Modernist Adelaide

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Modernist Adelaide

Celebrating Adelaide’s modernist architecture online, in print and award-winning tours and events.
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Step back in time to the mid-century jet age of Mad Men era Adelaide, when a new wave of modernist architecture redefined the city’s streetscapes and skyline. Many of Adelaide’s iconic examples of 50s, 60s and 70s architecture still stand, well preserved and well worth discovering on this relaxed and informative one-hour walk through downtown Adelaide. From Australia’s first curtain-wall high-rise

of the 50s to the International Style of the 60s and the Brutalism of the 70s, this walk through time will appeal to anyone with a love of mid-century architecture and design, history or just looking up and seeing the beauty in our everyday built environment.

01/12/2024

This Sunday! There are still a few tickets left for this Sunday’s 11am Modernist Adelaide walking tour, where we’ll explore the new wave of modernist architecture that redefined the city’s streetscapes and skyline. Looking forward to being back in the city in the spring sunshine. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/modernist-adelaide-walking-tour-8-dec-11am-tickets-1084909135429?aff=oddtdtcreator

18/11/2024

Modernist Adelaide walking tours are back after a winter break, with the first tour coming up on Sun 8 Dec. These award-winning tours reveal some absolute gems including the former Reserve Bank of Australia building (pictured). Recommended by Architectural Digest and Fodor's Travel Essential Australia guide, tickets are selling fast at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/modernist-adelaide-walking-tour-8-dec-11am-tickets-1084909135429?aff=oddtdtcreator Hope to see you there.

10/11/2024

With perfect spring weather and jacarandas in full bloom, 45 excellent individuals joined the Brutalist Adelaide walking tour this morning, exploring the bold beauty of Adelaide’s brutes. 📸 by Riya Sthapit (1-3) and JLN (4).

07/11/2024

There are still a few tickets left for this Sunday’s Brutalist Adelaide walking tour, where we’ll explore some of our heroic sculptural concrete architecture, from the former Motor Registration Centre (pictured) and Forensic Science Centre to government headquarters and banking chambers. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/brutalist-adelaide-walking-tour-10-nov-10am-tickets-1027836435447?aff=oddtdtcreator Can’t wait!

21/10/2024

Love brutalist architecture? The SA premiere of the phenomenal film, The Brutalist, is coming up at the Adelaide Film Festival. Brady Corbet’s American epic starring Adrien Brody, Guy Pearce, Felicity Jones, and Joe Alwyn explores the humanity and artistry behind brutalist architecture. Already crowned ‘a new American masterpiece’, it’s screening at the Mercury (26 Oct) and the beautiful art deco Capri (2 Nov). Tickets at https://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/program/2024/the-brutalist

11/10/2024

The eleventh print run of Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s–1970s has arrived! Described by Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud as ‘splendid, beautiful and important’, you can grab a fresh-off-the-press copy at https://www.modernistadelaide.com/product-page/modernist-adelaide-100-buildings-1940s-1970s

03/10/2024

The October edition of SALIFE Magazine celebrates the magnificent Neighbour House, designed by Keith Neighbour in 1958, and profiles owners Alexandra and Mark. I contributed some historical background from the Modernist Adelaide tours here in 2019 and the book *Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s-1970s*. A beautiful tribute by Gen Meegan with stunning photography by Anthony Basheer.

24/09/2024

The Brutalist Adelaide walking tour returns on Sunday 10 November where we’ll explore some of Adelaide’s heroic sculptural concrete architecture, from the award-winning Colonel Light Centre (pictured) to government headquarters and banking chambers. Brutal or beautiful? You be the judge. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/brutalist-adelaide-walking-tour-10-nov-10am-tickets-1027836435447?aff=oddtdtcreator Can’t wait!

03/07/2024

Have you spotted Adelaide’s sensational Jarosik House in ABC iview’s Ladies in Black series? Designed by George Jacoby of Jacoby & Jacoby in association with Duncan Muirhead of Muirhead, Thompson and Associates, 1959-60, it hosted some wonderful Modernist Adelaide tours in 2019 and has been profiled in numerous magazines and books, including Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s–1970s. That stained glass window is all-time…

11/06/2024

My incredibly talented wife Michelle Pearson is premiering her new work Skinny at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival this Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June. Winner of the prestigious Frank Ford Commission, Skinny explores society’s obsession with the ideal body image and how to escape its chokehold. Michelle has already been wowing the festival with her phenomenal voice and I’m so excited to see her relentless hard work coming to life through this hilarious, moving and empowering show. Tickets selling fast at https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/skinny Bonus: it’s at Adelaide’s best modernist building, Adelaide Festival Centre, designed by the great John Morphett. Still stunning. Hope to see you there!

08/06/2024

Massive congratulations to Dr Julie Collins at the Architecture Museum, University of South Australia for being awarded the History Council of South Australia SA Historian of the Year 2024. There would be no Modernist Adelaide without Julie. Her knowledge and care of South Australia’s architectural archives and front-footed enthusiasm for sharing the jewels in this collection lit a fire under me. Always welcoming, quick to help and as wide-eyed as me when unearthing a ‘find’. Damn distinguished academic, too. Thank you and respect, Julie. Many, many of us are extremely grateful.

31/05/2024

A huge thanks to The Robin Boyd Foundation for hosting a beautiful afternoon at Walsh Street, South Yarra, celebrating Adelaide’s modernist architecture including Boyd’s only SA commission, Walkey House. Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the Melbourne Art Book Fair and Melbourne Design Week 2024. 📸 by the incredible Mike Lam.

16/05/2024

Pasted-up! On a Stobie pole. Off Port Road in deepest Croyden. Part of History Trust of South Australia’s campaign for South Australia's History Festival featuring South Australians’ perspectives on power. Expertly pasted by Hari Koutlakis, portraits by Jonathan van der Knapp and coordinated by Super Studio. Following a sold-out Modernist Adelaide walking tour last weekend, there are a few tickets remaining for my presentation this Sat 18 May at Payinthi (Prospect Library) about Adelaide’s coolest modernist buildings. Tickets at https://festival.history.sa.gov.au/events/modernist-adelaide-author-talk-with-stuart-symons/

11/05/2024

We had a fantastic time celebrating mid-century architecture, music and dining at two sold-out evenings of Tasting Australia’s Comfort Food Cabaret: A Mid-Century Menu at Pony and Cole. Michelle Pearson and her band blew the roof off the place (as usual) while Nicolle Hahn and her team plated up an incredible three-course indulgence. 📸 by the amazing Rachel Scholich.

05/05/2024

A very beautiful autumn afternoon at Graham Dickson’s incredible 1958 house in Rostrevor designed by his brother Robert Dickson, for Tim Ross and Kit Warhurst’s Mid Century Project. Thank you to the family for their amazing hospitality and care of such an important house.

02/05/2024

Huge thanks to the History Trust of South Australia for including me in this year’s campaign for South Australia's History Festival which features South Australians’ perspectives on power. It’s beautifully put together by Channel 44 and Super Studio.

01/05/2024

VERY EXCITED to be speaking at Robin Boyd’s magnificent Walsh Street house in South Yarra, Melbourne on Sat 25 May, where I’ll be celebrating Adelaide’s modernist architecture with a focus on Robin Boyd’s only Adelaide commission, Walkley House. Presented by The Robin Boyd Foundation in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the Melbourne Art Book Fair and Melbourne Design Week 2024, the last few tickets for this Melbourne event are available at https://robinboyd.org.au/event/design-matters-walkley-house-with-stuart-symons/ Last time I was at Walsh Street, I proposed to my wife Michelle!

26/04/2024

South Australia's History Festival opens next week - the sixth year that Modernist Adelaide has been involved. Looking forward to presenting about Adelaide’s revolutionary modernist architecture at Payinthi (Prospect Library) for the City of Prospect on Sat 18 May at 1:00pm. There are also a handful of tickets left for a special Mother’s Day Modernist Adelaide walking tour on Sun 12 May at 10:00am. Treat your mum to a relaxing morning stroll through the city! Book now for both events at https://www.modernistadelaide.com 📷 by Sia Duff.

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GPO Box 835
Adelaide, SA
5000

Website

http://www.modernistadelaide.com/

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Celebrate Adelaide’s modernist architecture

Modernist Adelaide was founded by mid-century modern architecture and design enthusiast Stuart Symons to celebrate Adelaide’s modernist architecture online and through walking tours, house tours and events.

Immerse yourself in the mid-century jet age of Mad Men era Adelaide, when a new wave of modernist architecture redefined the city’s streetscapes and skyline. Many of Adelaide’s iconic examples of 50s, 60s and 70s architecture still stand, well preserved and well worth discovering on these popular tours.

From Australia’s first curtain-wall high-rise of the 50s to the International Style of the 60s and the Brutalism of the 70s, Modernist Adelaide will appeal to anyone with a love of mid-century architecture and design, history or just looking up and seeing the beauty in our everyday built environment.

Stuart has recently published Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s–1970s, the first book to provide a large-scale survey of Adelaide’s mid-century architecture. By profiling the architects and clients, specific design features and historical points of interest of 100 existing modernist buildings, Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s–1970s reveals South Australia’s lesser-known but substantial contribution to this architectural revolution.