Atlas Building
Atlas Building is a four-storey building opened in 1931 to provide offices for the Atlas Assurance Company and additional space for tenants. Founded in 1808 in London, the Atlas Company is famous for having insured many well-known people, including Queen Victoria, Lady Hamilton, and Sir Walter Scott.
The design of the front elevation was described as a free treatment of Renaissance architecture. One of the most visually arresting aspects was a large statue of Atlas himselfon the roof, cast in terracotta, bearing a globe produced in sheet copper.
The building was designed to meet modern fire codes, with minimum use of wood, and firefighting appliances installed on each floor. Entrance was through massive bronze doors, three metres wide, and the interior used bronze and copper everywhere from the lift doors and cage to the mail boxes.
Today Atlas Building continues to be occupied as offices and is also home to the Museum of Perth where the public can both experience the history of the city and see some of the impressive architecture of the building itself.
Atlas Building is a four-storey building, with a basement, constructed in the Inter-War Free Classical style and opened on 28 April 1931 to provide office and leasing space for the Atlas Assurance Company and its tenants. The company was founded in 1808 after a meeting of city merchants and brokers at Will’s Coffee House and had its first home in Cheapside, London.Atlas has insured many famous people, including Queen Victoria, Lady Hamilton, and Sir Walter Scott.
The Atlas Building in Perth was designed by architect FGB Hawkins, and erected for £30,000. Hawkins (1885-1956) was born in South Africa and came to practice in Australia after World War I. In Perth he was responsible for the Yorkshire Insurance building (c1930), and the Mercantile Mutual Insurance building (1939) as well as carrying out a considerable amount of domestic and industrial works in the city and suburbs.
At the opening ceremony of the Atlas Building, the Governor made mention that although Perth was experiencing difficult times, there was still some progress. He drew attention to the modern fireproofing which had been incorporated:
Atlas Building, which was constructed by contractors, Messrs. Todd Bros., employed up-to-date fire proofing construction techniques with the most modern firefighting appliances being installed on each floor. In fact, the flat roof was designed as such so as to allow firemen to fight fires in adjoining buildings. All windows were steel framed and strongrooms were provided for all suites. Natural lighting was a conspicuous feature, with about 75% of the outside walls being occupied by windows.
The ground floor accommodated the company’s office, and the upper floors were subdivided for tenants, who also had the use of a boardroom capable of seating 50 persons. The massive bronze entrance doors, 3 metres wide by 5 metres high, were sheathed and studded, while the visitor could also admire the bronze grilles, the lift cage, the mail box, the bronze lift doors, the ornamental copper, cornice, and the attractive spandrel panels.
Surmounting the facade was a life-size figure of Atlas supporting the globe. This was also modelled in architectural terracotta and finished in an ivory colour, the globe being of sheet copper. In 1968, during roofing works, the builders discovered one of the arms of the statue of Atlas was loose. As the company did not wish to repair the statue, it was removed and taken into possession by the project’s architect.
After the Atlas Assurance sold the building, its name was changed to Phoenix Building. Since then, the ground floor and the office space has been leased to a variety of professional firms, mainly insurance agents and solicitors and architects. Today Atlas Building continues to be occupied as offices and is also home to the Museum of Perth where the public can both experience the history of the city and see some of the impressive architecture of the building itself.
West Australian 28 April 1931
West Australian 29 April 1931
West Australian 02 May 1931