss. A miniature replica of the building's structural casing, surrounds two pivoted, slimly framed glass doors central to the entrance; completing the symmetry and simplicity of the façade and providing a vehicle for a modicum of upmarket polished granite. This was the ultimate aim of International Modern, transparency to structure and a lightness of street facades, as a clean break from the monumental revivalist elevations of the inter-war period.The Wolfgang Sievers' image of the building in 1959 shows very little change to its existing form, with the removal of the serifed building name from the first level fascia the only major difference. The ground level interior is relatively well preserved and the exterior is generally original. Internal foyer finishes also appear early original with white marble to stars and travertine to walls.How is it significant?London Assurance House is significant historically and aesthetically to the Melbourne Capital City ZoneWhy is it significant?London Assurance House is significant as a well-preserved, elegantly transparent all-glass curtain-walled office building which was begun only three years after Melbourne's first city examples of the international Modernist `glass box'. The building’s design value has been identified by at least two key architectural publications.Historically the building also represents the rapid growth of the `insurance architecture' of the 1950s-60s continuing the expansion of large insurance companies opting for construction and naming rights of new City office buildings as a form of promotion and fund investment. This was when Melbourne was the financial capital of Australia.FURTHER REFERENCESLaw institute web site 2010: See http://www.liv.asn.au/News-and-Publications/Law-Institute-Journal/Archived-Issues/LIJ-March-2009/LIV-Celebrating-150-years (Law institute )Neville Quarry in `building ideas' (monthly published by CSR Building Materials Vol. 2, No. 11, March 1965, pps 2-26: Building 100 guide for Architectural ConventionVICTORIA HERITAGE DATABASENational Trust of Australia (Vic) 2004Statement of SignificanceSTATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE:What is significant? The building was constructed in 1959 as the new Australian headquarters of London Assurance, a UK based insurance company. It was designed by Bernard Evans, a Melbourne architect with a long career, who was also Melbourne City Councillor for many years in the 1960s, and 70s and was an outspoken mayor in the early 1970s. In 2003 the facade was modified to a design by H2o architects.It is a simple curtain-walled office block, a type very typical in Melbourne in the mid to late 1950s, when there was a construction boom following the lifting of post WWII building material restrictions in 1953. It is a reinforced concrete structure, with party walls on both the side boundaries, metal-framed windows on the rear (north) facade, and a curtain wall on the street (south) facade. This curtain wall is the most notable feature of the building, and differs from other curtain walled offices of the period with the incorporation of 'hopper' windows, which are sections of the window that are openable, independently framed in black aluminium, against the natural aluminium of the rest of the curtain wall. These hopper windows are also placed in a pattern in the facade, at every second window, a position which alternates on each floor. The ground floor 'shopfront' facade is also largely intact, and is one of the few remaining in office buildings of this period in the city.The alterations of 2003 included the covering over of the dark grey terrazzo edging, which had decayed, with black aluminium cladding. The dark brown coloured-glass spandrel panels were also partly covered with removable coloured aluminium cladding in various shades of grey, leaving 40% of the original visible. A new sliding glass door replaced the original doors within the black terrazzo portal frame of the street facade. The foyer is largely intact, with its unusual arrangement of a pair of stairs, one leading up, and the other down, a half level each. The lift lobby, the side walls and a pair of columns are clad in travertine, with some inlaid black granite and gold mosaic tiled strips, the stair treads are in black granite, edged with black marble, and the balustrades are black metal rods, topped with brass handrails. The floor in front of the entrance doors and the lifts is white marble, similar to the original, reinstated in 2003.How is it significant? The Former London Assurance building is significant for architectural reasons at a Regional level.Why is it significant? The former London Assurance building is architecturally significant for its use of hopper windows, placed in a rhythmic pattern in the curtain walling, a distinctive variation for city offices of the 1950s, and the only one remaining in the city. The ground level and lobby are also finely and unusually detailed, incorporating a large expanse of glass 1 1/2 floors high, creating a large transparent screen allowing views into the lobby, and its unusual arrangement of upper and lower levels. It is also notable that the ground floor facade and lobby areas are largely intact, since virtually all other examples in the city have been completely altered.The alterations of 2003 have only slightly altered the elements of significance. The new cladding is reversible, and gives the facade an interesting contemporary overlay, while allowing a significant proportion of the original spandrels to remain visible.Historically, it is one of the best works surviving by successful commercial architect and civic leader Bernard Evans. A designer of many buildings over a long career, notable projects include Tudor Revival style shops in Toorak Village, and the famous 'London Court' arcade in Perth of the 1930s, the Ampol Building in South Carlton of 1959, and the CRA Tower of 1962 at 95 Collins Street, once the city's tallest but demolished in 1989. He was a Melbourne City Councillor for 23 years, Lord Mayor 1958-60, helped to introduce strata-titling and was a champion for the creation of the city Square, and was knighted in 1962.Classified: 17/05/2004Sands and McDougall Directory of Victoria1961470 London Assurance HouseThe London Assurance FireCommercial Insurance Co Ltd Aust. FireMaster Builders Insurance Co LtdSherrif (plus various professionals)1974General Accident Fire & Life Assurance Co Ltd.O'Brien, F & Co solic.Beck, FD insurance brkerOrr Martin & Waters accntsMullett & Nedovic solicsYorkshire Finance CoGibson , AE & Co auctioneers and estate agentsForrest, J caretaker

Names:

City of Melbourne

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesPostwar period1950-1959Offices

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1188914