Chancellor and Patrick

A Melbourne based architecture firm, formed in 1953, consisting of David Chancellor (born 7 September 1926) and William Rex Patrick (born 28 October 1927). The firm is known for several notable tertiary and institutional buildings within Melbourne as well as private residential projects.

Personal life

William Rex Patrick ventured into architecture at a young age, working as an architect's assistant at Parnell and Pierce.[1][2] He left the firm and returned to college in 1943, and graduated with a diploma in architecture from Melbourne Technical College in 1949.

David Chancellor graduated in 1944 as a civil engineer, after which he worked as an engineering draftsman. Chancellor later graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1951.[2]

The two met at the firm Yuncken Freeman Brothers, where they formed a close working relationship, joining several competitions together.[2] They later established their architectural firm in 1953.[3] Chancellor and Patrick’s have played a significant role in Australian history because of their contribution to both tertiary and institutional buildings. This includes the halls of residence at both Monash University and La Trobe University, and institutional buildings like the St James Presbyterian Church in Wattle Park (1964) and St John in East Cheltenham (1962), as well as residential projects like the McCraith House (1954).[3]

Notable projects

McCraith House

McCraith House

The McCraith House, commonly known as the Butterfly House, was built on the sleepy bush blackboards[4] of the Mornington Peninsula for Ellen and Gerald McCraith in 1954[5] by Chancellor and Patrick. The McCraith House is an example of structural inspired modernism[6] in Victoria in the 1950s with its cutting-edge design and ground-breaking structural engineering,[4] in the triangular tubular steel framing system and butterfly formed roof. Built with rich and personalized memoirs of a bygone Australia captured by the family of the house construction and summer holidays, the home has changed the way in which society holidayed.[6] Positioned strategically on a stone-walled plinth overlooking Port Philip Bay,[6] the house remains the same with its original interior and exterior spaces, authentic furniture and crockery after 50 years. In 2007, its exhibition celebrates the recognition of its architecture and architects.

Former ES&A Bank Building

The former ES&A Bank building was built on the corner of Elizabeth and Franklin Street Melbourne in 1959-60 by Melbourne architects Chancellor and Patrick.[7] Originally intended to be a 12-storey office tower, it now acts as an apartment building. The building consists of alternating balcony projections and a north-facing decorative sun-grille rising from the ground floor to pierce a floating roof which acts as a tribute to Walter Burley Griffin and Frank Lloyd Wright. The monumental geometries of the bluestone corner piers invoke the Griffins and their predilection for capped piers.[3] Chancellor and Patrick referred to the American organic sensibilities as well as International Modernism which incorporated aspects from Le Corbusier’s work among others. However the most distinct features of the building are the massive bluestone corner piers and the vertical concrete ribs which were typical of work by the Griffins and not Wright.[8] Despite its truncation and current use as an apartment building, the former bank is a convincing example of the organic principles of Frank Lloyd Wright in Melbourne.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.answers.com/topic/chancellor-and-patrick-1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://users.tce.rmit.edu.au/e03159/ModMelb/mm2/modmelbprac2/dc/dcbio.htm
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Goad, Philip (2009). Melbourne Architecture. The Watermark Press. pp. 180–193. ISBN 978-0-949284-89-1
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ABC Sunday Arts: "Butterfly House", 19 November 2006
  5. ↑ Dixon-Ward, Bin and Kate MacNeill: "Rabbit trader who loved orchids", in The Age, 9 July 2009
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Victorian Heritage Register: "McCraith House"
  7. ↑ Royal Australian Institute of Architects RSTA Register08 – www.architecture.com.au/i-cms_file?page=4048/VicRegister08.pdf
  8. ↑ Encyclopedia of 20th-Century Architecture Volume 1 A-F, R. Stephen Sennott p163