sydney masonic centre: heritage analysis - september 2019 · 2019-09-27 · • sydney masonic...
Post on 27-Dec-2019
26 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Level19,100WilliamStreet,WoolloomoolooNSW2011Phone:(02)80765317
SydneyMasonicCentre279-283CastlereaghStreet,SydneySeptember2019|J3276
HERITAGE ANALYSIS
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis
EXECUTIVESUMMARYTheCityofSydneyCouncilhaspreparedthePlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitemswhichiscurrentlyonpublicexhibition.ItproposesthelistingofnineModernMovementbuildingsandartworksforlistingaslocalheritageitemsunderSchedule5,Part1ofSydneyLocalEnvironmentalPlan2012(SydneyLEP2012).AmongtheseistheSydneyMasonicCentreatNo.279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney,whichtheaccompanyingreportidentifiesasanoutstandingexampleoftheBrutalistStyle.
Designedbythewell-regardedfirmofJoseland&Gilling,whencompletedin1979thisbuildingdemonstratedthecorecharacteristicsofBrutalistarchitectureincludingtheuseofassertivegeometricforms,dominatingscaleandanexpressionofthebasicstructureofoff-formconcreteastheprincipalaestheticdevice.Thebuildingwhenopenedin1979.Althoughmissingthetowerstructureoriginallyconceived,itwasoriginal,powerfulandwellexecutedandconfidentlycommandeditscornersite.
Sincethattime,however,thebuildinghasbeensubjecttosignificantandhighlyvisiblealterationsandadditionswhichhaveerodedtheoriginalarchitecturalvisionandfundamentallychangeditsexternalcharacter.Thebuildingwhichnowexistshasaninterfacewiththestreetwhichishumaninscaleandcomprisedoflightweight,delicatelyassembledandrefinedmaterialswhichconcealratherthancelebratethesupportingstructureanditssculpturalqualities.Inadditiontothis,anewtoweradditionoverthe
originalpodium,althoughexecutedsuperficiallytotheoriginalunbuiltdesign,isfinishedinpaintedconcreteandlightweightcladdingratherthantherawconcreteoriginallyconceived.TheeffectofthesechangeshasbeentoirreparablyalterthearchitecturalcharacterofthebuildingsothatitnolongerexhibitsthekeycharacteristicsoftheBrutalistStyleandisnotrepresentativeoftheBrutalistmovement.
Theanalysisconductedinlightofthesemodificationsleadstotheconclusionthatthe
buildinginitspresentformdoesnotsatisfythecriteriaforlistingasaheritageitemandthatthesiteshouldnotbeincludedinSchedule5Part1ofSydneyLEP2012.
Withlistingofabuildingofthisageandsizecomesaseriesofimpositionsfargreaterthanwithlistingsofmoremodestbuildings.Whilesomeofficebuildingshavebeenlistedandcontinuetofunctionsuccessfully,buildingssuchastheformerSydneyMasonicCentrecreatearangeofadditionalimpositionsthatcreateadisproportionateburdenonthe
owner,including:
• Officebuildingsofthistypenowhaveanestablishedlifecycle.Asrequirementsforofficespacechange,alongwithrequirementforenergyefficiencyand
occupantfacilities,economicpressuredemandsthebuildingbereplaced.Thisisparticularlyrelevantintermsofenergyefficiency.Manyorganisationsincluding
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis
theStateGovernmentrequireahighlevelofenergyefficiencyinbuildings.This
becomesmuchmoredifficulttoachievewitholderofficebuildings.
• Asthebuildingagesfurtheritsclassofofficespacewillbegraduallydowngraded withtheconsequenceoflowerrentalincomes.Toarrestthismajor refurbishmentwillberequired.Thereisastrongco-relationbetweenthecapital costofrefurbishmentandtheamountofrentalliftpossible.Thiswillonlyworkif otherrequirementssuchasenergyefficiencycanbemet.
• Thebuilding,oncelisted,wouldhavetobeconserved,regardlessofeconomic considerationsandcouldbedemolishedonlyinthemostexceptional circumstances.Thebuildingpodiumwasdesignedspecificallyasaheadquarters forFreemasons.Shouldtheirrequirementschangeandtheynolongerneedthe building,therewillbemajorissuesintermsofreasonableadaptivereuse.This essentiallysterilisesanimportantcentralcitysite.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis
ReportPreparation
Director JamesPhillipsBSc(Arch),BArch,M.Herit.Cons(Hons.)
HeritageConsultant PhilipNorth
B.App.Sci.(Env.Des.),B.Arch.,M.U.R.P
Revision Date Person Reviewedby
FirstIssue 17.09.2019 PS JP
CoverImage: MasonicCentre,Sydney2019WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning.
©AstragalHeritagePtyLtdABN40600197859AllRightsReserved.Nomaterialmaybereproducedwithoutpriorpermission.Whilewehavetriedtoensuretheaccuracyoftheinformationinthispublication,thePublisheracceptsnoresponsibilityorliabilityforanyerrors,omissionsorresultantconsequencesincludinganylossordamagearisingfromrelianceininformationinthispublication.
www.weirphillipsheritage.com.au
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis
CONTENTS PAGE
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Preamble 11.2 AuthorshipandAcknowledgements 11.3 Limitations 11.4 Methodology 11.5 PhysicalEvidence 11.6 DocumentaryEvidence 21.6.1 GeneralReferences 21.6.2 HistoricPhotographs 2
1.6.3 Reports 21.6.4 HeritageInventoryListingSheets(Draft) 31.6.5 StatutoryPlanningDocuments 31.6.6 Building/DevelopmentApplicationFiles 3
2 SITEIDENTIFICATION 3
3 HERITAGEMANAGEMENTFRAMEWORK 4
3.1 HeritageManagementFramework-StatutoryListings 43.1.1 TheSite 43.1.2 TheSurroundingArea 4
3.2 RelevantHeritageLegislation 53.2.1 NSWHeritageAct1977 53.2.2 LocalEnvironmentalPlans 63.2.3 DevelopmentControlPlan 6
4 HISTORICALBACKGROUND 7
4.1 OriginalOccupation 74.2 DevelopmentoftheExistingBuildingsontheSite 74.3 TheBrutalistMovementinAustralia 104.4 TheArchitects 17
5 PHYSICALANALYSIS 18
5.1 Preamble 185.2 TheSite 185.3 TheExistingBuilding 185.3.1 Summary 18
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis
5.3.2 SydneyMasonicCentre 18
5.3.3 TheAssociateCafe 195.3.4 TheCivicTower 205.4 ArchitecturalAnalysis 205.5 IntegrityoftheSydneyMasonicCentre 21
6 HERITAGESIGNIFICANCE 25
6.1.1 AssessmentofSignificance 256.1.2 ExistingCitationsandListings 256.1.3 LiteratureReview 256.1.4 DraftListingsandHeritageStudies 26
6.1.5 SignificanceofSydneyMasonicCentre 276.1.6 Preamble 276.1.7 AssessmentUnderNSWHeritageDivisionCriterion 27
6 DISCUSSION 34
7 IMPOSITIONOFLISTING 37
8 CONCLUSION 37
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 1
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Preamble
ThisHeritageAnalysisfortheSydneyMasonicCentreatNo.279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney,NewSouthWales,hasbeenpreparedinresponsetothePlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitemspreparedbytheCityofSydneyCouncilwhichproposestolistthebuildingasaheritageiteminSchedule5,Part1ofSydneyLocalEnvironmentalPlan2012(SydneyLEP2012).
Thisassessmenthasbeenpreparedattherequestoftheownersoftheproperty.
1.2 AuthorshipandAcknowledgements
ThisHeritageAnalysishasbeenpreparedbyPhilipNorth,B.App.Sci.(Env.Des.),B.Arch.,M.U.R.P.,andJamesPhillips,B.Sc.(Arch.),B.Arch,M.Herit.Cons.(Hons.),ofWeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning.
Thehistoricalinformationandassessmentsofsignificancecontainedinthisreportpartlyreliesonexistingstudies(refertoSection1.6below).
Acknowledgmentoftheauthorsofthesestudiesisdulygiven.
1.3 Limitations
Afullsearchofprimaryrecords,suchasCouncilrecordsandlandtitlerecords,wasnotundertaken.TheModernMovementArchitectureinCentralSydneyHeritageStudyReview,preparedbyTannerDentonKibbleArchitectsforCouncilin2018(seeSection1.6below),incorporatedinformationfromCouncilrecords.
TheinformationprovidedbythisreportandbythegeneralreferenceslistedunderSection1.6belowwasreliedupon.
Noarchaeologicalassessmentwascarriedout.
1.4 Methodology
ThisassessmenthasbeenpreparedwithreferencetotheNSWHeritageOffice(nowDivision)publicationAssessingHeritageSignificance,July2001.
1.5 PhysicalEvidence
SitevisitswerecarriedoutinDecember2018andJanuary2019.Unlessotherwisestated,thephotographscontainedinthisassessmentweretakenbyAnnaMcLaurinandPhilipNorth.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 2
1.6 DocumentaryEvidence
Thefollowingdocuments,plansandpublicationshavebeenusedforthepreparationofthisreport:
1.6.1 GeneralReferences
• Apperly,Richard,Irving,RobertandReynolds,Peter,APictorialGuidetoIdentifyingAustralianArchitecture,Sydney,AngusandRobertson,1989.
• Bogle,Michael,“BeautyoftheBeast”,ArchitectureBulletin,March-April2012:pp.10-11.
• Boyd,Noni,‘JoselandandGilling,’inP.GoadandJWillis(ed.),TheEncyclopediaofAustralianArchitecture,NewYork,CambridgeUniversityPress,2012.
• BrutalistSydneyMap,n.p.,BlueCowMedia,n.d.
• ConnellWagner,“Architecturalconceptrealized30yearslater”,ArchitectureBulletin,November-December2006:p.24.
• Elser,Oliveretal,SOSBrutalism,AGlobalSurvey,Zurich,DeutschesArchitekturmuseum&WustenrotFoundationandParkBooksAG,2017.
• Harper,Glenn,Peter,SydneyBrutalism:LostandLegacyProjects,Sydney,2018.
• Irving,Robert,TwentiethCenturyArchitectureinWollongong,NSW,WollongongCityCouncil,2001.
• Johnson,DonaldLeslie,AustralianArchitecture1901-51SourcesofModernism,NSW,SydneyUniversityPress,1980.
• Taylor,Jennifer,AustralianArchitectureSince1960,Canberra,TheRoyalAustralianInstituteofArchitects,1990.
• Woolley,Ken,‘TheEmergenceofaPersonalAustralianResponsetoModernism’inSheridanBurke(ed.),FibroHouse:OperaHouse.ConservingMidTwentiethCenturyHeritage.ProceedingsofaConferenceconvenedbytheHistoricHousesTrustofNewSouthWales,23-24July,1999.
1.6.2 HistoricPhotographs
• SydneyMasonicCentreincludingsignificantinteriorsandMonaHessingartwork,279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney.
• Apperly,Richard,Irving,RobertandReynolds,Peter,APictorialGuidetoIdentifyingAustralianArchitecture,Sydney,AngusandRobertson,1989.
1.6.3 Reports
• TannerDentonKibbleArchitects,ModernMovementArchitectureinCentralSydney,HeritageStudyReview,2018.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 3
1.6.4 HeritageInventoryListingSheets(Draft)
• FormerColonialMutualLifeBuildingFaçade,MartinPlace,Sydney.StateHeritageInventoryDatabaseNo.:2423826.
• SydneyMasonicCentreincludingsignificantinteriorsandMonaHessingartwork,279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney.
1.6.5 StatutoryPlanningDocuments
• CityofSydney,PlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitems,Sydney,CityofSydney,2018.
1.6.6 Building/DevelopmentApplicationFiles
• CityofSydney,823/2E/74.• CityofSydney,D2001/461.
2 SITEIDENTIFICATION
Thesiteconsistsofthefollowingthreeindividuallots:
• No.279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney(Lot1,D.P.1067328)
• No.66GoulburnStreet,Sydney(Lot2,D.P.1067328)
• No.285CastlereaghStreet,Sydney(Lot3,D.P.1067328)ThesiteasawholeisidentifiedasNo.279-285CastlereaghStreetand66GoulburnStreet,Sydney.RefertoFigures1and2.
Figure1:Detailofthesite(outlinedinred).SIXMaps
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 4
Figure2:Locationofthesite(circledinred).SIXMaps
3 HERITAGEMANAGEMENTFRAMEWORK
Thissectionidentifiesthestatutorylistingsaffectingthesiteandthestatutoryrequirementsthatariseoutoftheselistings.
3.1 HeritageManagementFramework-StatutoryListings
3.1.1 TheSite
Thesiteisnotpresentlysubjecttoanystatutoryheritagelistingsincluding:
• StateHeritageRegister
• SydneyLEP2012Further,itisnotlocatedinaheritageconservationareaasdefinedbySchedule5Part2oftheSydneyLEP2012.
3.1.2 TheSurroundingArea
ThereisoneheritageitemlistedontheStateHeritageRegister,undertheauspicesoftheNSWHeritageAct1977,inthevicinityofthesite.Thisis:
• TheSydneyDowningCentre,No.302CastlereaghStreet,Sydney
Figure3providesadetailfromtheSydneyHeritagePlan(SydneyLEP2012),whichidentifiesheritageitems,listedbySchedule5Part1oftheSydneyLEP2012,inthevicinityofthesite.Heritageitemsarecolouredbrownandnumbered.Thesiteisoutlinedinred.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 5
Figure3:DetailoftheHeritagePlanHER_015.Theextentofthesubjectsiteisoutlinedinred.
SydneyLEP2012
Theheritageitemsinthevicinityofthesiteareidentifiedasfollows:
• Formerwarehousefaçade‘MuseumTowers',No.267-277CastlereaghStreet,Sydney.MarkedI1706inFigure3.StateHeritageInventoryDatabaseNo.2424148.
• CivicHotel,No.386-388PittStreet,Sydney.MarkedI1945inFigure3.StateHeritageInventoryDatabaseNo.2424131.
• SydneyDowningCentre,No.302CastlereaghStreet,Sydney,MarkedI1854inFigure3.StateHeritageInventoryDatabaseNo.00393.
TherearenoConservationAreas,listedbySchedule5Part2oftheSydneyLEP2012,withinthevicinityofthesite.
3.2 RelevantHeritageLegislation
InNSW,heritagelistingsgiverisetostatutoryrequirementstoconsidertheheritageimpactofanyproposedworksonaheritageitem.Thefollowingrequirementsarerelevanttoanyworksbeingproposedtothesubjectsite.
3.2.1 NSWHeritageAct1977
TheNSWHeritageAct1977providesstatutoryobligationsfortheconservationofitemsofheritagesignificanceinNSW.Places,buildings,works,relics,movable
objectsorprecinctsconsideredtobeofsignificanceforthewholeofNSWarelistedontheStateHeritageRegister(SHR).TheSHRisadministeredbytheHeritageDivisionoftheOfficeofEnvironmentandHeritage(OEH)andincludesa
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 6
diverserangeofover1500items.Anyalterationstotheseassetsisgovernedby
heritageguidelinesandworkscannotbecarriedoutwithoutpriorapprovalfromtheHeritageCouncilofNSW.
ItisnotproposedtolistthesiteasaheritageitemundertheprovisionsoftheNSWHeritageAct1977.
3.2.2 LocalEnvironmentalPlans
InNSW,theEnvironmentalPlanningandAssessmentAct,1979(EP&AAct)setsoutstatutoryobligationsforlocalgovernmentstotakeintoconsiderationtheimpactstotheenvironmentandthecommunityofanyproposeddevelopmentorland-usechange.UndertheEP&AAct,localgovernmentmustprepareandimplementaLocalEnvironmentalPlan(LEP)toregulatedevelopmentwithintheirrespectiveLocalGovernmentArea(LGA).Clause5.10ofanLEPgenerallyprescribesthestatutoryrequirementsrelatedtoheritageconservation.
SydneyLEP2012prescribesthefollowingstatutoryrequirementinrelationtoheritageconservation:
(5)HeritageassessmentTheconsentauthoritymay,beforegrantingconsenttoanydevelopment:(a)onlandonwhichaheritageitemislocated,or(b)onlandthatiswithinaheritageconservationarea,or(c)onlandthatiswithinthevicinityoflandreferredtoinparagraph(a)or(b)requireaheritagemanagementdocumenttobepreparedthatassessestheextenttowhichthecarryingoutoftheproposeddevelopmentwouldaffecttheheritagesignificanceoftheheritageitemorheritageconservationareaconcerned.
ThePlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitemspreparedbytheCityofSydney,proposestolistthesubjectsiteasalocalheritageitemunderSydneyLEP2012.Asaconsequence,thesitewouldbecomesubjecttotheseprovisions.
3.2.3 DevelopmentControlPlan
DevelopmentControlPlans(DCP)providesdetailedplanninganddesignguidelinestosupporttheplanningcontrolsintheLocalEnvironmentalPlan(LEP).TheSydneyDevelopmentControlPlanwaspreparedandadoptedin2012byCityofSydneyCouncil(SydneyDCP2012).ItidentifiesCouncilsrequirementsfornewworksonlandtowhichtheSydneyLEP2012applies.Particularreferenceismadetothecontrolsandguidelinesforalterationsandadditionsandnewdevelopmentwithinthevicinityofaheritagelisteditem.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 7
ShouldthesitebelistedasaheritageitemunderSydneyLEP2012asproposed,itwouldbecomesubjecttotheheritageconservationcontrolscontainedinSydneyDCP2012.
4 HISTORICALBACKGROUND
4.1 OriginalOccupation
WhileanAboriginalhistoryhasnotbeenprovidedfor,itisacknowledgedthattheoriginaloccupantsoftheareaweretheGadigalpeople,thetraditional
custodiansofthelandwithintheCityofSydneyboundaries.
4.2 DevelopmentoftheExistingBuildingsontheSite
ThesitehasalongassociationwithfreemasonryandhasaccommodatedaMasonichallsince1884,whichservedastheUnitedGrandLodgeofNSW.Duetotheinadequaciesoftheoriginalbuilding,itwasdeterminedthatanewbuildingwasrequired.Aninitialschemewassubmittedfordevelopmentconsentin1970;
however,thiswasmodifiedandarevisedscheme,preparedbythewell-regardedfirmofJoseland&Gilling,wassubmittedin1973andbuildingapprovalwasfinallygrantedon28July1975.Thisschemeconsistedofafivestoreypodiumhousingthelodgeroomsandassociatedfacilities,twobasements,andatwenty-twostoreyofficetower(seeFigure4).Constructionofthepodiumlevelonlywascompletedin1978andthecentreofficiallyopenedon10March1979(seeFigure
5).
Figure4:OriginalGoulburnStreetelevationapprovedin1976showingtheunbuilttower.CityofSydney,823/2E/74.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 8
Figure5:ThebuildinginitsoriginalformshowingtheGoulburnStreetentryc.1980.ConstructionalReview,Feb1980.
In2001,approvalwasobtainedfortheconstructionofaglazedcaféandlobbybetweentheexistingfrontageandthestreetboundarytoadesignbyPeddleThorpandWalker.Atthesametime,approvalwasgrantedformodificationstotheoriginaltowerdesigninvolvingtheadditionofthreelevelsandotherminorchanges;therewasnochange,however,tothegeneralappearanceofthetower
oritsoriginallyconceivedsplayedbase.Boththeglazedenclosureandthetowerwerecompletedby2005andrepresentthebuildinginitscurrentform(seeFigures6,7and8).
Figure6:CivicTowerunderconstructionin2003showingthe
angledstructuralsupports.JohnPrescott,CityofSydney
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 9
Figure7:Thecompletedglazedcafeteriaandpaintedsurfacesofthepresentbuildingshowingthetowerabove.
Figure8:Thecompletedtowerabovetheoriginalpodiumlevel.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 10
4.3 TheBrutalistMovementinAustralia
TheCityofSydney,PlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitemsputsthecasethattheSydneyMasonicCentrewarrantslistingasalocalheritageitemduetoitsvalueas
‘anoutstandingexampleoftheBrutalistarchitecturalstyleanddemonstratesmanyofitscharacteristics–strongandexpressiveshapesinreinforcedconcrete,boldcurvedelements,textureprovidedbybuilding
materialsandlargeunbrokenwallsurfaces.’
TheMasonicCentrewasdesignedandconstructedduringaperiodofrapidchange.ThefabricofAustraliansocietywaschangingundertheinfluenceofworld-widetrendsandanincreasingmigrantpopulation.The1960sand1970swere:
‘…audaciousdecadesofdaring,controversy,creativityand
non-conformity,whenconventionswerebroken,valuesrejectedandthecultoftheindividualarose.Itwasthetimeofmini-skirtedwomen,long-hairedmenandtheBeatles…’1
AnewgenerationofPostWarIIeducatedarchitectshademergedintoaworldwherecommunicationhadimprovedandarchitecturalpublicationbroadened;therewasagrowingacceptanceof‘modernarchitecture’byclientsand,tosome
extent,thebuildingindustry:
‘CriticismflourishedonacomfortablefoundationofthepublicacceptanceofModernism.2
ModernarchitecturehadbeguntomakeanimpressionontheAustraliansceneduringthe1930s.3Aconsolidatedmodernmovement,however,didnotgetunderwayuntilthelate1940s,atwhichtimeitfollowedtheleadofarchitects
suchasHarrySeidlerandSydneyAnchor.
Duringthe1950sand1960s,newbuildingformsappearedinAustraliancitiestochallengethearchitectandbuilder.Inresponsetohighlandpricesandtheavailabilityofnewtechnologies,highriseofficeblocksbrokethrougholdheightlimits;thelarge-scaleregionalshoppingcentreandthemulti-storeycarpark
1 ‘The Booming Decades: 1960-1980’ in Robert Irving, Twentieth Century Architecture in Wollongong, NSW, Wollongong City Council, 2001, p.103. 2 Ken Woolley, ‘The Emergence of a Personal Australian Response to Modernism’ in Sheridan Burke (ed.), Fibro House: Opera House. Conserving Mid Twentieth Century Heritage. Proceedings of a Conference convened by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, 23-24 July, 1999, p.44, 3 For further discussion see Donald Leslie Johnson, Australian Architecture 1901-51 Sources of Modernism, NSW, Sydney University Press, 1980, p.85 ff.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 11
begantoappear.FortheAustralianbuildingindustryofthe1960s,thekey
wordswere‘growth,expansionanddevelopment.’4
Theimpactofthenewbuildingmaterialsandtechnologyofthetwentiethcenturyonarchitectureshouldnotbeunder-estimated.AssurmisedbyRobinBoydin1963:
‘…althoughartisticvaluesmaynotchange,newrulesareneedednow.Foronething,theeffectsofindustryremovethe
architectureofthishalfofthetwentiethcenturyfromanythingbutacademicconnectionwiththegreatbuildingsofthepast.’5
When,duringthe1960sand1970s,Australianarchitecturebrokeawayfromthesimplicitydemandedbythe(then)prevailingFunctionaliststylesoftheprecedingdecadestowardsmoretowardsmoresculpturalandoftenextrovertedformsofexpression,wasgenerallyconformingtoworldwidetrends.This
entailedamoveawayfromlightnessandminimalismindesignandconstruction-longestablishedtenantsofmodernarchitecture-towardsexpressionsof‘weight,toughnessandelaboratearticulation.’6TherobustandrawarchitecturethatresultedhadbeeninspiredbythelaterworksofLeCorbusier.PeterandAlisonSmithsoninEnglandprovidedthetheoreticalleadershipforwhatwasthendubbedthe‘NewBrutalistMovement’.ThefirstrecognisedBrutalistbuilding
wastheSmithton’sHunstantonSecondarySchoolinNorfolk,England,1949-54.
TheNewBrutalistMovementrepresentedthe‘firstconsistentassaultontheclassicalconceptionofbeauty’fromwithintherealmofarchitecture.7AshadoccurredinModernArt,eventhoseobjectsthatare‘ugly’inaconventionalsensemaybeintenselystimulatingandthuspleasurable.8TheNewBrutalistslearntfromLeCorbusier’sdirectuseofmaterials,towhichtheythengavetheirown
moralmeaning:
‘TheBrutalistethicwasoneofsocialconcern,urbanresponsibilityandintegrityintheexpressionofmaterial,structureandfunction.Theaesthetic,intheory,wouldbeapowerfulimagethatderivedfromtheseconsiderations.’9
TheprincipalconceptsoftheNewBrutalism-
(1)MemorabilityasanImage,
4 Richard Apperly, Robert Irving and Peter Reynolds, A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture. Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present, NSW, Angus and Robertson, 1989, p.227. 5 Robin Boyd, The Australian Ugliness, Victoria, Penguin Books, 1963, p.127. 6 Richard Apperly, Robert Irving and Peter Reynolds, op.cit., 1989, p.227. 7 Robin Boyd, op.cit., 1963, p.218. 8 Ibid, p.217. 9 Jennifer Taylor, Australian Architecture Since 1960, ACT, National Education Division, RAIA, 1990, p.78.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 12
(2)Clearexhibitionofstructureand(3)Valuationofmaterials‘asfound’--werenotuniquetothemovement.Thedifferencearosefromthedegreetowhichtheyweretaken…andinthecaseoftheSmithsonsitistheNth.’10
TheNewBrutalistmovementhadaprofoundimpactonAustralianarchitectureindirectandindirectways.SomeAustralianarchitectsdrewontheethicsofthemovement,whileothersworkedprimarilywithitsvisualattributes.
Duringthe1960s,evidenceofNewBrutalistinfluencescouldmostreadilybefoundinthebuildingsoftheSydneySchool,aregionalmovementthatmodifiedBrutalismwithacombinationoftheinfluencesoftheArtandCraftsmovement,traditionalJapanesearchitectureandtheworkofFrankLloydWright.11
Duringthe1970s,amorestringentformof‘betonbrut’becameapopularmediumforpublicandcommercialbuildings.Thefavouredmaterialwas
reinforcedconcreteshowingtheimprintofitsformwork.Architectsworkinginthisstylestretchedthelimitsofhowthismaterialcouldbeshaped.Paradoxically,giventheemphasisplacedonmaterialsbeingusedas‘found’,greatattentionhadtobepaidtothedesignandqualityofthatformwork:
‘…enormouscarehadtobetakentoobtainexactlytherightdegreeof‘artless’roughness.’12
Workinthisidiomappearsaggressive,uncompromising,chunky,andover-scaled,oftenwithanextroverteddisplayofstructureandservices.Materialsandotherfunctionalcomponentswereexpressedasafundamentalpartofthebuildingaesthetic.Decorativecladdingandsurfacefinishessuchaspaintorrenderweregenerallyeschewedinfavourofrawunfinishedconcrete,oftencarefullyexecutedandbearingtheimprintoftheoriginalformwork,while
buildingserviceswereoftenexternalisedandutilisedfortheiraestheticeffect.13
Initspurestform,NewBrutalismasnota‘longlived’architecturalmovement.Asthevalidityandrelevanceofsuchanunadornedandabstractformofaestheticswasbroughtintoquestioninthe1970s,themovementstalled:
‘…theclichésofthecritiquemadenodistinctionbetweentheblandsimplicityandintenseformalpurificationofthebest
modernarchitecture.However,thiswholesalerejectionfittedapublicmoodofdissatisfactionwiththedebasedmodern
10 Jennifer Taylor, Australian Architecture Since 1960, ACT, National Education Division, RAIA, 1990, p.218. 11 Richard Apperly, Robert Irving and Peter Reynolds, op.cit., 1989, p. 240ff. 12 Ibid, p.240 ff. 13 Ibid,p.252
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 13
movement,andservedthepolemicnottoattemptfinedistinctions…’14
TheprincipalAustralianarchitectsworkingintheBrutalistStyleinthe1960s-early1980sincludedEdwardMadigan,Torzillo&Briggs;HarrySeidler;Anchor,Mortlock,MurrayandWoolley;JohnAndrews;andCameron,ChisholmandNichol.ExamplesofNewBrutalistbuildingsinAustraliainclude:
• ChristCollege,SandyBay(1960).Architect:DirkBolt.
• UnionCollege,UniversityofQLD.(c.1960).Architect:JamesBirrell.
• HaleSchoolMemorialHallinPerth(1961).Architect:MarshallCliftonandAnthonyBrand,withBrandFergusonandSolarskiinassociation.
• MountSaintCaniceGymnasium,LowerSandyBay(c.1966).Architect:RobertNation-Cooper&Vincent.
• HaroldHoltSwimmingCentre,Malvern(1967).Architect:KevinBorlandandDarylJackson
• SeidlerHouse,Killara,NSW(1967).Architect:HarrySeidler.
• NationalCarillon,Canberra(1968).Architect:CameronChisholmNicol.
• Ku-ring-gaiCollegeofAdvancedEducation,Lindfield(1968-84).NSWGovernmentArchitect(DavidTurner).
• CameronOffices,Canberra(c.1969).Architect:JohnAndrews.
• St.LeonardsCentre,St.Leonards,formerlyCBCBankHeadquarters(1972).Architect:KerrandSmith.
• CivicCentre,Noarlunga(1976).Architect:KeithNeighbour.
• CanberraSchoolofMusic(1976).Architect:DarylJacksonandEvanWalker.
• HighCourtofAustralia,Canberra(1980).Architect:EdwardsMadiganTorzilloandBriggs.
• NationalGalleryofAustralia(1982).Architect:EdwardsMadiganTorzilloandBriggs.
Table1identifiesexampleswithintheCityofSydneyandtheircurrentheritagestatus.AustralianInstituteofArchitect’s(AIA)RegisterofSignificantBuildingsinNSWdatefromtheregisterofJuly2018.Thisregisterisnotastatutoryregister.
14 William J.R. Curtis, op.cit., 1982, Preface; p. 377.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 14
BuildingName Architect HeritageStatus
Image
FormerReadersDigestBuilding,SurryHills,26
WaterlooStreet,SurryHills(1968)
JohnJames. Statutory:SydneyLEP2012:Localsignificance.
Non-Statutory:RegisterofSignificantbuildingsin
NSW(AIA).
GoogleImages.
UTSTower,No.15Broadway,Ultimo(1968-75)
NSWGovernmentArchitect,MichaelDysart
projectarchitect.
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
WentworthBuilding,Universityof
Sydney(1972)
AncherMortlockand
Woolley.
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-
Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 15
BuildingName Architect HeritageStatus
Image
QantasInternationalCentre-Stage1
(former),No.259GeorgeStreet(1970-83).
JoselandandGilling.
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-
Statutory:None.
No.259GeorgeStreetwebsite.
SydneyTownHallHouse,No.456KentStreet,Sydney(1971-75)
AncherMortlockandWoolley
Statutory:Notlisted.
ProposedforlistingontheSydneyLEP2012.
Non-Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
SiriusApartments,No.
48CumberlandStreet,TheRocks(1975-80).
NSWHousing
Commission,TaoGofersdesignarchitect.
Statutory:Notlisted.
Statutory:RegisterofSignificantbuildingsinNSW(AIA).
GoogleImages.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 16
BuildingName Architect HeritageStatus
Image
SydneyPoliceCentre,No.151-241Goulburn
Street,SurryHills(1975-87)
NSWGovernmentArchitect
withRichardDinhamasprojectarchitect.
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-
Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
Carpark,GardenIsland,NSW(1980)
JohnAndrews
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-
Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
FormerRegentHotel,Sydney,No.199GeorgeStreet(1982).
DavisHeatherandDysart
Statutory:Notlisted.
Non-Statutory:None.
GoogleImages.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 17
BuildingName Architect HeritageStatus
Image
BiduraChildren’sCourt(1984)
NSWGovernmentArchitect
(AndrewMilcz,ProjectArchitect)
Statutory:Notlisted.
Statutory:
RegisterofSignificantbuildingsinNSW(AIA).
Domain.
Table1:BrutalistBuildingsinSydney.
4.4 TheArchitects
ThefirmofJoselandandGillingwasestablishedin1919byRichardGeorge
HowardJoselandandFrederickGlynnGilling.Duringthe1920s,thefirmdesignedbuildings,largelyhouses,inavarietyofstyles.Joselandretiredinthelate1920s;Gilling,however,retainedthenameofthefirm.Afterhisretirement,hisson,RonaldAndrewGilling,apartnerfrom1948,continuedtofirm.AccordingtoNoniBody,thefirmbecamelargelycommercial,designingsubstantialBrutalistbuildingsincludingtheMasonicCentreandthefirststageof
theformerQantasTower(seeabove).15
ThesearetheonlytwoexamplesoftheworkofJoselandandGillingintheBrutalistStyleidentifiedthroughreadilyavailableresources.AlloftheexamplesoftheirworkidentifiedontheStateHeritageRegisterandtheStateHeritageInventoryarePre-WorldWarIIbuildings.OneothersitecontainingaPostWorldWarIIperiodbuildingdesignedbythefirmislistedontheStateHeritage
Inventory(SydneyLEP2012),beingtheFormerColonialMutualLifeBuildinginMartinPlace.ThisVictorianperiodbuildingwasguttedin1975,retainingonlytheFreeClassicalStylefaçadeandanewbuildingerectedbehind,designedbyJoselandandGilling.Thissiteisnot,however,listedonthebasisofitsassociationwithJoselandandGillingbutbecauseoftheremnantVictorianperiodfaçade.16
15 Noni Boyd, ‘Joseland and Gilling,’ in P. Goad and J Willis (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture, New York, Cambridge University Press, 2012, p.376. 16 Former Colonial Mutual Life Building Façade, Martin Place, Sydney. State Heritage Inventory Database No.: 2423826.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 18
5 PHYSICALANALYSIS
5.1 Preamble
Thepurposeofthissectionistoidentifythecharacterofthesiteanditssetting.
5.2 TheSite
TheSiteislocatedontheveryprominentnorthwesterncorneroftheintersectionofCastlereaghandGoulburnStreets.AdjacentthesitetothewestistheCivicHotelandtothenorthisMuseumTowers.OppositethesitetothesouthistheLionelBowenBuildingcontainingtheFamilyCourtofNSWwhiletothe
eastisJohnMadisonToweranddiagonallyoppositethesitetothesoutheastistheGoulburnStreetCarPark.Thisisaprominentvehicularandpedestrianthoroughfareandthesiteishighlyconspicuousinthislocation(seeFigure2).
5.3 TheExistingBuilding
5.3.1 Summary
Thesubjectsitecomprises(seeFigure1):
• TheSydneyMasonicCentre(279-283CastlereaghStreet,Sydney(Lot1,DP1067328));
• TheAssociateCafé(285CastlereaghStreet,Sydney(Lot3,DP1067328));and
• TheCivicTower(66GoulburnStreet,Sydney(Lot2,DP1067328)).TheCivicTowerisintegratedwiththesitebutisaccessedandoperated
separately.
5.3.2 SydneyMasonicCentre
TheSydneyMasonicCentre,thefirstofthecurrentbuildingstobeconstructedonthesite,consistsofuptosixstoreys(someinternalspacesspanseveralfloors)withtwolevelsofbasementcarparking.Thebuildingiscentredaroundthelargegrandlodgeroomwhichisaugmentedbyseveralsmallerlodgerooms,
alargebanquethall,offices,meetingrooms,functionrooms,apublicfoyerandsupportspaces.Themainfoyercontainsalargefabricwallartwork.AseparatepublicfoyeraccessedfromGoulburnStreetprovidesaccesstotheliftlobbyoftheCivicTowerwhichrisesabove.
Thebuildingisarrangedaroundadiagonalaxisrunningthroughthecornerofthesite.Setonthisaxisisthecentralgrandlodgeroom,theformofwhichis
expressedexternallyonthecornerofthebuilding.Symmetricallyarrangedaroundthemainaxisoneithersideofthelodgeroomaretwopairsofverticalconcretestairshaftswhichframe,respectively,theentrancetothemasonic
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 19
centreitselfandtheentrytotheofficetowerabove.Subsidiaryspacesare
arrangedaroundtheseprincipalcompositionalelements(seeFigure9).Thebuildingissteppedoutwardsfromanarrowbasetowardsadominantoverhangingupperlevelwhichcontainsofficesandmeetingroomsbehindawindowlessexternalface(seeFigure7).
Figure9:Secondfloorplanapprovedin1976showingthearrangementofelementsaroundadiagonalaxisandthemonumentalentryportalscontainingconcretestairshaftsarrangedsymmetricallyaroundtheaxis.CityofSydney,823/2E/74
Theprincipalconstructionmaterial,bothinternallyandexternally,is
unfinishedoff-formconcrete(thefaceoftheupperlevelispainted)withframelessglassinfillandtravertinestoneflooringalongwithsomesectionsofverticaltimberpanellinginternally.
5.3.3 TheAssociateCafe
Acafeteria,notassociatedwiththefunctionsofthecentre,iswrappedaroundtheoutsideofthecornerofthebuildingbetweenthemainlodgeroomandthe
cornerstreetboundarybeneaththeoverhangingupperlevels(seeFigure10).Itisenclosedbyframelessglasspanelssupportedbystainlesssteelsuspensioncableshangingfromtheundersideoftheoverhangingconcretestructureabove.Theinteriorconsistsofaconventionalfit-outuponatimberframedplinth.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 20
5.3.4 TheCivicTower
TheCivicTowerconsistsofacommercialofficebuildingrising24storeysabovethetopofthepodiumlevelcomprisingtheMasonicCentre(seeFigure8).AlthoughtheliftlobbyislocatedinthemainbodyoftheMasonicCentrebuilding,itisfunctionallyseparatewithaseparatestreetentry.Thetowerislocatedtothewestofthegrandlodgeroom(ratherthanaboveit)butechoesitsformwithitscurvedcornersandanangularcantileveratitsbase.Incontrast
withthepodium,however,thematerialissmoothfacedconcretecoatedwithacreampaintfinishwhiletheundersideoftheangularcantileveriscladinlightweightmodularpanels(seeFigure17).
5.4 ArchitecturalAnalysis
TheMasonicCentreisstronglycharacteristicofbrutalistmovementarchitecture.Theexternalform,whichiscraftedaroundtheshapeoftheprincipallodgeroom,
isanexpressionoftheinteriorprogrammewhilethesupportingstructureisclearlyexpressedaspartofangularcompositionofinterplayinggeometricshapes.Theheavycantileveredupperlevelhoveringunsupportedoverthefootwaybelowdefiesconventionalarchitecturalpracticetocreateanoverpoweringscalewhilethewindowlesswallsofrough-castin-situconcretecompletetheaggressiveanduncompromisingcharacter.
Incontrast,thecaféisadelicatelyexecutedglassstructurewithexpressedstainless-steelcablesupportsconstructedinandearly21stcenturyminimalistidiom.Theinteriorisaconventionalcommercialfit-outwhichwrapsaroundtheouterwallofthegrandlodgewithadisabledaccessramp,commercialkitchenandassociatedshelvingandartworkonthewalls.
Theofficetoweris,withtheexceptionoftheangularcantileveredbase,a
relativelyconventionaltowerbuilding.Althoughsuperficiallybuiltinaccordancewiththeoriginal1974designdrawingsbyJoseland&Gilling,ithasnoneofthecharacteristicsofformormaterialassociatedwithbrutalistbuildings.Theinterestingstructuralsupportforthecantileveredtowerishiddenunderlightweightcladding(ratherthanexposedasafeatureasitwouldinatruebrutalistbuilding)whiletheexternalconcretefaçadeissimplyover-coatedwith
creampaint(seeFigure17).Thetoweritselfissquareinplanwithslightlyroundedcornerstofollowthethemeofthepodium.Apartfromthecantileveredbase,theprincipalarchitecturaldeviceistheuseofcloselyspacedconcretefinsrunningupthefaçadetoprovideastrongsenseofverticalitytoanotherwisesimpleandunremarkablefaçadecomprisingregularlyspacedwindowopenings.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 21
5.5 IntegrityoftheSydneyMasonicCentre
TheoriginalMasonicCentrebuildinghasbeensubjecttoanumberofalterationsandadditionssinceitscompletionin1979.Theseinclude:
• Thepaintingoftheoff-formconcreteontheupperlevelfrontfaçadeoverhangingthestreet(seeFigure11).
• Theconstructionoftheglazedcaféspaceonthecornerofthesitebetweenthefrontofthegrandlodgeroomandthefrontpropertyboundary(see
• Figure12).
• TheglazedenclosureatthefrontpropertyboundaryoftheforecourttotheGoulburnStreetliftlobby(seeFigure13).
• ThecladdingoftheGoulburnStreetstairshaftsinaluminiumsandwichpanel(see
• Figure16).
• Theremovaloftheoriginalradialpatterntilingbetweenthefrontwallsofthesiteandthestreetboundary(seeFigure15).
• Refittingofbathroomsandutilityareas.Althoughmuchoftheoriginalfabric,includingtheinteriors,isintact,thesechangeshaveappliedasubstantialadditionallayertothemostprominentpublicelementsofthebuilding.Theglazedcaféconcealsmuchofthefrontoftheoriginalbuildingatitsmostprominentcornerandsignificantlydilutesthe
emphaticanddramaticeffectoftheangularbaseandthecantileveredupperfloor(compareFigures10and11).Evenintheinterior,wheretheoriginalfaçadematerialshouldbemostvisible,itisconcealedbyaclutterofaccessramps(seeFigures15and16),walldecorationsandcaféfitoutincludingfurniture,wallshelving,kitchenenclosuresandthelike(seeFigure14).Itwouldalsohaveconcealedtheoriginalradialpatterntilingbetweenthefrontwallsofthesiteand
thestreetboundarybutthisappearstohavebeenentirelyremovedandreplacedwithgenericcommercialfloortiles(seeFigure15).
Similarly,theglazedenclosurealongGoulburnStreetconcealstheoriginaltwinconcretestairshaftswhichweredesignedasamonumentalframetothetowerentryandasymmetricalpairtothesamedeviceontheCastlereaghStreetentry(compareFigure4&Figure13).Althoughconstructedinglassandtheoretically
semi-transparent,theseelementshaveasubstantialvisualimpactuponthemostpublicelementsofthebuildingandfundamentallyalteritscharacterstrippingitofmuchofitsassertiveandoverbearingscaleanditsuncompromisingrelationshiptothestreetedge.TheyalsoreducetherelevanceoftheangularcantileverontheCivicTowerwhichwasintendedtocreateadialoguewithsimilarcantileveratthegroundlevelcorner(seeFigure4).
Thepaintingofpartoftheoff-formconcretefaçadeandthecladdingoftheGoulburnStreetstairshaftsconcealtheoriginalcarefullyexecutedoff-form
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 22
concretesurfacesanddisguisethematerialityoftheconstruction.Thesechanges
haveconsequentlysignificantlyerodedthequalityofthebuildingasanexampleofbrutalistarchitecturebyremovingordegradingitskeycharacteristicsincludingtheemphaticscale,processionalsiteplanning,theexpressionofstructureandthecandidexpressionoftheconstructionmaterials.
Figure10:Thebuildinginitsoriginalformc.1989.IdentifyingAustralianArchitecture.
Figure11:Thepaintedupperlevelfaçade,glazedcaféenclosureandtheCivic
Towerabove.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 23
Figure12:Theglazedcaféenclosureconcealingtheboldoff-formconcreteformsbeneath.
Figure13:TheglazedenclosureoftheGoulburnStreetentryportals.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 24
Figure14:Theclutteroftheglazedcaféenclosureconcealingtheoriginaloff-formconcreteexternalwalls.
Figure15:Thenewfloortilesandclutterofthecaféincludingaccessrampconcealingtheoriginalexternaloff-formconcretefacade.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 25
Figure16:Aluminiumsandwichpanelcladdingconcealingtheoriginaloff-formconcreteofthecolumnstotheGoulburnStreetentry.
6 HERITAGESIGNIFICANCE
6.1.1 AssessmentofSignificance
6.1.2 ExistingCitationsandListings
Thesiteisnot:
• ListedasaheritageitembytheStateHeritageRegisterundertheauspicesoftheNSWHeritageAct1977.
• ListedasaheritageitembySchedule7oftheSydneyLEP2012.
• LocatedwithinaConservationAreaasdefinedbythisplan.
• NotlocatedwithintheimmediatevicinityofaConservationAreaasdefinedbythisplan.
Thesiteis:
• LocatedwithintheimmediatevicinityofheritageitemsheritageitembySchedule7oftheSydneyLEP2012.
6.1.3 LiteratureReview
AreviewofthekeyliteraturecoveringbrutalistarchitectureinAustraliarevealsthatthesiteisreferencedinthefollowingpublications:
• Apperly,Richard,Irving,RobertandReynolds,Peter,APictorialGuidetoIdentifyingAustralianArchitecture,Sydney,AngusandRobertson,1989.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 26
ItisusedasoneofanumberofexamplesofAustralianBrutalistbuildings.Itis
noted,however,thatthispublicationpredatesthemodificationstothesiteandthebuildingisrepresentedhereinitsoriginalform.
• Bogle,Michael,“BeautyoftheBeast”,ArchitectureBulletin,March-April2012:pp.10-11.
Theinteriorsareusedasoneofanumberofexamplesoflarge-scaleceremonialentrancesandcavernousreceptionareastypicalofAustralianBrutalistbuildings.
• ConnellWagner,“Architecturalconceptrealized30yearslater”,ArchitectureBulletin,November-December2006:p.24.
Thisarticleprovidesabriefdiscussionofthestructuralengineeringchallengesassociatedwiththeconstructionofthetower.Thefocusisnot,however,onthearchitecturalqualitiesofthebuilding.
Thesiteisnotreferencedinthesekeyworks:
• Elser,Oliveretal,SOSBrutalism,AGlobalSurvey,Zurich,DeutschesArchitekturmuseum&WustenrotFoundationandParkBooksAG,2017.
• Taylor,Jennifer,AustralianArchitectureSince1960,Canberra,TheRoyalAustralianInstituteofArchitects,1990.
TheMasonicCentrehasreceivedonlybriefmentionintheliteratureasan
exampleofBrutalisminNewSouthWalesandthenonlypriortomodificationorinrelationtoitsunalteredentryspaces.Innoneofthepublishedworksdoesitreceiveclearfocusindividuallyorisitlaudedasafineexampleoftheidiom.
6.1.4 DraftListingsandHeritageStudies
Thesiteisrecommendedforlistingasalocalheritageitemin:
• TannerDentonKibbleArchitects,ModernMovementArchitectureinCentralSydney,HeritageStudyReview,2018.
Thesiteisnotlistedbythe
• AustralianInstituteofArchitects,RegisterofSignificantBuildingsinNSW,July2018.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 27
6.1.5 SignificanceofSydneyMasonicCentre
6.1.6 Preamble
Oncethehistoricalandphysicalevidencehasbeenestablished,itispossibletoassesstheheritagesignificanceofaplace.TheAustralianICOMOSBurraCharterdefinesheritagesignificanceas‘aesthetic,historic,scientificorspiritualvalueforpast,presentorfuturegenerations.’17Heritagesignificancemayrelatetohowrareorrepresentativeaplacemaybeandoritsrelationshiptoitssettingand
context,whetherhistorical,contemporary,physicalorsocial.Itmayrelatetotheplaceasawholeortosomeofitscomponents.TheNSWHeritageOfficehasdevelopedaseriesofcriteriabasedontheprinciplesoftheBurraCharter.Thesecriteriaareasfollows.
Fewoftheaspectsofsignificancediscussedbelowareexclusive:acharacteristicmay,forexample,havebothhistoricalandaestheticsignificance.
6.1.7 AssessmentUnderNSWHeritageDivisionCriterion
TheStateHeritageInventorylistingsheetforthisitemprovidesthefollowing,verylimited,assessmentofsignificance.
17 Article 1.2, The Burra Charter (The Australian ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance), adopted 19th August, 1979 and revised 23 February, 1981, 23 April 1988 and November 1999.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 28
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
a)HistoricalSignificance
ThesiteoftheSydneyMasonicCentrehaslongassociationswithfreemasonryinSydney,inparticulartheUnitedGrandLodge,whichhasoccupieditsnorthernsectionafterthecompletionoftheso-calledNewMasonicHallinCastlereaghStreetinJanuary1884.
Thelonghistoricalassociationwiththesiteoffreemasonryisnotdisputed.Despitethis,thesignificanceoffreemasonryitselfandthatoftheGrandUnitedLodgecanbeascribedtoanylocationwhereMasonicmeetingstakeplace.
Providesevidenceofactivitiesorprocessesthatareofdubioushistoricalimportance:Alonghistoricalassociationwithfreemasonryisnot,initself,ofparticularhistoricalsignificance.Suchaclaimcouldbemadefornumerousothersiteswithoutwarrantingtheirlisting.
b)HistoricalAssociationSignificance
TheSydneyMasonicCentrehasstrongassociationswiththeUnitedGrandLodge,whichwasformedinthe1870s.ThebuildingisassociatedwiththeprominentarchitecturalfirmofJoseland&Gilling.Itisoneofseveralinnovativebuildingsdesignedbythefirmduringthelate1960sandthefirsthalfofthe1970s.
TheassociationwiththeUnitedGrandLodgeandthearchitecturalfirmofJoseland&Gillingisnotdisputed.
Providesevidenceofpeopleoreventsthatareofdubioushistoricalimportance:AstrongassociationwiththeUnitedGrandLodgeisnot,initself,ofparticularhistoricalsignificance.Hasbeenalteredsothatiscannolongerprovideevidenceofaparticularassociation:Thebuildinghasbeensignificantlymodified,inparticularontheexterior,sothatitnolongerretainsthecorearchitectural
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 29
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
characteristicswhicharisefromitsconnectionwithJoseland&Gilling.
c)Aesthetic/TechnicalSignificance
TheSydneyMasonicCentreisanoutstandingandpowerfulexampleoftheBrutalistarchitecturalstyle,withamonumentalinteriorthatranksamongstthefinestinteriorsinSydneyfromthesecondhalfofthe20thcentury.ItisanimportantlandmarkandstreetscapeelementinthissectionofSydney.TheSydneyMasonicCentredemonstratesaveryhighstandardofoff-formconcreteconstruction.TheCivicTowerhasaestheticsignificancebecauseitcloselyfollowsJoseland&Gilling'soriginalintentionforthedevelopmentofthesiteinthe1970s.TheCivicToweris
Thequalityoftheoriginalarchitecturaldesignisnotdisputednorthequalityofitsexecution.Muchofthisquality,however,derivedfromthesplayedcornerpodiumrisingtotheassertivecantileveredcanopy.Thisoriginalarchitecturalintenthasbeenfundamentallyalteredbytheexternalmodificationsundertakenin2001-2003andthebuildinghaslostafundamentalelementofitsBrutalistcharacteristics.Inparticular,thisincludesthepaintingoftheoff-formconcreteandtheconstructionofaglassfaçadeatthebaseofthebuilding.Althoughthebuildingisarecognisablelandmark,thisinitselfdoesnotwarrantlisting.Thestandardofoff-formconcreteconstruction,althoughhigh,alsodoesnotinitselfwarrantlisting.Evenifthiswerenot
Haslostitsdesignortechnicalintegrity:Asnotedinthisreport,theoriginaldesignintegrityhasbeenfundamentallydamagedsuchthatthebuildingnolongerexpressesitsoriginalarchitecturalintentandisnolongerrepresentativeofthearchitecturalmovementwithwhichitisassociated.Thetowerelement,althoughsuperficiallyconsistentwiththeoriginaldesign,hasbeenexecutedinamannerwhichdeviatesincriticalaspectsfromtheoriginaldesignvisionandhasnotechnicalintegrityasanexampleofthebrutalistmovement.Itspositivevisualorsensoryappealorlandmarkandscenicqualitieshavebeenmorethantemporarilydegraded:Theglazedenclosureofthefaçadeandtheattendantinternalfitoutincludingthe
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 30
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
notableforitsmethodofconstruction,beingsupportedoffitscentralliftcore.TheMonaHessingartwork,whichwascommissionedforthebuilding,isregardedasoneherfinestworks.
thecase,theoriginalconcretehasbeensoobscuredwithanewglassfaçade,internalfitoutandpaintfinishesthatithaslostitsfundamentalintegrityasanelementoftheoriginalarchitecturalvision.TheCivicTower,althoughgenerallyconsistentwiththeoriginalJoseland&Gillingdesign,hasbeenexecutedwithsignificantvariationswhichrenderituncharacteristicofboththeoriginaldesignvisionandBrutalistworkgenerally.Theseincludetheuseofpaintedexternalfinishes(ratherthantheoffformconcretepre-castpanelsoriginallyproposed)andtheuseofasuperficialcladdingtoachievetheoriginaldesignappearanceoftheslopingtowerundercroft(ratherthanexpressingthestructureitselfwhich,thoughpotentiallyaestheticallyinteresting,isnowconcealed).Thestructuralelementsthemselvesareaproductof21stcenturyengineeringwhilethetoweritself,althoughaestheticallywell-
claddingoftheoff-formconcretecurvedstairshaftsistheoreticallyreversiblebutwouldentailthelossoflettablespaceandconsequentlyislikelytoremaininplacemorethantemporarily.Theapplicationofpaintedfinishestopartsoftheoff-formconcretefaçadecompromisesthefundamentalarchitecturalcharacterofthebuildingandisextremelydifficulttoreverse.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 31
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
mannered,isunremarkableandnotinitselfdeservingoflisting.ThequalityoftheMonaHessingartworkisnotdisputedbutdoesnotrelyexclusivelyonthebuildingfortheretentionofitsqualityorfordisplay.
d)Social/CulturalSignificance
Thebuilding'ssocialsignificancehasnotbeenascertained.Ithaspotentialsocialsignificanceforthemasoncommunityandarchitecturalcommunity.
AlthoughthesitehasaspecificandlongstandingassociationwithFreemasonry,thesamecouldbesaidofmanysitesandisnotparticularlyremarkable.Itwouldnotinitselfwarrantlisting.
Isonlyimportanttothecommunityforamenityreasons:ThereisnoevidencetosuggestthatthecommunityofFreemasonsappliesanyspecialsignificancetothebuildingotherthanthatassociatedwithitsamenityforMasonicactivities.
e)ResearchSignificance
Notechnicalorresearchsignificanceissuggested.
Onlycontainsinformationthatisreadilyavailablefromotherresourcesofarchaeologicalsites:Althoughthemethodofconstructionistechnicallyinteresting,thisinformationis
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 32
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
availablefromtheoriginalarchitecturalandengineeringdocumentationwhichstillexists.
f)Rarity
TheSydneyMasonicCentreisarareexampleofaMasonicbuildingfromthesecondhalfofthe20thcenturyintheCityofSydney.
Freemasonryroseinpopularitythroughtheearlyandmid-partoftwentiethcentury,thegreaterproportionofMasonicbuildings.Bythesecondhalfofthecentury,thenumberofMasonswasindeclineandtherewasnoreasonforabuildingprogram.AscribingrarityofthebuildingasaplacewhereFreemasonsassembletoaparticularperioddoesnotacknowledgetheubiquityofMasonicHallsandTemplesacrossSydney,theStateandtheNation.
Isnotrare:Thebuilding,asaplaceforFreemasonstoassembleisnotrare.ThatfewMasonicHallsorTempleswerebuiltinthelatterhalfofthe20thcenturyisaverynarrowcategoryintermsofrarity.
g)Represent-ative
Thebuildingrepresentsanoutstandingexampleofpost-worldwarIIarchitectureinthebrutaliststyleandoff-formconcreteconstruction.
Thequalityoftheoriginalbuildingasafineexampleofthebrutaliststyleandtheassociateduseofoff-formconcreteisnotdisputed.Theoriginaldesignintent,however,hasbeensignificantlydegradedbyadditionsandalterationsintheearly2000s.Althoughlightweightandtheoreticallyreversible,thesehavebeenplaced.Inthemostprominentlocationof
Doesnotincludeorhaslosttherangeofcharacteristicsofatype:Thebuildinghaslostmanyofthekeycharacteristicsofitstypeincluding:• Theoriginalaggressivesculpturalpresentationtothestreetcornerwhichwastheprincipalcomponentofthebuilding’sarchitecturalcharacter,hasbeenlostwith
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 33
Criteria DraftInventoryAssessment Comment GuidelinesforExclusion
thesiteandfundamentallyaltertherelationshipofthebuildingtothestreetinawaywhich,althoughmoresensitivetocurrentthinkingonappropriateurbanform,isatoddswiththedesignethosinherentintheoriginaldesignandthearchitecturalmovementwhichspawnedit.
theadditionofaglazedenclosureandaninternalcaféfitout.
• Off-formconcretecolumnsfrontingGoulburnStreethavebeeninternalisedinaglazedenclosureandcladinaluminiumtoconcealtheiroriginalmateriality.
• Theoriginalpavementfinishbetweenthefrontofthepodiumundercroftandthestreetboundarywhichechoedtheradiallinesofthestructureabovehasbeenremovedandreplacedwithagenerictiledfinish,enclosedwithglassandlargelycoveredbyacaféfitout.
• Thepodiumfasciahasbeenpaintedtoconcealtheoriginaloff-formconcretefinish.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 34
Thisanalysisdemonstratesthateitherthecriteriaforlistingarenotsatisfied.InparticularthekeyreasonforlistingasanexampleofBrutalistarchitectureisnotmetduetotheextensivealterationstothebuildingovertime.ManyofthechangeshavebeenundertakentodeliberatelyridthebuildingofitsBrutalistcharacteristicsandinsodoingchangethebuildingsofundamentallyastomakeithardlyrecognisibleasaBrutalistbuilding.Consequently,thereisinadequatejustificationforthelistingofthebuilding.
6 Discussion
6.1 ArchitecturalCharacter
AlthoughtheoriginalbuildingwasanprominentexampleoftheBrutalistmovement,ithassinceundergonesubstantialalterationwhichwasdeliberatelyaimedatsofteningitsBrutalistcharacteristicsandconsequentlygreatlydegradeditssignificanceasbothanexampleoftheworkofJoselandandGillingand,particularly,asanexampleoftheBrutaliststyle.Theadditionstothefaçade,althoughtheoreticallylightweightandtransparenttoberespectfuloftheoriginalstructurebehind,arehighlyvisible,locatedinthemostprominentpartofthebuilding,andsignificantlyaltertherelationshipofthebuildingtothestreettocreateaninvitingandurbanefrontage.Althoughconsistentwithcurrenturbandesignthinking,thisinterventionisfundamentallyatoddswiththeBrutalistidiomexpressedinthealmostaggressivesculpturalqualitiesoftheoriginalwithitsattendantemphasisontheexpressionofconstructionmaterialandinparticulartheplasticqualitiesofconcreteandexternalexpressionoftheinternalfunctions.
Theoriginalcornertreatmentclearlyexpressedtheformoftheprincipallodgeroomwithin(thecentralsymbolicspaceofthebuilding)withitstieredseatingprovidingexternalexpressioninanassertiveangularformextendingoutwardsandupwardswithexpressedconcretestructuralwebsfromanarrowbasetoanemphaticoverhangingformcontainingsecondaryspacesabove(see
Figure10).Thisinvertedtheconventionalarchitecturalapproachofsteppingabuildingbackfromthebasetothetopandcreatedvisualdramabybreakingthispattern.Setonadiagonalaxisbisectingthesite,thiskeycornerelementwasthenframedbytwopairsofdoublecurvedstairshaftsformingentrancestothelodgeandthefuturetoweroneachstreetfrontagerespectivelytocompleteadiagonallysymmetricalstreetcomposition(seeFigure9).Thestructurewasthencompletedincarefullyexecutedroughfinishedoff-formconcreteinanhonestexpressionofthematerialsandstructuralsystem.Finally,thegroundlevelspacebetweenthecornerofthepodiumandthestreetboundarywastiledinaradial
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 35
patterntoechothestructuralconcretewebssupportingtheoverhangingstructureabove.
Theoriginaldesignalsoincludedatowerwhichwasnotexecutedatthetime.Itwastobesupportedfromthecentralliftshafttocantileveroveranangularbasepositionedabovethepodiumbelowtoechotheformoftheprincipallodgeroomonthecornerofthepodiumitself.Theangledbasewastoconsistofsupportingexposedconcretewebsinafurtherreferencetothepodiumstructure.Thistowerwastobecladinpre-castconcretepanelswhichwouldhavebeenleftinarawfinishinthesamemannerastherestofthebuilding(seeFigure4).
Theadditionsmadeintheearly2000s,however,effectivelyconcealedthebaseoftheprincipallodgeroomandfundamentallyalteredthearchitecturalexpressionbydisguisingtheformoftheseprincipalspacesandfillinginthevoidbeneaththeoverhangtoeliminatethemajorityofthearchitecturaldramaitcreated.Italsoeliminatedtheclearvisualrelationshipbetweentheangledoverhangatthecornerofthepodiumandtheangledoverhangatthebaseofthetower.TheglazedenclosurewasalsoextendedaroundtheGoulburnStreetfrontageanddisguisedthematchingpairofcurvedstairshaftstodisrupttheoriginalsymmetryofthepodium.Further,theadditionscompletelyremovedtheoriginalexternalradialpavingpatternwhichreferencedthestructuralelementsabove.
Althoughmuchoftheoriginalmaterialitywasretained,theprominentfaceoftheoverhangwaspaintedinacreamcolourthusconcealingitsmaterial,separatingitfromtheunpaintedsupportingstructurebelowandgivingitmorerefinedbutcompletelydifferentarchitecturalcharacter.Thenowinternaloff-formconcreteoftheGoulburnStreetstairshaftswerealsocladinaluminiumsandwichpanels,concealingtheoriginalmaterialandonceagainalteringtheoriginalarchitecturalintent.Theseseeminglyminorinterventionscompletelysubvertedtheoriginalintentofthearchitecttouseraw,unfinishedmaterialsexpressedasanintegralpartofthearchitecturalcharacter.
Althoughthetowerwasultimatelyconstructed,basedtoanextentontheoriginaldesign,itvariedfromitinanumberofcriticalways.Theprecastconcretepanelfaçadewasreplacedbypaintedsmoothfinishedin-situconcrete;theangledsupportingwebs,designedtomimicthoseonthepodium,werereplacedwithanangledsupportingsubstructureconcealedunderalightweightmodularcladdingdesignedtomimictheoriginaldesign(seeFigure17).Onceagain,thisdeviatedfromtheoriginalarchitecturalintent,andthecoreelementsoftheBrutalistmovement,byconcealing,ratherthanexpressing,boththestructuralmethodandthemateriality.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 36
Figure17:TheundersideoftheCivicTowershowingboththesuperficiallightweight
claddingontheangledundersideconcealingthestructurebeneathandthesmoothpaintedconcretesurfaceofthefaçadeabove.
Thesemodificationswereanattempttoreshapethebuildingintoamorehumanscale,morepeoplefriendly,morepolishedandmoreconsistentwithcurrentthinkingregardingurbandesignwhichis,initself,areactiontotheBrutalistidiom.Theresultisdramaticallydifferentinitseffectfromthebuildingwhichwasoriginallyconceivedandhasnoneoftheemphaticuncompromisingform,overpoweringscaleandtough,honestexpressionofmaterialitywhichcharacterisestheBrutalistidiom.
Themodificationstothetowerdesignmayseemlessconsequentialbutrendersitclearlyaproductoftheearly2000sandnotoftheBrutalistmovement.Thetowerwallswereoriginallyconceivedascarefullyfinishedpre-castconcretepanelsleftunpaintedtoexpressthenaturalcharacteroftheirmaterials.Moreimportantly,theangledundersideofthetowerwastohaveconsistedofunfinishedconcreteclearlyexpressingtheactualformofthestructure;itwouldneverhavebeencladtopresentadifferentsuperficialexternalappearance.Theuseofpaintand,especially,ofanexternalmodularlightweightundercroftcladding,isinconsistentwiththespiritoftheBrutalistmovementwhichthetowerwasintendedtoemulate.Thetower,consequently,failstoauthenticallycompletetheoriginalarchitecturalvisionforthesiteanddemonstrateslittlerelationshiptotheBrutalistoriginsofthepodiumbuilding.
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 37
Giventheextenttowhichtheoriginaldesignandarchitecturalqualitiesofthebuildinghavebeencompromised,theSydneyMasonicCentreisnolongereitheranoutstandingorrepresentativeexampleofBrutalistarchitecture.
7 IMPOSITIONOFLISTING
Withlistingofabuildingofthisageandsizecomesaseriesofimpositionsfargreaterthanwithlistingsofmoremodestbuildings.Whilesomeofficebuildingshavebeenlistedandcontinuetofunctionsuccessfully,buildingssuchastheformerSydneyMasonicCentrecreatearangeofadditionalimpositionsthatcreateadisproportionateburdenontheowner,including:
• Officebuildingsofthistypenowhaveanestablishedlifecycle.Asrequirementsforofficespacechange,alongwithrequirementforenergyefficiencyandoccupantfacilities,economicpressuredemandsthebuildingbereplaced.Thisisparticularlyrelevantintermsofenergyefficiency.ManyorganisationsincludingtheStateGovernmentrequireahighlevelofenergyefficiencyinbuildings.Thisbecomesmuchmoredifficulttoachievewitholderofficebuildings.
• Asthebuildingagesfurtheritsclassofofficespacewillbegraduallydowngradedwiththeconsequenceoflowerrentalincomes.Toarrestthismajorrefurbishmentwillberequired.Thereisastrongco-relationbetweenthecapitalcostofrefurbishmentandtheamountofrentalliftpossible.Thiswillonlyworkifotherrequirementssuchasenergyefficiencycanbemet.
• Thebuilding,oncelisted,wouldhavetobeconserved,regardlessofeconomicconsiderationsandcouldbedemolishedonlyinthemostexceptionalcircumstances.ThebuildingpodiumwasdesignedspecificallyasaheadquartersforFreemasons.Shouldtheirrequirementschangeandtheynolongerneedthebuilding,therewillbemajorissuesinremsofreasonableadaptivereuse.Thisessentiallysterilisesanimportantcentralcitysite.
8 CONCLUSION
ThisheritageanalysisdoesnotsupporttheproposedlistingoftheSydneyMasonicCentreatNo.279-285CastlereaghStreetand66GoulburnStreetbecauseitdoesnotmeetthethresholdforlistingasaheritageitemundertheNSWHeritageBranchcriterion;norarethereasonsforlistinggivenbythePlanningProposal–CentralSydneyModernMovementheritageitemssupportedupondetailedassessment.
Inparticular:
• TheconnectionofthesitetofreemasonryinSydneyanditsassociationwiththeUnitedGrandLodgeisoflimitedhistorical
WeirPhillipsHeritageandPlanning|SydneyMasonicCentre|HeritageAnalysis 38
importanceandonlyexistswhilethesiteisoccupiedforitscurrentpurpose.Inthisrespect,itisnodifferentfrommanyothersitesinNewSouthWaleswhichalsoperformsimilarfunctions.
• TheassociationofthebuildingwiththeprominentarchitecturalfirmofJoseland&Gillinghasbeengreatlycompromisedbyextensivealterationswhichhavesubstantiallyerodedtheoriginalarchitecturalintent.WhilenotedashavingdesignedbuildingsintheBrutalistStyle,theyarenotparticularlyidentifiedwiththestyle.
• ThebuildinghasbeenalteredovertimetoapointwhereithaslostitsdesignintegrityasanexampleoftheBrutalistStyleandthosechangescannotbereversed.Therearebetterpreservedexamplesofthisstyleofbuilding.
• Itsidentifiabilityasacitylandmarkisnotuniqueandisofminimalhistoricalimportance.
• Itsuseofhighqualityoff-formconcreteconstructionisnotuniqueandisoflimitedhistoricalimportance.
• TheCivicTowerisanearly2000sconstruction,isaflawedrealisationoftheoriginaldesignandisnotrepresentativeofthefinishesanddetailofabuildingintheBrutaliststyle.Inparticular,thevisualrelationshipcreatedbythedialoguebetweentheangledcantileverbelowthetowerandtheangledcantileveratthecornerofthepodiumhasbeendestroyedbytheglazedinfillofthecornerofthepodium.
• TheMonaHessingartworkisnotreliantuponthebuildingforitssignificanceorpreservation.
• ThefactthatitisarareexampleofaMasonicbuildingfromthesecondhalfofthe20thcenturyinSydneyisoflimitedhistoricalimportance.
• ItisnolongeranoutstandingexampleofBrutalistarchitectureoroff-formconcreteconstructionasitskeycharacteristicshavebeencompromisedbylateradditionsandsomeoftheoff-formconcretesurfaceshavebeenpaintedoverorcladwithothermaterials.
Giventhisanalysis,itissubmittedthattheSydneyMasonicCentredoesnotmeetthethresholdforlistingunderthecriteriaNSWHeritageBranchandthusshouldnotbelistedasaheritageitemontheSydneyLEP2012.
top related