Chemistry Building, University of Melbourne
| Chemistry Building | |
|---|---|
 Chemistry Building, entrance viewed from the north, May 2013 | |
 | |
| Alternative names |
|
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Type | Academic administration |
| Architectural style | |
| Location | Masson Road, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°47′53″S 144°57′43″E / 37.79806°S 144.96194°E |
| Completed | 1938 |
| Owner | The University of Melbourne |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Cream brickwork |
| Floor count | 2 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Percy Edgar Everett |
| Website | |
| www2 | |
| Official name | Chemistry Building - University Of Melbourne |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 August 1996 |
| Reference no. | 65073 |
| Significance | National Trust |
The Chemistry Building is a university teaching facility used by the University's School of Chemistry, located at Masson Road, The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The building was designed by Percy Edgar Everett,[1] who at the time was employed by the Victorian Public Works Department.[2] It was built in 1938 at a time of major expansion at the University through the 1920s and 1930s.
The building is best described as a modernist, inter-war, gothic architecture, and due to this it has been deemed to be of state historical and architectural significance on the National Trust register.[1][3]
Description
The Chemistry Building is a distinctive modern interpretation of a Collegiate Gothic style. Its most notable features, which are stylistic of the inter-war period, are the cream brickwork, bold massing and highly detailed tower decoration.[1] In recent years[when?] the Chemistry Building had interior redevelopments to bring the outdated technology and amenities up to the standard required for modern chemistry research.[3]
Key influence and design approach
During the 1930s when the building was constructed, Melbourne University placed a lot of importance on the opinions of experts such as chemists. For this reason, Ernst Johannes Hartung, a professor of chemistry at the time, designed most of the interior of the building to suit the specific requirements of chemistry research.[4]
The Masson Theatre in the chemistry school has a heritage listing despite losing its impressive two-storey high rolling blackboards and theatre-wide front rostrum in the late 1980s.[5] It has undergone a recent renovation addressing safety concerns but preserving the remaining character.[6]
Gallery
Entrance view (from north)
North elevation
Close-up view of entrance
Southwest view
West view
References
- ^ a b c "Chemistry Building, University of Melbourne". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Historic Campus Tour" (PDF). The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Chemistry Building Redevelopment". School of Chemistry. The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Chemistry at Melbourne : The First 100 Years" (PDF). The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "189". 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Uom Masson Theatre". 20 October 2015.
External links
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