I remember reading Robin Boyd’s book “The Australian Ugliness” as a young girl and completely agreeing with his opinion that we tend to uglify our otherwise beautiful environment. He sets the aesthetic bar high. So I figured you could expect his architectural design to sit beautifully in the Australian environment. Wright house in Warrandyte doesn’t disappoint. From the minute I walked into the front door, I wanted to live there. From the stone wall and steps, to the views out as far as Mount Donna Buang, the house envelops you in peace and harmony.
The current owners like to think of themselves as custodians. They each like the house for different reasons, one for the way that the outside is brought inside, the other for the interior calm that’s been created. In the ten years that they’ve lived there they have lovingly maintained Robin Boyd’s legacy.
The original owners James and Joyce Wright were graphic artists and just loved entertaining. The open spaces are an entertainer’s dream. Here again is Robin Boyd’s genius in building a house to fit the clients needs.
The house creates a perfect platform from which to enjoy the magnificent views…
The stone wall remains from the original house, commissioned in 1950, and later burnt down in the 1962 bushfires. It was incorporated in Boyd’s second house, completed in 1963.
The landscaping echos the zen, Japanese flavour throughout the house.
This wonderful studio was also designed by Boyd in 1970.
As you can see, there’s not even a hint of ugliness here…in fact quite the opposite is true.
My thanks to the Robin Boyd Foundation for introducing me to Wright House and it’s present owners, through their Open House program. Also my sincerest thanks to the present owners for allowing me into your home to take these photos. I felt very privileged.
