Introduction to Melbourne Architecture

In what ways are the expressionist tendencies of the Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond & Corrigan a rebellion against mainstream tendencies and/or a gateway to pluralism within Melbourne architecture?

The Melbourne architecture is known to be the second largest city in the whole of Australia and this is based on the fact that it is actually known to present a n extensive and broad design formation of both the old as well as the new architecture. It is also important to note that there is lots of residential architecture that has the suburb’s jurisdiction and which has been shaped duly through a history that is quite extensive (Borland & Hamann, 2006). The major aim of this essay is to portray expressionist tendencies which are associated to three major individuals namely Edmond and Corrigan, Kevin Borland, and Griffins that depicts the rebellion of mainstream towards pluralism which is based on the “architecture of Melbourne”.

 It is prudent to note that early Melbourne is generally known to include the colonial towns in Australia with the dotted house through the details of the “Hoddle’s Grid” plan street. This researcher has both made an estimation and manifestation of numerous strategies of the Melbourne Architecture using prefabricated housings that comprises of two iron houses which are based in Melbourne’s Southern region (Raxworthy, 2016). In addition to that, the researcher will also make a detailed discussion and analysis of the segregated region of Melbourne. In essence, the essay will seek to depict the fact almost the entire Australian architecture highly portrays the profession of the German artists.

The revolutionary aspect that is associated with the architecture is known to generally begin at the period of the First World War with the medieval periods of the intermediaries. It can truly be ascertained that the “Griffin Architecture” depicted the structure in the Canberra as well as the sketches which were related to Canberra (James, 1988). On the other hand, it is important to also note that that the designing or development of the Griffin Design was indeed quite different from the works of the other professional architectures. This is attributed to the fact that Griffin, unlike other architects makes use of the dome and triangle techniques for manifestations. Such architect was known to have been totally manifested in the Australian region while its style was known to have been estimated in the American Region as well (Bak, 2018). The Edmond and Corrigan concept is known to use the concepts and techniques of the “Polychrome bricks” that were known to be quite colorful in their nature. This made the look to become completely traditional thus making it to have significant benefits such as effective utilization of space.

Residential Architecture and its Historical Development

The researcher ensured that there was highlighting and reflection of numerous strategies which were related not only to the content but also discussed in separate and different stanzas using relevant or appropriate concepts. It is prudent to note that in the beginning of the few stanzas, there is a depiction of the mainstream tendencies that are associated to Griffins, Kevin, as well as Edmond & Corrigan rebellion that has been discussed relatively using the references that have provided in the study.    .

W.B Griffin is highly known because of presenting a strange and unique structure of the “Giurgola’s Parliament House” using a Pyramidal top. The flag’s structure was regarded as being problematic, uneasy, and unnecessary. This is attributed to the fact that the “colossal Canberra” was indeed a “weird structure” which was subject towards detachment as well as flawlessness in the technique (Jackson, 2015). However, it is important to note that the structure lacked similarities between both experiment and originality. In addition to that, it is also important to note that the “Capitol in the valley” of the Molonglo had been designed by Griffins and it is indeed the most inscrutable and impressive architectural ideas that were provided by Griffins in a tangible manner. The drawings which were associated with M. M Griffin for “Federal capital competition” depicted that such designs were indeed more exciting and promising as opposed to the rest of the structure based in the Canberra (Vitos, 2015). This is true since the head of architect in the NDC have indeed supported the architecture style that is associated with the Griffins. Undoubtedly, their endeavors and efforts were noteworthy since their visions had a significant position in a lived experience across the world and peculiarly in the American aspects.

 It is important to note that Griffins as an architecture student as well as a practitioner reasoned using significant arrangements which were associated with both the forces of politics and society in the United States (Baracco & Wright, 2017). The Griffins domestic architecture was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that there was protection from all sorts of social arguments as well as inconsistency for some specific “bourgeois cultures”. It is thus prudent to note that the “artist-architect” which emanated in the “bourgeois culture” was known to have emanated to position of “Alter Ego” for the owner and as a result, they become quite “possessive hostile” due to their attainment (Roberts, 2015).

Rebellion Against Mainstream Pluralism

Transition is known to have introduced three major studies based on the Griffins architecture in order to make mark death anniversaries of both M.M Griffin and W.B Griffin. However, it is important to note that Griffins as well as their architecture ought not to be regarded as being modernists but rather as “avant-garde” on both political and social aspects and terms (Hall & Harris, 2016). This  is attributed to the fact that their architecture was highly limited towards the physical and powerful system of the local patronage, artistic societies, and the social clubs but had very little or limited concepts that were attributed to nationalism (Turnbull & Navaretti, 1988).

That apart, it is also important to note that Griffins and their own architecture were indeed different in views in the aspects of European Modernism since they were highly committed to the “post confederation nationalism”. This implies that the Griffins had not been prepared for the political and social conditions that they had witnessed. The “Art and Craft” were thus torn between the consistent sloppy relationships as well as associated while the essential challenge which was a result of embracing the mechanism, the abstraction, as well as the process of construction (Taylor, 2014). That apart, it was noted that the ideas were not only shapeless but they were also so unclear to an extent that it was almost impossible to clarify the democratic ideas which were linked to it. The Griffin architecture ideology was known to have been an experimental architecture which was severely abstract and aesthetic.

The only thesis for the Griffins was the “rock solid house” after which the architecture ultimately became integrated and had not only the “rough-hewn” brickworks, but it also had members of the decorative elements and crystalline structures. Griffin had wanted to ensure that the deep archetypes were reverted and these include the cave, the redoubt, and the temple (Williams, 2017). It is important to note that the “abstraction” was known to have counteracted the “bourgeois society” and thus ultimately brought it closer to the “actuality of manufacturing production”. It was important to note that in order to have a complementing “growing orthodoxy” of “fresh corporatism” in America; it was evident that an “anti-modern” visual had to emerge. This is attributed to the fact that the “Griffins” were indeed reacting to the “Canberra sketches” which helped them to effectively find numerous ways of opposing the artistic in order to retain the “aura of the Arthurian obligations” towards the community (Boni, 2017). It is important to note that the “projected house of M.M Griffin” is known to have contributed to the further development of the “anti modern impulsive nature” and as a result, this made it to become ultimately sublimated or include in the Newman College’s blueprint.

Griffin’s Unique Style and Influence

It can truly be argued that Griffin’s position could clearly be summarized towards the aesthetics which they had introduced in Australia that was ultimately known to have been ant-modern. It is prudent to note that the political and social ideals ultimately prevented them from the “acceptance which they had required in the “bourgeois” social organizations (Steel et al, 2017). In addition to that, it is also prudent to note that the architecture of the Canberra which had been duly described and depicted by Griffin had shown strange deformations of the architecture’s sagacity and meaning. Of worth noting is that there is great uncertainty in the messages that had both odd expressions as well as dead silence. Moreover, the Canberra had the weary and troubling atmosphere which is developed through compulsive slips that were prevalent in the series. According to Harbemas, the “Griffin Architecture” had been explained as being a deterioration of the “bunch propagandistic bunch art” into the “commercialized group cultures”. It is thus prudent for all and sundry to note that indeed, this has been the impact or fate of majority of the architectural structure that had been associated by the Griffins (Van, 2015).

It is a known fact that Edmond and Corrigan actually supported the use and application of the non-traditional or non-conventional ways that was used in the development of architecture. As a result, they were known to have patiently made use of the non-conventional or non-traditional “Polychromic brickwork” that were used in majority of architectural structures. Such polychromic bricks are known to be not only colorful but also provided different looks or images from the other structures of the building (Leach, 2015). Medieval Europe is particularly noted to have used colored bricks or which were brightly painted. Such types of bricks which were used were normally pallid washed or ultimately destroyed in the process of protestant restructuring that happened during the iconoclast stages. That apart, Edmond and Corrigan’s architecture deceased or stopped from the “squatter romantics” in a strong manner in which Australia’s self conception differed from the real perception. In the book known as Cities of Hope, written by Conrad Hamann, the author both rehearsed and remembered the “official construction” of designs which had been made by the “Edmond and Corrigan” (Johnson, 2014). In the design, the design of the stage is depicted on one side while the other side of the architecture is also depicted on the other side.

The Edmond and Corrigan Concept of Polychrome Bricks

Australia’s architectural concept changed significantly from 1975 when most of the diversified concepts had been evolving in sections or segments. During such periods, most of the architecture which was prevalent in Melbourne was known to have been highly depended on the theoretical and traditional method as a result of low capabilities of innovation (Schaik, 2015). During such periods, it is also essential to note that Edmond and Corrigan were known to have evolved or developed a new method of architectural design that had never been experienced before. The designers had been linked with this new style which was totally different from the other designers. Both designers also ensured that they made distinct ways in the designs that they made during that time, traditional or conventional architecture in the Australia as a country was deeply flowing in a direction that had been defined (Kenneth, 2007). As a result, the design of each and every building in Australia was actually almost the same while the looks of the buildings at that time were also known to have become quite monotonous. Moreover, some of the historians stated that in order to alter the pattern and in order to alter the looks in their design, both Corrigan and Edmond took an initiative of innovating a significant difference in such a process. This ultimately made the design that was made by both architects was greatly altering the trend of dimension in Australia. This is true and it is attributed to the fact that that they diverted from the traditional or conventional architectural designs and instead decided to embrace an “expressionist view”. This made their design to become highly influenced by the objective and theme of construction thus making them to become quickly accepted.

Kelvin Borland is known to have been born on the 28^th of October in 1926 in West Melbourne and is also recognized as being a reported educator as well as designer of originality and substance (Parmar et al, 2018). The first building that was first developed by Kelvin Borland was the “Rice House” that was known to have a completely different Archetype housing. One of the significant features that made this house to become unique and notable was actually the use of unusual construction technique and materials (Boyd, 2018). This house (Rice House) was made up of two structures in which the first structure was comprised of centenary arches that were arranged in a series form in order to support this structure that was supported by both concrete bricks and walls. On the other hand, the second structure was comprised of two major arches. The first structure was also known to have covered by a “walk away” that is comprised of the metal frames.

Transition and Death Anniversary of M.M and W.B Griffin

The architect was known to have implemented both the modernism as well as socialism as modernism in the construction of the artist’s building thus making him to come up with other unique designs of architecture that existed at that time (Benaim, 2018). In fact, this house was one of the unique constructions that had been made or developed by Kelvin Borland with the support of his friends namely Murphy, Irwin, and Mcintyre. This structure was a “V-shaped” stadium that had been made using steel rods and then they were tied firmly to the ground. The V shaped structure was viable in that it helped in the minimization of the building’s total volume and also provided the visual interests which formed the elevations.

It is useful to note that even though the house was initially invented by Borland, it was later on officially handed to someone known as Geoff. This house had been developed using full proof planning of both the contemporary and modern “flat roomed rooms”. The wall paneling was made using dark stained plywood that was made to be used in the making of the modern and contemporary house. However, a “per shill hall” that had a well structure and developed roof was ultimately made after almost a period of 4 years (Borland & Easton, 2018). This specific house made by the artist Kelvin Borland was developed on the 17 piece acres of land that were located on the park of the orchards hilltop (Billinghurst, 2018). Its roof structure had been made using surmounted plans which comprised of the two hexagons. It had a “straw board ceiling” which had been structured and it also had the external as well as internal walls which had been made well above approximately sixteen meters right from the ground.

The external walls of the house had been made using Mt “Gambier limestone” and thus this made it to become quite different from the normal or regular “geometric constructions”. Kelvin is recognized because he ensured that this building was reconstructed using unique “octagonal plan” by ensuring that the roofs were constructed against its wall alignment. Based on the architectural designs that had been made by “Kelvin Borland”, it can truly be asserted that the beliefs of this artist in the marking of the reversed changes ultimately provided unique and different styles on the building. This thus made the building to become a “national model of experimental and optimistic” times or periods. The decision which was made by the architecture truly reflected his form, honesty, function, clarity and texture.

Griffin’s Anti-Modern Vision

Kelvin together with the team members made thus school “Preshill” to reconstruct its normal or regular design and corrected the irregular forms, angles, as well as the complex structures. Each of the building in the school was thus mad using raw timbers and beams (Vega de León, 2018). The rooms of the buildings were fitted using the clerestory windows and the doors were made using sliding glass, the internal space of the building could be used for numerous purposed through dividing it using the folding doors. In addition to that in the main space of the building, many of its small spaces were ultimately attached in which the children in the school were ultimate provided with the “elevated platforms” which were used for purposes of playing (Piumsomboon et al, 2018). The building was situated in the school hall of “Margaret Lyttle Memorial School” based in Australian areas. It is important for all and sundry to note that the researcher both estimated as well as manipulated numerous intellectual strategies which were associated to the architectural content based in the Australian region that was quite important.   

Reference List

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Baracco, M. and Wright, L., 2017. Robin Boyd: Spatial Continuity. Taylor & Francis.

Benaim, M., 2018. From symbolic values to symbolic innovation: Internet-memes and innovation. Research Policy, 47(5), pp.901-910.

Boni, M., 2017. World Building: Transmedia, Fans, Industries. Amsterdam University Press.

Borland, H.C. and Hamann, C., 2006. Kevin Borland: Architecture from the Heart (Vol. 2). RMIT Publishing.

Borland, J. and Easton, M., 2018. Integrated Pasts: Glencairn Museum and Hammond Castle. Gesta, 57(1), pp.95-118.

Boyd, R., 2018. Bringing It All Home: Robin Boyd and Australia’s Embrace of Brutalism, 1955–71: Philip Goad. In Brutalism Resurgent (pp. 41-78). Routledge.

de la Vega de León, M., 2018. A Tale of Inconsistency: The Absence and Presence of Australia in the Historiography of Modern Architecture. Fabrications, 28(1), pp.47-66.

Hall, N. and Harris, S., 2016. The Online Street Art Walk: Using Digital Technology to Support Community Engagement with Young Street Artists: A Report on the Katoomba Street Art Walk.

Jackson, D., 2015. Chapter Twenty-Five Indigenous Conciliations with American Modernity. The Modernist World.

James Weirick, ‘The Griffins and Modernism’, Transition: Discourse on Architecture, No. 24, Autumn, 1988, pp.5-13 (week 5 reading).

Jeff Turnbull and Peter Navaretti, The Griffins in Australia and India: The Complete works and projects of Walter BurleyGriffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, 1988.

Johnson, A., 2014. Drawing, building (teaching), text: alternative narratives & the practice of Anna Johnson.

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Van Schaik, L., 2015. Pavilions, Pop Ups and Parasols: The Impact of Real and Virtual Meeting on Physical Space (Vol. 235). John Wiley & Sons.

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Williams, A., 2017. BEYOND PRAGMATISM. Beyond McDonaldization: Visions of Higher Education, p.115