Manchester Unity Building, Art Deco office building at Collins and Swanston Streets, Melbourne, Australia
Manchester Unity Building is a twelve-story office structure at the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets in Melbourne, featuring terracotta tiles, marble walls, and mosaic floors. The ground-floor arcade with its decorated metal-framed storefronts creates a welcoming entrance, while upper levels contain office spaces and the top floors house residential units.
The building opened in 1932 during the Great Depression and was completed using remarkably fast construction methods, with workers operating in shifts around the clock. This rapid building process was extraordinary for the time and made the project an impressive technical achievement during a difficult economic period.
The building takes its name from a British workers' organization and displays Gothic-revival details mixed with Art Deco elements, creating an unusual look in the business district. Visitors immediately notice the mosaic tiles and decorated metal frames in the ground-floor arcade, which bring the space to life.
The building sits at a major intersection and is easily accessible on foot from the city center, with good visibility from the street. The ground level is open to the public and visitors can walk through the ground-floor arcade to admire the interior features and decorated details.
The eleventh floor preserves the original 1932 boardroom, which features a specially made conference table of rosewood with hand-carved edges. This room remains hidden from most visitors since it is not publicly accessible, but architecture enthusiasts can sometimes learn about or glimpse the historical details.
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