Harry and Penelope Seidler House

Harry and Penelope Seidler House is widely regarded as Australia's most outstanding example of a house built in the Brutalist style. It is located in the suburb of Killara on Sydney's North Shore, and was designed by Harry and Penelope Seidler. [ [http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_02_2.cfm?itemid=5049861 NSW State Heritage Office] ]

Features

Covering 400sqm, it is constructed with reinforced masonry walls, concrete floors and roof, with rubble-stone retaining walls and fireplace. It won the Wilkinson Award, RAIA in 1967.

A concrete bridge leads from the entrance over a drop to the front door where the plaque is located, detailing the home's win of the Wilkinson Award. The site is uneven and challenging for a concrete home, the sandstone and base cement slab do not touch each other, and the house sits on piers dug into the sandstone ground.

The house has three levels that are only partially open to each other. On the top level is the kitchen and dining, small gallery and balcony. The second level has the living area and bedrooms. There is also a large pool and outdoor area that was added at a later date. The home is surrounded by natural Australian bush while being in an urban environment. The home is furnished with 1960s inspired modernist art and furniture.

Living home

Harry and Penelope Seidler moved into the building on Harry Seidler's birthday in 1967 and lived there ever since. Harry Seidler died in 2006. Penny Seidler continues to work on her designs from the terrace. [ [http://www.specifier.com.au/architects/16084/Penelope-Seidler.html Penelope Seidler ] ]

References

External links

Pictures of the house taken in 2006 can be seen at: [http://www.twentieth.org.au/seidler_killara.html Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW]
More information about the works of Harry Seidler at: [http://www.seidler.net.au/ www.seidler.net.au]