A growing backlash against modernist architecture is gaining momentum in Australia, mirroring similar preservation movements across Europe where historic buildings and streetscapes are being restored to their original grandeur. The movement represents a significant shift away from decades of modernist urban planning that prioritized functionality over historical character.
Sydney's once-beloved Rowe Street serves as a stark example of what was lost during the modernist revolution. Standing in what remains of this historic laneway today, visitors can barely imagine its former glory when it was affectionately known as "a touch of Paris" and served as the jewel of Sydney's Central Business District from the late 19th century through the mid-1970s.
During its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, Rowe Street pulsed with cosmopolitan energy, featuring a vibrant bohemian mix of cafes, art galleries, dress stores, milliners, bookshops, and record stores. These establishments were housed in magnificent Edwardian and Victorian buildings that stretched the full block between Pitt and Castlereagh streets. The laneway connected to the impressive sandstone-colonnaded Hotel Australia and provided one of the elegant entrances to the original Theatre Royal on Martin Place.
The transformation came abruptly in 1973 when urban planners severed the historic laneway and demolished both the palatial Hotel Australia and the original Theatre Royal. This destruction occurred despite fierce public opposition from citizens who recognized the cultural and architectural value of these landmarks. The demolition made way for Harry Seidler's brutalist MLC Centre tower, now known as 25 Martin Place.
The modernist structure that replaced these beloved buildings has itself required significant updating, recently undergoing a $170 million renovation to modernize its dated lower levels. This costly retrofit highlights questions about the longevity and appeal of modernist architecture compared to the classic buildings it replaced.
Today, only a small, sad remnant of the once-exuberant Rowe Street survives, serving as a reminder of what Sydney lost during the modernist push of the 1970s. The dramatic contrast between the laneway's glorious past and its current diminished state has become a symbol for preservation advocates arguing against the wholesale replacement of historic architecture.
The Australian backlash against modernism reflects a broader international trend where communities are recognizing the value of preserving architectural heritage. European cities have led this movement, systematically restoring historic buildings and streetscapes that were threatened by post-war modernist development. This preservation effort acknowledges that historic architecture provides not just aesthetic value but also cultural continuity and urban character that modern buildings often fail to replicate.
As the preservation movement gains strength in Australia, the fate of Rowe Street serves as both a cautionary tale and a rallying cry for those seeking to protect the country's remaining architectural heritage from further modernist intervention.
