Images of Canberra -- Benjamin Offices

watching them come down is always interesting though….. the kind of thing public servants could spend hours doing…

I seem to be suffering from a chronic failure to care.

The gym in the basement was run by the YMCA originally. It was way cool back then. Played many a lunchtime basketball comp there. Was run by Cannon’s import Tad Dufelmeier for a while.

Once the Y got out it wasn’t often used so we moved over to the (then) new Belco Community Center, another interesting piece of architecture.

Distinctive architecture? Yes – a stunning example of the neo-brutalist style.

I’m glad it has some redeeming features, bonfire, ’cause asthetics sure isn’t one of them.

Benjamin Offices are a design branch that should have been further explored.

The design cleverly seperates foot from vehicle traffic and prior to the original part being torn down, you couls access public transport at the bus interchange without crossing a road.

The interiors were dated, but like any working building interiors need to be refreshed every ten years or so.

Up until this year the original bike racks were still in place. The architect must have imagined hundreds of people riding in if you counted all of them. Now removed.

They are also nicely landscaped with conference rooms facing onto now mature gardens.

The only truly dated feature is the access points. Security and entrance control is difficult due to the raised walkways and all buildings accessable from those walkways. This probably wasnt a concern 30 years ago.

I think the part that is being torn down now is a shame but I can understand why. It featured a gym, cafeteria, theatre and conference rooms originally when there was a major client. Over the years peoples and clients expectations change. The building was refurbished but not satisfactorily.

I know it will be replaced with an awful kelvinator building like the one DIMA are in now, and thats a shame.

A complaint of Canberra is sterility. By not keeping distinctive architecture and constantly building temporary buildings like the new DIMA ones, a citys character cannot develop.

And when it’s rebuilt and refubished, many of DIMA are moving back there.

Used to a great spot to go skateboarding. PS depts in there currently are, ACMA, DIMA and a little bit of DCITA.

Which Public Service empires are still based over there now?

They are exceedingly ugly buildings…. they have retrofitted a couple of them… so I am sure they won’t be pulled down anytime soon..

Heritage – you’ve got to be kidding?