Summary

Black and white silver gelatin photograph of the east face of Building 7 Testing under construction taken from slightly below ground level and looking towards the north-west, Kodak factory, Coburg, January 1958.

Apart from the special architectural features mentioned below, Building 7 was typical of the structural style used in many of the manufacturing buildings throughout the complex, that is, single-storey, low profile, steel columns and steel trussed roofs with brick outer walls allowing large open spaced interiors with air-conditioning and other local services installed in the central ceiling space. This meant that any internal walls and divisions were light weight and non-load-bearing and could easily be altered to match changes to manufacturing requirements.

One of the architectural aims of this landscaped complex was to show that although much of the structural style of these factory buildings was simple and utilitarian, through high quality finishes and special architectural features and detailing, the public view of this site was of a very stylish work precinct. The long frontage of Building 7 (which faced Elizabeth Street) featured a decorative facade (sufficiently high enough to hide the roofline) with full length aluminium framed wall panels which had strong vertical mullion lines incorporating the windows in the centre line of panels. Occupying the centre of the building was a relatively small two-storey steel and concrete and brick walled section which protruded out from the building line and served as the ground floor entrance with management offices above and which featured an aluminium framed all-glass panelled window occupying the complete east end.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as, film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

This photograph is part of the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005 after the manufacturing plant at Coburg had closed down the year before.

Description of Content

This is a view a building under construction. A two-storey steel and concrete structure can be seen in the centre of the photograph with two single-storey wings where aluminium framed facades are being assembled. Behind the facades, encased steel columns, steel roof trusses and steel ceiling beams are partly visible. At the far end of the right wing a large open doorway locates the Electricity Sub-station #2. Workmen's sheds can be seen in the right background.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph printed on light weight paper, portrait format.

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