Although Walter and Marion Griffin were prodigious designers, only 15 of their domestic houses were constructed.The Fishwick was built in 1929. It was not a good economic period.
The client was Thomas W Fishwick, a representative of John Fowler & Co of Leeds. Built on a wedge-shaped block in The Citadel, it presents a forbidding narrow façade to the street, but has panoramic views to The Spit. Each of the Griffin houses is instantly recognisable, with their flat roofs and natural rock construction.
I will try to set up a page for a map of Castlecrag to orient readers. Wish me luck ... |
11 comments:
Fantastic! That cycad like plant is amazing!
The one in the first image, Jose, is a Bird's Nest Fern showing off its spores on the leaf-underneath.
I like interesting architecture like this.
Fascinating Julie. I also like to see architecture like this.
Eventually, I hope to show all 15 houses built from designs from Walter and Marion Griffin. I have a few to capture yet, but know where they all are.
These places all seem a bit forbidding to me ... In comparison to the open airiness of Canberra. It is hard to see the same architects in the work.
I wonder if this guy is connected with the suburb of Fyshwick in Canberra. Though the spelling is different it seem such an unusual name.
The Griffins were landscape architects, Joan. They built in Canberra what suited on light and airey lands sloping down to a river.
Castlecrag is a prominent outcrop of rocks, mostly sandstone, but also granite, that has been eroded and gullied over time. i have not seen images of the internals of ANY of these houses yet, but am still looking. From descriptions, though, they are large and airey and blend with their environment.
fabulous integration into the setting.
I love the use of rock and plants — gives a house the appearance of having grown there.
K
Interesting how he tried to blend into the environment. Quite ahead of his time.
The Fishwick house is not called the #1 house. That honour belongs to the first of the two Griffin houses, opposite the school. The Fishwick house was built later in 1929.
Post a Comment