APA Building
| APA Building | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Office |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Completed | 1889 |
| Demolished | 1980 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 53 metres |
| Top floor | 47 meters |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 12 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Kemp |
| References | |
|
www | |
The APA Building (also known as The Australian Building) was generally noted as one of the earliest high-rise buildings in Australia and the first skyscraper in Melbourne. The worlds 3rd tallest building in 1889, it was notable for being one of the few examples of the short-lived Queen Anne architectural style applied to a Victorian skyscraper.[1]
History
The APA building was constructed in 1889 in the Queen Anne architectural style. It showed influences from Chicago school architecture, which had recently developed in North America. The city was still riding the wave of the Victorian Gold Rush, which was one of the most prosperous times in Melbourne's history and brought considerable wealth to the city. Originally planned to have fifteen stories, the steel building was limited to twelve, still making it larger to any European building of the time and more comparable to the influx of high rises being built in the American cities of New York City and Chicago.
The use and treatment to rooftop levels and well thought out treatment of mass seems to have "anticipated the skyscraper race of New York and Chicago".[1] The building was Melbourne's tallest for an extensive period of time, from its construction, to 1929.
The building was demolished in 1980.[2]
The site today
Located at 49 Elizabeth Street, on the northwest corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Lane, the site is now home to a five story office building.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "APA Building". Walking Melbourne.com. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- ↑ Wilson, Granville; Sands, Peter (1981). Building a city: 100 years of Melbourne architecture. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 201. ISBN 9-780-195542929. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
Demolished A.P.A. Building on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Flinders Lane, was designed by Oakden, Addison and Kemp, in association with John Beswicke.
Bibliography
- Granville Wilson, Peter Sands, Building a city: 100 years of Melbourne architecture, Oxford University Press (originally from the University of California), 1981.
Coordinates: 37°49′2″S 144°57′51″E / 37.81722°S 144.96417°E