Total House facts for kids
Total House is a cool building on Russell Street in Melbourne, Australia. It's a big commercial building that has seven floors just for parking cars, and then four more floors above that for offices. There's also a basement level.
Built in 1965, Total House is one of the very first examples of a special building style called Brutalist architecture in Victoria.
It was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2014, which means it's an important building that needs to be protected because of its history and design.
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What is Total House?
Total House is a large building in the heart of Melbourne. It's used for businesses and has a unique design. Imagine a building with many levels for different purposes! The lower floors are mostly used for parking, which is super handy in a busy city. Above the parking, there are several floors where different companies have their offices.
A Look at Brutalist Style
Total House is famous for its Brutalist architecture. This style of building became popular in the mid-20th century. Brutalist buildings often look strong and solid, using lots of raw concrete. They focus on showing off the building's structure and materials, rather than hiding them with decorations. It's a bold and powerful look!
A Building with History
Total House has a long and interesting past, especially its basement. This underground area has changed its purpose many times over the years. It started as a fancy place for entertainment and has become a popular spot for live music today.
From Theatre to Music Venue
The basement of Total House was once home to a fun theatre restaurant and nightclub called the Lido. People would go there to eat, watch shows, and dance. Later, in the 1970s, it became a large theatre called the Total Theatre. It could hold 600 people and hosted many plays, including the first Australian show of Guys and Dolls. Today, this same basement is a major live-music venue. It's now called 170 Russell, but it used to be known as Billboard. It can fit up to 900 people, making it a popular place for concerts and events.
Why is Total House Special?
Total House is special because it's one of the first buildings in Victoria to show off the Brutalist style. Because of its unique design and history, it was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2014. This means it's recognized as an important part of Victoria's history and architecture, and efforts are made to preserve it for future generations.
Where is Total House?
Total House is located right in the city of Melbourne. You can find it on Russell Street, a well-known street in the city. Its exact location can be found using coordinates like these: .
