Scottish Amicable Building, 128-146 Queen Street, Melbourne
Butler, Graeme1985
Archives
Total copies: 1
Title:
Scottish Amicable Building, 128-146 Queen Street, Melbourne
Creator:
Date of work:
1985
Reference number:
BIF-CITY 108110
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 2022:__________________________________________________Period: Post Second-WarDATE: 1964-5;ASSOCIATIONS: Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society;DESIGNER: Yuncken Freeman Architects Pty. Ltd.;BUILDER: Civil and Civic Constructions Pty Ltd__________________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistory and descriptionAnother of the many insurance head offices built in the 1960s, this was the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society Building and the design of Yuncken Freeman Architects Pty Ltd.The repeated pattern of precast but framed windows succeeds in being read from oblique view points as a texture rather than a pattern and graces the streetscape with its understatement'. This was 'Cross-Section's' eulogy to the masters of understatement (YFA) and perhaps an allusion to the functional role played by the deep concrete grid, blinkering off the low western sun. Harry Seidler had created a similar but earlier residential facade, using precast concrete and Salvisberg had designed a prototype 20 years before in Germany. YFA had already wedded themselves to the media with the much lauded Royal Insurance Building, albeit not with the same deep window reveals.External IntegrityGenerally original.StreetscapeRelates to the adjoining ACA Building's vertical fenestration.Statement of SignificanceA distinctive all precast concrete facade which was the first to use the modelling characteristics of the medium to achieve much needed sun shading which was integral to the facade rather than attached as was then usually the case (i.e. louvres)._________________________________________LOVELL CHEN 2016, GUILDFORD AND HARDWARE LANE HERITAGE STUDYStatement of SignificanceWhat is SignificantThe Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building at 128-146 Queen Street, was constructed in 1964-5 to a design by Yuncken Freeman. It is a large 13-storey commercial office building on the east side of Queen Street, with a façade expressed as a slender concrete lattice elevated above the street on a collonade of pilotis. Above ground floor level, a strict geometry dominates, made up of repeating horizontal and vertical rows of narrow rectangular pre-cast concrete moulded panels, with glazing and spandrels set deep into the reveals. The deep set windows also provide integrated sun shading. At ground floor level, the building has been modified, but retains evidence of the original recessed and set down glazed wall which formed a shallow, covered and accessible collonade at the interface of the private and public realms. Although a canopy has been added at street level, the original design intent remains legible, and the building overall retains a high level of external intactness to its façade.How is it SignificantThe Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building at 128-146 Queen Street, is of historical and aesthetic/architectural significance to the City of Melbourne.Why is it SignificantThe Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building, constructed in 1964-5 for the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society is of local historical significance. The company, which was founded in Glasgow in 1826 and arrived in Australia in 1886, purchased the subject site in Queens Street in 1964, for the construction of their Australian head office. They commissioned architects, Yuncken Freeman, to design the new building, in the period when the practice was increasingly noted for their corporate and commercial designs, including buildings and company headquarters for a number of large insurance firms. Scottish Amicable remained in the building until at least 1989. The building is also significant for its association with the historical post-war period in Melbourne, when commercial architecture began to recover after the war, and numerous multi-storey office buildings and headquarters were constructed. Successful firms embraced Modernist architecture, and sought expression through the new corporate towers which symbolised progress, modernity, efficiency and power. (Criterion A) The Scottish Amicable Building, which retains a substantially externally intact façade to Queens Street, is also of aesthetic/architectural significance. It is an innovative and early example of the return to more massive construction, and a departure from the wholly-glazed expression of office buildings of the previous decade. While its rigid geometry and the incorporation of an entry forecourt (the colonnade) reveal its roots in the International Style, its three dimensional quality, achieved through more assertive textures and the use of sculptural, moulded pre-cast concrete rather than a flat glass exterior, provides a successful Modernist outcome. It is also of aesthetic significance for its strong but ‘polite’ presentation to Queens Street, where the building was required to conform with local height restrictions. This is amply demonstrated in images from the 1960s, including in works by renowned architectural photographer, Wolfgang Sievers. (Criterion E)_________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBUILDING IDENTIFICATION FORM cites RAIA (Vic) 20th C. Register, simplicity, follows glass box concept with new façade material (preacast), not decoratively._________________________________________GRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTERThe building permit was sought in April 1964, with an estimated cost of 100,000 pounds, and publicity for the opening of the building was published in early 1966 { BPA 36882; `Cross-section' 1.3.1966}._________________________________________LOVELL CHEN 2016, GUILDFORD AND HARDWARE LANE HERITAGE STUDYHistoryThe Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building was constructed in 1964-5 to a design by architectural firm, Yuncken Freeman. The Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society had originally been founded in Glasgow in 1826, as the West of Scotland Insurance Company. In 1886, the Society announced that it intended to ‘make advances in Australia’ and Messrs Gibbs, Bright and Co were appointed as agents for the society in Australia.1Developer Lend Lease acquired the site at 128-146 Queen Street in the early 1960s for £380,000 and the four buildings then occupying the site – the Australian Institute of Management building, Emptor building, Pincombe House and the AUC building – were demolished in November 1963.2 The following year, the vacant site was bought by the Life Assurance Company, who proposed to construct their Australian head office on the site.3 It was reported that the building was to have ‘several unique characteristics in its construction, including a specially designed superstructure to enclose all plant and equipment.’4 The application made to the City of Melbourne identified the value of the new building at £1,000,000.5The building was constructed by Civil and Civic Constructions Pty Ltd and opened by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies on 29 November 1965.6 It was reported to be a complex construction, with the architects and engineers confronted with the issue of designing an air-conditioned building with the maximum number of floors and rentable area, while still conforming to local height restrictions.7 The monthly University of Melbourne architectural publication Cross-Section, described the ‘sober’ building soon after its completion:The repeated pattern of pre-cast box framed windows succeeds in being read from an oblique points as a texture rather than a pattern and graces the streetscape with its understatement. There is a fine point of balance where architecture such as this, if only slightly misjudged by its designer, becomes cruel and repellent. Scottish Amicable keeps on the right side.8From the late 1950s, as commercial architecture began to recover after the war, numerous multi-storey office buildings were constructed in the city. The steel and concrete structural frames that had allowed city buildings to extend upward during the interwar period persisted. Curtain walling, which had underpinned the ‘glass box’ architecture popular in the 1950s also remained popular.9 However, this too began to be supplanted by a more massive expression of robust frames and pre-cast concrete spandrel panels. Architects Yuncken Freeman were well regarded proponents of Modernist buildings, and developed a reputation during this period and through to the 1970s for high-quality corporate and commercial architecture. For example, their premises for the Royal Insurance Group, at 444 Collins Street (1966), was awarded the Victorian Architectural Medal in 1967.10As well as the subject insurance company, which is understood to have remained in the Scottish Amicable Building until at least 1989,11 commercial space within the building was let to other businesses including the CBC Savings Bank (1960s), Victorian Building Societies Association (1970s), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants (1980s).12Figure 2 Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building, 1965Source: Wolfgang Sievers collection, State Library of VictoriaFigure 3 Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Building, indicated, 1967Source: Wolfgang Sievers Collection, State Library of Victoria_________________________________________NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (VIC) 2014Melbourne’s Marvellous ModernismExpressed Structure groupSignificance:One of the most innovative early examples of the use of pre-cast concrete panels for a façade – expressed as slim-line repeated rectangular window frames, with the glass and spandrel set deep into the reveal. The pre-cast frames stop above the first floor, creating a two storey effect at ground level. The recessed ground floor gives weight to the columns or pilotis. The building was an early example of the return to masonry construction using the modeling characteristics of concrete to achieve much needed sun shading which was integral to the façade.Intactness:Original ground level lost with contemporary canopy added.References:Melbourne Architecture (1999) Philip GoadCAD Study, (1984) Graeme ButlerNational Trust Classification ReportListings:NT – Regional B6570 (1999)City of Melb B_________________________________________NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) Wed 24 Nov 1965 Page 13`Sir Robert (Menzies) will open a new building for the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society in Melbourne on Monday, November 29.On Monday afternoon Dame Pattie will open the YWCA Festival of Christmas Trees in the Myer Mural Hall, Melbourne. In the evening both will attend a dinner to mark the 21st birthday of the Liberal Party at the Australian. Women's Liberal Club_________________________________________Scottish Amicable HistoryScottish Amicable was another of the many insurance company head-offices built in the Melbourne the central business district and St Kilda Road during the 1960s. The main occupier was the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society and the design by Yuncken Freeman Architects Pty Ltd. (YFA).The Society was established in 1826 and its head office was in St Vincent Place, Glasgow, with branch offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide{ BWWA 1974}
Related material link:
Topics:
Places:
Form/Genre:
Record types:
Research and reports
Record number:
1261792
| Type | Reference No. | Extent | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 108110 | 1 PDF : 1,053 KB ; A4 | Group of Items (May not be issued, may not be reproduced) |