The New Modernist House: Mid-Century Homes Renewed for Contemporary Living

Modernist Australia blogger Callan debuts with a striking survey of Australian modernist houses built between 1953 and 1980 that have been “beautifully reimagined through... renovation.” The modernist style, she explains, emerged in the early 20th century in opposition to “the ornate excesses of the preceding Victorian era” and privileged considerations of “comfort and utility” over strict aesthetic principles. Detailing updates to 21 houses that have preserved the structures’ mid-century character, she describes how the owners of a 1963 suburban Victoria home “effectively gutted” the edifice in 2019 to create more bedroom and kitchen space, but saved the original bricks and incorporated them into the new layout. Mid-century fashions dominate the interior design choices, as exemplified by a New South Wales house adorned with dark timber paneling, “burnt orange” walls, and a retro refrigerator. Callan presents an insightful look into how homeowners have balanced preservation with renovation, and she illuminates how historical currents influenced the construction of each home. For example, Callan discusses how one Victoria house was built in 1957 on land carved out from an imperial estate to accommodate the post-WWII population boom, and how one 1960 Queensland apartment complex was erected at a moment when “Australia looked towards a space-age future of city life in shiny towers.” The result is a welcome celebration of the modernist style’s enduring appeal. (May)