The iconic Robin Boyd House II at 290 Walsh Street, South Yarra, Melbourne, is to be auctioned on 21st July 2007. We are people who give a damn about the loss of this house and the Robin Boyd Foundation. We believe there's enough good will and commitment out there to save it for all Victorians - all we need is a bit of coordination, leadership and a determination to make it happen. This is an information blog and coordination point for others who feel the same way.
Dear Nic I am surprised and appalled that the Boyd House II is to be sold. In NSW we have the state government’s Historic Houses Trust which has accepted ownership of the Rose Seidler House and is considering other Modern icons for its portfolio. Whilst the National Trust of Australia(NSW) does not yet own a Modern building it recently listed the Harry Seidler House at Killara and the Hugh Buhrich House II at Castlecrag on its Register.
It is a matter of concern that the Victorian Government has not equaled NSW in the establishment of a state organisation to safeguard the heritage of Victoria along the lines of the NSW Historic Houses Trust.
On my last visit to Melbourne I was fortunate enough to be allowed a private viewing of the Boyd House II and I would consider that it would be an ideal candidate for the first property to be purchased by a Victorian government equivalent of the Historic Houses Trust. Victoria is establishing itself as the design capital of Australia and it is vital that important icons of the state’s design heritage are preserved as part of the history and on-going development of Victorian design.
The Robin Boyd House II was one of the first group of 20 Australian buildings to be listed on the Register of Docomomo International (based in Paris) and on behalf of Docomomo Australia I would urge the Victorian Government to act by purchasing the house as the beginning of a portfolio of buildings to be safeguarded by the state for all Australians to enjoy.
Your "Save the Robin Boyd House II" blog has inspired me to support the campaign to encourage the Victorian Government, National Trust and the RBF Board to purchase Boyd House II for the Victorian (and global) public.
Having had the privilege of living in a Robin Boyd inspired house designed by one of Robin's students, Bill Williams, I have learned to appreciate the importance of good design and how it can reflect our culture and influence our living standards. It is of utmost importance to safeguard buidings like Boyd House II for future generations and current town planners alike to broaden the appreciation of good design, innovation and culture.
During my secondary school days I voluntered on the weekends to work at Heide II which has prospered with public support and has exposed people to alternatives to the "Australian Ugliness".
Robin Boyd's writings and design had such an impact on my parents they decided to name me after his premature death in 1971. I have by curiosity and admiration continued to be a great fan of his legacy and hope others feel the same compassion to ensure the correct action is made to purchase Boyd House II for the Australian public.
Boyd Wardell
ps: please feel free to send me mesage to relevent concerns...and keep up the good work!
It would be tragic to let this outstanding piece of Australian contemporary architecture be taken away from the public eye in a period when this sort of cultural example is severely lacking.
Australia's cultural identity is ingrained in living architecture such as the Robin Boyd House II. For the Victorian Government not to saveguard the heritage of such an important architectural footprint is to dilute our historical record. Our children and our children's children deserve to observe and enjoy all of our heritage...
I've never seen inside it and I'd quite like to. Work this important and influential should be kept available for viewing to the public for educational needs and for people like me who'd just like to have a look. It would be a shame if it got turned into an unaffordable holiday home for hire and was rammed full of 27 different kinds of modernist chairs and magazine racks.
(1) Robin Boyd, his designs, writings and ideas, are of enormous importance to the design, architectural and cultural heritage of Victoria and Australia;
(2) the Walsh Street House (Boyd House II) is one of the best examples of Robin Boyd’s design and ideas;
(3) the Robin Boyd Foundation, a public and non-for-profit organisation, is an excellent platform for the continued learning and education of Robin Boyd’s work; and
(4) the proximity to the CBD, its fantastic condition (after almost 50 years) and standard setting design quality make the Boyd House II the ideal centre for the Robin Boyd Foundation and its programs.
For these reasons the Boyd House II must remain in the Foundation's (and public) hands and all possible effort must be made to ensure that it does.
I hope the support for this campaign continues to grow and I urge any one interested to support it urgently.
Dear Nic Thank you for moving on this wonderful house! I watched it from outside as it was built and always wanted to go in as I was raised on Australia's Home and Ugliness. Even today if someone suggests a 'feature' I twitch.
I had the wonderful experience of going into the house last Saturday. Having rung the National Trust and been told that there were no more Open Days (I missed any publicity about them & believe that the quotas were filled immediately) I had to go via the Estate Agents: I note today that there are no open inspection times advertised on their website.
It was such a wonderful feeling of lightness and rightness, my soul exulted and I cannot believe this building could be shut off, not producing joy and inspiration for professionals and general public like myself.
Without wealth or connections I would love to contribute to convincing the State Government and the Universities to maintain this building for the public, residents and visitors. Regards Belinda
Thanks to all for your posts. Belinda, it's wonderful to make contact with someone who was influenced by Boyd's writings and ideas. We think the Foundation can pick up and continue the job of getting the design message to a wide public. We also believe the house should be made available, on a regular and well publicised basis, to the public. Perhaps you should let Justin madden, Minister for Planning, know what your feelings are. His address is on the blog under ‘What Can I Do?’.
1. Your help! Leave a comment, canvass others who might be interested to get involved, get in touch direct with the State Government, help us draw together the support that's out there! Contact us: nicdowse@gmail.com
2. Leadership from the State Government, the National Trust (Victoria) and the RBF Board to come together and do what has to be done to ensure the Robin Boyd House II is purchased for the Victorian public;
3. If worse comes to worst and the house must be sold into private hands, we ask the Boyd Foundation Board to abandon the planned auction in favour of a more heritage-consistent sale process, for example sale by tender.
10 comments:
Dear Nic
I am surprised and appalled that the Boyd House II is to be sold. In NSW we have the state government’s Historic Houses Trust which has accepted ownership of the Rose Seidler House and is considering other Modern icons for its portfolio. Whilst the National Trust of Australia(NSW) does not yet own a Modern building it recently listed the Harry Seidler House at Killara and the Hugh Buhrich House II at Castlecrag on its Register.
It is a matter of concern that the Victorian Government has not equaled NSW in the establishment of a state organisation to safeguard the heritage of Victoria along the lines of the NSW Historic Houses Trust.
On my last visit to Melbourne I was fortunate enough to be allowed a private viewing of the Boyd House II and I would consider that it would be an ideal candidate for the first property to be purchased by a Victorian government equivalent of the Historic Houses Trust. Victoria is establishing itself as the design capital of Australia and it is vital that important icons of the state’s design heritage are preserved as part of the history and on-going development of Victorian design.
The Robin Boyd House II was one of the first group of 20 Australian buildings to be listed on the Register of Docomomo International (based in Paris) and on behalf of Docomomo Australia I would urge the Victorian Government to act by purchasing the house as the beginning of a portfolio of buildings to be safeguarded by the state for all Australians to enjoy.
Scott Robertson
President
Docomomo Australia Inc
Dear Nic,
Your "Save the Robin Boyd House II" blog has inspired me to support the campaign to encourage the Victorian Government, National Trust and the RBF Board to purchase Boyd House II for the Victorian (and global) public.
Having had the privilege of living in a Robin Boyd inspired house designed by one of Robin's students, Bill Williams, I have learned to appreciate the importance of good design and how it can reflect our culture and influence our living standards. It is of utmost importance to safeguard buidings like Boyd House II for future generations and current town planners alike to broaden the appreciation of good design, innovation and culture.
During my secondary school days I voluntered on the weekends to work at Heide II which has prospered with public support and has exposed people to alternatives to the "Australian Ugliness".
Robin Boyd's writings and design had such an impact on my parents they decided to name me after his premature death in 1971. I have by curiosity and admiration continued to be a great fan of his legacy and hope others feel the same compassion to ensure the correct action is made to purchase Boyd House II for the Australian public.
Boyd Wardell
ps: please feel free to send me mesage to relevent concerns...and keep up the good work!
It would be tragic to let this outstanding piece of Australian contemporary architecture be taken away from the public eye in a period when this sort of cultural example is severely lacking.
Australia's cultural identity is ingrained in living architecture such as the Robin Boyd House II. For the Victorian Government not to saveguard the heritage of such an important architectural footprint is to dilute our historical record. Our children and our children's children deserve to observe and enjoy all of our heritage...
I've never seen inside it and I'd quite like to. Work this important and influential should be kept available for viewing to the public for educational needs and for people like me who'd just like to have a look. It would be a shame if it got turned into an unaffordable holiday home for hire and was rammed full of 27 different kinds of modernist chairs and magazine racks.
Note: the deleted message was a duplicate of Sally's first comment.
There is no doubt that:
(1) Robin Boyd, his designs, writings and ideas, are of enormous importance to the design, architectural and cultural heritage of Victoria and Australia;
(2) the Walsh Street House (Boyd House II) is one of the best examples of Robin Boyd’s design and ideas;
(3) the Robin Boyd Foundation, a public and non-for-profit organisation, is an excellent platform for the continued learning and education of Robin Boyd’s work; and
(4) the proximity to the CBD, its fantastic condition (after almost 50 years) and standard setting design quality make the Boyd House II the ideal centre for the Robin Boyd Foundation and its programs.
For these reasons the Boyd House II must remain in the Foundation's (and public) hands and all possible effort must be made to ensure that it does.
I hope the support for this campaign continues to grow and I urge any one interested to support it urgently.
Richard Stampton
Lawyer
Arnold Bloch Leibler
Lawyers and Advisers
Dear Nic
Thank you for moving on this wonderful house! I watched it from outside as it was built and always wanted to go in as I was raised on Australia's Home and Ugliness. Even today if someone suggests a 'feature' I twitch.
I had the wonderful experience of going into the house last Saturday. Having rung the National Trust and been told that there were no more Open Days (I missed any publicity about them & believe that the quotas were filled immediately) I had to go via the Estate Agents: I note today that there are no open inspection times advertised on their website.
It was such a wonderful feeling of lightness and rightness, my soul exulted and I cannot believe this building could be shut off, not producing joy and inspiration for professionals and general public like myself.
Without wealth or connections I would love to contribute to convincing the State Government and the Universities to maintain this building for the public, residents and visitors.
Regards
Belinda
Thanks to all for your posts. Belinda, it's wonderful to make contact with someone who was influenced by Boyd's writings and ideas. We think the Foundation can pick up and continue the job of getting the design message to a wide public. We also believe the house should be made available, on a regular and well publicised basis, to the public. Perhaps you should let Justin madden, Minister for Planning, know what your feelings are. His address is on the blog under ‘What Can I Do?’.
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