architectural photographers reimagine robin boyd's iconic modernist house in melbourne

a group of leading architectural photographers have captured the modernist ‘boyd house II’ or ‘walsh street’ in melbourne – each through their own lens and unique perspective. the home was designed by australian architect robin boyd for his own family in 1957, and since stands as an iconic piece of melbourne’s modernist heritage. produced over the past two years, the photographic series presents a multifaceted portrait of the architect’s most well-known work; including an infrared shot by kate ballis that follows on her palm springs series, featured on designboom here.image by john gollings (also header image)

the photographs are presented as part of this year’s melbourne design week, in the photographic exhibition ‘fresh eyes: reimagining robin boyd’s walsh street’. each image reinterprets the home through a distinct perspective, highlighting elements of its architecture, landscape and history. invited by the robin boyd foundation, the group of architectural photographers were presented with an open creative brief.image by derek swalwell

robin boyd (1919-1971), was an australian architect, writer, teacher and social commentator and a leader in melbourne’s modern architecture movement. he was a visionary in urban design and outspoken on the ‘australian identity’. boyd built ‘walsh street’ for his own family in 1957, while the building now serves as the home of the robin boyd foundation. its design challenged the model of the traditional suburban house, making full use of the site by creating two distinct pavilions separated by a courtyard garden.image by john gollings

the residence demonstrates a conviction to the principles boyd championed in his seminal book ‘the australian ugliness’ which he was writing at the time of this project’s development. the book critiqued – among other aspects of design – the traditional suburban house, which occupies the center of the block, resulting in under-utilised land around the perimeter of the site. to commemorate 60 years since the publication of ‘the australian ugliness’, thames & hudson and the NGV are publishing a new richly-illustrated publication, ‘after the australian ugliness’ in collaboration with monash university and the university of technology sydney with the support of the robin boyd foundation.image by kate ballis image by
tom ross
image by peter bennetts