St Kilda Dali-inspired The Face apartment set for auction
A one-bedroom apartment in St Kilda’s The Face, which has a balcony facing on to Luna Park’s own iconic, if slightly eerie, face, is heading to auction next month.
Looking for $415,000 plus buyers the April 5th auction, at 12.30pm, sits on Acland Street and Carlisle Street.
It features built-in robes, a Euro laundry, secure one-car parking and an entertaining balcony.
At 204/72 Acland Street, St Kilda, it is one of around 30 apartments, which range from 39 square metre studios to 240 square metres for three bedroom terraces. There is 450 square metres of retail at the ground level.
The building itself is four storeys, and the ARM development websites explains that the Luna Park Mr Moon face is a metaphorical link to the Carlise Street façade, based on Salvador Dali’s 1937 painting ‘Sleep’ – an image of a face on crutches.
Photo: 'Sleep' by Salvador Dali.
Photo: The front entrance to Luna Park in St Kilda, source: Wikicommons
Meanwhile, the north-east and north-west facades are based on Dali’s 1936 ‘The Anthropomorphic Cabinet’ and 1937 ‘The Burning Giraffe’.
The development was completed in 2012 by ARNO Corporation, with a $12 million value, and designed by architect Ashton Raggat McDougall (ARM).
At the time of development there was significant resistance from locals, including Port Phillip Council, to the change in streetscape due to the demolition of eatery Freasy Joe’s and four adjacent heritage buildings, however VCAT ruled in favour of the development. There were 21 initial objections.
St Kilda ward councillor Karen Sait was angered by the decision at the time.
"The Face might be a high-quality design, but it comes at a terrible price - the demolition of five heritage-listed buildings which are part and parcel of the area's inter-war character" Sait said, calling it an “overdevelopment”.
Despite this, VCAT said that it actually enhanced the character of St Kilda, by enhancing the flamboyance and diversity of the area.
One of the two-bedroom apartments on Stayz asks for $160 to $220 per night for holiday bookings.
