Thursday, August 30, 2012

Chicagoesque

It's not a model of a stylised, city skyline with skyscrapers competing for space.  It's not a piece of the set from Fritz Lang's Metropolis Sci-Fi flick.  Nor is it the latest in computer chip technology.  The architectural style has been described as "Chicagoesque". it was constructed between the wars in 1924. it's geometry is evocative and modern. I pointed the lens straight up and "click" took this photo of a segment of the crystalline plaster ceiling from the Capitol Theatre in Swanston Street, Melbourne.  The theatre was designed by Walter Burley Griffin and his wife Marion Mahony and is considered one of their finest works. Hats off to them for creating this Melbourne Gem. Cheers J.
Here's a link to the some photographs of the full ceiling.

11 comments:

  1. I'm not entirely sure I understand this. If it's flat, it's fascinating. If it's 3D - I'm glad I don't have to do the dusting!

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    1. Hi Lucy ... its 3D but is horizontal suspended from the ceiling. I'm with you on the dusting.

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  2. This picture is really cool. Almost like domino in arrays.

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  3. Chicagoesque? Haven't heard that word before. To me, I'm thinking deco. Is that a synonym for this style. Hard to imagine a ceiling done this way. Gravity defying.

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  4. Excellent ceiling - do you have a wider view so we can understand the context of this detail? Also is that the Burley Griffin of Canberra lake fame?

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    1. Hi and thanks for your comment. I have included a link with some photographs of the full ceiling. Oh .. and yes it is the Walter Burley Griffin of Canberra fame.

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  5. Very inovative and I should imagine it would be considered great for acoustics .... At first glance I thought you'd hopped a plane to New York.

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  6. Gorgeous photo of this amazing ceiling. I would never have guessed "a ceiling" and love the way you teased us with what is is "not." Yes, always look up!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  7. Wonderful patterns and light in your great shot. But I would think it more like Hong Kong than Chicago. Of course the artist was projecting into an urban future, and was not far wrong. Looks contemporary rather than early 1920s.

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