Mercht Builders Display Houses Tstowe

The Merchant Builders Beverley Hills Drive and Porter Street precinct comprises two groups of houses at 408-18 Porter Street and 3-7 & 4-12 Beverley Hills Drive that were constructed between 1981 and 1987. With the exception of the house at 412 Porter Street, which was designed by Cocks Carmichael, the houses were designed and constructed by Merchant Builders. The houses at 408, 414 Porter Street and 3, 8-10, and 12 Beverley Hills Drive were initially used as display houses. The house at 8-10 is especially notable as it demonstrated the use of the 'Trombe' wall, a passive solar energy device. The houses are all very intact and form a distinctive grouping that is quite distinct from the traditional housing developments that surround them.

How is it Significant?

The Merchant Builders Beverley Hills Drive and Porter Street precinct is of historic and aesthetic significance to Manningham City. The 'Trombe' house at 8-10 Beverley Hills Drive is of technical significance to Manningham City.

Why is it Significant?

The Merchant Builders Beverley Hills Drive and Porter Street precinct has historic significance as it incorporates one of the last display villages constructed by Merchant Builders in Manningham City. It illustrates the continuing role of Merchants Builders in providing architect-designed houses at an affordable price. (RNE criteria A.4, D.2 and H.1)

The Merchant Builders Beverley Hills Drive and Porter Street precinct has aesthetic significance to Manningham City as a representative example of a late twentieth century housing precinct, which remains very intact. The house at No. 412 illustrates the influence of post-modern design during the 1980s.

The 'Trombe' house at 8-10 Beverley Hills Drive has technical and historic significance as a rare example of the utilization of this passive solar energy technology in a residential building, which compares with the 'Solar House' at 32 Rosco Drive, Templestowe. It illustrates the rising interest in alternative energy in the later part of the twentieth century and demonstrates the continuing commitment of Merchant Builders to exploring innovative technology in the design of their houses. (RNE criteria A.4, B.2 and F.1)

Group

Residential buildings (private)

Category

House