Igloo House

Igloo House
Igloo House
	Igloo House during restoration in 2019. The house is in the upper right of the photo, covered in blue plastic.
Location	65 Parriwi Road, Mosman, Mosman Council, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates	33°48′40″S151°14′48″E / 33.8111°S 151.2467°E
Built	1952–1953
Built for	George Laurence Williamson
Architect	Harry Seidler
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Igloo House, The; Williamson House
Type	State heritage (built)
Designated	1 November 2002
Reference no.	1652
Type	House
Category	Residential buildings (private)
Builders	G. L. Williamson
	Location of Igloo House in Sydney Igloo House (Australia)

Last updated December 11, 2024

Igloo House is a heritage-listed dwelling located at 65 Parriwi Road, Mosman in the Mosman Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Harry Seidler and built from 1952 to 1953 by G. L. Williamson. It is also known as Williamson House. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 November 2002.^[1]

History

The site was purchased by George Laurence Williamson, a solicitor who emigrated from Britain in the late 1940s. In 1951 he commissioned the design from the innovative architect, Harry Seidler. The innovative engineering design, utilising concrete slabs on piers, was undertaken by Peter Owen Miller. The house was built in 1952-1953 by Williamson as owner-builder using various tradesmen. Outfitting of the house appeared to continue for some time after this. Williamson sold the house in 1970 and subsequent owners have modified it since then, though retaining the basic structures.^[2]^[1]

Description

Unusual twin-arched garages and light concrete body set on poles on the waterfront cliff. It was designed by Harry Seidler in 1951. A distinguishing characteristic is a double-arched garage roof offset against a concrete wall, with a backdrop looking towards Sydney Heads. The first Australian house to use flat-slab construction, with special concrete developed by a Sydney engineer, Peter Miller, that did away with heavy foundations. The house has been subject to several alterations since construction.^[1]

Condition

As at 1 November 2002, the physical condition is good. Mostly intact, with modifications.^[1]

Modifications and dates

Modifications - probably mainly undertaken in the 1970s:^[2]^[1]

Garage doors and glass panels replaced with painted timber walls.
Sun deck enclosed with metal roof.
Wrought iron bars on street-front (west) strip windows.
Replacement of entrance area railings.
Bronze-frame window on north replaced.
New enclosed floor added under house.
Bronze sliding doors on east front replaced and glazing relocated to outer edge.
Window cleaning gantry on east front.
Repainted from original colours.
Swimming pool and cabana built on lower part of site.

On 18 July 2019, Penelope Seidler, in a conversation with Lucy Feagins, of The Design Files, advised Feagins that "the Igloo House, Mosman is an exciting new restoration project in Sydney that Harry Seidler & Associates are currently working on."^[3]

Heritage listing

As at 21 July 2011, Igloo House, dating from 1951, was of State aesthetic significance as an important early example of modern house design in Australia, which is innovative in its use of structural technology. It is significant for its association with its designer, leading Australian architect Harry Seidler, who had been a teenage refugee from Nazi oppression in the 1930s and who had trained as an architect in Canada before coming to Australia in 1948 to design a house for his immigrant parents. Igloo House is thus also a demonstration of the contribution of immigrant culture to Australia.^[1]

Igloo House was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 1 November 2002 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

As a fine and technologically innovative example of modern architectural design, Igloo House is of historical significance for its contribution to post-war architectural culture in Australia.^[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history.

Associated with Harry Seidler, its designer, who had been a teenage refugee from Nazi oppression in the 1930s and who had trained as an architect in Canada before coming to Australia in 1948 to design a house for his immigrant parents. Seidler, who remained in Australia and became one of the country's leading and most influential architects, demonstrates the contribution of immigrant culture to Australia.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

Igloo House is of aesthetic significance as an outstanding technical and design achievement, as an iconic example of modern architecture in Australia.^[1]

The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The item is a significant technological benchmark.^[1]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

The item is rare and highly regarded as an influential example in Australia of innovative domestic design and construction.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

The item is representative of an innovative, modern approach to the design of domestic architecture in Australia after World War II.^[1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Seidler</span> Austrian-Australian architect

Harry Seidler was an Austrian-born Australian architect who is considered to be one of the leading exponents of Modernism's methodology in Australia and the first architect to fully express the principles of the Bauhaus in Australia.

The Harry and Penelope Seidler House is a heritage-listed modernist house located at 13 Kalang Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Killara in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by architects Penelope and Harry Seidler and Harry Seidler & Associates, and built from 1966 to 1967 by Peter Cussel. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 20 June 2008.

Architecture of Australia has generally been consistent with architectural trends in the wider Western world, with some special adaptations to compensate for distinctive Australian climatic and cultural factors. Indigenous Australians produced a wide range of structures and places prior to colonisation. Contemporary Indigenous practitioners are active in a broad range of built environment fields. During Australia's early Western history, it was a collection of British colonies in which architectural styles were strongly influenced by British designs. However, the unique climate of Australia necessitated adaptations, and 20th-century trends reflected the increasing influence of American urban designs and a diversification of the cultural tastes and requirements of an increasingly multicultural Australian society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose Seidler House</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Rose Seidler House is a heritage-listed former residence and now house museum located at 69–71 Clissold Road in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Harry Seidler and built from 1948 to 1950 by Bret R. Lake. It is also known as In neighbourhood precinct with Marcus Seidler House and Teplitzky House or Rose House. The property is owned by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Woolley House is a heritage-listed residence located at 34 Bullecourt Avenue, Mosman, in the Mosman Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Ken Woolley and built during 1962 by Pettit, Sevitt and Partners. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 May 2001. The Woolley House is considered a classic example of the Sydney School style of architecture and was the recipient of the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Wilkinson Award in the year of its construction, the highest award for housing in New South Wales. In 2016 the house was bequeathed to the University of NSW. In 2022 the house was awarded the National Award for Enduring Architecture by the AIA.

Penelope Alice Marjorie Seidler AM is an Australian architect and accountant. She is director of the Sydney-based architectural firm Harry Seidler and Associates. She was the wife and professional partner of architect Harry Seidler (1923–2006). Together they designed "Harry & Penelope Seidler House", which won the Wilkinson Award in 1967.

The Waverley Reservoirs are four reservoirs, of which two are heritage-listed, located at Paul Street, Bondi Junction, New South Wales, Australia. They were designed and built by the Public Works Department. The property is owned by Sydney Water.

Thurlow House is a heritage-listed residence at 9 Stuart Crescent, Blakehurst in the Georges River Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Harry Seidler and built from 1953 to 1954. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 21 October 2016.

The Mosman Bay Sewage Aqueduct is a heritage-listed public pedestrian bridge and sewage aqueduct at Avenue Road, Mosman in the Mosman Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Sewerage Construction Branch and NSW Department of Public Works and built from 1899 to 1901 by NSW Department of Public Works. It is also known as the Aqueduct over Mosman Bay. The property is owned by Sydney Water, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wentworth Memorial Church</span> Church in New South Wales, Australia

Wentworth Memorial Church is a heritage-listed former Anglican church building located at 32B Fitzwilliam Road, Vaucluse, Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Clarke Gazzard and Partners and built by Monteith Constructions, with Miller Milston and Ferris as engineers. The property is privately owned; and was formerly owned by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 September 2012.

Duncan House is a heritage-listed residence located at 8 The Barbette, Castlecrag, City of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Walter Burley Griffin. It is also known as Duncan House Number 2. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The Fishwick House is a heritage-listed private residence located at 15 The Citadel, Castlecrag, City of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin and built during 1929. It is also known as The Fishwick House and Fyshwick House. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 December 2006.

Buhrich House II is a heritage-listed residence located at 375 Edinburgh Road, Castlecrag, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was designed by Hugh Buhrich and built during 1972. The property is privately owned by members of the Buhrich family. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 May 2001.

Glen Innes Post and Telegraph Office is a heritage-listed post office at Grey Street, Glen Innes, Glen Innes Severn, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by NSW Government Architect's Office under Walter Liberty Vernon. and built from 1895 to 1896 by Sandbrook Brothers. The property is owned by Australia Post. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 23 June 2000. It was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 8 November 2011.

Evatt House is a heritage-listed house located at 69 Junction Road in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It is also known as Parklands. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 24 September 2004.

Simpson-Lee House I is a heritage-listed residence located at 23 Roland Avenue, in the Sydney suburb of Wahroonga in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Baldwinson and built from 1958 to 1962 by George M. Koch. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 November 2009.

Torin Building is a heritage-listed former factory and now factory and office space located at 26 Coombes Drive in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith in the City of Penrith local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Marcel Breuer and built from 1975 to 1976. It is also known as the Former Torin Corporation Building and Breuer Building. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 15 May 2009.

Kyle House is a heritage-listed commercial office at 27-31 Macquarie Place, in the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by C. Bruce Dellit and built during 1931 by Stuart Bros. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

AMA House, Sydney or the Australian Medical Association House, Sydney is a heritage-listed former medical office and library and now commercial offices located at 135–137 Macquarie Street in the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Fowell & McConnel and built from 1929 to 1930 by Messrs Hutcherson Bros. It was formerly known as BMA House or the British Medical Association House. The property is privately owned. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Qantas House is an Australian heritage-listed office building at 68–96 Hunter Street, Sydney. It was designed by Rudder, Littlemore & Rudder and built from 1955 to 1957 by Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd. It is also known as No. 1 Chifley Square. The site was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 May 2001.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Igloo House, The". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01652. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
1 2 Weirick 2001
↑ TDF talks with architect Penelope Seidler. The talk was podcast as "The Design Files Talks Episode 31". Retrieved 27 September 2019

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Igloo House, The , entry number 01652 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence , accessed on 2 June 2018.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[nswshr-1652-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Igloo House, The". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01652. Retrieved 2 June 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .

[nswshr-1652-2995-2] 1 2 Weirick 2001

[3] TDF talks with architect Penelope Seidler. The talk was podcast as "The Design Files Talks Episode 31". Retrieved 27 September 2019

[1]

[2]

[3]