
Lovely art deco apartment block in Robe Street, St Kilda. Nice from a distance, but not too great close up. While the apartments would be quite large and with generously sized rooms, places like this do tend to be quite dark, even gloomy, inside. Of course while most modern apartments are filled with light, they don't not even come close to having any style compared to this block, let alone the production like standard of workmanship.
Negatives: visitors drive round the block looking for a park, one power point in each room, none in bathroom.
ReplyDeletePositives: SOLID walls -you won't hear the other owners watching the tennis all night, and it looks like Hollywood and is named ROYAL.
That board has a SOLD label, I hope they're happy.
Looks like a large version of the AWA bakelite valve radios I knew and loved as a young whippersnapper.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous building! There are some lovely ones in East melbourne too from memory. Anyway, this building makes me want a martini for some reason.
ReplyDelete.. to wash down the wafer thin cucumber sanger.
ReplyDelete"...places like this do tend to be quite dark, even gloomy, inside."
ReplyDeleteDaft really, seeing as the whole idea behind art decor was to bring health, light and feelings of joy into people's lives.
It has a balcony, a covered balcony where I could lounge nekkid on hot summer nights not like a stupid highrise where balloonists can see everything.
ReplyDeleteYes Coppertop. I've seen your nekkid ballooning 45DDD uncovered balcony.
ReplyDelete(Was on page 3 of 'Zoo' magazine as I recollect.)
Heritage listed I believe.
(Have you tuned out already Shirl? Thought so.)
I'm with LiD and the martini - it's all very Noely Coward, Amanda & Eliot and 'Private Lives'
ReplyDelete... mixed with a touch of "Love in a Cold Climate" and "Brideshead Redivoted".
ReplyDeleteThey would all be renovated Ann, more than one power point and probably now at foot height rather than chest height. Your point about visitors, and often residents too, is valid. A big negative against St Kilda.
ReplyDeleteI am rather fond of bakelite radios too LS. We found one in the garage of our newly bought house in Waverley Road in the early eighties. I bought new valves for it and it worked a treat. Except, I always missed the start of the news while waiting for the valves to warm up.
LiD, our brother friends used to own one in Grey Street, EMelb. They used to get really long term tenants. A martini in one hand and a ciggie in a long holder in the other sounds delightful.
Really LS, if you have gin and cigarettes, do you really need food?
Was it Brian? News to me and in my experiences here, it did not happen.
Good point about balloonists and balconies Jahteh. But wouldn't your massive mammaries peek above the balcony wall? Ah, they sit at the side now. Kewl.
LS, contrary to how it might seem, life does drag me away and I am not online 24/7. It only seems like it.
Yep FG, Art Deco and Hollywood are almost interchangeable.
No LS. You are off track now. It is eight o'clock in the evening I suppose. You peak early.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong. I might be thinking of greenhouses.
I could picture Poirot tip toeing down the front steps, wondering where Miss Lemon had got to (the new cafe round the corner, no doubt, with those yummy cakes) while Hastings drove his latest car from 3 streets away to collect Hercule to go bust their latest murderer....
ReplyDeleteA very fragile style of architecture Brian.
ReplyDeleteLovely picture painted Jayne.
bwah ha Jayne - "three streets away"
ReplyDeletepeace and love
"peace and love"Or as ole Hercule would have said in his native Belgian, "peas and l'oeuf".
ReplyDeleteGive peas a chance.
ReplyDeleteI like gloomy houses; they're easily turned into cosy houses with the addition of lighting
ReplyDeleteDo you think the facade is orginal. I was wondering if it had been renovated.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are Reuben and places like these often came with wall lighting which can be extra cozy.
ReplyDeleteI am sure it is Victor. It is not so pristine up close. But the block has had extensive renovations, including a front door and intercom added.
OOOh. I've always loved art deco residences - they're a lot more reserved than their commercial counterparts, but still edging on garish (well, some at least) enough for it to have a great visual punch. The overly tasteful art deco bldgs are just too much of a cop out - they might as well be corbusian purist forms.
ReplyDeleteAgree Mortimer. To me art deco means simplicity and not overly fiddly.
ReplyDelete