Harry Seidler - Life in Australia

Life in Australia

Seidler's parents migrated to Sydney and later commissioned him to design their home which became known as the Rose Seidler House (1948–1950), in Wahroonga, on Sydney's North Shore. This project was the first domestic residence to fully express the philosophy of the Bauhaus in Australia.

In the 1960s Seidler again broke new ground with his radical design for the Australia Square project (1961–67). At the time Australia Square was the world's tallest light weight concrete building. The design introduced the two principles of incorporating large public open spaces and circular forms to office towers in Australia.

He was a founding member of the Australian Architecture Association. In 1984 he became the first Australian to be elected a member of the Académie d'architecture, Paris and in 1987 was made a Companion of the Order of Australia, an honour which he accepted in his trademark suit and bowtie. Over the years Mr Seidler was also awarded five Sulman Medals by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, as well as the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1976, and the Royal Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1996.

"For 50 years Harry Seidler has played a vital role in international architecture. His work is widely recognised as an original and intensely creative contribution to the architecture of the second half of the 20th Century." —Dennis Sharp in his introduction to the book Master architects: Harry Seidler