Houses are a testament of time. They serve as proof of existence, reflections of bygone trends and evidence of societal evolution. In The New Modernist House, a deep admiration for the house as a historical record emerges through the portrayal of 21 mid-century Australian homes delicately restored to highlight the original characteristics.
While each adaptation varies in quirks, scale, scope and budget, each demonstrates an unwavering commitment to preserving the qualities and essence of the original home.
Visual appeal and practicality combine as the book transcends being an illustrated volume for inspiration to a resource that draws from experiences, including author Patricia Callan’s, of renovating a modernist home. Callan, the founder of the online mid-century housing archive Modernist Australia, offers practical musings to consider before taking on a modernist renovation project – without sugar-coating the realities of owning and trying to sensitively edit such a mature home.
Alexander House in Avalon Beach, NSW, designed by Loyal Alexander and renovated by Trace Architects.
Image:
Simon Whitbread
Compromise is often essential for the retention of character, Callan asserts. Although certain characteristics may not be compatible with contemporary needs, concessions and sacrifices often have to be made to ensure authenticity to the original. “Some owners may be happy to accommodate a smaller kitchen layout rather than risk losing the character of an adjoining dining space, while others still might buy a home in part for its thrilling butterfly roofline, even if that requires more attentive gutter clearing,” she writes.
Through the depicted projects, the book demonstrates the exceptional value that can emerge from engaging an architect or designer to oversee sympathetic alterations. From understanding the particulars of heritage constraints to having a propensity for creative problem solving, practitioners benefit both homes and their custodians. The advantages of practitioner engagement can be observed in projects such as Alexander House by Trace Architects, Ivanhoe East House by Pop Architecture and Fisher House by Adriana Hanna, all presented in the book as exemplars of meticulous, assiduous and sensitive design.
The Fisher House in Warrandyte, Victoria, designed in 1970 by Alistair Knox and carefully renovated by Adriana Hanna. Artworks (L–R): Emily Ferretti, Zoe Grey.
Image:
Sean Fennessy
Of the renovations exhibited, several design concepts are repeated, such as an emphasis on flow from indoors to outdoors, an open and flexible layout, and a preference for sturdy materials like brick, concrete and terrazzo. Where ornamental features are absent, idiosyncratic character can instead be found in playful colours, materials, ceilings heights and floor levels.
The New Modernist House by Patricia Callan is published by Thames and Hudson Australia.
