History Theory III

Assignment III

Yuhan Chen
a1658491
Content

Introduction

1. Ryssekk Ellis

1.1 Early works

1.2 Residential projects

1.3 Non-residential buildings

1.4 Summary

2. Jack Danyer Cheesman

2.1 Brief introduce

2.2 Residential projects

2.3 Commercial projects

2.4 Other projects

2.5 Summary

3. Comparison and Modern Architect Movement

4. Influence to South Australia establishment

Conclusion
Adelaide had a number local architects who could be considered as ‘pioneers’ of
modern architecture in this state. Select and compare two of these architects and
explain how their work and careers reflected broader developments and critiques
in the modern architectural movement over the course of the 20th century, and
how these forms and ideas were received by the South Australian establishment.

Introduction

In the 20th century, due to the industrial revolution, Europe began to promote the
modernist architecture movement, with the outbreak of World War II, Modernist
architecture began to spread to the rest of the world which including Australia. Thus,
at that time, Australia began to appear some pioneer modernist architect, and some
of them are local of Adelaide, for example, Jack Danyer Chessman and Russell Stuart
Ellis.

1. Russell Ellis

1.1 Early works

Russell Ellis was born in 1912 and he was one of the pioneer modernist architect in
Adelaide who did both domestic and commercial works and has been described as
residential design ‘in the true International Style’’ (Raina 2007). He began to design
in the international modern style in the late 1930s. In 1937, he designed a house in
the south-east of Adelaide for his sister - Sauerbier, then he helped his sister’s friend
Hardy designed a residence in the international style which use brickwork in pink
color and the roofs are flat, this house is at
Netheby and built in 1938. In 1942, he designed a
two-storey dwelling for himself at Brookside
Avenue, he advocated in his articles that this
residence is featured the functional planning,
however, unfortunately, it is now be demolished.
After the World War II, between 1945 and 1946,
Ellis explained the way he designing the ideal
Ellis Residence, The Australian Home Beautiful, September 1948, p28

modern type of home to the public through a series of articles, he titled the articles
“Thoughts in Planning the immediate post-war house” and published on magazine. In
the article, he talked about the design of homes, the philosophy behind the designs
he did and promoted the use of large windows which can make a converse between
inside and outside of the building(Cheshire 1987). Ellis in the artical aims the design
of the principle of the ideal home: ‘The general approach in designing any home
should be the simple massing together of planned necessities to form an harmonious
whole. With simplicity and clarity of thought it should provide a home to suit one ’ s
needs only (with always an eye to the future) and not the acquisition of a life-long
burden’. (Ellis 1945). The opinion in his the articles showed his outlook was decidedly
modern (Bird 2007).
1.2 Residential Projects
From 1947 to 1953, Ellis designed a residence in Meadowvale Road for his friend
Charles Wright which became an important early local case of modernism building.
The house designed in Modern
style, and it is use cubic forms
combine with intersecting
planes. The wall of the house is
in white to underline the
massing of elements, the roof
is flat and be hidden behind the
parapet walls. To modulates
the front elevation the grid is
using the ‘egg-crate’ wall as the
structure to makes deep
Stuart Calvert. Residence- Spring field 2012, p1
shadowing. The Wright
residence divided the living area and the sleeping area by following the feature of
functional planning. And the different functional rooms are be separated by a large
hall, People also can entry the building by this hall which is very convenient (Rowney
2007). The Wright house can be survived in a largely original situation until now
could because the design of the residence can reflect the relationship between Ellis
and Wright, both of them have a similar belief in the ideals of modern living, and the
residence reflects the philosophy of both of them. They use several years to built the
house in three stages and make sure the additions are seamless in execution
(Australia Institute of Architects 2012).

1.3 Non-residential buildings

He was designed many non-residential buildings by using his Modern design ideas as
well. He worked on the Biochemistry laboratory building at the University of
Adelaide in 1945. Then in 1947, he and his partner Milne, Dawkins and Boehm
started to design the factories, showrooms and theaters in South Australia. For
example, in 1954 they designed the factory for Regina Appliances in Edwardstown, in
1958 they designed for Nobby’s Peanut Product in Bowden and Hindmarsh and in
1966 designed for Commercial Motor Vehicles Salvage Pty. Ltd. In 1958, Ellis
designed many religious buildings, such as the Daughters of Charity on Hutt Street in
1960, Seacliff Presbyterian Church in 1962 and St Christopher’s Anglican church at
Kilburn in 1962. Also, in the 1960s, he designed a series of projects for the Modern
Homes Planning Service which included the residence for Hugh Pozza at Glenelg
North and Mecham construction flat at Seacombe Gardens, these houses were with
solid brick functional planning and pitched roofs and be termed ‘conventional’. .
Most of his later designs use brick, field-stone, and sandstone as main materials Bird
2007).

1.4 Summary
It is clear that Ellis was one of the early architects in Adelaide designed in the
Modern style, he was focused and considered on functionality, orientation, roof line,
siting, landscape setting, selection of materials, techniques, color furnishings,
interior decoration, and solar control of the designs he did (Bird 2007). And he put
his philosophies of the new type of design into the work successfully which achieved
a well designed and functional homes for the clients . Ellis is important to the
Modern Architecture movement in Adelaide. This Helped Adelaide to improve the
design of the layout of the home in the future years. (Raina 1998).

2. Jack Danyer Chessman

2.1 Brief introduce

Another people who are remembered as a pioneer modernist architect in Adelaide is
Jack Danyer Chessman who born in 1905. In 1931 he went to Europe six months to
study, where he start to sketch and learn the Modern style. (Page, 1986). After the
six months of study, he returned to Adelaide and designed the Ridley Memorial
Entrance for Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society at Wayville showground
with Lawson as the partner, he designed a shell concrete structure which is the type
he learned in Europe. Chessman did the modern style in different kinds of buildings
since then which include residential, commercial, factory, education, church and etc.

2.2 Residential projects

First residential worked by Cheesman is a two-storey dwelling at Goodwood Road
and a block of flats at Millwood which displaying the new style in 1936. Before he
designed these buildings he also advocated the style of these buildings in his articles,
indicating that the modern style is functional, straightforward. This type of building
can expression the plan in a more truthful way (Cheesman, 1932). In 1935 he
designed the a residence on Herbert Street for Tostevin which is an good example of
the early modern type domestic architecture (LLSAM,1935). In 1940, he designed a
flat roof seaside residence which is also in modern type and it also have open living
area (Advertiser, 1940). In 1949, he designed his own house at Port Noarlunga which
can use the natural element to adjust the room temperature (Memo, 1994).

2.3 Commercial projects

Cheesman also did some commercial buildings which include an

office block for Adelaide Steamship Company at McLaren Parade
in 1934 and an office building for Co-operative Insurance
Company of Australia in Bentham Street in the same year. After
that, in 1935, he transfered the existing building of Thomas H.
Webb Ltd in Waymouth Street to the modern style which by
using glass blocks of the wall. In 1959, he assisted to design the
MLC building at Victoria Square with Bate and McCutcheon, this
Thomas H. Webb Limited, 1950

building was constructed by using cream colored off-from

concrete with fire-proofing of the steel firework and fibrous
plaster. The construction of the MLC building challenged and
changed the existing building regulations in Adelaide because it
was the first building by using full curtain wall construction and
very refined steel frame structure and was the first skyscraper
Baytram, Flickr, 2016

built in Adelaide after World War II(Ashlee, 2016).

2.4 Other projects
Cheesman went to Northern Territory during the World War II and back to Adelaide
in 1945. After he went back, he started to work on factors at first which include
factory for H. H. Tandy confectionary, and for Pope Product. Then he started to built
the educational building in modern style such as the hall of residence for Flinders
University, Library building, Physics Annexe building, the Napier Building, Medical
Science block, Engineering building and Ligertwood Law building for the University of
Adelaide.

2.5 Summary
As stated above, there is no doubt that Cheesman influence on the profession was
extensive, his son who is also become an architect describe him as ‘he painted, he
drew, he analysed and rationalised and designed and achieved with influence’
(Memo Vale 1994). In his design, he was trying to use new materials and
construction with new outward appearance. This may because that he was
influenced by the Pencil Points journal a lot in his ideas about architecture. Also he
was studying Beaux-Art Institute of Design when he study in United States before he
went to Europe and this training of the Beaux-Art impact the building in Adelaide in a
good way because of him(Collins , 2006).

3. Comparison and Modern Architect Movement

In 1900s Adelaide, the use of new materials and technology coincide with the ideas
about what is meant to be modern. While the building should be functional and it
also needed to be by emotional, social sense and spiritual. The movement of the
Modern Architect in Australia can be generally divided into five stages. The first is
from 1901 to 1913, ‘attempts at cultural redefinition’ when people start to think
about what kind of building is suitable for Australia at that moment. Then is ‘the rise
of domestic architecture’ from 1913 to 1927 when people start to think about how
to use new material, construction and aesthetic to build the house more convenient.
Next step is ‘internalization’ from 1927 to 1934 when people start to represent and
disseminate the new style of house to the public. Then, from 1934 to 1947, ‘Reaction
and resolve’ when people fix the problem while they practice. Then the final stage
is ’Maturity’ at Mid-Century (Johnson, Donald, 2002). To compare Ellis and
Cheesman, both of them are trying to introduce the Modern Style to the
architectural of Adelaide by using new strategy and new thinking while they were
designing. They were designed many Modern Style buildings since they advocate this
new type in their articles both trying to make the new type of house more functional,
more humanize by using new material, construction and aesthetic, simplify the
building to make it more suitable for Adelaide in the 1900s.

4. Influence to South Australia establishment.

The mid-century modern architectural is generally about closer to home, and it was
an exciting experience that architects start to reject the old type of buildings and
trying to built with new materials and forms which can adapt the new ways of
living(Alistair, 2011). There are some element of modern type of building in 20th
century which can be found and influence 21st century, such as to adjust the room
temperature by using the natural elements, use the floor to ceiling windows, open
plan living area and interrupted indoor and outdoor area to bring the outside in,
simplify the design of the building(lack of decorative such as iron lacework which
used a lot in Victorian period) and consider not just the building itself but also the
surrounding environment.

Conclusion
In 1990s, the architects in Australia start the modern architectural movement, and
there are many architects who are remembered as pioneer modernist architect start
to active in that time period, Adelaide. Ellis was on of them, he designed new type of
building since 1930 and built many modern type building during his life, he was focus
on how to make the architectural more functional to adapt the new Australia life
style. Cheesman was anther pioneer modernist architect who make a lot of
contribution for the movement in Adelaide while he was more focus on how to use
new material and new construction to make the building more suitable for that time
period. Both of these architects reflected the Modern Architect movement in 20th
century and they also the people who promote the development of this movement.
Although, because of a lot of people can not found the importance of the modern
type building, many of the modern type building built in that time period has been
demolished, it still influence the South Australia establishment in many different
aspects.
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