Majorca Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Majorca Building |
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The building viewed from Degraves Street.
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| General information | |
| Type | Offices and Apartments |
| Location | Melbourne, Australia |
| Coordinates | 37°48′59″S 144°58′00″E / 37.8164°S 144.9666°E |
| Construction started | 1928 |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Owner | L.R. Reed |
| Height | |
| Roof | 32.1 metres (105 ft) |
| Top floor | 8 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 8 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Harry Norris |
The Majorca Building is a cool eight-story building in Melbourne, Australia. It was built between 1928 and 1930. The building has a special style called neo-Romanesque. This means it looks a bit like old Roman buildings.
You can find the Majorca Building at 258-260 Flinders Lane. A very busy architect named Harry Norris designed it. He was one of the most important architects in Melbourne during the 1920s and 1930s. People say the Majorca Building is one of his best designs. It uses a special kind of shiny tile called faience.
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The Story of the Majorca Building
The Majorca Building was built in a busy part of Melbourne. It is at the end of Flinders Lane where it meets Degraves Street. Flinders Lane was once the center of Melbourne's fashion and clothing industry.
In the 1920s, the value of buildings in this area went up. Many ground floors became clothing stores. The floors above them were used by businesses that sold fabrics and other soft goods. The Majorca Building was first planned to be a place for offices.
What Makes the Design Special?
Architect Harry Norris loved to use American styles in his buildings. He visited the United States and was inspired by the Spanish Colonial Revival style. This style often uses ideas from old Spanish and Moorish buildings.
The Majorca Building has many features that show this Spanish or Moorish influence. You can see blue faience tiles on the outside. There are also decorations shaped like leaves and ropes, painted in gold. Inside, the main entrance area (foyer) has a floor made of terrazzo and inlaid stone.
Experts at Heritage Victoria say the building's Moorish look makes it special. It fits in with other unique buildings built in Melbourne in the late 1920s. The Majorca Building shows how Norris's ideas grew from his earlier works. One example is the Kellow Houses in South Yarra, which was a car showroom finished in 1928.
What is the Building Used For Today?
Today, there is a shop on the ground floor of the Majorca Building. The rest of the building is made up of apartments. People live in these apartments.
Gallery
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The Majorca Building viewed from Flinders Lane.
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The building's street frontage.
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Majorca Building foyer, viewed from the street.
See also
In Spanish: Majorca Building para niños
