Renowned Australian architect (and esteemed client of ours) Harry Seidler died peacefully at his home this morning. His death followed a massive stroke last April.
We were privileged to live for nearly 10 years in a penthouse apartment of Ithaca Gardens, one of his 1959 designs in Elizabeth Bay, Sydney. Harry and his wife Penelope lived in the apartment between 1960 and 1967, and its interior still retains their early customisations and personal touches. The apartment itself was very special to the Seidlers, but Harry was not all that effusive over the rest of the building; he commented that he only liked the folded-concrete roof of the garages…).
Damn, we loved that place! It had expansive-yet-intimate views over the naval dockyard in Garden Island, and panoramic views across the rest of Sydney harbour. It was not a large place, but always felt very special – its interior design had the ability to throw one’s focus out towards the view; a simultaneous liberation and compression of horizontal space (architectural/verbal diarrhea I know, but thats how it felt)… Everything was beautifully put-together and considered – very simply and deftly with minimal fuss – a trademark early Seidler work, with many of the tricks learnt from the Rose Seidler House reused and improved.
Harry Seidler was a keen force of Modern Architecture, his buildings melding form and function with simplicity, verve and wit.
Our built environment is wa-aay richer for having known him.