Modern in Melbourne 2
Address : Demolished
Comments : McIntyre's first notable non-residential commision eventuated through his father's practice in Western Victoria. Beulah is a small country town, north of Warracknabeal in Victoria's hot and arid Mallee. The initial design process is a response to landscape and climate rather than a programme-driven or social response. It was in line with Boyd's ideas of building embracing the landscape and climate by "active" participation.
The design evolved as a solution to a series of climatically imposed problems beginning with roof and water tank as a starting point. The structure allows complete collection of rainfall in roof by having the total roof area discharge directly into the central tank without downpipes or gutters. The volume of the tank can be increased if desired by an underground concrete tank. The structure gives protection against earth movement, and consequent cracking by using monolithic raft concrete floor slab, which did not allow relative movement of different parts of the building. Goad relates both the Beulah Hospital and McIntyre's prizewinning design for a house of the future to the Dymaxion House projects of R. Buckminster-Fuller. Boyd on the other hand approvingly noted of this festive installation in the desert that "structurally, its nearest relative is the merry-go-round"!
Goad, P., 'Optimism and Experiment in Melbourne: The early works of Peter McIntyre 1950-1961'.
References : Architecture & Arts January 1954
