Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01306:reg:96:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01306
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 96 (pt 29/31)
Character Range: 317786–320785

era, including hollow block construction and poured reinforced concrete formed in a waffle slab with ribs.

  Attributes

  The decorative elements of both buildings plus innovative building techniques, including the hollow block construction and poured reinforced concrete slab.

  Criterion G Social value

  The National Film and Sound Archive has occupied the building since 1984. This organisation is widely regarded by the public for its efforts to conserve and promote Australian culture as represented in film, television, radio and sound recordings.

  Attributes

  Not clarified

  Description

  The National Screen and Sound Archive (also known as Screen Sound Australia and formerly the Institute of Anatomy) includes the main building, its surrounds and the former director's residence. The main building is a two-storey masonry building with a basement. It is clad in Hawksbury sandstone. The main building was originally designed as a T-shaped plan. This was altered to a U-shape, which was seen as providing better opportunity for growth. In 1999, the top of the U was enclosed when a three-storey rear wing was completed.

  This Late 20th Century Stripped Classical building incorporates nationalistic Australian Art Deco detailing and decorative elements. There are three ranges enclosing a quadrangular courtyard. The front range has a central foyer, a library and a cinema. The rear ranges are exhibition halls. There is an extensive basement. A flight of granite stairs leads to the entrance hall, which is paved with marble of geometric patterns. Corridors are tiled and the rest of the flooring is mainly polished tallow wood. Decorative motifs include goannas on capitals, frilled lizards on door surrounds, wombats in roundels and a stained-glass platypus skylight. The strong and consistent use of Australian fauna and Aboriginal motifs throughout the building recalls the building's original function and creates a building of distinction and rarity. One interesting detail is the original Innes-Bell Hollow Block structural system where blocks were placed on the formwork with spaces between. Reinforcement was placed in the spaces and concrete was poured to effectively form a waffle slab with ribs. This system is uncommon.

  The former director's residence is located within the grounds. This two-storey building is in itself a significant example of an Art Deco residence, though with fewer decorative features than the main building. It has a stuccoed and painted surface and roman patterned terracotta roof tiles. The residence has had minimal modification to accommodate offices.

  The areas where greatest change has occurred are in the basement where temporary offices and work areas have been installed the northern gallery as display space which blocked out the windows and the theatre which was modified to suit film production. The southern gallery formerly a work area, was developed for a permanent exhibition 2000–2001, retaining original display