Australian Architecture: Rebellion Against Mainstream Or Gateway To Pluralism?

Architects Works

Australian architecture was achieved not by default but due to the contribution of renowned architects such as Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond & Corrigan. Their style of architecture influenced the path taken by modern architects in achieving aesthetics and innovative creativeness in their design. However, Griffins, Kevin Borland, and Edmond & Corrigan’s approach to design is considered as a rebellion to the mainstream tendencies of approach to design. The criticism in their designs lead to the birth of pluralism architecture within Melbourne. The essay will highlight ways in which expressionist tendencies of the Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond & Corrigan a rebellion against mainstream tendencies and/or a gateway to pluralism within Melbourne Architecture.

First, the essay will discuss the architects’ background and some of the projects done by Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond & Corrigan that have expression features that denote rebellion on the common tendencies of expressing architectural designs. Such case study projects done by Kevin Borland include the Rice House, built in 1953 that follows an organic roof form with white arches. Rice House has a spectaculars design that has stood the test of time and was considered an icon at that time. It was sited on the hill in Melbourne. The house resembles a tent like encampment with two structures and Clyde Cameron College that features eclectic cylindrical concrete forms, tubular channels and curved stairwells. Clyde Cameron College was built in 1976 to 1977 as a training resident college for trade union. The site had a single story farm house which was extended and integrated into the complex.

 Projects done by Edmond and Corrigan that we will discuss include St. Kilda’s Stork, and RMIT University. RMIT University building 8 done by Edmond and Corrigan is mainly referred to as the ‘city within a building. The materials used for the construction of the facades include metal, stone and glass. The character of the building resonates with the typical Melbourne character; bay windows and cubular colourful structures. Projects designed by Griffins will involve Capitol Theatre and Newman College in Melbourne. The Capitol Theatre being one of the most notable buildings by Griffin in Melbourne. The theatre was designed as a section of a ten storey building located along Swanston Street. It was commissioned in 1924.

We will discussed how these architects have been criticizes for the flaws found on their design approaches despite the courage they put in their work to ensure they achieve a master piece that stand to pass the test of time.

Walter Burley Griffin

Architects Works

Walter Burley Griffin

Walter is an American architect born in 1986 in Illinois. He believed that his style of architecture is naturalists, one that clearly integrate naturally or co-exist with the environment within which the building is to be located. A good inspiration of such ideology came from one of the designs done by his idol, Frank Lloyd Wright, in his design of the falling waters, which to date remains to be an icon and inspiration to the future architects[1]. His architectural forms in Australia are characterised by modernist forms that are heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright. Most notably, his residential houses designs featured small sandstone houses, flat roofs and in harmony with the environment[2]. He largely preserved the surrounding landscape- a lesson learnt from his mentor, Wright. The Capitol Theatre is one of the most notable buildings in Melbourne. The theatre was designed as a section of a ten storey building located along Swanston Street.

Kevin Borland

Kevin Borland is an Australian born architect whose architectural style transitioned over time from international modernist style to regional aesthetic style. He is among the architects who practiced during the post war. Much of his works are composed of raw material that are’brutalist’ in nature. This habit typifies Borland motto which states that Architecture is not for the faint hearted.

His most notable works include the Landmark Rice House built in 1953 that follows an organic roof form with white arches. Rice House has a spectaculars design that has stood the test of time and was considered an icon at that time[3]. The house having been commissioned by Harry, it was sited on the hill in Melbourne. The house resembles a tent like encampment with two structures. A main house and a subsidiary structure that was originally a studio and a garage.

The method of construction of the house was known as Ctesiphon system, which resulted to the formation of a series of catenary arches. Ctesiphon system is an application that involves application of cement laced integrated with waterproofing membrane to hessian covered catenary timber arches[4]. The Rice House is an outstanding example of the experimental domestic architecture in Melbourne that was as a result of late modernism coupled up with shortage of raw materials due to the post war period. This experiment of the Rice House developed into a recognizable regional style of architecture in Melbourne.

Another icon by Kevin Borland is the Clyde Cameron College that features eclectic cylindrical concrete forms, tubular channels and curved stairwells. Clyde Cameron College was built in 1976 to 1977 as a training resident college for trade union[5]. The site had a single story farm house which was extended and integrated into the complex.                                                       Clyde Cameron College, now Murray Valley Private Hospital

Kevin Borland

The building form is an example of brutalist style that was mainly practiced by Kevin Borland, which consisted an off form concrete with a series of wings made of concrete and storey slabs linked with a pipe walkway constructed using precast concrete The wings lie across the site at 45 degrees geometry. The interior timber trusses have exposed services. The building’s design purpose was to showcase the trades as a design intention to show the architectural aesthetic[1]. This is because during the design stage, individual trade unions were highly involved on the design decisions and took part in very important meetings and discussions.

Edmond & Corrigan- founded in the 1970s by Margaret Edmond and Peter Corrigan. There notable designs include the RMIT University building 8 and St. Kilda’s Stork Theatre

Despite the fact that Griffins, Borland, Edmond and Corrigan trained and apprenticed under the modernist architecture movement, their works were an expression of a rebellion to the mainstream modernist era, thus ushering Melbourne architecture to pluralism. This has been exhibited by the adoption of brutalist architecture, use of eclectic or organic forms,

The Architects Design Philosophies

Kevin Borland

Kevin is the pioneer of ‘brutalist’ architecture, his designs mainly revolve around this style. This form of architecture was particularly a favourite for Kevin Borland and is well exhibited in his design for the Clyde Cameron College. The master plan for the institution includes a range of detached buildings arranged around the central administration building. The materials used for the construction of all buildings include concrete, glass and steel. The design is eccentric due to the presence of concrete tunnels functioning as transition spaces between the buildings. Of particular interest is the front porte-cochere which is uncommon, and can be viewed by many as a heavy visual form[2].

Clyde Cameron College has stood out to be one of the highly creative designs that resembles the Brutalist architecture of the 12^th century. The spatial relationship of the design layout is a direct contrast of the modern architecture forms that is usually rectangular, square and cylindrical. Kevin Borland integrated all the forms and shapes to come up with a unique structure that speaks a different language that is not common to everyone. He is viewed as a rebellion to the modern architecture, however, in his design, he awakens the beauty of Melbourne as a region, and within its community, and he realized a common style that was celebrated by Melbourne population resulting to the popularity of Brutalist style across Melbourne.

Brutalist style ethos some key elements that define this style such as being true to the material as one of the key features that was highly regarded by the pioneers of architecture, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright by maintaining the unpainted off form concrete with its formwork showing the existing pattern during the healing process of concrete, heavy timber trusses, concrete block work, and use of exposed services. The building was designed to showcase the skills of builders, designers and individual trade and reflect the dreams and aspiration of the Trade Union Movement.

Some of its design concepts embraced by Kevin Borland, Griffins and Edmond & Corrigan include;

The use of eccentric organic forms: although the use of organic forms was celebrated and embraced by the modernist architecture movement, the Griffins, Kevin Borland, Edmond, Corrigan adopted bold unconventional organic forms. Their organic forms were considered edgy, extreme and non-conformist to the organic forms that were established in the modernist movement[3]. Their extreme creativity on form were viewed to be inconsiderate and did not follow any specific regulations of design.

Fellow architects viewed this as rebellion of the highest order. In most cases, this habit of irregular morphology lead them into critics in forums and seminars, in the same time, these designs became popular due to the criticism. According to Kevin Borland, his design inspirations came from the heart, he viewed organic designs to be beautiful and unique in its own.[4] That’s what architecture is all about, being creative during the design stage, and going organic in the design, it will mean that the design form will definitely speak out for itself by reflecting the community culture, practices and way of life.

Despite the fact that architecture is both and art and science, the art in their designs more dominant than the science since the art engines the science to be employed in construction, the art is independent of the science, and coming up with organic designs as the art gives science a challenge to execute the desired design form that resembles the organic form. In most cases, this is viewed as complex and contradictory by the modern architects whose ideas on design revolve around simplicity as being the perfect approach to design as a means of simplifying task and having a purified form.

In Kevin Borland’s Rice House, the eccentric organic form is evident on the queer unique roof of the residential house. Constructed in 1953, the building has a simplistic functional floor plan for the main house and the garage that is roofed with a tent-like structure[5]. The roof was constructed using a Ctesiphon system-a series of catenary arches that supported thin concrete vaults. During construction, the concrete is sprayed over chicken mesh and waterproofing over supporting formwork.

The Architects Design Philosophies

                                                     Rice House by Kevin Borland (1952–53). Image:  The Rice Estate

                                                                    Source: www. architectureau.com 

This residential house is regarded as a rebellion to the mainstream modernist movement for two main reasons; the unconventional tent-like roofing and the method of its construction. First, the use of tent-like roofing was only used for large stadiums or commercial architecture yet Borland used that concept for a residential building[1]. Secondly, it was the first building in Australia that made use of the Ctesiphon system of construction. It is viewed as an experimental house since it was the first time that such technology was being used to construct a house. During its construction stage, there were a number of challenges faced such as getting the right waterproof paint. A number of tests had to be done to ensure safety of the house. The main house has a unique design that resembles a porch which four arches with a curvy brick sitting on top, with a suspended covered walkway that link the two buildings[2].

The Rice House by Kevin Borland under construction, showing catenary timber arches. Image:  The Rice Estate

Rice House by Kevin Borland under construction, showing hessian-covered timber arches. Image:  The Rice Estate

 Walter Burley Griffin

The Capitol Theatre is one of the most notable buildings by Griffin in Melbourne. The theatre was designed as a section of a ten storey building located along Swanston Street. It was commissioned in 1924[1]. The construction of the building featured the use of concrete technology which was considered contemporary at the time of construction.The interior of the theatre is accentuated by breath taking organic arches at the ceiling, with emphasized detailed column capitals and walls. The design concept has been described by critics as a fairy tale, crystalline feature that contrasts with the formal exteriors of the buildings[1]. 

Adoption of various diverse inspirations in their work: the work of these architects, Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond & Corrigan, strongly exhibit the influence of many diverse inspirations and thus resulting to strong non-conformist forms. A good example is Edmond and Corrigan’s RMIT University building 8. It is one of the icons that disregard the purity of form due to its complexity and contradicting elevations with protruding shapes like windows. It is referred to the ‘city within a building. The materials used for the construction of the facades include metal, stone and glass. The character of the building resonates with the typical Melbourne character; bay windows and cubular colourful structures but still illustrates other diverse influences such as the non-Venetian architecture present in Collins Street, pieces that symbolise Darth Vader from Star Wars movie, vibrant club colours and Gothic turrets[1]. The resultant architecture piece is a stunning modernist building that expresses the artistic fusion of diverse inspirations.

Their style of architecture was different from the strong ‘squatter romanticism’ that is evident in Australia. The typical Melbourne architecture is defined by the presence of grey bluestone and simple cubular structures that follow the city’s planning lattice. It drew inspiration from diverse sources articulating rash colours, complexity, innovative designs and explicit references.

This can be attributed to the varied interests of the architects; for instance, Peter Corrigan was an accomplished set and costume designer who had worked on various productions including shows, theatres and operas. In addition, his personal conviction to stand out and be respected explain his non-conformist approach to design.

Just like Edmond & Corrigan different inspiration on RMIT building, Griffin’s love for different shapes in his designs was influenced by Wright as witnessed by use of geometry, emphasis on texture and wood trellises with rough surfaces and incorporating the site features in the design[2]. However, it is notable that Griffin was progressive; he adopted contemporary construction technologies and drew from diverse muses as he matured in his career.

Newman College, Melbourne is an example of a building designed by Griffin that infused diverse inspirations. The building was commissioned in 1916 and the client required a Gothic-style design. However, Griffin added organic elements in the interiors as a

Architecture in the suburban landscape: inner-urban areas (within the city) have for a long time been the focus for modernist architects practising in Australia since the 1900s. However, the new breed of the pluralistic modernist architects have shifted their focus towards the sub-urban area that is located at the periphery of the city.

Edmond and Corrigan worked on various projects that were located within the sub-urban area including St. Kilda’s Stork Theatre[3]. Most prominently are the theatres that Peter Edmond worked on that not only brought architecture to the sub-urban area but also helps to bring dignity and elevating the status of the otherwise dismissed suburbs.   These constructions relied on base materials of suburban type such as painted steel, tinted glass, timber trellises and coloured metals with little attentions to their details. The resultant architectural forms had simple detailing and were constructed on low budgets. 

Conclusion

However, the pluralists have drawn criticism for the lack of taste in their rebellious expressions to the mainstream modernist architecture. Although these architects have been hailed for their courage in their work, critics have pointed out there are some fundamental flaws with their approach which disproves the view that they are the gateway to pluralism in Melbourne architecture. Edmond and Corrigan’s work has been criticised for relying on base materials of suburban type such as painted steel, tinted glass, timber trellises and coloured metals with little attentions to their details. Critics have pointed out that their work exhibits little detailing. 

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