Opinions about a building

[Miss Chicken]

A few years ago the former Hobart Savings Bank headquarters, which is on the Tasmanian Heritage Register, was sold privately and recently the owner has been converting it into a luxury home. She has put up some awnings and it seems that complaints have been made about them to both the Hobart City Council and the Tasmanian Heritage Council by members of the public. It seems she didn't get council approval for the awnings.

Here is a photo

I didn't realise that Council approval for awnings was needed - even for a heritage building.

Your opinions on the awnings - do they suit the building? Do you like them or not?

 

[Mr. B]

I'm not familiar with local law on the matter but this looks like a non-destructive modification to the facade... it shouldn't be a legal matter.

By the way, the awnings look a little more flattering in this photo...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31140271@N06/5460668977/

 

[RJDiogenes]

They look okay to me. It has a vaguely European appearance, somehow.

 

[An Officer]

I like it. A splash of colour never hurt anyone.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Thanks for the second photo, Mr B. It is a nicer photo.

I commented the other day to a friend how much better the building was looking. I wouldn't have chosen red myself, I probably would have chosen teal or a darkish blue.

 

[SG-17]

There must not be much going on in Tasmania for people to get worked up over awnings.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I think it looks good and certainly compliments the building. Now, if she didn't get council approval, well that's another thing.

 

[Davros]

The awnings look fine.

 

[Davros]

The awnings look fine.

 

[CaptJack]

If the exterior of the building is considered to be within the public realm, even for a privately owned structure, then I can see how there could be some irritation on the part of the council over unapproved modifications. If it wasn't a heritage building it probably wouldn't be such a big deal.

 

[Miss Chicken]

As she applied for council approvals for other modifications it is possible that she didn't even realise that she needed approval for the awnings.

I think anyone who complained to the council were just being petty and anal-retentive.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Nice private residence!

Awnings look silly IMHO. Like bright red nails on a nun.

But I'm big on personal property, she should be able to spray paint the whole building purple if she wants.

 

[Ghost07]

I love the awnings...and I love the red, too. Of course, red IS my favorite color...

 

[Holdfast]

Your opinions on the awnings - do they suit the building? Do you like them or not?

Personally, I think the saturated red colour against grey stone is disgusting. It really jars in a bad way.

They look much more complementary in the hot pink/fuschia shade your first photo makes them appear. I quite like that shade against the grey. Whoever mentioned teal upthread is also onto something. Even electric blue would work.

However, my personal colour preference doesn't matter. The question is whether the terms of the heritage listing permit awnings or not. If they don't, they should be taken down, regardless of colour. Owners know - or SHOULD know - what they're getting into when she buy listed properties.

The terms of listings are usually very well-documented, and I have little sympathy for someone who buys a property like this and then pretends not to have read the restrictions. It's welching on a contract; she hasn't bought a private property with absolutely no restrictions; she's bought a private property with clearly-defined restrictions.

If the terms permit awnings at the discretion of the council, then we get into a more complicated personal taste issue. I'd probably want to know more about the surrounding buildings/character of the neighbourhood before deciding whether the IMO ugly red shade is a problem or not.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I'm not a big fan of awnings usually, but I really like those. They warm up the facade and work nicely w/ the flower boxes.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Having experience in the historic preservation field I guess you can say I'm somewhat biased. The general rule we have around here is that any changes to the exterior of the building, even things so small as trimming the hedges in a new way, needs to be reviewed to ensure that the building retains its historical integrity. You would think that is very subjective, but actually when a building is added to the register, someone does quite a bit of research on why the building is historically relevant and describes the architecture exactly, listing the items on the building that constitute its historical integrity. I believe when something is added that can be easily and harmlessly removed at a later date then it is usually acceptable. But the rules vary quite a bit by state, city, and even neighborhoods within cities. So if you own a historic building you really need to keep up on these things and you really can't just go changing the look of the front of the building without at least notifying whatever committee is in charge of those issues. I think the awnings look quite nice, but they really should have gotten permission first. It significantly changes the facade's look. Whether for the better or worse is irrelevant; whether it impedes the historical integrity of the building is what matters here. So in a nutshell they should have known to ask permission first. The fact that they didn't is only going to cause problems now, which they could have avoided.

 

[Canadave]

^ I'm pretty sure the rules here are the same. Any change to the exterior of a building with heritage status has to be granted approval. If I owned the building, I definitely would have checked before adding anything so obvious as awnings.

That said, they look fine, but that doesn't change the fact that the owners should have known to get permission first.

 

[Mr. B]

I wonder if anyone raised a stink when the flower boxes were added. Those aren't original either.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Whoever mentioned teal upthread is also onto something.

It was me who mentioned teal. It is my favourite colour. I don't think enough things are available in teal.

On my local paper's website someone suggested burgundy as being a better choice.

The newspaper has a poll on the website and so far 92% of people like the awnings.

 

[Canadave]

I wonder if anyone raised a stink when the flower boxes were added. Those aren't original either.

It would probably depend if the owner went through the necessary channels to add them.