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Francis House, 107 Collins Street, Melbourne

Butler, Graeme1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Butler, Graeme (Name details)

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102069

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:

Style: Neo-RenaissancePeriod: Inter-WarConstruction date: 1926-1927Notable feature: Winner 1st R.V.I.A Street Architecture Medal (1929)Architects: Blackett & ForsterHistory: Constructed for pharmaceutical firm Henry Francis & Co..ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYStatement of SignificanceHistoryThe architectural fraternity, then the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects, resolved in 1928 to award an architectural medal `...to encourage excellence of design for the architecture of Melbourne'. When the street architecture medal was given to Blackett and Forster's Francis House in 1929, this was the beginning of Australia's first annual architecture design awards, preceding New South Wales' Sulman prize by three years.Such a prize could only be awarded to a building facing a street, road, square or court which was not residential (but included town houses and flats) and was built in Victoria in the five years prior to December 1928. Non-metropolitan buildings were not excluded but the competition, nevertheless was directed at benefitting `city architecture'. Chaired by P.A. Oakley, the judging jury included notable designers such as Phillip Hudson, A.R. La Gerche, W.O. McCutcheon and Louis Williams.It was perhaps an unfortunate co-incidence that W.A.M. Blackett was R.V.I.A. president (1928-30) at the time of receiving the award. He had also been lecturer in architecture at the Melbourne University engineering facultysince 1915. Then he had served another two-year presidential term with the R.V.I.A. preceding his election to fellowship status in 1919.Blackett was among the most active in the profession but it was reputedly a junior partner, Hugh Craig, who prepared the design which was subsequently developed by W.F. Williams. Completed in 1927 by builders, Scott and Sorrell, Francis House was called `pleasantly prim and Georgian...(with a) suspicion of maindenly proprietry...to our jaded eyesight, this business house is indeed refreshing' wrote Australian Home Beautiful. Henry & Co of the owners, Henry Francis and Co. had been active in Melbourne over a long period. Only thirteen years before (1913), architect, Nahum Barnet had designed a reinforced concrete building for the firm at 280-282 Bourke Street (qv). It too occupied a narrow site and rose to a similar height. Francis & Co sold to Conzinc Riotinto in 1969 after presiding over a host of surgeons, chemists, dentists and doctors as tenants over the years.DescriptionDescribed as Georgian, the elevation does possess that era's economy of detail but fits more precisely into the neo- Renaissance category which had already been pursued by Blackett and Forster at Victor Horsley chambers (1921) and was to include designs as late as Oakley and Parkes' Anzac House (1938) and Meldrum and Noad's National Bank Western Branch (1939). Rising with proper attention to reducing window height the upper facade occupies three vertical planes; two below the parapet cornice and balustrade and a pent-house level recessed above. A subtle string mould divides off the attic storey and is embellished at its centre with a cement cartouche. Set as a centre-piece in a delicately moulded opening, the bayed shopfront extends its pharmaceutical wares as it has for sixty years. Having undergone little alteration the show windows are held using similar bronze joinery to that of the upper facade.External IntegrityGenerally externally original.StreetscapeRelates to the simple symmetrical form of the building adjoining to the west and the classical detailing of that on the east.SignificanceA refined and intact facade in the Neo-Renaissance manner which achieves more in its concurrence with the civic design aims of Street Architecture Award than as a single building. Also the winner of the first annually presented architecture awards in Australia..GRAEME BUTLER 1985 MELBOURNE CENTRAL ACTIVITIES DISTRICT CONSERVATION STUDYBuilding Identification Form cite 20th C. RegisterGRAEME BUTLER 1982-3, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS (VIC) 20TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE SURVEY and 20th CENTURY BUILDINGS REGISTER.NEWSPAPERS:The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) Wed 19 Jan 1927 Page 11https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/244071100 image of elevationFRANCIS HOUSECollins Street FeatureFrancis House Is approaching completion in Collins street east, between Russell and Exhibition streets. Its construction presents some points of special interest, as its frontage is one of the narrower type. The buildings have been planned so that the maximum of letting space has been obtained with good day lighting to all portions of the premises Francis House contains a lofty basement with direct lighting at rear, and liberal pavement and entry lighting by means of pavement prisms with tile divisions covering the steel- work.The entrance hall, stair and lift hall are marble paved and wainscoted, with marble stairs, with wide slip treads and wrought iron balustrade and newells. The stall has a continuous light well directly behind windows facing Collins street, thus gaining excellent lighting and ventilation of the stair and corridor system. The major part of the ground floor is to be occupied by Messrs. Henry Francis & Co. It is interesting to note that this firm was founded In Melbourne in 1849 and the pharmacy has been carried on In close proximity to the new building since that date.The entrance required the display of a show window, which has been carried out In bronze, with considerable detail of classic influence. The back of the window is panelled in quartered mahogany, and a special floor of parquetry formed of silky oak, Queensland maple, and blackwood adds splendor. The bronze capitals terminate the marble pilasters. A silk awning, disappearing Into a bronze enclosure is provided, the front elevation Is treated the Italian Renaissance influences, and the top storey is set back, forming a balcony, over- looking Collins street.Windows throughout are metal frames. Hot and cold water service is provided In all compartments of the building.There are five stories above the ground floor, which are laid out with modern conveniences for use of medical and dental practitioners.Messrs Blackett and Forster, of 237 Collins street, are the architects. Messrs Scott and Sorrell, of Rae street, North Fitzroy are the builders,.The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Wed 19 Aug 1931 Page 6 STREET ARCHITECTURE.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203021531Institute Medal Awarded.The council of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects announced yesterday that the R.Y.I.A. Victorian street architectural medal for 1031 had been awarded to Messrs. A. and. K Henderson (architects) for Lyric House;. 250 Collins-street, Melbourne, the design and construction of which were executed under the direction of the ' successful ' architects. . In recommending the award, the examining jury stated that several of the buildings, nominated, for examination were of a high order . of merit; and that Lyric House was a definite contribution to the architecture of the State.The report added that Lyric. House possessed a happy and refreshing personality, and embodied skilful, handling of material, color and detail, and, above all, exhibited that air of scholarship, thoughtfulness And completeness so desirable in good building.The Lord Mayor (Cr Luxton) will pre sent the medal at a general meeting of the R.V.I.A. at Kelvin . Hall on Wednesday evening next.The street medal award was established in 1929, when the medal was awarded for Francis House, Collins-street (architects, Blackett and Forster), the medal last year being awarded for the Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy (architects, Public Works department)..The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)Monday 5 September 1932 - Page 9https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243037441 imageHonor For Melbourne ArchitectNEWS was received from London today, that Mr W. A. M. Blackett, a Fellow of the Royal Victorian- Institute of Architects, and a prominent Melbourne architect, had been admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.The Council of- the - R.V.I.A, has forwarded to Mr Blackett congratulations, as the honor la highly appreciated by the profession in Victoria. Mr Blackett was the first president of the Royal Australian Institute of Mr W. A. M. Blackett 1 Help Mr W. A. M. Blackett 1 Architects on the inauguration 'of that body in 1930.He is a past president of the Victorian body and a member of the council. The Victorian Street Architecture medal for 1929 was awarded to Messrs Blackett and Forster, of which firm Mr Blackett is a principal, for Francis House, Collins Street, Mr Blackett, in addition to being president of theArts and Crafts Society of Victoria, is a leading member of the Legacy Club..The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Tue 28 Aug 1934 Page 15 BUILDING & ARCHITECTUREhttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205532366STREET ARCHITECTURE.Value of R.V.I. A. Competition.It Is difficult to assess the real value of the competition conducted by tho Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. Inaugurated six years ago to encourage excellence of design in street architecture, It is certain that some gains have been made in the interests of the profession and public alike. As announced last week, the medal was awarded this year for the three-year period ended 50th June to Buckley and Nunn's new building, 296 Bourke-street, the facade of which is Illustrated on this page.The building was selected for the award by an examining jury, which included the president of the institute (Mr. C. E. Serpell). the chief architect of the Slate Government (Mr. P. Everett), the noting director of the National Gallery (Mr. W. B. McInnes), the art inspector of the Education department (Mr. W. R. Dean), and Messrs. W. A. M. Blackett, H. E. Bartlett. E. P. Billson, L. P. Irwin, G. R. King, M. W. Martin and J. P. D. Scarborough.The jury was impressed with the high standard of design of the nominated buildings for the stipulated period, and arrived at a final decision only after a careful analysis of each entrant. In making the award, it was stated by the jury that the architects, Messrs. Bates, Smart and McCutcheon, had very successfully introduced color in the facade, arid thus offset the disadvantages of the site, the building being on the northern side of the street. Al though a distinct departure from the traditional in architecture, the finding added, the facade gave evidence not only of good' taste and suitability of purpose, but also an appreciation of the two subtle and elusive qualities — dignity, and Individuality. ...`....The first building to receive the coveted medal was Francis House, 107 Collins-street, the designers of which were Messrs. Blackett and Forster. This conception of a small office building .was regarded as a very good example of re fined architecture, with the shopping portion treated to form a ground floor of Inviting appearance and reticent character. '

Names:

City of MelbourneBlackett & Forster, 1914-1932

Topics:

Central Activities District Conservation Study 1985Conservation studiesInterwar period1920-1929Pharmacies

Places:

Melbourne (Vic.)

Form/Genre:

Building Identification Forms (BIFs)

Record types:

Research and reports

Record number:

1191770