FLATS FOR MELBOURNE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 8

FLATS FOR MELBOURNE

BUT GARDEN ONES BEAUTIFUL BLOCKS MELBOURNE, Dec. 21. Melbourne’s fair- name as a. city of homes is being seriously threatened by the onslaughts of fiat builders. A few roars ago fiats were almost unknown here; now they are being built by the dozen in the city and suburbs. A strong prejudice against fiats and flat life is gradually boing overcome due chiefly to • lie skill ana taste of Melbourne’s architects. Opponents of flats—peoplo who lived in homes with gardens—pointed to Sydney’s largo office-like flat buildings as a first-class example of the flat menace. Their objections to these large piles of concrete, with lifts and offices, havo had at least one good effect, for Melbourne’s flats are being built to look as little like flats as possible. One of the principal objections to living in a flat was the lack of garden setting, and the lack of privacy in buildings packed closely together. This objection, however, now has no force, because 90 per cent, of Melbourne’s flats are set in pretty gardens. The garden idea is being carried to almost extravagant lengths; At the present time a Tudor village in miniature is being built around a lawn as the equivalent of the village green, in South Terra. In the centre of the green the architects have planned a fountain, while rustic seats will be scattered about. The design is made possible by the spacious allotment on which the flats are being built. L’hii flats themselves will comprise sixroomed maisonettes, with servants’ quarters. WELL CONCEALED FLATS There are many beautiful blocks of fiats in Toorak, which was, of course, the very stronghold of home life. But these flats havo been so well concealed, as such, that it is often difficult to separate a flat from a private home. A feature of the designs in this suburb is the beautiful coloring given to the outside brickwork—cream, blue, pink, and green predominating. Many of these flats are •quipped with every modern convenience, such as telephones, hot-water services, ;td built-in furniture. And the gardens arc delightful. It is Said that the Centenary is responsible for the present flat boom. Hundreds of visitors are expected in Melbourne at the end of next year, and early in 1935 for the celebrations, and speculators in building are depending upon this influx to help to recoup them for’their outlay. Visitors, therefore, who are unable to obtain hotel or guest-house accommodation, should be able to find an attractive flat, at a moderate price, flic Centenary Council has already let it be known that no profiteering will be countenanced at the expense of visitors, and a special committee has been appointed to make certain of this.