User:Yarabee F

Yarrabee flats (built 1940), was designed by the australian nominated architect Frederick Romberg as a block of five flats for two musicians. The building was constructed in the early 1940s during the period that Romberg has launched his reputation as an independent architect. He did some design which was considered advanced by that time, Yarrabee Flats is one of the many significant and distinctive buildings. It is located at 44 Walsh street South Yarra, flanked by Toorak Road, Punt Road and Domain Road.

Description
The Yarrabee flat was innovative stylistically. It features the accustomed form, however, building’s elevation reveals an unfamiliar type of details which are new for melbourne. The building shows a concern for natural light and subtle materiality in the form of dedicate unrendered brick that makes up the exterior walls. The flat adopted crisp rectangular blocks on its pilotis and striped awnings that block the sunlight. Each level has a balcony whose outside edge has been formed using bent corrugated iron as formwork.. Each level's units have generous windows. At the top floor, the owner's own flat has a huge chimney made by stone in the large living space.

Similar Buildings
The Yarrabee Flat was one of a series of important prewar buildings designed by Frederick Romberg in association with Mary Turner Shaw, both former employees within the Stephenson and Turner office. Another two predominant modern buildings designed during that period are Newburn flat and Stanhill flat in South Melbourne. Elements from the Yarrabee flats are found in the design of Newburn flat The most notable similarities between these two buildings are the open cantilevered balconies, the generous fenestration, facade reveals a sense of sculptural. These features can also be captured from Stanhill flats, however the former one has far more complex pedigree. These buildings are at its most sculptural, revealing Romberg’s ambition of adopting the characteristics of European Modernism architecture.

Key influences
In the period of the Mid-Twentieth Century in Victoria, Yarrabee flats is recognised as one of the first flats that entirely adopted the characteristics of the advanced European architecture. The building that incorporates the curved elements and bold horizons gives a sculptured exterior to the functionalist plan, the design elements is reminiscent of the Expressionism of Erich Mendelsohn. Yarrbee is believed to be one of the most important residential buildings from Romberg’s pre-war career. Although some forms and details introduced into the building recalls the prototype of the Newburns Flats, Yarrabee flats is still a successful contribution to the emergence of European Modernism in Australian architecture.

Demolish
The Yarrabee Flat is demolished. Currently another flat is sitting there, the generous cantilevered balconies wrapped by bent corrugated iron can still recall the original building. The unrendered brick has been painted, which presents a different looking. The plan of the building alterred according to the current using. The interior detailing reveals a consistent character.