Australasian Catholic Assurance Building facts for kids
The Australian Catholic Assurance Building (often called the ACA Building) is a famous office building in Melbourne, Australia. It's known for its cool Art Deco style. Built between 1935 and 1936, it was the main office in Victoria for Australian Catholic Assurance, a company that helped the Catholic community with insurance.
This building was designed by the Sydney-based architecture firm Hennessy & Hennessy. It even has a twin building in Sydney! The ACA Building is considered one of the most important Art Deco buildings in Melbourne. It is officially listed as a heritage site by the City of Melbourne and the National Trust.
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What is Art Deco Architecture?
- Further information: Architecture of Melbourne
The ACA Building is a great example of the Art Deco style. In Melbourne, buildings like this, with their strong vertical lines, are sometimes called "Commercial Gothic." This is because they look a bit like earlier Gothic-style buildings, such as the Manchester Unity Building.
Special Building Materials
What makes the ACA Building special is the material used on its outside walls. Instead of the usual cement or shiny tiles, it uses "Benedict Stone." This is a special artificial stone made by a company owned by the Catholic Church in Brisbane. The stone changes color, getting lighter as you look from the bottom of the building to the top of its 160-foot tower.
Design Features
The building's design really emphasizes height. It has a central tower-like part that steps back as it goes up, making it look even taller. This tower stands out because the office floors on either side are set back a bit. The top four floors also have projecting ribs that step back, creating a lively and interesting shape against the sky.
The bottom three levels of the building are quite simple, acting as a strong base for the tall sections above. The main entrance is very noticeable, set deep into the building and reaching two stories high.
This building is still very much like it was when it was first built. The large, two-story shopfronts on the ground floor still have their original bronze frames. The big metal sign with the building's name above the entrance is also unchanged. Inside, the lobby still has its black marble walls, original signboards, light fixtures, and even the old lifts.
The Sydney Twin Building
The ACA Building has a twin in Sydney, which is now called Charles Plaza. It was finished in early 1936. Its outside walls also use pink artificial stone, and it has the exact same details as the Melbourne building. However, the Sydney building is taller and is on a corner, so it doesn't look quite as vertical as its Melbourne twin.
See also
In Spanish: Australasian Catholic Assurance Building para niños
