North Adelaide, Bagot Street office designed by acclaimed architect John Chappel earmarked for demolition

A demolition threat has sparked a bid to save a North Adelaide property designed by a renowned SA architect. What do you think?

This office building designed by John Chappel is the subject of a state heritage-listing bid to prevent its demolition for townhouses. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

A demolition threat has sparked a state heritage-listing bid for a mid-century modern North Adelaide property designed by a renowned South Australian architect.

The son of late architect John S Chappel said while the Bagot Street office building was a unique example of his father’s commercial buildings, it was not among his “top 10” projects.

Konstantinos, Eudoxia and George Kotses – whose family owns Bickford’s – have lodged plans with Adelaide City Council to flatten the 1964 red-brick office building on the corner of Kermode Street and replace it with four two-storey townhouses.

The move triggered an anonymous nomination for the SA Heritage Council to save the building on the grounds of its architectural merit and its connection with Mr Chappel.

The Kotses family and the nominator will be given the chance to put forward their case at the council’s April 8 meeting.

Mr Chappel – father of developer Simon Chappel and the late fashion and retail visionary Joff Chappel – is considered one of Adelaide’s foremost residential architects with hundreds of designs across Adelaide.

The Royal Australian Institute of Architects SA awards’ top prize for residential architecture is named in his honour and for 34 years from 1956 was the architectural correspondent for The Advertiser.

The late John Chappel inside the Ruthven Mansions apartment building on Pulteney St. He oversaw the restoration of the building in the 1980s.

The mid-century modern office building is one of few commercial designs by John Chappel. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Simon Chappel said the Bagot St building, opposite the Queens Head hotel, was a rare example of his father’s commercial projects, among them the refurbishment of the Eynesbury College building on Franklin St, Adelaide, and an office on MacKinnon Pde, North Adelaide.

He said the 120 sqm Bagot St building wasn’t one of his classics.

“It’s not a standout of his architecture but it is a unique piece of what he was doing at the time … it wouldn’t be in his top 10,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s the end of the world (if demolished), there’s still a lot of his work surviving.”

The building is a “quintessential example of Adelaide mid-century modernism”. But should be saved? Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Architect Damien Chwalisz ran his business from the two-storey building until he relocated last year. He supported the heritage-listing saying it would be a “great tragedy” if the property was lost.

“It’s a really lovely building and a great building to be in, it’s a quintessential example of Adelaide mid-century modernism and is almost original,” he said.

The Advertiser attempted to contact George Kotses for comment.