ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The aim of this book is to capture what is still intact, in 2007, of the work of architects practising in Australia in the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies. The challenge was to find houses that were as close as possible to the architects’ original intent – houses that weren’t heavily renovated, and the interior furnishings of which were stylistically sympathetic, if not original. The final selection of 15 is by no means definitive. There are many architects whose houses I would love to have included but, unfortunately, lack of permission to photograph and other constraints made it impossible.

When I was commissioned to write the book, I knew of five such houses. Finding the other ten was a source of frustration and genuine delight and I remain grateful to the people who helped me in the task of sourcing them. Thanks to: Scott Robertson, Douglas Evans and the members of Docomomo Australia, Anne Higham at the RAIA, Dean Angelucci, Graham Fisher, Donald Campbell, Caroline Quaine, Annemarie Kiely, and Tim Reeves.

Enormous thanks to Michael Wee for his wonderful photographs, and Andrea Healy for her art direction and for creating a book design that does the photographs justice. Thanks to Leta Keens whose editing skills and knowledge of the period I have benefited greatly from. Thanks to Georgia Fox for her ability to source obscure articles, in obscure journals, and to Jason Grant for his generosity with his time helping on photographic shoots.

My heartfelt thanks to my husband, David Harrison, whose tremendous knowledge of twentieth century furniture, endless patience and sound advice have made the whole book possible. I am grateful to the homeowners who permitted us to photograph their houses – Kate McCann at the Audette House; Martin Hiscock at the Grounds House; Kerrie and Michael Hills at the Rosenburg/Hills House; Neil Buhrich at the Buhrich House II; Lisa Moore at the Lobster Bay House; Philip Goldacre and Suzanne Northcotte at the Dingle House; Matthew and Merja Shield at the Kessell House.

Thanks to the architects for their time – Peter Muller; Peter McIntyre; Russell Jack; Enrico Taglietti; John Kenny; Bruce Rickard; Ian McKay; Ian and Rosanne Collins; Neil Everist; Stan Symonds; Bruce Robertson.

Thanks to Penleigh Boyd, Mrs Patricia Davis, Tony Lee and Jennifer Aughterson, Andrew Wilson, Andrew Mitchell, Hans and Pam Snelleman, Margaret Tuckson, Margot Gruzman, Penelope Seidler, Andre Fombertaux, Jane Johnson, Bin Dixon-Ward, Sandra Gray, Don Fulton, Eve McGlashan and Tasker Ryrie.

And finally, thanks to Kay Scarlett for recognising the potential for this book and to Diana Hill for shepherding it through the occasionally fraught process.