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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 11 June 2008 SEIDLER HOME LISTED ON STATE HERITAGE REGISTER Planning Minister Frank Sartor today announced that the family home of late architect Harry Seidler would be listed on the State Heritage Register.
Mr Sartor said the reinforced concrete and glass residence in Killara was designed by Mr Seidler and his wife Penelope in 1966-7, and was among the best examples of the architect’s domestic work.
“This home is a pure expression of Harry Seidler’s architectural and design philosophies,” Mr Sartor said.
“Throughout the house, the Seidlers have used raw materials such as stone, glass, wood and reinforced concrete to create unique, large-scale interflowing spaces and dramatic shapes.
“It demonstrates many features of modern art and architecture, and is widely regarded as the most outstanding Australian example of a house adopting a ‘modernist’ methodology.
“The couple lived in the Killara home for almost 40 years, and it has acted as a backdrop to the family’s contributions to the State’s architectural, cultural and artistic life. The property remains within the Seidler family.”
On hearing news of the heritage listing, Penelope Seidler said: “The house grows more wonderful everyday. Our family is so pleased that the house is protected and will be preserved for future generations.”
Two other Seidler designed residences - the “Igloo House” in Mosman and the “Rose Seidler House” in Wahroonga (both of the 1950s) - are already listed on the State Heritage Register.
Mr Seidler was recognised internationally for his modernist architecture and is widely credited with introducing a distinctly international form of modernism to Australia.
‘The Harry and Penelope Seidler House’ has received a number of awards including the NSW Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Wilkinson Award.
The Institute’s highest honour, the RAIA Gold Medal, was awarded to Mr Seidler in 1977 for outstanding achievement in architectural design and the promotion of architecture and the profession.
Mr Seidler was awarded the top honour, a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1987 and was also internationally recognised with several honours including the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1996.
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