Gledden Building
Encyclopedia
The Gledden Building is an Art Deco
office building in Perth, Western Australia
. The building was constructed on land that had been bequested to the University of Western Australia
by surveyor Robert Gledden
.
and Hay Street
in the Perth Central Business District. It is one of three heritage buildings on the corner - the other two being the Walsh's Building
and the Wesley Church
. It is located between two shorter heritage-listed art deco buildings - Devon House and the former P&O Building.
The land on which the building now sits was once part of a lot that extended along William Street
between Hay Street
and St Georges Terrace
. The lot was originally acquired by William Leeder in 1833 but changed hands a number of times and eventually was subdivided. The plot acquired by Robert Gledden became property of the University of Western Australia in 1927.
By September 1936 the UWA Senate had agreed erect a new building on the site and put out tender to build the structure. After an unsuccessful tender process in October 1936 the designs were redrawn and a new tender was called in January 1937. A.T. Brine and Company was the successful tenderer with a price of ₤36,845, under the forecast budget.
was one of the key proponents of building on the site. In late 1935 Boas presented a proposal to the UWA board for an office tower with a two-level retail arcade. Boas' design was inspired by the vertical emphasis employed in many American skyscrapers of the day especially in New York
and Chicago
- most notably the Barclay-Vesey Building
and the Chicago Tribune Tower.
s for the ground level retail arcade. The competition called for friezes to include motifs representative of Western Australian flora and fauna. Western Australian artists George Benson, Clem Kennedy and William G. Bennett
were the three winners of the competition and their works were included in the final construction. The friezes remain in place.
depicting the building set in a New York-style cityscape.
was used in construction of the building. This was the largest scale building in Perth to use this technique to that date.
depicting the building set in a New York-style cityscape.
in 1998 and classified by the National Trust of Australia
in 1989.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
office building in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. The building was constructed on land that had been bequested to the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
by surveyor Robert Gledden
Robert Gledden
Robert John Gledden was an English-born Australian surveyor and public benefactor.Gledden was born at Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland, County Durham, England. As a youth Gledden spent many years in Germany, Finland and other continental countries, and became a good linguist. He moved to Australia...
.
Site and brief
The building is located on the corner of William StreetWilliam Street, Perth
William Street is a suburban distributor and one of two major cross-streets in Perth, Western Australia.Commencing in western Mount Lawley it also crosses the Perth to Fremantle railway at the Horseshoe Bridge....
and Hay Street
Hay Street, Perth
Hay Street is a major road through the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was named after Robert William Hay, the Permanent Under Secretary for Colonies. Sections of the road were called Howick Street and Twiss Street until 1897...
in the Perth Central Business District. It is one of three heritage buildings on the corner - the other two being the Walsh's Building
Walsh's Building
Walsh's Building formerly known as the Economic Store Building is a building in Perth, Western Australia. It was designed by Talbot Hobbs.-Site:...
and the Wesley Church
Wesley Church, Perth
Wesley Church is at 75 William Street at its intersection with Hay Street in Perth, Western Australia. It is one of the oldest church buildings and one of few remaining 19th-century colonial buildings in the City of Perth.-Built form:...
. It is located between two shorter heritage-listed art deco buildings - Devon House and the former P&O Building.
The land on which the building now sits was once part of a lot that extended along William Street
William Street, Perth
William Street is a suburban distributor and one of two major cross-streets in Perth, Western Australia.Commencing in western Mount Lawley it also crosses the Perth to Fremantle railway at the Horseshoe Bridge....
between Hay Street
Hay Street, Perth
Hay Street is a major road through the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was named after Robert William Hay, the Permanent Under Secretary for Colonies. Sections of the road were called Howick Street and Twiss Street until 1897...
and St Georges Terrace
St Georges Terrace, Perth
St Georges Terrace is the main street in the city of Perth, Western Australia. It runs parallel to the Swan River and forms the major arterial road through the central business district....
. The lot was originally acquired by William Leeder in 1833 but changed hands a number of times and eventually was subdivided. The plot acquired by Robert Gledden became property of the University of Western Australia in 1927.
By September 1936 the UWA Senate had agreed erect a new building on the site and put out tender to build the structure. After an unsuccessful tender process in October 1936 the designs were redrawn and a new tender was called in January 1937. A.T. Brine and Company was the successful tenderer with a price of ₤36,845, under the forecast budget.
Architecture
Architect and town planner Harold BoasHarold Boas
Harold Boas was a town planner and architect in Western Australia. Boas designed many public buildings in and around Perth and was an influential Jewish community leader....
was one of the key proponents of building on the site. In late 1935 Boas presented a proposal to the UWA board for an office tower with a two-level retail arcade. Boas' design was inspired by the vertical emphasis employed in many American skyscrapers of the day especially in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
- most notably the Barclay-Vesey Building
Verizon Building
The Verizon Building is a 32-story Art Deco building in New York City, located in Lower Manhattan. It is named for Verizon Communications, for which it is the headquarters. The building is located at 140 West Street, adjacent to the World Trade Center site and 7 World Trade Center, and is bounded...
and the Chicago Tribune Tower.
Friezes
In September 1937, while the building was still under construction, the University held a competition to design friezeFrieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
s for the ground level retail arcade. The competition called for friezes to include motifs representative of Western Australian flora and fauna. Western Australian artists George Benson, Clem Kennedy and William G. Bennett
William G. Bennett
William Garnsworthy Bennett was a Western Australian architect, well known for his Art Deco and Inter-War Functionalist style of civic, commercial and domestic buildings, including the Lord Forrest Olympic Pool in Kalgoorlie, the Beverley Town Hall, the Raffles Hotel and Plaza Theatre and Arcade...
were the three winners of the competition and their works were included in the final construction. The friezes remain in place.
Watercolour
The Gledden Building inspired architect and artist John Oldham to paint a watercolourWatercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
depicting the building set in a New York-style cityscape.
Construction materials
Reinforced concreteReinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
was used in construction of the building. This was the largest scale building in Perth to use this technique to that date.
Features
At construction the building featured a two-level retail arcade, a basement restaurant, an observation tower as well as several levels of office space. The second level of the retail arcade, the basement restaurant and the observation tower are no longer open to public access.Current use
The ground level retail arcade is still in use and several office levels are still occupied. The basement is now used in part as retail space as well as for storage.In art
The Gledden Building inspired architect and artist John Oldham to paint a watercolourWatercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
depicting the building set in a New York-style cityscape.
Heritage status
The Gledden Building is listed on a number of heritage lists due to its status as the only inter-war art deco high-rise office building remaining in Perth. The building was listed on the Register of the National EstateRegister of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
in 1998 and classified by the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
in 1989.