Beverley Hills Retro

Classic retro cream brick & steel windows at 187 Beverley Road, Rosanna...

Images courtesy Barry Plant Rosanna

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

  

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)

Barely Airlie

This little 50's gem at 33 Airlie Road, Montmorency is bound to get the wrecking ball when it is sold later this month...

Skillion Roof

Strapped ceiling, timber lining boards and the quintessential 50's bar!

Looking very much like a holiday home that might have featured in the early series of Mad Men!  All images courtesy Ray White RE Greensborough

 

Devonshire Tea

Watsonia Post Office after closing

I've been a big fan of this little shop at 73 Devonshire Road, Watsonia for a lot of years now. It was originally the Watsonia Post Office and was then sold and slated for demolition to make way for an apartment block development. The GFC however but those plans to rest and it seems for now it might just have escaped the wrecking ball...

Image courtesy Barry Plant Bundoora

Ivanhoe 50's

A touch of 'retro' has been retained in the renovation of this late 50's brick gem at 77 Locksley Road, Ivanhoe. Not sure that this home actually sold - it may have been withdrawn by the owner.

A retro colour palette in the kitchen

Photos courtesy Woodards Real Estate

Eaglemont Nest

Another local home on a huge allotment of 1385m2 has just sold at 28 Brooke Street, Eaglemont. The listing mentions that the home was architect designed in the 50's but I'm not sure who the architect was. It has a 'T'-shaped floor plan with an unusually large footprint for the 50's.

Images courtesy Jellis Craig Ivanhoe

 

Another One!

Another Mid-Century home ear marked for development in Montmorency. When you look at the condition of the house inside - solid timber floors, ducted heating, fresh paintwork, modern kitchen - it makes me cringe that some people would send all of it to the scrapheap, to make money. This is not a sustainable future!

Montmorency House - Image Christou & Co.

What the house could be with a little 'vision' perhaps? (Instead of 3 ugly townhouses).

 

A River Runs Through It

Sad to see this great home at 27 River Street Briar Hill advertised for land value only. It is on a large block but the house looks very solid and in good condition. Thanks Modernist Australia for bringing it to my attention.

Images Ray White Greensborough

 

Watsonia Retro

Pull out your floral aprons kids - this is one for lovers of the 1950's! I was quite excited to see this untouched retro gem at 15 Papua Street Watsonia. Apparently one loving owner has 'preserved' this cute-as-a-button home in original condition. Most encouraging to see a Real Estate Agent that gets the retro appeal too!

Neat as a Pin.

Retro Love!

Images courtesy Ray White Greensborough

Yes Bronte!

I was very excited to see the listing at 25 Bronte Street, Heidelberg last month as it was clear from the photos that this home had been put together by a lover of 'retro' and 'mid-century modernism'. Filled with brave colour and design that enhances the good 'bones' of the building, a fairly humble 50's weatherboard home has been elevated to a stand out property. Bravo owners!!

Fantastic Bold External Colour Scheme - Contemporary but also Enhances the existing Character of the Facade

Key Colour Red brought through to the living room.

and Kitchen - Lovely new plywood ceiling too!

Brave bathroom tiles! - Images courtesy Barry Plant Ivanhoe.

Banks Road Beach House

Love the Vertical Cladding & Skillion Roof

Okay so its a looong way from the beach, but 27 Banks Road Eltham North is exactly the sort of beach house I fantasize about every Summer! It's the 50's style, vertical board cladding and crazy slate floors... Strip off the twee fretwork and brass light fittings and you've got yourself a mid-century beauty.

Oh the Crazy Slate flooring - Love IT!

Don't Fret - All images courtesy Morrison Kleeman Real Estate

Little House on Lower Plenty

This house at 486 Lower Plenty Road, Viewbank sold earlier this year. Its an absolute time capsule! Check out the mural on the kitchen floor and the 'mod' bathroom! Despite the mid century bones, it has a 'Little House on the Prairie' vibe somehow! Interesting one.

Groovy Boomerang design on the kitchen floor!

Reminds me of the Seaholme house bathroom

Images courtesy Miles Real Estate

Achilles Heel

Well, trawling through the pages of realestate.com.au has not turned up a great deal this week. I have been walking around the local area a fair bit though so stay tuned for some amateur photography work from me over the coming weeks. I will be attempting to post some images of local buildings that aren't necessary for sale, but have Mid Century appeal.

In the meantime, 16 Achilles Street Heidelberg West would be a foot in the door for those looking to get into their own home. (I think Heide Heights might be getting a bit groovy you know!) It kinda reminds me of the houses in England. It's not amazing (yet!) but it does have a rather sweet kitchen.

Images Ross Hunt Surrey Hills

Back Dated

I was really quite distraught when MR sent me the link to 19 Longstaff Street Ivanhoe East. While the description reads 'tastefully updated' I couldn't help crying out its 'Back Dated' NOT UPDATED!!

In the 1950's & 1960's architects and designers were doing away with excessive embellishments. While the rations and restrictions of WWII had been lifted, the way we designed buildings and used materials had changed forever. There was a sense of creative freedom and the optimism of the post-war era was celebrated across the arts. It meant new buildings were free from the shackles of traditional decorative elements like stained glass windows, ceiling roses, timber mantel pieces, dado paneling and swags and tail drapery. Yet at Longstaff Street we seem them creeping back in and its wrong, wrong, wrong! Rather than looking rich and opulent as they would in a classic Victorian home, the interiors look like spartan and unfinished. This is because the 1960's proportions of the rooms, the ceiling heights and the windows all work against the interior decor which is designed for smaller, darker rooms with higher ceilings with ornate cornicing and smaller, draftier windows.

Images Miles Real Estate

I won't include more interior photos here because, well frankly, its too upsetting for me! But I hope that the new owners can breathe some new life into this home. Peel off the layers that are aging it un-gracefully and reveal (and celebrate) the modern young building within.

One for Miss Rosanna

This must be one of Greensborough's more interesting homes - 89 Hailes Street, Greensborough is for the Deco lovers out there. I know there are a few of them including Miss Rosanna! (p.s. If you live in the Banyule area you really should check out her fantastic Blog). 

(All images Hocking Stuart Greensborough)

Yep - you know I like a good fireplace! This one looks like varnished bricks - good rich colour - and a mesh curtain to control sparks.

The bigger picture - Fantastic sized room and lovely light pouring in through those curved windows!

Light and Airy - Great access to rear deck.

 This house could look even more fabulous with a slightly more dramatic colour scheme and what I call 'Hollywood Style' landscaping (think green leafy Strelizias, Monsterias and Agave's). 

I worked on a similar style home in Beaumaris a couple of years ago whilst at Austin Design Associates and it transformed the house from a peachy nothing to a house with real 'wow' factor.

Heidelberg Beginner

(images courtesy Ray White Heidelberg)

I thought this unit at 4/18-20 Rosanna Road, Heidelberg would be a goodie for first home buyers. It's getting pretty tough to buy a house as your first foray into home ownership but this tidy little retro unit has direct access to parklands behind giving you the feeling of a lot more space than what is on the title (and you don't need to mow the park!!)

Potential grooviness in kitchen - just add some colour to the walls!

secret garden / access to parklands