McDonalds, Montreal

I've written previously about the most beautiful and the second most beautiful McDonald's in the world and was pleased to see another building being reused as a Macca's Restaurant.

This is in Rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal and has some nice deco details.

former Bickford's Cafeteria, New York

The sight of the New Yorker Hotel on the skyline drew me like a beacon to one of NYC's Art Deco gems but when I got there I found this modest little building across the road at 488 Eighth Avenue.

The name Bickford's can be seen clearly in a cartouche below the stepped roofline of the building surrounded by Art Deco chevrons and grecian design elements.

An internet search reveals a photo of the street level facade from the early 1940s when the building housed a Bickford's cafeteria and an article from the New York Times from 2000 entitled Breakfast at Bickford's prompted by this very building.

Both items are reproduced on www.plazaview.com, a financial forecasting website setup by Jeffrey S Bickford, a descendent of Samuel Bickford the founder of a chain of restaurants and cafeterias bearing the Bickford name which at one time had 48 branches all over New York dwindling to just 2 in 1980 when the name vanished from the New York streets.

The article explains that the Bickford name returned when a metal facade was removed from an Adult Entertainment Centre.

Now, in the summer of 2009, the building is vacant, seeking a retail tenant.

Hopefully a sympathetic business can see the potential in this building and keep the Bickford name on Eighth Avenue opposite it's grand deco neighbour.

Chester House, Durban

Chester House, dating from 1935, was designed by Cowin, Powers and Ellis.

The metal framed windows and horizontal spandrels provide contribute to a very interesting facade. However the rounded columns stretching the full height of the building to the open balcony on the top floor really emphasise the vertical nature of the building.

Gillette Corner, Isleworth

This monumental factory was designed by Sir Banister Fletcher in 1936 for the Gillette razor company. Gillette has since moved on but they were still there when I took this photo and the intersection on the Great West Road (A4) is still known as Gillette Corner.

The horizontal bulk of the building is offet by the clock tower which when seen in close up features delicate stepped sections on the corner of the green cap.

The tower serves as a beacon so there is no confusion where the main entrance to the building is.

Although how anyone could miss this entrance is a valid question. The use of a contrasting light colour for the steps and surrounding the door really make it stand out.

Working the company logo and brand name into the fabris of the building is a nice touch.

For another view of this great building check out Pickles view at the Dog and Deco Blog.

202-204 Rundle St, Adelaide

This is a nice Art Deco building at 202-204 Rundle Street, Adelaide but what about that questionable tinted glass awning. No doubt we appreciate some shelter when we are out shopping but surely something more sympathetic with the style of the building could have been found. And hidden by it are these wonderful deco grills above each of the doorways.

Berea View, Durban

I've written before about Carlisle Street in Durban. This photo shows this wonderful collection of Art Deco buildings in located in this street.

From left to right they are Berea View, Mount View, Vel-vet Mansions and Carlisle Castle.

McPhersons, Melbourne

The 1937 McPersons Building in Collins Street, Melbourne is a wonderful example of reuse of an exisiting building.

Originaly designed by Stuart Calder in association with Reid & Pearson it was, for much of it's life so far, it was a an office and showroom for McPherson's Hardware company.

In recently years it has been renovated and transformed to include a food court, gym and apartments with stunning effect.