inspiration: harry seidler

They are many places to find inspiration. What to do with that inspiration can sometimes come quickly, other times there can be many steps of development to not only come up with a design, but where and what it can be applied to.


Having in mind that Seidler like to connected the indoors with views to the outdoors, as was the case at Rose Seidler House which has large floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the bush, the product subject to the design became curtains.

He like to incorporate art to his buildings, so the aim was that the curtains could be seen in some small way be seen as a piece of art.

His commercial work were many high-rise buildings, I wanted to portray this grandeur of tallness.

I'm particularly fond of Australia Square in Sydney, and have lovely memories of taking my parents to the revolving restaurant at the top, which of course has some wonder views.  I also am partial to patterns, so the  lines from the window frames and waffle slab ceiling leapt out at me.

Image by roryrory via Flickr

Turning these lines 180° created the pattern for the curtains.  The heading was kept simple and helped to emphasis the lines to create the tallness.


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Taking it several steps further can lead to a design that can be difficult to recognised from the original inspiration.  The curtains kept to the straightness of the lines, in this design those lines became more fluid and playing with colour creates new patterns within the design. 



© decoro creativity 2011

Don't you find it amazing that the same inspiration can result in drastically different results?

Have a good weekend.

incredible journeys: harry seidler (part 2)

The start of the journey click here

His designs were always forward looking. He thought that trying to preserve historical buildings on the facades, with modernism behind did not do justice to either element.

He won his first of five Sulman Medals (for outstanding architectural achievement) for this house. Soon he had many requests to design more houses, leading him to stay and add significantly to the Australian architecture landscape over a 50 year period.

The biggest impact he had was on the Sydney skyline – Blues Point Tower, Australia Square, MLC Centre, Grosvenor Place, Capita Centre, The Horizon, The Cove, Meriton Tower.

Australia Square, Sydney Image via Wikipedia

He broke new ground with Australia Square at 170m, completed in 1967. With new techniques, each of the 50 stories took just 5 days to put up: no scaffolding, light weight concrete. New design principles included:

• The tower taking up just 25% of the site area, with the remaining public social outdoor areas
• Large open foyer
• Integrated art work
• Circular building shape

Walking around the centre of Sydney the first 3 principles can be recognised in many of his buildings.

From researching Seidler's work this lead to inspiration, which will be the subject of another post later this week.

incredible journeys: harry seidler (part 1)

Next month marks 5 years since the passing of the great architect Harry Seidler.  Today we look back at his incredible journey that brought him to Australia.

Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga, NSW Australia

Born in Austria, as a young boy building work caught his imagination. During the Second World War he was sent to England where he studied building and construction. He attended Harvard and another place in America, where he studied under and was greatly influenced by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, former Bauhaus teachers Marcel Breuer and Josef Albers. The space in America was also a key influence in his designs.

His parent emigrated to Sydney, but he was reluctant to join them. When his mother, Rose, asked the 24 year old Harry to design and build their home, it was an offer he could not refuse.

He brought the Bauhaus philosophy fully for the first time to an Australian residence. The Rose Seidler House (1948-1950 in Wahroonga) was a design not seen before, challenging many conventions and had several firsts. His input was in all areas, they were part of his design! The furniture (including pieces by Charles Eames), furnishing, artwork, he decided what they would be and where they would be placed. Most items were also new to Australia, either they were imported with him or custom made locally.

Grasshopper chair in main bedroom,  Rose Seidler House

Seidler said he had no particular style over his career, rather the design evolved to embrace the elements of:

1. Social Use
2. Technology
3. Aesthetic Expression

All of his 3 elements can be seen in the Rose Seidler House: Breuer influenced flexible open plan living areas (the scene of many social gatherings); modern labour saving devices (especially in the kitchen); connected the indoors with views to the outdoors; artwork (all Josef Albers) as an integral part, including his focal mural using the bold colours seen throughout the house.

Rose Seidler House has been maintained as Harry envisioned it by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, open to the public at 71 Clissold Road Wahoroonga On Sundays (10am to 5pm)

Harry Seidler's incredible journey continues in part 2

rediscovering sydney

When we first moved to Sydney it was easy to notice the differences - the light was different, wildlife noises at dusk or dawn, the smell of the flowers, sound of rain on a tin roof, fruit that were once a treat are available in abundance, 'pinching chops off the BBQ' kookaburras, the big spiders ...

As time goes by, what was new becomes familiar and those differences become less noticed.

Yet if you stop, look up or down you can see new things, take a different way home or walk down a little side street you normal bypass, you can make new discoveries.  Soon, you too can uncover something new and enjoy that buzz you get when see something beautiful for the first time.

Sydney may have come last in Australias most livable capital cities (The Australian), but despite her faults there is much to love.  Here are some discoveries around Sydney.  What have you recently discovered in your home town?

Sydney Harbour Bridge
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 The Hornby Lighthouse
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 Rose Seidler House
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In my front garden
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 Queen Victoria Building
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Royal  Botanical Gardens
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