Roy Grounds: Experiments in Minimum Living
Format: Hardback
Publisher: Kerritone Publishing
Roy Grounds is well known as the dogmatic and bombastic architect who designed the Australian Academy of Science’s Shine Dome in Canberra and the National Gallery of Victoria along with the Victorian Arts Centre.
This book explores Grounds’ early works and presents a different aspect of his character: a perceptive architect who used his own lived
experience to inform his work. Abandoning his emerging practice and family in 1937,
the young Grounds rushed to London in pursuit of a client he had fallen in love with. Penniless and unemployed he lived frugally and simply by flat sitting while becoming
familiar with the new Minimum Flat concept. On his return to Melbourne, he utilised the concept to secure work, experimenting with designs for a series of small flats as
he built a reputation and was celebrated as Melbourne’s leading designer of flats at the time.
Richly illustrated with plans and photographs, this book will delight those with an interest in modernist design and anyone looking for simple and affordable forms of housing. The book is available from Readings and other good booksellers, or direct from the author/publisher on 0448 298 199.
To celebrate the release of the book, Docomomo in conjunction with Tony Lee, are organising an open day of Grounds’ houses and apartments later in the year. Details will be announced shortly.
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