Australia Modern

From the Sydney Opera House and the National Gallery of Victoria to sought-after homes across the country, the pervasive presence of modernism is inescapable in Australia. Led by the likes of Robin Boyd, Harry Seidler and Walter Burley Griffin, modernist architects and designers set out to rebuild at all scales, from vast infrastructure projects, to public health and education institutions, to new centres of culture, consumption and leisure.

Australia Modern vividly captures this architectural legacy with a survey of 100 significant modern sites, richly illustrated with archival images and newly commissioned photographs. Contextual essays by leading voices in architecture and conservation explore modernism’s influence on every facet of life in Australia and the ongoing challenges facing preservation. Showcasing projects from the iconic and the urban to the everyday, the regional and the lesser known, Australia Modern cultivates an appreciation for the modern architects and buildings that will increasingly constitute the heritage of tomorrow.

About the Authors

Hannah Lewi is a professor of architecture at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests include modern and Australian architecture, new and old media for history and heritage, and heritage and conservation theory. She is a co-director of the Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage and current deputy chair of DOCOMOMO Australia.

Philip Goad is Chair of Architecture, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and co-director of Australian Centre for Architectural History, Urban and Cultural Heritage. He is co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture (2012) and co-author of An Unfinished Experiment in Living: Australian Houses 1950-65 (2017).