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https://theconversation.com/melbournes-capitol-theatre-turns-100-a-look-back-at-the-radical-modernist-marvel-that-almost-met-an-early-end-242776>
"Melbourne’s Capitol Theatre – and the reinforced concrete and steel-beamed
building around it – turns 100 today.
The spectacular modern architecture, which was refurbished some years ago by
RMIT, was designed by US architect Walter Burley Griffin and his partner Marion
Mahony Griffin. It opened on November 7 1924 as a grand “picture palace” and is
still used today to host a variety of screenings and live performances.
The Capitol was once described by renowned Australian architect Robin Boyd
(1919–71) as “the best cinema that has ever been built or is ever likely to be
built”. Ross Thorne, one of Australia’s most prominent historians of theatre
architecture, has called it “a howling gale of modernity”.
It’s startling to think so many of Modernism’s radical monuments are nearing or
past 100 years old. In Australia, Walter and Marion Griffin were chief drivers
of the movement. Apart from the Capitol, they gave us the design of Canberra,
Melbourne’s Newman College and the Fishwick House in Castlecrag, New South
Wales, to name a few.
While The Capitol continues to have international claim today, its journey
hasn’t been without hurdles."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
