ABC Cinema, Brighton

The ABC Cinema (1930) in Brighton was designed by William Glen.

The cinema closed in 1999 and onverted to a casino. This picture was taken around that time. The films showing are The Haunting, Eyes Wide Shut, The Trench and The General's Daughter.

Bus Shelters, Brighton

Brighton, on England's south coast has, or at least had in 2000, these fabulous deco bus shelters.

These three shown in the photo right are simple structures with curved ends and an oval roof.

Nearby was a more substantial shelter. Bigger and probably made of concrete with an oval concrete roof backing onto the gardens.

The Baths, Middle Brighton

The Baths, Middle Brighton have a long and interesting history. They were originally opened in 1881 but were effectively wrecked during a storm in 1934.

Architects, Oakley & Parkes, designed a moderne streamline building which was opened in the summer of 1936.

Then in 1988, the baths received another makeover to take them into the 21st Century which added some modern glass-enclosed spaces to the pavillion while still preserving the original look of Oakley & Parkes' work.

I think this is another great example of how older buildings can be adapted for modern requirements. In this case the building has retained it's original purpose.

It is clear to anyone looking at the structure which parts date from the 1930s and which parts date from the 1980s.

Ostend, Brighton

Ostend is a substantial block of flats by I G Anderson built in 1934-35. The building sits right on the foreshore in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton providing direct access to the beach. The white doors along the front wall are actually boatsheds and I like to think that at least some residents still house their boats there.

The complex façade is a series of art deco style setbacks. The left edge of the building is squared-off with a flat section broken by a strong vertical band leading to two interlocking semi-circles on the roofline. The rounded balconies marking the end of this section would all been open like the top one in the picture but like Arnold Court in South Yarra most of them have been enclosed.

A somewhat plain section links the balconies with the most striking feature of the façade, a circular tower topped with finials which descend in curved steps from a small pagoda style cap. The ribbed finials continue down the front of the tower casting shadows that provide depth to the building’s seaside face.

A second series of balconies complete the façade by curving around to the side of the building. All of these balconies have been enclosed, unfortunately using different window styles which detract slightly from the original beauty of the façade. It is still a great building though.

Ostend has been repainted recently and looks great against a stormy sky.