Adelaide Verandah Research

Photographic and Comparative Studies of Verandah Decorations of Detached Single-storey Houses along Grant Avenue in Rose Park Yucheng Dai

Design Research

2021

Photographic and Comparative Study of Veranda Houses along Grant Avenue in Rose Park

Introduction Definitions

In this research, the phrase exclusively means all different types of ornamental timber fretworks, Aluminium/iron laceworks, and brackets that fixed to the existing verandah structure.

The study is focused on verandah decorations of detached single-storey villas and cottages along a portion of Grant Avenue in the Rose Park suburb. The detached houses along Grant Avenue can briefly function as comprehensive local typology samples, especially some of them are elegant intact examples of the Australian Victorian/Federation styles. Verandah decoration as an important element of the house facade reflects the transition of domestic houses from extravagant ornamentations to well-coordinated methods, featuring great research value. Additionally, as there are plentiful Contributory Items (CI’s) in the chosen area, the verandah decoration research on these ‘particular forms’ of development might further contribute to determining whether they are worth being included in the local heritage list.

The research was conducted through a photographic and comparative study of verandah decorations from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue. The selected portion of Grant Avenue is the interval between Fullarton Road and Gurney Road (approximately 400m).

1

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Detached single-storey houses:

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In this research, the phrase exclusively means a specific type of single-storey villas and cottages that are not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed).

Contributory i

Contributory ite or at least survi buildings, whic assessed thoro heritage places

A set of preliminary rules have been established as an instruction before the onsite photo taking and data collection. Below is the list of the rules that have been strictly followed during the pre-stage.

ROAD

Verandah decoration:

FULLARTON

•

Preliminary rules •

The data collection area is situated in an inner-suburban council area. The in-situ data collection work should be undertaken with professional efficiency, courtesy, and duty of care.

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Respect the privacy of the owners/ occupiers of the building and do not enter the property or building.

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Be careful not to put anyone in danger negotiating traffic and pedestrians in residential neighbourhoods

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Must not undertake any interview or survey involving human subjects as part of data collection.

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25

5

ah Decorations of Detached Single-storey

Strategy and direction

items (CI’s):

ems are a series of intact iving examples of old ch commonly have not been oughly as potential local s.

• • •

Verandah decoration survey Investigation of colour scheme, style, and material on a portion of Grant Avenue Investigation of the relationship between house value (price) and verandah material

ALEXANDRA AVENUE

Contributory Local State

location.sa.gov.au/viewer/

GURNEY ROAD

GRANT AVENUE

SWAINE AVENUE

N

50 m

1 : 5000

Location Plan

Contributory Local State

location.sa.gov.au/viewer/

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1

3

5

7

8

9

11

12

11A

14

15

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17

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19

20

21

22

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24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

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34

35

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38

42

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Data Collection Notes

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Chromophotographs illustrated the state of verandah decorations on 25th April 2021 The black-and-white photograph showed the state of the verandah decoration of 22 Grant Avenue on 25th September 2019, which has already been demolished.

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Street Number of Grant Avenue

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Photographs/sketches of the verandah decorations are required to be one particular front view angle visible from the public footpath and street.

1

2

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A another set of rules have been formulated as a primary guideline for in-situ data collection. Below is the overview of the rules that have been deliberately followed during the photo taking and data collection stage.

Primary rules •

The photographs are required to ‘record’ as many elaborate details of verandah decorations (including timber fretworks, iron laceworks, and brackets).

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The photographs are required to ‘record’ the colour schemes, conditions, materials, styles, and patterns of each selected house’s verandah decorations from1 to 42 the Grant Avenue.

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Utilise the same camera and focal length lens (without any pre-set colour filter) during photographic study, to avoid any colour inaccuracy.

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Each photograph is required to maintain the same orientation and composition

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Choose the optimal weather condition (weather suitable for outdoor photo taking. i.e. sunny days) for data gathering.

Data collections were conducted twice (one time on 25th September 2019 and another time on 25th April 2021). Most of the data collection and photo taking were done under relatively sunny weather conditions, but there were few exceptions (1 to 2 villas) that were taken under slightly cloudy conditions. The camera used is Fujifilm X-S10 with XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 lens (f5, iso400, 1/200). The average time spent on each house was approximately 10-15 minutes.

Below is the list of buildings that exclude from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue.

Exclusions 2.

4.

6.

10.

39.

40.

41.

Apartments Townhouses Townhouses Apartments Football Playground Not Contributory Item Playground

4

.3

s

No

Vi o.5 lla

No

To .4 wn ho us N e

N

o.

Villa 3

Apa rt

men ts

ge

No.2

ical Cotta

No.1

Symmetr

No.42

No

au Villa Art Nouve

h

nd

da

No.41

an

ns

Ve r

8 .3 a No Vill

rn

40 No. ion

gro

.39 No und

y Pla

Ma

all otb

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grou Play

Fo

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es

6 us o. ho

Vil 7 la

N wn o T

.36

Ret

urn

Ver a

Vii la

No

u

Do

.3 h Vi 5 lla

nda

ted

n .7 Fro No ble

o .8 No uble Fr Do

No.3

No.9

4

Villa

Villa

No.10

No.33

Apartm

Villa

No.1

No.32

Queen

Villa

No.12

No.31

Villa

Villa

0 No.3illa

o.

Villa 11A

N

V

N

o Vill .14 a

.29 No illa V

N tta o

N

27

.

No

4

No.22

la Vil ah

Bungalow

Villa

No.23

Villa

No. 2

Vill a

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nd .18 era No turn V

R

Villa dah 19 No. rn Veran etu

R

No.21

Villa

No.20 erandah Villa eturn V

No .25

Vi

.2

C

Chart 1: The styles, colours, materials, and similarities of verandah decorations from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue

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Vil o.1 la 5

Q o. ue 16 en An n

7 .1 No lla

le

ub

Do

on Fr

Vil 6 la

ted

Vi lla

tur

Re

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8 o.2 ge

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ah

nd

era nV

e

Vi lla

1

Ret2 urn

men ts

No

To .4 wn ho us N e

illa

s

No. 3 V

Apa rt

No.1

No.2

Symmetr

Vi o.5 lla

No.3

4

Villa

Queen Anne Villa No.33

ments

Villa

No.22

Bungalow

Villa

No.23

11.4%

8.6% 2.9% 14.2%

Villa

.2

7

20%

Chart 2: The number and percentage of materials and colours of verandah decorations from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue, excluding 2, 4, 6, 10, 39, 40, 41 Grant Avenue

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7 .1 la No Vil a l ah Vil nd .18 era No rn V

65.7%

4

3 1 5

R

23

31.4%

No.20 erandah Villa eturn V

Aluminium /Iron

11

u

tu Re

34.3%

2.9% 8.6%

No.21

No.11

Queen Anne Villa

12

1 3

Villa

Brown 450 Deep brunswick green 227 Eau-de-nil 216 Mid brunswick green 226 Pale cream 4052 Off white 4046 Biscuit 369/ light beige 366

Timber

N

Q

dah 19 No. rn Veran Retu re Roof Louv

Colour schemes

27

.

No

Colour Schemes

le

ub

Do

on Fr

Co

4

tt

ted

Villa

tu

Re

No. 2

5

Vill a

4

No .25

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Based on the analysis and comparison, there are a wide variety of verandah decorations and color schemes of selected 35 houses along Grant Avenue. 34.3% of houses applied timber fretwork while 65.7% of houses applied aluminium/iron lacework. 8 houses (5, 9, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38 Grant Avenue) applied the same pattern of lacework (Victoria frieze and corner). 5 houses (3, 7, 14, 17, 21 Grant Avenue) applied another pattern of lacework (as shown on the left diagram). The pale cream 4052 (31.4%) and deep brunswick green 227 (20%) are the two colours with the largest proportion within these 35 houses Vil 6 la

2

Colour scheme of verandah No.32decorations Villa Street number of Grant Avenue Style of the house o.31 Houses framed by greyNlines are made Villa of timber materials, otherwise are 0 made of Aluminum or iron materials.

No.3illa V The dark triangle indicates the verandah of that house has been9 .2 demolished.

No illa hV da Connects similar types of verandah n ra .28 e Ve decorations rn No ag

Vi lla

1

No

n Anne Villa

No

.3 h Vi 5 lla

nda

No.11

0

11

Vii 6 4 la

3

Ver a

ical Cotta

ge 5

No.42

.3

au Villa Art Nouve

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g otta

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No

o.

3 Vil 7 la

No.41

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ns

da

40 No. ion

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8 .3 a No Vill

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ed

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n Ve Collation & Communication ra N n

tta

ont

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all otb

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2

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Sort by Estimated Value Range 3 1 20 18 35 14 12 31 33 8 11

Grant Avenue Street Number

9 24 7 27 19 28 21 34 22 25 15 17 5 29 11A 38 36 23 32 1M

1.25M

1.50M

1.75M

2M

2.25M

Estimated Value Range (AUD)

Chart 3: The “estimated value” of houses from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue, excluding 2, 4, 6, 10, 39, 40, 41 Grant Avenue (https://www.realestate.com.au/property/value-my-property.)

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Conclusion

Property Sale History 16. 1,316,000 (sold April 2018) 26. 1,610,000 (sold January 2015) 30. 980,000 (sold March 2017) 42. 575,000 (sold June 1999) The left charts are based on the ‘estimated value’ from real estate’s online data, which indicated that the estimated value of most houses with timber fretworks is generally higher than that of houses with aluminium/iron laceworks. Hence, the utilisation of verandah decoration might function as an expression of respectability and wealth of houses.

In conclusion, the verandah decorations of detached single-storey houses along Grant Avenue from No.1 to No.42 (total 35 houses) feature various styles/patterns and typical 1900s colour schemes. The number of Victorian-style aluminium/iron laceworks (23 houses) is comparatively more than the number of Federation-style ornamental timber fretworks (12 houses), based on the investigation of 35 chosen houses. Two major lacework patterns are applied on 8 houses (5, 9, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 38) and 5 houses (3, 7, 14, 17, 21), respectively.

There are 4 out of 35 selected houses are no estimated value available. One the left, is the list of sold history of these 4 houses. Because of the difference in the year of the sale, the sale history cannot be compared directly with the current ‘estimated value’ of other houses in 2021 (considering inflation of currency).

As the similar land sizes of houses from 1 to 42 Grant Avenue, the houses with timber fretwork tend to be relatively more expensive than the houses with aluminium/ iron laceworks along Grant Avenue. Thus, the material of the verandah decoration might be considered as one of the factors that influence the value of the house. Additionally, a few original verandah decorations from Victorian era houses have been replaced or renovated. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further investigation, to determine whether they are worth being included in the local heritage list.

The technique of this comparative study might also be advisable for my research proposal, which is associated with comparing different architecture-landscape spatial relationships in a variety of kindergartens.

Timber fretwork Aluminium/iron lacework

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