Thoroughly modern
Subtitle: the life + times of Moir + Sutherland Architects
By: Peter Freeman
Publisher: Uro Publications
Published: 2021
Place of publication: Melbourne [Victoria]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 317
ISBN-13: 9780648685883
Copyright date: 2021
Subjects: Architects; Biography; Architecture; History; Designs and plans; Architectural drawing; Modern movement (Architecture); Architectural firms; Buildings, structures; Buildings
Other titles: Life and times of Moir and Sutherland Architects
Description: For a brief period between the end of the Depression and the beginning of WWII, Canberra, one of the twentieth century's handful of new, planned cities, looked set to be defined by the distinctive precepts and forms of functionalism. It represented a clear break with the architectural conventions of the past and partners in life and practice Moir and Sutherland were at the forefront of this push, as designers of an singularly coherent collection of functionalist residential and commercial buildings, spread throughout the fledgling city. The richly illustrated narrative of Thoroughly Modern traces the evolution of Moir and Sutherland's architecture, which represents some of the earliest examples of modernism built in Australia, and examines the national and international contacts and influences that shaped and informed their work-including the internationally renowned architect, author and designer Raymond McGrath, who was a friend and colleague to both, and the famous Australian opera singer Joan Sutherland, Heather's younger sister, among others. This remarkable history brings together a wealth of primary source material, including exquisitely rendered water colour sketches, architectural drawings, period photography, and correspondence, to paint a picture of the thrilling but at times deeply challenging beginnings of Canberra and modernist architecture in Australia.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Heather McDonald Sutherland early days, 1903 to 1923; title: Malcolm Johnson Moir early days, 1903 to 1920; title: Malcolm Johnson Moir university practice + marriage 1920 to 1927; title: Heather McDonald Sutherland 'Patonga', university + the depression 1932 to 1936; title: Nance + Malcolm in Canberra 1927 to 1935; title: 'This rapidly growing, exciting city'; title: The war years, 1939 to 1945; title: After the war, 1946 to 1953; title: Delitia, Malcolm, Ward + Slater, 1954 to 1960; title: 'A genial, gregarious + able colleague' 1920 to 1971.