The following citation was prepared for the 1998 RAIA 25 Year Awards by architects Philip Leeson and Cassandra Kelleher for the ACT Chapter of the RAIA. It is reproduced here with their permission.

1998 RAIA 25 Year Award Citation

In stark contrast to the archetypal suburbia of Canberra are three houses in Campbell designed in the early 1960s by the partnership Grounds, Romberg and Boyd of Melbourne. The houses of 42-46 Vasey Crescent are unique firstly for their united appearance which is typified by a low key aesthetic, clean lines and cubiform shapes. Secondly, unlike the houses which surround them, they are notable for their careful planning as a group of houses with a considered relationship to their site.

At a time when the Academy of Science Building by Roy Grounds was under construction in Canberra, the first of the new landowners of Vasey Crescent approached Grounds asking if he would design a house for them. Admirers of the new Academy Building and having moved recently from Melbourne, the Blakers were well aware of Grounds’ work. On meeting them he accepted the commission saying,

had it been a mansion I would have refused, but a cottage I’ll accept.

— Roy Grounds

The Blakers own taste for simple materials and their limited budget must have appealed to Grounds’ own sensibilities and his desire to develop an inexpensive and unassuming but sensible house type. Independently, the other two block owners also approached Grounds to design their houses: the Griffings at the suggestion of the Department of Interior, who were aware of his work for the Blakers, and the Phillips, also a Melbourne couple, from their own knowledge of the ‘good design’ of the partnership.

Thus, as much by chance as by good management, there arose an unequalled opportunity to design three houses for three individual families which would have the scope to be a harmonious composition within themselves.

In response to their varying position on the site and the individual needs of each owner, each house is original in its conception, however a consistency of style, form and materials ensures a unity across the three. The family resemblance between the three houses is heavily influenced by the use of concrete blockwork, slender balcony and roof supports and the deep spreading eaves of each of the flat roofs. Similarly the planning typology shares a common idea of open plan living space with a distinct separation between the children’s and parent’s areas of each house. In each instance all the children’s rooms open on to a common play/family area.

Of the three, numbers 46 and 42 have remained in the same ownership since completion and consequently hold the best preserved interiors. Importantly, in line with the Blakers original brief, the houses have not required significant maintenance since completion. Some interior innovations included folding screens as space dividers and opening panels above doors for ventilation. The interiors of the two houses which included fair faced blockwork, finely crafted timber panelling, window framing and matching joinery show a consistency of finishes rarely seen in new housing. Hints of the Academy interior can also be found including the same deep red tiles in one kitchen and the joinery work (including secret nailing) of the Academy of Science carpenters in another.

The staggered siting of the houses across the side of the ridge allowed uninterrupted views from each house north to Mt Ainslie and west towards the lake. In this way the striking vertical form of the Phillips house

a tower and not a cave

— Roy Grounds

…was set back farthest from the street so that it did not dominate surrounding houses. With its strong formal composition, large areas of glazing and its open plan living and sleeping areas this house exhibits many aspects of the post war international style.

Influenced by his European travel and also by the strong Melbourne regional style which Grounds had helped to develop, the houses are in many ways typical of his unified rationalism, economical planning and a love of warm natural materials. It is notable, however, that due to the new commission Grounds received to design the Victorian Arts Centre Robin Boyd took over their management.

The three houses represent the strongest expression of housing designed by Grounds in Canberra. While other isolated examples exist, the clarity of the Vasey Crescent triptych in their conception and unity remain an outstanding lesson to architects and housing developers of the advantages of designing individual family houses together.

Further reading

• Profile of Vasey Crescent houses
• Philip Leeson Architects

4 Cobby Street, Campbell is a three bedroom house designed by Roy Grounds, with Theo Bischoff as project architect, in 1969-70 for Sir Otto and Lady Frankel and was completed in 1970-71. Sir Otto Frankel was Australia’s pre-eminent geneticist and head of the CSIRO Plant Industry Division from 1960-71.

He became acquainted with Grounds during the building of the Australian Academy of Science in 1959, when he was on the building committee and Grounds was the design architect. Grounds later designed this house for Frankel’s retirement, where a significant part of his study and writing took place.

4 Cobby Street is the last of a small number of private residences Grounds designed in Canberra. Like his house at 24 Cobby Street, this house is a late example of a combination of two styles: the post-war Melbourne regional style, with its long, unbroken roofline and widely projecting eaves (in this example, at the rear only); and the post-war international style with its cubiform overall shape and large sheets of glass.

Significance

4 Cobby Street is listed on the ACT Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture. It is regarded by the RAIA as being an example of significant architecture by a prominent Australian architect and a valuable educational resource for students and designers.

The house is an interesting example of a mixture of the post-war international and post-war Melbourne regional styles and exhibits design features peculiar to both those styles of architecture. The house is also important due to its association with Sir Otto Frankel and the design of this house by Grounds as his retirement residence further highlights its significance.

Grounds designed a number of buildings and houses in Canberra. Other houses are the Forrest Townhouses, 42-46 Vasey Crescent and 24 Cobby Street; the buildings are the Australian Academy of Science (1959) and the CSIRO Phytotron Building (1963).

Description

The house is located on a large block with the Mount Ainslie Nature Park native bushland at the rear and to the east. It has a simple rectangular plan which has a slight curve following the front boundary and street. The concave curve of the front of the house and open brick grills which obscure the windows give the house a terse appearance from the street. It seems that the brick grill detail has been incorporated into the design to disguise the small, irregular windows in the street facade. The same feature can be seen on the western end of the Forrest Townhouses, also designed by Grounds.

The recessed entry opens into a small lobby off an open plan living room. A door to the left opens into the laundry and on into the kitchen, both rooms facing south to the street. The living room is partially separated from the dining room by a brown brick fireplace. These rooms open out to the north east terrace through full height sliding aluminium glazed doors and are fully lined with timber veneered plywood sheets on the walls and spaced boards to the ceilings, with no skirting or cornices.

Joinery around the fireplace includes low level shelving and cupboards, a veneered benchtop and two posts, one of which conceals a structural column, while along the wall with the kitchen there is a servery and more shelving. All joinery matches the panelled walls and both these elements are important to the integrity of the building as a whole.

The bedrooms, wet areas and study extend to the south east off a curved central passage, with each internal wall set out on the radius of the curve. The large (about 25sq m) study is located at the end of the passage with an external door to the south east providing access to the garden via a suspended concrete stair. Two of the bedrooms face northeast while the third and smallest of the bedrooms faces south to the street.

The house is mostly brick veneer with the wet areas and the north east wall of the dining and living areas in cavity brick while the floor structure is reinforced concrete. The external brickwork is a medium brown colour and the flat, metal deck roof has a 450mm high metal fascia that extends out 450mm past the longer north east and south west walls and 1800mm over the north east living, dining and utility terraces.

Sources and further reading

• Royal Australian Institute of Architects RSTCA Citation No. R124
• Short biography of Roy Grounds
• Biography of Sir Otto Frankel
• The post-war Melbourne regional style
• The post-war international style

This profile was prepared by Tim Reeves.

The house at 204 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill, was designed by Robin Boyd for Will Graves Verge in 1963 and completed in 1964. It is one of five that Boyd built in Canberra and was the first for the new firm, Romberg and Boyd, following the acrimonious departure of Roy Grounds from the original tripartite partnership. Romberg and Boyd continued in partnership until Boyd’s untimely death in 1971 at the age of 52.

In 1962, W G Verge had published a book on the work of the leading colonial architect, John Verge, of whom he was the grandson. Boyd was a devotee of early colonial architecture who regarded Verge’s Camden Park (1832-35) as Australia’s most eminent house and Elizabeth Bay House (1835-37) as a masterpiece. The latter’s oval saloon with its cantilevered staircase leading to a gallery capped by a domed ceiling with lantern-like windows was, Boyd said,

the most famous architectural detail in the country.

— Robin Boyd

So he gave W G Verge a modern link to his forebear by designing an octagonal double storey entry hall with central staircase leading to a gallery which connected to all main rooms, topped by an octagonal skylight which flooded the area with light.

Apart from J R Conner’s A Guide to Canberra Buildings, there appears to be no mention of the house in any reference book (including Boyd’s 1970 residential portfolio, Living in Australia). The house was sold in early 2007 and the new owner plans eventually to restore it.

Description

The three-bedroom plus study, two-bathroom house is of grey-brown Besser brick construction with internal limed timber walls and timber floors. Entry is through the ground-level double carports that form an enclosed, heavily shaded portico. The main stairway is positioned obliquely to the front door so as to rise toward the east corner of the main living level of the house.

All rooms are arranged around the two-storey, octagonal central atrium and main stair landing. The dining room, music room and sitting room (which includes an interlocking brick fireplace) are located on the eastern and southern side of the house, enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass walls on the interior and exterior. The bedrooms at the rear quarters are linked by the same central landing.

The octagonal concept, essentially a square with the edges snipped off, is carried through to the exterior with eight pillars of crenellated concrete block providing the main supports. The house is flanked by wide timber-lined eaves which are shaved back at the four corner pillars.

The house is open both to the exterior and, through the glass interior walls, to itself. Good views from the house to Parliament House and the city are available from the living rooms and kitchen, although now partially obscured by trees and neighbouring houses.

The house presents in near original condition. There have been no substantial renovations, alterations or additions since it was first occupied.

Sources and further reading

• Geoffrey Serle, Robin Boyd: A Life, MUP, 1995
• Will Graves Verge, John Verge, early Australian architect: His ledger & his clients, Wentworth, 1962
• Verge House website, developed and maintained by the current owner
• Short biography of Robin Boyd
• Biography of John Verge at the ADB website

42, 44 and 46 Vasey Crescent, Campbell were designed by Roy Grounds of the firm Grounds, Romberg and Boyd in 1960. As a result of a collaboration between the owners of each block, the three houses were designed by the same architect and built as a coordinated group. When Grounds received the commission to design the Victorian Arts Centre, management of the Vasey Crescent group of houses was taken over by Robin Boyd.

The houses are fine examples of the post-war Melbourne regional style with their long unbroken rooflines and widely projecting eaves. With their strong formal composition, large areas of glazing and open plan living areas, the houses also exhibit aspects of the post-war international style. Note the similarities with other work by Grounds in Canberra: Forrest Townhouses (1959) and 24 Cobby Street, Campbell (1963-64).

Significance

The Vasey Crescent houses are listed on the ACT Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture. They are regarded by the RAIA as being an important example of the post-war Melbourne regional style.

The Vasey Crescent houses are a rare Canberra example of owners collaborating to achieve a group of houses with consistency of form, style and materials on adjacent blocks. In 1998 the ACT Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) awarded the Vasey Crescent houses one of its coveted 25 Year Awards.

Description

The site for the Vasey Crescent houses is on an east-west ridge running from Russell Hill, with a fall to the street. Each house has a northern aspect but through staggered siting, each house has western views over the city. Number 46 is sited closest to the road; 42 the furthest.

The houses are designed on three levels, with the ground floor of each at the same level. All have Besser concrete block walls, timber framed fenestration panels, flat roofs with metal decking and overhanging eaves and strong rectilinear forms. Two of the three houses are substantially original.

42 Vasey Crescent

The first level consists of a garage, studio and store. Level two has an external balcony running the full width of the house and along the western facade, with the entry hallway a central zone with stairway. This level originally contained three bedrooms, a laundry and a bathroom. On level three the staircase opens to an open plan reception, living and dining area; this level also contains the main kitchen and master bedroom.

44 Vasey Crescent

Unfortunately, number 44 has been extended on three occasions (1973, 1976 and 1990). The original house consisted of a garage and storeroom on the lower level. An external staircase led to the entry on the second level, which contained large living and dining areas, playroom and kitchen with full width glazing looking out to the west. The third level contained three bedrooms, a study and bathroom.

46 Vasey Crescent

On the lower floor is a garage and storeroom. The second level entry is planned as a rectangular wing on a north-south axis. External stairs lead up to the entrance, opening to entry hall, dining, kitchen and living room facing north, the full width of the wing. The main bedroom and ensuite are also at this level. Stairs lead up to the third level, planned as a children’s wing, with a central playroom, four small bedrooms and a bathroom.

Sources and further reading

• Royal Australian Institute of Architects RSTCA Citation No. R57
• RAIA 25 Year Award Citation for Vasey Crescent
• Short biography of Roy Grounds
• Short biography of Robin Boyd
• The post-war Melbourne regional style
• The post-war international style
• The RAIA’s citation for the 25 Year Award

The Forrest Townhouses at 3 Tasmania Circle, Forrest are a group of five townhouses, a small attached bedsitter and a separate courtyard house linked by carports and a covered walkway. Designed by Roy Grounds as a speculative venture in 1959, they are the only townhouses in Canberra designed by Grounds. Grounds’ own unit was the third townhouse from the west, while the courtyard house was used as the Grounds, Romberg and Boyd office in Canberra as well as the residence of Grounds’ full time architect assistant, Fritz Suenderman and family. The bedsitter was originally leased to a local architectural firm.

The Forrest Townhouses are an important example of the post-war Melbourne regional style with their long unbroken rooflines, widely projecting eaves and glass walls with regularly spaced timber mullions. With their cubiform overall shape and large areas of glazing, the townhouses also exhibit aspects of the post-war international style. They can be contrasted with other work by Grounds in Canberra: Vasey Crescent houses (1960) and 24 Cobby Street, Campbell (1963-64).

Significance

The Forrest Townhouses are listed on the ACT Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture. They are regarded by the RAIA as being an important example of the post-war Melbourne regional style and as having a strong association with Roy Grounds. The townhouses are of national significance.

The townhouses are the earliest and probably the only example in Canberra of the design philosophy of Le Corbusier’s Maison Citrohan that includes a double height living space.

Various houses in the group have been owned or occupied by prominent Australians. Apart from Grounds himself, Sir William McMahon, Prime Minister of Australia from 1970-72, lived in the single level courtyard house and Aldo Giurgola, the principle design architect of the New Parliament House, lived in the westernmost townhouse.

Designed by Roy Grounds as a speculative venture in 1959, they are the only townhouses in Canberra designed by Grounds.

Description

The five two storey townhouses are set side by side with high courtyard walls on the north property boundary. The courtyard walls facing Dominion Circuit did not comply with local NCDC guidelines when constructed and were demolished. They were rebuilt at a later date on condition that they be hidden by a planting of bamboo, which remains to this day.

The townhouses have a two storey height living space, which is screened by sliding doors from the dining, kitchen and entry area. Above this is a gallery with a built in desk, which overlooks the living area. Behind the gallery are two bedrooms, a dressing room and a bathroom. The single level courtyard house has a large open living area facing north and opening to a courtyard.

The townhouses are constructed with load bearing concrete blocks, a concrete slab to the ground floor and timber and steel framing to the upper floor and flat metal deck roof. The timber-framed glazing is painted white externally, while interior finishes are low key: face concrete blockwork walls, limed ash joinery and panelling and compressed straw ceilings with exposed rafters and beams.

The Forrest Townhouses were built by Civil and Civic (who also built 42 Vasey Crescent).

Sources and further reading

• Royal Australian Institute of Architects RSTCA Citation No. R53
• Short biography of Roy Grounds
• The post-war Melbourne regional style
• The post-war international style
• Le Corbusier