POST-WAR MODERNISM: Rose Seidler House in Wahroonga
History
The Rose Seidler House was designed by Harry Seidler. It is located in Wahroonga, on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. It was built in 1940-50. With modernist principles in mind, Seidler created a functional house for his parents, Rose and Max. Currently the house belongs to the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, and it is open for public viewing and for private events.
Designed by
Harry Seidler designed the house following the modernist principles of simplicity, open layout, minimalist colours, modern technologies and structural engineering. Harry Seidler (1923 – 2006) was born in Austria, educated in the UK and the USA, but he spent most of his life in Australia. He is considered the forefather of modernist architecture in Australia. This design was highly debated at the time, and yet, despite the controversy, Harry Seilder won the 1951 Sulman Architecture Prize for it.
Dimensions
Area: 200m2
Materials
Concrete floor, timber superstructure, glass, steel, cement, stone, timber.
Elements and Principles
The governing element is the form, and the principle is harmony. The house features glass walls, asymmetrical composition, wide open plan, cubic shapes and a flat roof. It is a very sculptural creation and all modernist elements compose a most harmonius overall effect.
Manufactured by
Harry Seidler was both the designer, and the principal constructor of the house.
Used by Designers
When this house was designed and built, it was considered highly controversial and unusual. Yet, soon a number of architects started following this modernist trend.
Replicas, contemporary interpretations and influences
Harry Seidler introduced the modernist style to Australian architecture. Harry Seidler also desiged and built a similar house, one called the Brian Seidler House. Over the decades, many architects followed and drew inspiration from this building. Contemporary and emergin architectural styles of Australia seem to be particularly inspired by and indebted to Harry Seidler.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Seidler_House
http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/venues/rose-seidler-house
http://iconmagazine.com.au/rose-seidler-house-the-home-of-the-future-icon-magazine-issue-2/
http://seidler.net.au/?id=1
http://neocribs.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/house-extension-brian-seidler-house.html
http://www.popartdecorations.com/architecture/bright-and-cosy-home-in-australia-the-yallingup-residence
