Re: Re: Fair Play to Starbucks

12/9/2008

Just rooting around Foster Place yesterday evening, it occured to me what a magnificent hotel the former Royal Bank would make.

(Archiseek)

Very much in the European tradition, it is of the perfect grand townhouse proportion, with ranks of gracious classical windows overlooking the leafy confines of Foster Place and the extravagant Coomons portico opposite. The banking hall which is conveniently off-centre would make for a spectacular lobby-cum-lounge, restaurant or bar, while the first floor appears to host some fine rooms with elaborate cornicing. It’s so easy to envisage the frontage newly restored, with potted plants, flags and window boxes and all the other manicured paraphernalia that comes with such premises. Such a low-medium intensity use would act as a welcome presence on the street and generate modest activity appropriate to the context.

What plans do Trinity have for this bank, if any, now the nursing school has settled elsewhere? I don’t see how this building could be sensitively converted for educational purposes – even if possible it’s hardly the most appropriate use.

It’s quite a substantial building, especially if the adjoining Francis Johnston townhouses were amalgamated into the premises (currently separately owned).

There’s also potential for frontage onto Anglesea Street.

Incidentally the townhouses feature a quirky detail with their doorcases, seemingly unique in the city, whereby the interior hall is narrower than the doorcase suggests, resulting in a ‘false’ fanlight 🙂

Alas the right-hand house has spilled the beans by painting their overhang white.