Seidler’s Bowden House added to ACT Heritage Register

The ACT Heritage Council has added a Canberra house designed by Harry Seidler to its heritage register.

Bowden House (1954), located at 11 Northcote Cresent in Deakin, is described as “an excellent example of the so-called ‘Post-War International Style (1940–60),” according to David Flannery, chair of the ACT Heritage Council. It is one of few detached houses in Canberra designed by Seidler.

The house has a rectangular, almost square form set diagonally across a sloping site. Its arrangement allowed the house to have a split level plan with ground plane access from each floor. The living and dining spaces are on the lower level, with a terrace oriented toward views of distant mountains. The upper level consists of two bedrooms, a study and a bathroom. A carport is located below the bedroom level.

The house is made from random-stone walls, rendered cavity brickwork, suspended concrete slabs, steel and timber roof framing and a metal deck roof.

Bowden House by Harry Seidler (1954) has a split level arrangement.

Bowden House by Harry Seidler (1954) has a split level arrangement.

Image: Max Dupain, copyright Penelope Seidler

The house is also listed on the Australian Institute of Architects’ Register of Significant 20th Century Architecture.

Its statement of significance notes: “The house is Canberra’s first true architectural example of the rationale of Bauhaus principles. It still exhibits most of these principles making it a significant example of [Seidler’s] work.

“The design exploits the interplay of horizontal and vertical space with planning themes centred on the living room.”

According to the ACT heritage council, Seidler refered to the house as an excellent example of reductive elegance of the Bauhaus design philosophy.

The house was extended an addition to the north east by Seidler in 1957–60 and later alterations 1978 were carried out by C. G. Cummings.

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