You Cant Stop Progress...

Recently sold was this 70's gem at 117 Progress Road Eltham North.  Split level living, exposed beams and brickwork (and how great is the wall hanging!?)

Love the beams, brickwork and wall hanging!

All images courtesy Barry Plant Eltham

Studley Courtyard

The Robin Boyd Holford House I listed last week reminds me of this potential packed home at 34 Studley Road Ivanhoe that I viewed during its sales campaign last year. It was also a courtyard style home on a steeply sloping block. Although it needed a bit of work, it was in fairly original condition so you could see that it had great bones. Hopefully it sold to a new owner with a Modernist vision and deep pockets!

Entry to home via courtyard - much like Boyd's Holford House

Living Area with great fireplace

Entertainers backyard with swimming pool

Courtyard style plan - All images Courtesy Haughton Stotts

  

Back of Burke

 
I drove past this home at 76 Burke Road Ivanhoe East on Sunday and looked it up when I got back home. I am intrigued by the staircase photo - will have to go and check it out!

All images courtesy Miles Real Estate

Hardy a Boyd Design

I was pretty excited to see Robin Boyd's Holford House c.1956 at 14 Hardy Terrace, Ivanhoe East come up for sale this week.  I actually had the chance to go through the house on one of the Robin Boyd Foundations Open Days back in 2010. It is one of Robin Boyd's famed courtyard houses - a layout which I absolutely love. It also has this great 'Parasol Roof' where the pavilions of the house have a flat roof that is sheltered by a floating skillion roof above. I presume this was to assist in drainage and insulation.

'Parasol' Roof

It seems like the internal room configuration has been played with a bit - as you can see by comparing these images from the State Library of Victoria's archives and the current real estate images. The kitchen has been moved from the entry, which I can understand the reasoning for, but unfortunately now when you enter the house via the courtyard you walk into a blank wall.  The original copper fireplace has also been moved from one end of the house to the other.

Image from the SLV archives - You can just see the kitchen to the entry and the copper hood of the fireplace inside.

Current sales photo from Nelson Alexander - Kitchen and Fireplace have been moved.

According the the Banyule City Councils Heritage Report of 2011 "Holford House
is of architectural, historic and aesthetic significance to the City of Banyule" so it would be great to see a Heritage Order placed on 14 Hardy Terrace if it hasn't already been. 

Distinctive Boyd Courtyard Plan

Rear elevation overlooking the Golf Course - Images courtesy Nelson Alexander Real Estate (unless noted)

What a Looker!

Here's another small home for those just starting out (or scaling down) at 5/58b Looker Road, Montmorency. Similar in influence to the Merchant Builder homes in Rosanna, the exposed beams & raked timber lined ceilings give the rooms a greater sense of space. Replace the vertical blinds with contemporary roller blinds and give the kitchen and ceiling a lick of paint and you've got yourself of Modernist abode thats bang up to date!

Merchant Builder influence

Timber lined raked ceilings and lovely big windows and doors

Kitchen could be lifted with a new paint job - All images courtesy Darren Jones Real Estate.

Eton my heart out..

Unassuming exterior

Going straight out to buy a tatts ticket now that I've seen 4 Eton Court Heidelberg! Wow. Designed by Architect Charles Duncan and built in 1964, this home is a testament that good design - in terms of both layout and materials - will stand the test of time.

Not only is it in immaculate original condition thanks to the loving care provided by its one owner - it's also huge!! It's a similar design to a home I previously featured in Seymour Grove, Viewbank. Lots of pictures today as they are all so fabulous!

Beautifully detailed breakfast bar

The 50 year old kitchen is contemporary even by today's standards

Charles Duncan worked on quite a few influential homes in the Banyule area and was clearly influenced by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. You can see FLW's influence in the selection of materials, strong emphasis on the horizontal plane and stepping of the building to follow the contours of the land. 

Unusual pyramid-esque timber lined ceiling

Built in furniture & pelmet lighting in Master Bedroom

Mosaic tiles to family bathroom

Light flooded walkway to kids bedroom 'wing'

Fabulous original bunk rooms - just like a holiday house! (All images courtesy Nelson Alexander Ivanhoe)

Big thanks to KS for the tip off on this house!