Rebellion in Style: Expressionism & Pluralism in Melbourne Architecture

Introduction

Being one of the largest cities in the entirety of Australia, Architectural styles and designs has exponentially grown and developed over the century. A large influence from this development within Australia would be from a few Architect groups and individuals such as The Griffins, Edmond and Corrigan, and Kevin Borland. Where these groups and individuals had their own expressionist tendencies, which opposed the mainstream architectural styles during their period, in the modern and post-modern times. Pluralism was also a big style that got adopted by these architects, how they mixed ideas together to form new buildings. In the 19th century, The Griffins were unique and different from everyone in this time, by using their own techniques that created an inspirational and revolutionary style for people in his time and the future to adapt to. A clear example showing his style would be his Newman College as well as the capital theatre. These two buildings also show his work of expressionism and pluralism but obviously show that they were against mainstream architects. Moving on from the Griffins, Kevin Borland during the mid-1900s was also a big expressionist in his architecture. Where he although followed the mainstream idea of the time he still evolved and developed the idea of post-war Melbourne architecture by himself through his own experiences and ultimately created big architectural ideas such as the Herold Holt swim center. Maggie Edmond and Peter Corrigan on the other hand designed and created buildings such as the RMIT building 8 which has shown their part in pluralism within Melbourne at that time. To summarise, in many ways, Griffins, Kevin Borland, Edmond, and Corrigan show variations of their expressionist tendencies in opposition of mainstream principles of Melbourne architecture in their time with the buildings they created.

Expressionism 

Expressionism was a huge part of the development of Architecture going past and against the mainstream ideas and principles. Expressionism was a style that multiple architects try to convey and go against the mainstream, which in this idea is Postmodernism. Expressionism made the architects change their mindsets on how they should create new styles instead of “echoing past styles or be chained to certain design standards and expectations” (study.com,2019). So expressionist architecture is basically creating a new design to be expressed with reason through the choices of forms, shapes, materials, and colours. These reasons and ideas all reference towards natural or historical stories for people who walk in. Pluralism on the other hand similarly also is adopted by various architects. Where the main generation of ideas is to mix different types of ideas together and then mixing bits and pieces to form different styles. Meaning the main key principles from the different styles will change in adaptation for the new building. As we all know not everyone is the same, every single individual and architect won’t have the same aspects, ideas, and points of views as everyone else. Pluralism can be described as a style that was made for everyone and was accepted by all people. The style was about the mixture and “coexistence of more than one” style put together, where the architectural design is made for all the people who will use the building functional internally and externally focusing on how the people can active the buildings different areas. Both expressionism and pluralism can be seen in the works of the Griffins, Kevin Borland and Edmond and Corrigan.

The Griffins were well known in the 19th century for their design that was expressionism, and pluralism, and that their style was obviously against the mainstream. It all started with modernism being the mainstream movement at the time and so the Griffins focused on the urban theme on the city of Melbourne. As then we could see the emergence of a new style, they developed through the journey they went through starting from when they were based in Canberra. We can see that his style is against the mainstream through building such as Newman College. The Newman College located in the vicinity of Melbourne University can be considered Walter Burley Griffins in collaboration with Marion Mahony Griffin's most famous work. The Griffins expressed their beliefs a lot. And through Newman College, it also shows how religious they are from the crosses located on top of the dome. There idea was so that it would act as a religious fortress protecting the students inside the building. Not only this but the dome was created to stand out as if a meeting point while underneath would present the idea of democracy through the circular design as well as the circular tables. We can see how he is an expressionist through the color bricks on the building which represents the idea of the earth itself, there is also a L shape in the Newman College designed for the students to look as if the area is private. The style of the dome can also be described as a building “is Gothic Revival and derived from medieval and modern principles” (Vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au, 2019). As for the surroundings of the building, Griffins idea was too keep as much as possible in place. As they both already had great interest in the landscape and vegetation they wanted “All the indoor and outdoor functions of the college life were an important concept”. (Walter Burley Griffin: The Architecture of Newman College 2019), where they also included natural flora into their plans. Another major piece of architecture showing their uniqueness to the mainstream would be their take on the capitol theatre. As soon as this theatre was opened in Melbourne it was a brand-new take on what a theatre should look like. This design was a “highly advance design concept by the Griffins. It is one of the greatest works as their largest commercial building projects.” (2019). As the design incorporated plasterwork for the walls with the exterior of the walls reinforced with concrete which also included concealed color lights. There were foyers as well which were caved in like stairs and illuminated ceilings giving the area a very spectacular lighting effect and making the whole area give off the feeling of pure fantasy. In the end Griffin's work would be considered pluralist because of the different architects, partners and different sculptures that inspired them to make this style of architecture. Architectures and styles that they got influenced by would definitely be someone like Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and most notably the style of gothic architecture shown clearly in his design works of Newman College. As they further develop the buildings by choosing different paths of different materiality and design styles, they basically expressed their way of architecture in their form of architectural movement.

Postmodernism 

Postmodernism was an architectural period that occurred during the 19th century round about the 60s, where the architectural principles mainly focused on the design and aesthetics of the building rather than the actual functions. In other words form over functions, where a lot of architects were famous although created meaningless designs which did not consider the fluctuation and circulation of the building. During this era a great example of a mainstream Architect would be Glenn Murcutt most notably his famous house the “Magney House Bingie Point”. Where this house has an obvious aesthetic exterior of a dominant primary emphasis of a façade. Where the house focuses more on the “tent-like qualities” (ozetecture, n.d.) and the very abstract roofing. When putting all these ideas together he focuses too much on the exterior roofing and window facades and not as much as the interior. As this was one of the mainstream architects of the postmodern era, Emond and Corrigan went against this. Maggie Edmond and Peter Corrigan have been a big influence in architectural history. Edmond and Corrigan have been designing many buildings even before their establishment in 1972 in a little office in the Postmodern time frame. Both Edmond and Corrigan began by expressing their ideas targeted to many houses schools and small buildings going against the mainstream idea of “uniform and lack of context buildings” ('Postmodern Architecture - Designing Buildings Wiki' 2019). Both Edmonds and Corrigan’s ideas were to make their designs distinct, whilst during that time all the buildings in Melbourne were the same. A landmark and famous design they created in comparison to the whole suburb would be their RMIT building 8. Where the mainstream and basic part of design and construction was not linked to any materials, the mainstream architects would then choose a material at the end for enforce an exterior material design. Whilst on the other hand RMIT building 8 is seen to have selected unique materials for the exterior including different colour tinted windows and polychrome bricks for a brighter and clean finish. Where the interior windows get big influenced from the colorful glass windows on churches, which they had the idea of significant reference and against the idea of the “dominant and seamless city wall mood” (RMIT Architecture, 2019).The quote seamless city wall mood relates to how back at that time the suburbs and house designs were very dull, where colour was not a strong aspect of the designs. It also describes the journey through the city how the feeling of walking through the building had a flat mood which didn’t have much building relevance. The windows not only relate to the churches windows but also shows how it represents the city, having the windows multicolored representing the mixture of styles in in Melbourne at that time from the movements such as the European and American movements and uniting them into a patterned window. By mixing the styles together a new identity is made. Not just the windows but every floor “marks a distinct community. At each level the general plans resemble wandering town streets widening and getting narrower”. (Hamann) With Rmit building 8 most of the ideas that of the existing architectural forms and aesthetics can be seen with a major influence from other architect buildings such as the Walter Burley Griffins Melbourne block arcade. As you can see Glenn Murcutt focuses on the exterior and let it set the setting in the interior of the design, whereas Edmond and Corrigan through their design on RMIT building 8 sets the whole building in context with the environment around the building and the suburbs. This shows his ideas on their approach on Melbourne architecture and how they went against the norm and built a new architectural identity in Melbourne.

Following the first world war, Kevin Borland in Melbourne play a big part in the development of the architecture of the years. Whilst and after his studies in architecture he set a “benchmark for creative domestic and small” (Architecture from the heart) building designs. During his study time Kevin Borland looked up to and admired the people who shaped post-war Melbourne architecture such as Peter McIntyre, Neil Clerehan, and David Chancellor. But it was until later he genuinely admired Harry Seidler's architecture who was in the strong influence of Gropius and Marcel Breuer. At the time after the wall materials and resources were scarce and very restricted. So restricted that you could only have a certain amount of materials to build your certain amount of rooms and buildings. Basically, every single building at this time were small and very similar in shape, only enforcing the needed rooms and nothing else. This is when Kevin Borland’s design comes in. One of his famous buildings named the Rice House. The rice house in the completed form” comprises two rectangular blocks each composed of multiple transverse thin-shelled concrete arches”. The building also has metal framing that creates a walkway. With everything set the basepoint of this idea became an icon during that time. The use of the materials and constriction techniques stood out the most and was unique compared to the other houses. Which makes his constructions very modern. But Kevin Borland's design all changed when he started his design on the Harold Holt swim centre. Where the design of this building follows their style of the time called the Brutalist movement. Where the building follows the idea of “ugness” ('The Wonder Of Melbourne’S Brutalist Architecture | The Grapevine' 2019) following the strong dominant use of off forms and uses of texturized concrete on both sides, as well as the glass put together to make a sculptured image which forms the idea of the brutalist movement. By using these materials, it expresses the “finished surfaces of the building and the structural forms as well as the transparency for the user through directional internal planning”. (2019). Kevin Borland’s Harold Holt swim Centre also has historical and has significance to prime minister Harold Holt which is why the center was named after him. The forms and shapes of the building of brutalism can be noted that it has a sense of sports function. In conclusion, Kevin Borland's style changes over the course of his life but most notable would be his shift in design to the brutalist movement and his impact from the start to end changed the ideas of Melbourne architecture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the architects such as The Griffins, Kevin Borland, Edmond, and Corrigan show there take on pluralism in architecture in their own ways. Where the Griffins present and design their work in against the mainstream style during modernism. Through their strong work like the Newman College and the styles that are mixed together with a statement and the spectacular and advanced concept Capitol Theatre. Kevin Borland where he starts with Rice house to adapt to the situation of a post-war Melbourne and evolved his style to the brutalist movement with his Harold Holt swim center. As well as Edmond and Corrigan through there architectural work of RMIT building 8 represent many styles and the looming city of Melbourne going against the post-modern era. Finally, they all have been showing and leading the pathways of young thriving architects to adapt to and develop by going against the mainstream ideas.

References

1. 2019. Study.Com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/expressionism-architecture-examples.html.
2. https://www.ozetecture.org/magney-house-bingie-point
3. 'Postmodern Architecture - Designing Buildings Wiki'. 2019. Designingbuildings.Co.Uk. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Postmodern_architecture.
4. RMIT Architecture. (2019). RMIT Building 8 - RMIT Architecture. [online] Available at: http://architecture.rmit.edu.au/projects/rmit-building-8/
5. (Hamann)-City of Hope : remembered by Conrad Hamann
6. Kevin Borland: architecture from the heart- conrad Hamann
7. 'The Wonder Of Melbourne’S Brutalist Architecture | The Grapevine'. 2019. Blog.Adonline.Id.Au. https://blog.adonline.id.au/brutalist-architecture/.2019. Vhd.Heritagecouncil.Vic.Gov.Au. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/12051/download-report.
8. http://www.griffinsociety.org/Lives_and_Works/a_bushland.html
9. Walter Burley Griffin: the Architecture of Newman College, 1915-18. 2019. 'Walter Burley Griffin: The Architecture Of Newman College 1915-18'. Issuu. https://issuu.com/walterburleygriffinnewman/docs/walter_burley_griffin_-_the_archite.2019. Vhd.Heritagecouncil.Vic.Gov.Au. https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/818/download-report.

Images

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2. https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/fetch/c_fill,w_600/https://static.domain.com.au/domainblog/uploads/2016/10/15131500/1_gs2p3i.jpg
3. http://www.melbournefreewifi.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2-4.jpg
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