village twin cinema

One of my favorite memories of Brisbane is sitting in either the Blue or Purple Rooms of the Village Twin Cinema in New Farm and having the stress of the day wash over me in a spectacular show of light and colour.
The building is on the Queensland Heritage Register, but approval has been given to demolish part of it because it has been declared dangerous and wreckers will soon smash through another of our fond memories.
The Ron G Monsborough designed Village Twin at New Farm opened in late 1970 and was the first twin cinema complex in Queensland. It was a renovation of the Astor Theatre (c1921) and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register for its distinctive late 1960s/early 1970s design. 

The Telegraph described Ron G Monsborough as ‘acknowledged as a leading Australian cinema design architect’ and that the Village Twin ‘is the best example of his outstanding ability in this field.’
The contrast between the sleek design of the foyer and the vivid light and colour in the cinemas intensifies the sense of escapism and fantasy common to cinema design.
The Blue Room is the larger and more ornate of the two cinemas. The most obvious feature is the vaulted ceiling, a plaster moonscape concealing red, blue and green lights.
The Purple Room has a gentle ambience with the ceiling also a significant feature. The ceiling is vaulted with floating, sprayed vermiculite, square panels over concealed purple lighting and translucent purple resin light boxes. Carpet of the same design as the Blue Room but in shades of purple and mauve completes the design.
Next on the agenda for the Village Twin is a new proposal to develop the rear of the site. It has been stated that the proposal would not detract from the 1960/70s design and representatives from the New Farm Historical Society, local community, youth groups and Brisbane City Council would be involved in a focus group to oversee this project.

I would love to hear comments from any of our readers as we say goodbye to this Brisbane icon.

Ian 


ptolomeo...

I know...I know... we have all seen the Ptolomeo vertical bookshelf and book 'wall' before, I just thought that this was a great time of the year to include this reminder.
Everyone I speak to has been deeply involved in organising their lives for the new year and, if you have as many books and magazines as I do, this storage solution is invaluable.
Named after Claudius Ptolemy (c. A.D 87-150), an influential astronomer, the Ptolomeo can turn even your most weathered magazines and books into an extraordinary three-dimensional sculpture.
Ian

bruce reynolds

Bruce Reynolds is one of our favorite local artists. He has created spectacular collage style flooring for Brisbane Arcade gift store 'Sheil' and our favorite eyewear specialist, Optiko, located in Brisbane's Tattersalls Arcade.
Carpets include pieces from Windsor Castle, the Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas, the ill-fated Village Twin Cinemas in New Farm and 'Wild Flowers', a design created for the 1957 Melbourne Olympics.
Reynolds is also know for his objects veneered in cracked and elderly pieces of linoleum and in Brisbane he is represented by Ryan Renshaw.
Ian

and 2008 begins...

Today is our first day back from our Christmas break and we start the year maybe a little too relaxed...

I hope that everyone also had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

We start the year with some really exciting new projects and look forward to updating our blog with images and ideas.

Heres to an exciting 2008!!!

Ian

more PHORM work...

a fishy concept...but does it calm the savage office worker

bert stern, marilyn monroe, 1962

“Marilyn Monroe agreed to pose nude for Vogue, with no make-up on her body, as long as the session could take place in LA. Rather than work in a studio, Stern decided to take a suite (No. 261) at the Bel-Air Hotel, Monroe had not been photographed in the nude since the Tom Kelley calendar pix. “I waited for her like a lover, like a bridegroom before his wedding, pacing the floor checking the ice in the Dom Pérignon 1953 vintage champagne, spraying the suite with Chanel No. 5.” Monroe arrived with Vicky, her hairdresser, five hours late. For 12 hours Stern snapped away, draping Monroe with necklaces, veils and two large roses, supplied by Vogue.
The Crucifix, one of the photos that Monroe hated and put a red pen through in the form of a thick cross. After the shooting, Marilyn Monroe rejected herself some of the pictures, marking them with a red pen (not lipstick), directly on the film.
“She hated the scar on her midriff from a recent gall-bladder operation, I told her it was beautiful. She was at a time in her life when she needed to re-invent herself, I think that’s why she accepted to pose for me, she drank gallons of Dom Pérignon, got drunk and fell asleep.” (Bert Stern)

deck the halls...

As we all prepare for our favorite time of the year - Christmas holidays - I thought I would show you the amazing Christmas decorations at the Bilmore Hotel in Asheville, North Carolina.
Cathy Barhardt is the designer behind this stunning display. Ian

more PHORM interiors work'

whos your sugar daddy...

Today I recieved a fantastic surprise birthday present from my family and friends.
A painting by up and coming artist Daniel Brinsmead.

'My work examines human nature in relation to contemporary culture. I like to question the way we think, feel, and behave and explore how we act and react to our social and physical environments. My work also refers to other elements that have affected us such as historical events, cultural icons, and general presentations of popular culture. These investigations are then expressed through my own visual language giving a different angle or perspective on ourselves and the world around us. Ideals and beliefs systems that we are taught to live by are re-presented in a different light, questioning their validity.'
Daniel Brinsmead

Thankyou Steven, Mum, Dad. Julieann, Scott, Zachary, Joy, Keith, Kym, Cameron, Hadyn, Abby, Claire, Micheal, Olive, Louis & Penny for a wonderful birthday.
Ian

pools of light

One of the great things about summer is an evening pool party.
Lighten things up a little with these sexy, funky, waterproof pool lamps from metalarte.
The rechargeable lamps are moulded from tough, waterproof polyethylene.
I have just found something else to add to my Xmas wish list…
Happy Saturday, Steven

spatial and spiritual solutions

Whoever said that reading was a religious experience was right, especially when taking a visit to Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, Netherlands.

It was always going to be a challenging task for Amsterdam based architects Merkx + Girod who designed the space, to stay true to the original character and charm of the church, whilst also achieving a desirable amount of commercial space. Taking advantage of the massive ceiling, both have been achieved through the construction of a multi-storey steel structure which houses the majority of the books. This is one giant bookshelf, with stairs and elevators taking shoppers and visitors alike, up to the heavens (mind the pun), to roof of the church.

By Brendan Mc Knight

in bronze

I just thought I would show you some stunning images of Krista Berga's latest bronze scuplture, located in the new Burley Katon Halliday project - Republic.
Krista Berga's works on paper were listed on Steven's 'Christmas Wish List'.
Republic is a residential development on Palmer Street in East Sydney and features a food, dining and retail forecourt. We recently had dinner there at Christine Manfield's Universal Restaurant, where Krista's spectacular bronze is a major feature.


Also, while talking all things Burley Katon Halliday - BKH by David Clarke and Catherine Martin has been released just in time for the perfect Christmas gift.
This stunning book is in black hardcover with black edged pages features images of over 60 projects photographed by Sharrin Rees, who has been documenting their work since the beginning.
The book is available online through one of my favorite resources, Published Art Bookshop.Ian

just the ticket...'a wish'

Just the ticket for today's brash, 'ME ME ME' and cynical society is this tiny, little ticket that stops time whilst you make a wish for whatever you want.
Scarlet Jones is a great store in East Malvern, Victoria who stock these wonderful 'wish tickets'. Steven (my wish...mobile phones banned forever and ‘Dynasty’ back on cable TV where it belongs)