St Paul's Anglican Church Documentation by TIFFANY NATASHA SANTOSO

St Paul’s Anglican Church East Kew

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Contents

Assignment 2 Documentation Done by:

Group 12 Victor Eric Goh (537486) Tiffany Natasha Santoso (551502) Dianna Yong Pei Chen (551485)

ABPL - 90020 Measured Drawings & Digital Heritage University of Melbourne

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History of Church

Research and writing done by T

2 : Appendix Field Notes

done by all members, divided equally

360 Virtual Tour Photos

done by D

3 : Cad Drawings A1 - Site Plan done by D A2 - Ground Floor Plan done by V A3 - Reflected Ceiling Plan done by D A4.1 - North & East Elevation done by V A4.2 - South & West Elevation done by D A5 - Section A-A & Section B-B done by V A6.1 - Details 1 done by D A6.2 - Details 2 done by V

Watercolour Sketches Interior done by T Exterior done by D

Book layout done by all members Photographs by T D - Diana Yong Pei Chen V - Victor Eric Goh T - Tiffany Natasha Santoso

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1 History of Church

After the World War II (1939-1945), the Australian government was dedicated in carrying out an ambitious immigration program that aimed to reduce labour shortages, create prosperity, as well as protecting Australia from external threat by rapidly populating Australia1. The period of late 1950s to early 1960s marked the start of modernism in Australian Architecture where the realms of architecture, sculpture, photography and fine art became more accepted and celebrated by the public. Modern Australian architecture is very much influenced by the “spasmodic cultural transformation” caused by the creative inter-cultural exchanges between multiple artistic disciplines2. Australian modernist architects took inspirations from the modernist movements, such as the Bauhaus, abstract expressionism and the French symbolism3. In conjunction to this, Modern Australian architecture also explored new materials and building technology. Steel and glass became popular as it presented possibilities to introduce space and light into a volume. These new possibilities challenged the boundary line between interior and exterior spaces4. Prefabricated materials such as steel columns, bricks, stones, glass and precast concrete units were also introduced and became a key construction materials of this post-war architecture5. “The changing face of modern Australia – 1950s to 1970s”, Australian Government Website, last modified May 12 2009, from http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/modernism 2 “Moderism”, Australian Government Website, last modified May 12 2009, from http://www.australia.gov. au/about-australia/australian-story/modernism 3 “Moderism”, Australian Government Website, last modified May 12 2009, from http://www.australia.gov. au/about-australia/australian-story/modernism 4 “Modern Australian Architecture”, Australian Government Website, last modified January 10 2008, from http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/modern-austn-architecture 5 The University of Melbourne Department of Architecture, “Cross-Section 1960”, Cross-Section Issue No. 87 (1960) 1

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St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Windella Avenue, East Kew was the only church project built by a local Kew Architect, Anthony Bunbury, in 1961. Anthony Bunbury was known for his partnership with an experienced architect James Earle,who invited him to establish a firm together called Earle & Bunbury. Both Bunbury and Earle were architecture graduates from the University of Melbourne, and first met when they both took a town-planning subject. Their partnership was brief but prolific, producing a number of private houses, commercial buildings and churches. Bunbury worked with Earle from 1954 before commencing as a private architect of the Arthur Bunbury and Associates in early 1960s. (Refer to list of works attached.) Modern materials and liturgical design became the new style for churches in Victoria and were typical during the 1950 – 1960s period6. The design features for St Paul’s Anglican Church follows the typical style of church buildings in this period. The Church also uses a considerable amount of steel in its structure and furniture. For instance, steel is used for columns, in window frames, decorative rods at the altar, and the light rods suspended from the ceiling. Like most of Victorian churches during this period, this church possesses modern characteristics that can be associated to the Bauhaus design principles. It shuns ornaments, as it believes in using the natural materials itself as an ornamental feature7. The church is composed of different materials such as stones, timber, glass and steel. Moreover, it favours the functionalism of its geometries, by celebrating strict lines and regular rhythm8. The small-scaled

Fig. 1-2 Exterior and interior shot of the church

The University of Melbourne Department of Architecture, “Cross-Section 1960”, Cross-Section Issue No. 87 (1960) 7 “A Bauhaus Façade Study”, Laurian Ghinitoiu, Archdaily, last modified May 21 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/633532/a-bauhaus-facade-study-by-laurian-ghinitoiu/ 8 “A Bauhaus Façade Study”, Laurian Ghinitoiu, Archdaily, last modified May 21 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/633532/a-bauhaus-facade-study-by-laurian-ghinitoiu/ 6

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The small-scaled hexagonal shape was chosen so that the church can be viewed from all three directions, regardless of which direction one is approaching the church from. Additionally, the hexagonal shape creates an intimate internal arrangement of congregation, choir, and sanctuary. Thus, creating a feeling of unified worshippers9. The Church also plays around with the idea of shadows and light by incorporating generous amounts of glazing10. As shadows and lights are inconsistent throughout the day and year, the amount of light and shadows casted on the interior alters accordingly. In the Sanctuary, clerestory windows are spanned across all six sides of the hexagon shaped building allowing natural light to fill the internal volume. The result of using glass allows the architecture of the Church to introduce a unique design feature by using lights and shadow to create an intimate scared atmosphere.

St. Paul’s Anglican Church has unique architectural details and architectural language that are consistent with other buildings designed by Earle & Bunbury. The church has a modern contemporary design with a geometric plan. One of the key things that distinguish the modern churches from older ones is the amount of glazing incorporated into the design, which reflected the amount of natural light that fills the space. The use of modern materials, such as stone bricks, timber, glass, and steel, characterizes some of the unique architectural details of this church by celebrating their properties. For instance, the use of glass and steel columns create a “floating roof” design on top of the clerestory windows, functional windows that are not ornamented, and the minimalistic use of signage by displaying huge wooden crosses on the interior and exterior of the church.

The architect, Anthony Bunbury, followed the modern trend in church architecture during this period instead of the outdated Gothic style, as the cost of materials for Gothic style churches are exorbitant. By doing so, it allowed the Church to reduce cost by sourcing for local, prefabricated and available materials, to create a functional and comfortable church and to achieve intimacy through materials, natural light and scale11. Fig. 3-4 The altar view and the exterior view of the church both feature simple huge wooden crosses

Elliot, Frank, Caring, sharing, achieving: a historical review of St Paul’s Anglican Church (East Kew: St Paul Anglican Church, 1996), 49 10 “A Bauhaus Façade Study”, Laurian Ghinitoiu, Archdaily, last modified May 21 2015, from http://www.archdaily.com/633532/a-bauhaus-facade-study-by-laurian-ghinitoiu/ 11 Elliot, Frank, Caring, sharing, achieving: a historical review of St Paul’s Anglican Church (East Kew: St Paul Anglican Church, 1996), 48-49 9

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There are several church buildings by Earle & Bunbury that have a similar architectural language as St. Paul Anglican Church, East Kew. All of their churches are minimalistic and geometrical in terms of design. In can be assumes that these earlier churches have an influence Bunbury’s personal architectural style. Based on photo observations of the Church of Transfiguration, several elements were identified as the similar to St. Paul Anglican Church. There is a uniformity in terms of using timber panels for ceiling finishings, steel columns and the bold amount of glass. Again, the design embraces modern materials that are typical during the post-war period. From comparison, the demolished Methodist Church by Earle and Bunbury looks the most similar to St. Paul’s Anglican Church. From analysing the photo, the Methodist church also celebrates the “floating roof” design to bring in natural light into the volume. The timber panels used as the ceiling finishing juxtaposed the lightness effect of the steel window framing and the glass. The natural light brought in through the clerestory windows created a sacred ambience that fosters a presence of awe – God’s presence. In addition, other similarities include the use of bricks/stones, the simple display of huge wooden cross inside and outside of the church, slanted roof and monochromatic palette that comes naturally from the materials itself. According to Built Heritage, Methodist church also uses customized furniture12. Another church with similar architectural language by Earle and Bunbury is the St. Andrews Anglican Church. Based on obersvations made from the photo, the church has the similar architectural language of the slanted roof, the generous amount of glass and the minimalistic cross that is being featured inside and outside the building.

Fig. 5 Church of Transfiguration (Source: Built Heritage)

Fig. 6-7 Methodist Church (Source: Built Heritage)

Fig. 8 St Andrews Anglican Church (Source: Cross Section) St Paul’s Anglican Church Report l 7

Their house project, Residence for WC Abbey, also has similar architectural language such as the geometric plan, steel columns and the use of stone bricks. The pattern of the stone bricks in this house is similar to those of St Paul’s. Above all, one key architectural language that is present in all of their buildings is the uniformity of large span of glazing that is not ornamented, but celebrate the simple nature of the material and it’s functionality. Fig. 9-10 Interior and exterior of WC Abbey (Source: Real Estate AU

Most of the furniture in St. Paul’s Anglican Church are original one-off designs. Few existing pieces of furniture from the previous church building were brought to the new building and are displayed as ‘memorials’. A silver plate is attached to each of these pieces to commemorate the donators and who it was dedicated for13. These furniture are displayed around the walls of the church. The memorial plaques were set into the stone bricks on site whereas the memorial flags were bolted to the wall supported by metal brackets. The pews are designed and customised in various lengths, and carefully positioned in line to the Altar and the church’s hexagonal plan. The holy water container is made up of a mixture of stone and cement that was built on the ground of the church. The cross, vicar’s chair, the altar balustrade and the speech podium are made out of timber and designed to interlock into one another to fit the altar perfectly. The beautiful altar frontals are made by Miss Jean Woodman, which are being retained from the old church building and altered to fit the new altar14. The new emblem for St Paul’s, East Kew was designed by Mr. Lance Stirling, a well-known Melbourne artist and designer and an Anglican himself15. His works have been featured in overseas magazine, “Graphis”, and was admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Australian Graphic Design Association. The new Emblem is in a form of a plaque bolted on the stones of the external east wall, facing Windella Avenue. St Paul’s Anglican Church Report l 8

Fig. 11-15 (left to right) Memorials stones from London, St. Paul’s memorial flags, designed pew

Fig. 16-19 (left to right): Designed hanging lights, junction between podium, cross and vicar’s chair and ballustrad, top detail of the altar steel rods, designed podium

Fig. 20-22 Designed built in shelf for St. Paul’s historical books, altar frontals, holy water storage

St. Paul Anglican Church has appeared in a number of architectural publications. To name a few, The Australian News and Information Bureau took pictures of the interior and exterior for overseas publications16. The University of Melbourne also requested pictures of the church for the university’s Department of Architecture’s publication, the Cross-Section Magazine17. Furthermore, there are informative articles about St. Paul Anglican Church as well as some of Earle and Bunbury’s works that are featured in Built Heritage’s website. Built Heritage is a firm of a heritage consultants, architectural historians and heritage advisors that are based in Melbourne, Victoria18. They provide a range of professional heritage services to local and state government bodies, community groups, institution and property owners19. Although the firm provides professional heritage services across all periods, from the earliest European settlement to the present time, they specialize in twentieth century heritage and predominantly architecture that have associations with the postWorld War II period20.

“Dictionary of Unsung Architects – R A C Curtis”, Built Heritage PTY LTD, from http:// www.builtheritage.com.au/dua_curtis.html 13 St Paul’s Messenger, “Memorials in new church”, St Paul’s Messenger VOL XXI. No 160 (1960) 14 St Paul’s Messenger, “Memorials in new church”, St Paul’s Messenger VOL XXI. No 160 (1960) 15 Elliot, Frank, Caring, sharing, achieving: a historical review of St Paul’s Anglican Church (East Kew: St Paul Anglican Church, 1996), 52 16 Elliot, Frank, Caring, sharing, achieving: a historical review of St Paul’s Anglican Church (East Kew: St Paul Anglican Church, 1996), 53 17 Elliot, Frank, Caring, sharing, achieving: a historical review of St Paul’s Anglican Church (East Kew: St Paul Anglican Church, 1996), 53 18 “About”, Built Heritage PTY LTD, from http://www.builtheritage.com.au/about.html 19 “About”, Built Heritage PTY LTD, from http://www.builtheritage.com.au/about.html 20 “About”, Built Heritage PTY LTD, from http://www.builtheritage.com.au/about.html 12

Fig. 23 View towards main entrance St Paul’s Anglican Church Report l 9

From further research, it can be concluded that Churches built during the post-war period to the late 20th century in Victoria are less ornamented, minimalistic, geometrical and built using new materials and technology. The use of steel, cement, reinforced concrete, glass and prefabricated bricks as cheaper options become widely used in Australian construction. This idea of new materials and technology resulted to many modern Australian buildings to shift its focus to extroverted forms through the use of structural technology, instead of highly decorative style of architecture. Furthermore, during the period of great change that resulted in the high influx of European immigrants entering Australia, European modernists inspire many Victorian modern buildings.

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Fieldnotes

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