Gledden Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gledden Building |
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Gledden Building – cnr Hay and William Streets
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art deco |
| Location | Perth, Western Australia |
| Address | 731–737 Hay Street |
| Coordinates | 31°57′17″S 115°51′37″E / 31.954827°S 115.860351°E |
| Construction started | 25 March 1937 |
| Inaugurated | 13 May 1938 |
| Renovated | 1984 1990 |
| Cost | £36,845 |
| Renovation cost | $363,000 (1990) |
| Owner | Primewest Management |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Reinforced concrete |
| Floor count | 7 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Harold Boas John Oldham William Bennett |
| Architecture firm | Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown |
| Main contractor | A.T. Brine and Company |
| Type | State Registered Place |
| Designated | 1 December 1995 |
| Reference no. | 2002 |
The Gledden Building is a cool Art Deco office building in Perth, Western Australia. It's known for its unique style and history. The building stands on land that was given to the University of Western Australia by a surveyor named Robert Gledden. This gift helped make the building possible.
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About the Gledden Building
The Gledden Building is located right in the heart of Perth's city centre. You can find it on the corner of William Street and Hay Street. This corner is special because it has three historic buildings. The other two are the Walsh's Building and the Wesley Church. The Gledden Building is also surrounded by other interesting Art Deco buildings.
The land where the building now stands has a long history. It was first owned by William Leeder way back in 1833. Over time, the land was divided and sold. Eventually, the part that Robert Gledden owned became property of the University of Western Australia in 1927.
Building Design and Construction
In 1936, the University of Western Australia decided to build something new on this site. They held a competition to find the best design and builder. A company called A.T. Brine and Company won the job. They built the Gledden Building for £36,845, which was a good price at the time.
Art Deco Architecture
The Gledden Building is a great example of Art Deco style. Art Deco was a popular design style in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses geometric shapes, bold lines, and often has a fancy, modern look.
Architect Harold Boas was a big part of the building's design. He suggested an office tower with shops on the first two floors. Boas was inspired by the tall skyscrapers he saw in cities like New York City and Chicago in America. He wanted the Gledden Building to have a similar impressive, vertical look.
Special Art Details: Friezes
While the building was being built, a competition was held for artists. They were asked to design special decorations called friezes for the ground floor shops. A frieze is a long, narrow panel of art. These friezes had to show plants and animals from Western Australia.
Three artists won the competition: George Benson, Clem Kennedy, and William G. Bennett. Their beautiful artworks were added to the building. You can still see these unique friezes today!
How it was Built
Construction of the Gledden Building started in March 1937. It was finished just over a year later, in May 1938.
Building Materials
The builders used reinforced concrete for the Gledden Building. This was a very modern way to build at the time. Reinforced concrete is concrete with steel bars inside it, making it extra strong. The Gledden Building was one of the largest buildings in Perth to use this technique back then.
Original Features
When it first opened, the Gledden Building had many cool features. It had shops on two levels and a restaurant in the basement. There was even an observation tower where people could enjoy views of the city! Today, the second level of shops, the basement restaurant, and the observation tower are not open to the public anymore.
What it's Used for Today
The Gledden Building is still a busy place. The shops on the ground floor are still open for business. Many offices on the upper floors are also still used. The basement now has some shops and is also used for storage.
Gledden Building in Art
The building has even inspired artists! Architect John Oldham, who helped design the building, painted a beautiful watercolour of it. His painting imagined the Gledden Building as part of a New York-style city scene.
A Protected Landmark
The Gledden Building is considered a very important historic place. It's one of the only tall Art Deco office buildings from its time left in Perth. Because of its special history and design, it is listed on several heritage lists. This helps protect it for future generations to enjoy.
