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Ben wrote:Application lodged today:

DA/277/2008
11/04/2008
Development Application Received
Demolish rear hall and construct 17 storey residential apartment building with 3 level of basement car parking, alterations and conservation works to Masonic Lodge
FREEMASONS HALL, 254-260 North Terrace, ADELAIDE

Well that puts paid to the rumours that they only sold the "air rights" above the hall. Even though it was built around the same time as the main building, it's a tin shed by comparison. Probably not an issue. What will be at issue is the architectural merit of the proposed tower and how well it will complement the boxy Masonic Building.

From what I hear the freemasons are happy about this development because :
1) the building at the front will undergo a total restoration,
2) the hall at the back won't be missed as it has some serious maintenance issues.. for example, did you know there's massive amounts of running water underneath the hall? and that the floors on the hall are so thin, if you were to hold some major event there you'd probably fall right through? obvious safety issues there.

So I guess if it's good enough for the freemasons who still lease the building, and it's good enough for heritage sa .. then it should be good enough for the general public.

Howie wrote:.....the hall at the back won't be missed as it has some serious maintenance issues.. for example, did you know there's massive amounts of running water underneath the hall? and that the floors on the hall are so thin, if you were to hold some major event there you'd probably fall right through? obvious safety issues there......

Not so sure about that Howie. I went there during the Fringe to see La Clique and the place seemed alright then...

That's not my opinion... i've never seen the inside of the hall myself. It's what the experts and the freemasons are saying.

Actually I was quite shocked to hear of the disrepair and damage to the hall at the back, so i'm surprised as you all are... as it 'looks' alright from the outside.

rogue wrote:

Howie wrote:.....the hall at the back won't be missed as it has some serious maintenance issues.. for example, did you know there's massive amounts of running water underneath the hall? and that the floors on the hall are so thin, if you were to hold some major event there you'd probably fall right through? obvious safety issues there......

Not so sure about that Howie. I went there during the Fringe to see La Clique and the place seemed alright then...

They must have disguised things well this year. I've been in there several Fringes for several shows and noticed a lot of problems with the floor (especially near the stage area) and general maintenance issues with the roof and walls. The place is pretty decrepit and needs either a gutting and restoration or demolition.

Hiya guys... Many thanks to our friends at Advantis for the floor plans!

cheers howie.

not normally so vitriolic but that is a shockingly poor design which, in my view, manages to both harm the setting of the Masonic lodge and the wider context of the local area.
maybe the images are poor quality, but the colour and material selection are also disapointing - are there any views from the west or from Pu;teney Street

mmm, havent made up my mind about it yet, but a taller, skinnier, sleeker building would look better IMO.
Hehe, actually i like the colours bva

High end apartments that have views directly into the back of the Masonic Lodge. GREAT.

Why brown???

I think the design and colour fits in well with the surrounding 'north terrace heritage' theme.

Thanks for the render and floor plans Howie. I think some people are judging this one too quickly with only one perspective. I think it looks decent but we really need some more renders. There seems to be a fair bit of glass and I am not sure those panels are brown but maybe more of a copper effect.

Can I just add that the brown you see there will look great on the building.. it's actually a form of rust, but as a feature.. i forget the name of the product perhaps you guys know it.. but it actually helps protects the building while giving it some character. It's a really unique design for the city, and it's extremely well finished. There will be floor to ceiling glass so the apartments will look really swish.

Interesting. A copper, rusty colour would be different. Not sure about the rest, looks-wise, but I'll accept it. Maybe need some close ups. Have you guys noticed there are future buildings to the west? Any concept renderings of those? Thanks Howie.

Cheers

There's a building under construction in Queanbeyan that uses a similar effect. Think of the copper-green part of the Law Courts building on Victoria Square, except brown. On both buildings the effect is quite nice, it adds a certain authority to the structure.

I for one think it looks like a very promising design, arguably the best currently in the pipeline for Adelaide.