‘Harry Seidler: Modernist’ is a portrait and retrospective of Harry Seidler, a young Austrian Jewish refugee who arrived in Sydney in 1948 following the war and quickly became one of Australia’s most prominent, successful and outspoken architects. With interviews from those close to him, the documentary provides the story of a passionate designer who collected just as many controversies as he did accolades, but who’s bold and spirited modern designs and resolute advocacy undoubtedly changed the face of Australia’s built environment.
In response to the newly constructed ‘Rose Seidler House’, the celebrated home Seidler designed for his parents which upset almost every suburban convention of the time, the Sydney Morning Herald on December 18 1950 stated “PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES MUST WARN THEIR GUESTS!”
Professor Philip Goad will provide an introductory talk before the film screening. Philip is the Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor and Chair of Architecture at the University of Melbourne and a Robin Boyd Foundation board member. He is an academic, editor, author, and cultural critic and is internationally known for his research as an authority on modern Australian architecture.
Evenings with DADo offer an intimate commingling of film and conversation both large and small, centered around diverse historical and contemporary stories of architecture, design, landscape and urbanism. Feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and animations all find a home in Robin Boyd’s living room at ‘Walsh Street’, the house designed by Boyd for his family in 1958 and the social, energetic hub of the Robin Boyd Foundation. Guest speakers contribute unique perspectives on the various film subjects, kicking off the living room conversation in a home which decidedly sought to reject convention.
Doors open at 6.30pm, film introduction commences at 7pm.
To purchase a Friend or Student Friend discounted ticket, receive additional benefits and support the Robin Boyd Foundation, please click here to join.
‘Harry Seidler: Modernist’ is screening with support from Shelter. When you subscribe via – shelter.stream/rbf – the Robin Boyd Foundation will receive 10% of the revenue.