#ManchesterUnityBuilding

[csmeatonimages]

Manchester Unity Building , Melbourne, Australia by Christopher Smeaton Via Flickr: Manchester Unity Building , Melbourne, Australia

[fangirlshandbag]

More from my @cityofmelbourne #walkabout: Jack’s door at City South, aka #SouthMelbourneTownHall, #murals at the @SouthMelbourneMarket, #CoopsShotTower, which is a bloody brilliant bit of #architecturalpreservation in my opinion, @RMITUniversity, #statue of Sir Redmond Barry, #founder of the State Library of Victoria (@library_vic), copper #horse statue at the corner of Swanston and Bourke Streets, the #ManchesterUnityBuilding and, #MelbourneTownHall. Seriously, if you are an #architecturelover or a #publicart lover, or a #streetartlover, or #alloftheabove like me, get yourself to #Melbourne. #mfmm, #missfisherlocations, #jackrobinson #ilovemelbourne, #somuchtolove (at City of Melbourne) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4jYxVUJBQ-/?igshid=13pv123g9uoax

[apollolxii]

Manchester Unity Building, Swanston Street, Melbourne-Australia

Built in December, 1932 and designed by Marcus Barlow in an Art Deco style.

[shopsui]

#architecture on my #Monday in #melbourne #manchesterunitybuilding #building #artdecobuilding #melbournesrchitecture (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvtRbD7l-y3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o8e0m1jxltse

[themelbournesupremacy]

Logo love #MelbourneAlarms #logolove #manchesterunitybuilding #collinsstreet #melbourne (at Manchester Unity Building)

[misssarayael-blog]

MANCHESTER UNITY BUILDING

Photo 1: Exterior of the Manchester Unity Building.

The Manchester Unity Building is one of a kind in the Melbourne CBD. Construction began in 1931 until 1932 and its design is a combination of the Neo-Gothic (1905 to 1930) and Art Deco (1925 to 1937) styles.

Two key design elements of the building are line and shape. Line is used heavily both inside and outside of the building. It is used along the ceiling, skirting boards as well as in the intricate iron fretwork along the escalators. Shape is also a key feature of the art deco gothic building. There are many uses of geometric shape, particularly the structure of the building from the outside.  The corner tower’s elongated columns and flying buttresses were inspired by the Neo-Gothic skyscraper, the Chicago Tribune Building (Willis, 2018).

The building displays a range of high-quality materials; concrete, marble, aluminium, steel, stucco and tiles. The skeleton of the construction was formed with concrete-encased steel beams, while the exterior of the building features terracotta faience tiles that add sleekness to the overall facade.

The establishment consists of 125 tons of marble that has been utilised throughout, from structural to decorative use. Metal has been used around shop fronts as a framing tool and on the panelled elevator doors in an extravagant manner. Stucco is displayed in the elaborate ceiling design and along the corridors. Mosaic tiles have been incorporated on the ground floor around the entrance, and surround the shop fronts, creating a beautiful walkway that also navigates the flow of foot traffic.

Photo 2: Elaborate ceiling design.

Photo 3: Detailed metal work featuring repeated elements of line and shape.

Some of the key motifs featured  in the Manchester Unity Building are of the MU Monogram, meticulously handcrafted in mosaic tiles on the floor of the arcade, pressed into the metal doors of the elevator and repeated in gold foil on glass doors throughout the building.

The decorative plaster artistry on the ceilings of each level depict a recurring theme of the working Australian life and the virtues and motto of the MU order.

Throughout the interior and exterior of the building are decorative brass friezes in a triangular shaped pattern following the lines of the building, and the art deco style of the time.

Photo 4: Hand crafted mosaic floor tiles featuring the Manchester Unity monogram.

Photo 5: The magnificent plated elevator doors.

As the Manchester Unity Building was influenced by Art Deco and Neo-Gothic design, the colour palette used throughout the building is synonymous with the luxurious materials adopted by these movements within Australia (Heritage Council of Victoria, 2018).

The use of white and cream is widely reflected in the marble and stone tiling. Rich browns and golds are also prevalent in the frequent use of rosewood, as well as bronze and gold metal, which contrasts with the rich black metal used.

As a result of technological advancements of the time, a wide colour palette was integrated into decorative images represented in the tiling (Daly, 2016). The range of colours used consisted of blue, green, yellow and red and further enhanced the expressive quality of the space.

Photo 6: Rich browns and golds contrast with black metal detail in the Manchester Unity Building elevators.

Heavy oak furniture with carved legs and backs, substantial fabric upholstery and stained glass featured in Neo-Gothic period interiors.  However, the furniture and furnishings of the Manchester Unity Building were of the Art Deco aesthetic which utilised exotic woods such as mahogany and zebra wood.  Cabinetry was inlaid with brass, ivory or mother of pearl. Cross banding and marquetry also featured and, in keeping with the glamorous aesthetic, high gloss, lacquered and mirrored finishes were popular as was decorative etched glass.  Geometric patterns were commonly found on curtains and rugs, and fine leathers, animal skin and velour were used for upholstery. (Miller, 2011)

The Manchester Unity Building’s fully restored boardroom is a fine example of the period, featuring the original Queensland maple boardroom table cross banded with rosewood together with the original leather chairs (Manchester Unity Website, 2018) and marquetry buffet.

The Manchester Unity Building is a classic example of Neo-Gothic Art Deco design and its restoration and preservation has enriched our city’s architectural diversity.

Manchester Unity Logo on metal plated elevator door

For Bibliography please click on link below-https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tjSl6U93Vbheo-lCu8I7hcK9J3KUFHi6DrDHBkmlNBI/edit?usp=sharing

[wader]

Delighted with my birthday gift from @philpaschke. A laser cut bamboo model of my favourite #Melbourne building, the #manchesterunitybuilding. By @ginandapathy #putittogether #buildingstuff

[chrminsta]

#manchesterunitybuilding by Independent Order of Odd Fellows #oddfellows #artdeco #americangothic #archtiecture #melbourne #interior #lifts #mural (at Manchester Unity Building)

[s2-design]

They don't build 'em like they used to! When they built the Manchester Unity building, corner Collins and Swanston Streets in Melbourne, somebody gave a sh#t about good design and quality construction using solid marble partitions, terrazzo floors and hardwood doors. When did you last see an office building bathroom not built out of sliced cheese?!? #manchesterunitybuilding #swanstonstreet #collinsstreet #melbourne #terrazzo #marble #ceramics #ceramic #ceramictiles #toilet #dunny #artdeco #s2_design #architect #architecture #designed #designer #design #interiorarchitect #interiordesign #interiorarchitecture #chrome

[smashedapplesfactory]

Sitting on the world class steel seats outside #MelbourneTownHall admiring upwards and outwards - appreciating the architecture the town hall and @manchesterunitybuilding along Swanston Street. #melbourne #friday #victoria #autumn #australia #blueskies #trees #buildings #architecture #2017 #walkabout #visitmelbourne #lamppost #victoriaarchitecture #march2k17 (at Melbourne Town Hall)

[eslgd357]

343/366. #manchesterunitybuilding in a given summer afternoon (at Swanston Street, Melbourne)

[melbourne-journal]

City of Clocks.. #melbourne #townhall #manchesterunitybuilding #architecture #archilovers #takemetomelbourne #discovermelbourne #melbournejournal #ig_australia #allshots_ #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #freedomthinkers #prettycitymelbourne #ig_captures #clocktower #clock #neverstopexploring #explore #discover #lookup #city #cityarchitecture (at Melbourne Town Halll)

[shopsui]

Walk 1. From #collingwood to the city of #Melbourne with @karenevanstyle where we went past the magnificent @regent_theatre, the #Artdeco #manchesterunitybuilding #architecture #walking #monday (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CGg-YJzD6Q_/?igshid=11d5zfpxa0o6l

[chrismbr]

Fasted overnight and went for my annual blood tests on Wednesday morning - but forgot my forms, so next week 😬 So brekky at #1932Cafe in the glorious #ManchesterUnityBuilding (at 1932 Cafe & Restaurant) https://www.instagram.com/p/COUIcVCn5nQ/?igshid=1szz2ac4msw1

[kleinetigger]

morgen Melbourne.... this is wat u look like this morning.... 😊❤️🌤👍🐶⚽️☕️🍸🍾💃 #melbourne #mymelbourne #melbournewinter #manchesterunitybuilding #citysquaremelbourne

[wader]

One of my favourite places in Melbourne. #artdeco #manchesterunitybuilding (at Manchester Unity Building)