Comments on: Save the Windsor Hotel http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/ Adam Dimech's blog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:24:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mary Stewart http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-2098 Mary Stewart Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:47:51 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-2098 I have just spent four days staying at the Windsor Hotel. I am very saddened to find out that there are plans to demolish part of this hotel. Of course, only the suites will remain and I as a poor traveller will not be able to afford to stay in these and I will be forced to stay in the tower. Please do not reduce this beautiful old hotel to a mere facade like so many of our great old buildings. This is where governments should step in but are failing so badly to make it viable for owners to keep these old buildings which contribute so much to our heritage and culture. I have just spent four days staying at the Windsor Hotel. I am very saddened to find out that there are plans to demolish part of this hotel. Of course, only the suites will remain and I as a poor traveller will not be able to afford to stay in these and I will be forced to stay in the tower. Please do not reduce this beautiful old hotel to a mere facade like so many of our great old buildings. This is where governments should step in but are failing so badly to make it viable for owners to keep these old buildings which contribute so much to our heritage and culture.

]]> By: Adrian http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1884 Adrian Thu, 06 May 2010 04:35:55 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1884 Whilst I'm not a fan of DCM's form of architectural expression, their programmatic and historical response is outstanding. Australia has a history of misguided opposition to modern architectural responses. In this instance, that fact that the singular historically significant building element is brought to the fore and the interiors exposed in all their splendour appears to be lost on the detractors. If you want a truly outstanding example of what I'm talking about, look at the Reichstag in Berlin, before you are so hasty to judge the architect's response. It has over a million visitors each year. Whilst I’m not a fan of DCM’s form of architectural expression, their programmatic and historical response is outstanding. Australia has a history of misguided opposition to modern architectural responses. In this instance, that fact that the singular historically significant building element is brought to the fore and the interiors exposed in all their splendour appears to be lost on the detractors. If you want a truly outstanding example of what I’m talking about, look at the Reichstag in Berlin, before you are so hasty to judge the architect’s response. It has over a million visitors each year.

]]> By: Marina Williams http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1698 Marina Williams Thu, 25 Mar 2010 07:58:49 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1698 Please leave it alone, it has so much historical significance and we have so few historic buildings left in Melbourne anyway. Please leave it alone, it has so much historical significance and we have so few historic buildings left in Melbourne anyway.

]]> By: Anthony http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1683 Anthony Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:02:36 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1683 RALLY: 25th March 1pm on the steps of Parliament - organised by the National Trust, Planning Backlash, Protectors of Public Lands RALLY: 25th March 1pm on the steps of Parliament – organised by the National Trust, Planning Backlash, Protectors of Public Lands

]]> By: funkineering http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1682 funkineering Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:52:37 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1682 This building will not pass the Building Code of Australia Section J Energy Efficiency Requirements. The orientation of facades is facing east and west therefore permitting massive heat gains to the building. Given the height restrictions of the area, there will be no shading from other buildings. This leaves the architect with the option of external shading (which will change the conditions of the building permit) or a prohibitively expensive glazing (which will kill the building commercially). Come up with a better design please! The concept is ugly and will show it's age within a decade or two. This building will not pass the Building Code of Australia Section J Energy Efficiency Requirements. The orientation of facades is facing east and west therefore permitting massive heat gains to the building. Given the height restrictions of the area, there will be no shading from other buildings. This leaves the architect with the option of external shading (which will change the conditions of the building permit) or a prohibitively expensive glazing (which will kill the building commercially).

Come up with a better design please! The concept is ugly and will show it’s age within a decade or two.

]]> By: Damien http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1672 Damien Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:16:19 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1672 Spread the word on twitter using the #savethewindsor hashtag. This can't be allowed to happen! Spread the word on twitter using the #savethewindsor hashtag. This can’t be allowed to happen!

]]> By: David J England http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1217 David J England Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:38:10 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1217 Is modernisation and "luxurification" of the rooms not possible in the old shell? If I want a grand glass tower I will go to Dubai or Sydney, if I want true class and luxury I will stick to The Windsor in Melbourne or perhaps The Savoy in London. Is modernisation and “luxurification” of the rooms not possible in the old shell? If I want a grand glass tower I will go to Dubai or Sydney, if I want true class and luxury I will stick to The Windsor in Melbourne or perhaps The Savoy in London.

]]> By: sreychilli http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 sreychilli Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:38:01 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1060 Bad idea, I think. There must be other ways to bring in business. The design of the extension to the Windsor is quite ugly to be honest. Bad idea, I think. There must be other ways to bring in business. The design of the extension to the Windsor is quite ugly to be honest.

]]> By: Sean http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1059 Sean Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:41:12 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1059 In my personal opinion the corner building is in many ways more offensive than the tower. Both are very unfortunate designs for Melbourne and as you say will age very quickly. Still I find it very hard to believe that the Windsor needs to compete as a modern hotel when it can upgrade its heritage assets and focus on its niche market. In my personal opinion the corner building is in many ways more offensive than the tower. Both are very unfortunate designs for Melbourne and as you say will age very quickly. Still I find it very hard to believe that the Windsor needs to compete as a modern hotel when it can upgrade its heritage assets and focus on its niche market.

]]> By: isobel http://blog.adonline.id.au/save-the-windsor-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-1058 isobel Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:30:13 +0000 http://blog.adonline.id.au/?p=454#comment-1058 I read recently of the proposed additions to this wonderful heritage hotel, and do hope the "backdrop" does not eventuate. Of course the owners need to make The Windsor viable, and no doubt some improvements are necessary to the interior. I have memories going back MANY years of dining at The Windsor in great style, before an easy stroll to the nearby theatre. The staircase to the guests rooms was always something to admire, in fact, the whole atmosphere of hotel was one of discreet opulence. I am fortunate to have sampled the afternoon teas on a few occasions,(usually for a birthday treat) and loved the silver tea service, and silver cake stands, and the unobtrusive waiters attending. These memories are with me forever, and along with you and countless others I hope most of the existing structure remains, and the "backdrop" as it is proposed does not take place. I read recently of the proposed additions to this wonderful heritage hotel, and do hope the “backdrop” does not eventuate. Of course the owners need to make The Windsor viable, and no doubt some improvements are necessary to the interior. I have memories going back MANY years of dining at The Windsor in great style, before an easy stroll to the nearby theatre.

The staircase to the guests rooms was always something to admire, in fact, the whole atmosphere of hotel was one of discreet opulence.
I am fortunate to have sampled the afternoon teas on a few occasions,(usually for a birthday treat) and loved the silver tea service, and silver cake stands, and the unobtrusive waiters attending.
These memories are with me forever, and along with you and countless others I hope most of the existing structure remains, and the “backdrop” as it is proposed does not take place.

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