A Melbourne mystery

15 01 2009

 

What is this?

The other day I noticed this fluffy cloud-like shape tacked onto the roof of a public housing  block, as I whizzed past on the freeway. Its in Parkville. Now, what on earth is it? It would be intriguing enough as it is, but I’m extra fascinated as I’ve  just returned from Brazil where I saw a church that looks almost identical. Is there a knock-off of a landmark Brazilian modernist church on top of a public housing block in Melbourne’s inner West? And if so, why? 

This is the original; an early work by Oscar Niermeyer, designed in the 1940s for the city of Belo Horizonte. It so outraged the Vatican, with its “Satanic” curves, that authorities refused to consecrate it for 15 years. Today it is one of the most famous modern buildings in Brazil,  and often regarded as a precursor for what was to come in Niermeyer’s acclaimed designs for Brasilia.

And now… it sits on a Melbourne housing block in reproduction? Why?


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2 responses

23 01 2009
Mona Chromatic

I think this addition was by ARM to a few of the housing commision blocks back in the 90’s. There is a part of melbs where you can stand outside macca’s and see the golden arches with this building in the background. ARM did storey hall on swanston street

27 01 2009
Bek

Great blog. I often wonder about that extra bit of the building too. When I was a kid I imagined it was some sort of indoor swimming pool for the residents.

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