Former Bryant House including Interiors

Item details


Name of item:	Former Bryant House including Interiors
Type of item:	Built
Group/Collection:	Commercial
Category:	Commercial Office/Building
Location:	Lat: -33.8682747486533 Long: 151.207770212778
Primary address:	80-82A Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000
Local govt. area:	Sydney

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
80-82A Pitt Street	Sydney	Sydney			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The former Bryant House is part of an ongoing tradition of commercial centralisation in the CBD. Its construction as an investment underlines the value of city properties for these purposes. An outstanding work of Architecture epitomising the functionalist tradition of the 1930s. It earns the description Art Deco through the interpretation of "decoration" in the geometric modelling of the building envelope, ie. the decoration and structure are the same. The dynamic faceted facade is a landmark in the townscape character of this section of Pitt Street. The innovative use of new materials and new forms records a "watershed" in architectural thought and a new direction for CBD commercial building. It is a major office building designed by Emil Sodersten being similar to his earlier City Mutual Life building, at 60 Hunter Street, of 1936. It was once considered to be the most modern building of its kind in Australia.
	Date significance updated: 10 Jan 06
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Emil Sodersten with T. W. Hodgson & Sons
Builder/Maker:	Hutcherson Bros.
Physical description:	The 14 storey QBE building was designed by Emil Sodersten, one of the leading practitioners of the Art Deco style. The building features an unusual serrated facade of textured face brick above a polished granite plinth with simple Art Deco mouldings. Characteristic of this style, the faceted vertical fenestration runs almost full height of the building while fin elements carry over the facade parapet emphasising the dramatic verticality of the design. Part of a mixed streetscape with a diverse scale and character, the building is of architectural significance for the excellence of its Art Deco design. It was noteworthy for its use of interior colour and its innovative modern technology, such as faceted glass to the facade. The entry foyer and lift lobby feature original Art Deco detailing with marble floors, decorative plaster and pressed metal ceilings. Refits of the 1970s and 1980s have impacted on the quality of its original interiors. Contemporary office areas on the upper levels incorporate plasterboard and timber veneer walls, and glazed aluminium partitions. Category:Individual Building. Style:Inter-War Art Deco. Storeys:14. Facade:Textured face brickwork, granite cladding, alumin./glass shopfront. Side/Rear Walls:Face brick. Internal Walls:Plasterbd. and stud, alumin./glass partitions, timber veneer, marble facing. Roof Cladding:Smooth aggregate, waterproof membrane. Internal Structure:Reinf. conc. column and beam. Floor:Reinf. conc. slab, carpet, marble, granite. Roof:Reinf. conc. slab. Ceilings:Decorative plaster, susp. acoustic tiles. Stairs:Reinf. conc. stairs, terrazzo stringer, steel railing; reinf. conc. stairs, tiled tread, timber finish. Fire Stairs:2. Sprinkler System:Yes. Lifts:4, pressed metal ceilings with Art-Deco detailing, new mechanics, vinyl wallpaper to exterior. AirConditioned:Yes
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	In general, the exterior, entry foyer, lifts and stairs of the QBE Building remain intact, while interior office spaces have been extensively refurbished. Original steel framed windows to front facade are intact and are backed with contemporary aluminium framed windows with timber sill..Intrusive Elements:Signs on upper walls.
	Date condition updated:10 Jan 06
Modifications and dates:	1939
Further information:	High Significance:External building form, scale, the entire exterior, including north and both side walls, ground floor entry lobby, stair and lifts. Low Significance:Modified interior office spaces, ground floor arcade. Heritage Inventory sheets are often not comprehensive, and should be regarded as a general guide only. Inventory sheets are based on information available, and often do not include the social history of sites and buildings. Inventory sheets are constantly updated by the City as further information becomes available. An inventory sheet with little information may simply indicate that there has been no building work done to the item recently: it does not mean that items are not significant. Further research is always recommended as part of preparation of development proposals for heritage items, and is necessary in preparation of Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans, so that the significance of heritage items can be fully assessed prior to submitting development applications.


Current use:	Commercial offices
Former use:	Commercial offices

History

Historical notes:

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.

With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.

(Information sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani )

The former Bryant House was built for the City Mutual Life Assurance Association as an investment property. It was designed by Emil Sodersten in association with T. W. Hodgson and Sons and was constructed by Hutcherson Bros in 1939. (The street cards indicate demolition Feb 1939 and construction commenced March 1939. Possibly completed by early 1940 as fitouts occurring by late 1940.) The building was proclaimed to be the most up to date office building in Australia at its completion embodying both modern materials and many innovations in construction and design. Externally, the serrated windows attracted considerable comment, whilst the interior displayed a lavish use of coloured marbles, wired glass and aluminium. Special attention was said to have been paid to the ceiling treatment. Colour was particularly important. For example, on the upper floors elevator lobbies were faced with buff wall tiles, the floor in figured rubber with green insets and black and orange margins, and the ceiling cerise with blue coves. Particular note was made of the use of glass bricks to provide natural light to elevator lobbies and corridors. Very few alterations programmes are noted for the building even after its sale to the Queensland Insurance Co, in 1945, although the interior of the building has undergone considerable modification.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies	Commerce-Activities relating to buying, selling and exchanging goods and services	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	QBE Building is part of an ongoing tradition of centralised commercial activity in the CBD. Its construction as an investment underlines the value of CBD properties for these purposes. Bryant House was once considered to be the most modern building of its kind in Australia. It is significant as the work of renowned architect Emil Sodersten. Has historic significance at a State level.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The QBE Building was considered a "watershed" building. The use of faceted glass gives the illusion of uninterrupted natural light, other early uses of materials in Sydney included the glass bricks and rubber floor tiles. It is indicative of the development in office building technology through the 1930s. Has aesthetic significance at a State level. Cultural:The QBE Building is one of the most outstanding examples of the modern movement in Australia and is well established in the functionalist tradition, laying claim to the description Art-Deco through the decorative/geometric effects achieved by the dynamic modelling of its glass and brick external envelope. Its decoration, inside and out, is integral with the structure. The original Art Deco detailing of the entry foyer and lift lobby remains intact.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The QBE Building is a city office of architectural excellence in the functionalist tradition, employing Art-Deco stylistic treatments through the skilful modelling of the building envelope. The building achieves landmark status in the streetscape through its dynamic form.
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

General: The QBE Building is of such significance, externally and in its internal circulation areas, that a Conservation Plan is essential to guide its future management, use and maintenance. The form and scale of the building should be preserved. Exterior: Future development should preserve the entire external facade, including all original fabric and finishes. Interior: Future development should preserve the lobbies, stair and lifts in accordance with the Conservation Plan. Internal spatial qualities, details and finishes should be restored following thorough research of the fabric, when the opportunity arises. The building should be retained and conserved. A Heritage Assessment and Heritage Impact Statement, or a Conservation Management Plan, should be prepared for the building prior to any major works being undertaken. There shall be no vertical additions to the building and no alterations to the façade of the building other than to reinstate original features. The principal room layout and planning configuration as well as significant internal original features including ceilings, cornices, joinery, flooring and fireplaces should be retained and conserved. Any additions and alterations should be confined to the rear in areas of less significance, should not be visibly prominent and shall be in accordance with the relevant planning controls.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012	I1918	14 Dec 12
Heritage study

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Written		1984	Martin Place Civic Design Study
Written		1940	Decoration & Glass, p8ff, Dec 1940, (Journal).
Written			SCC Records (BAs, DAs)
Written			National Estate listing sheet
Written	Anita Heiss		Aboriginal People and Place, Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City
Written	D. L. Johnson		, 'Australian Architecture 1901-51'
Written	Gunn, John	1995	Taking risks, QBE 1886-1994 : a history of the QBE Insurance Group

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	2423839

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