Tim Ross gets a LOT done. The past couple of years have seen the author, comedian and presenter produce the wildly popular ‘Streets of Your Town’ TV series on the ABC, self-publish his nostalgic and hilarious memoir ‘The Rumpus Room’, and tour his ‘Man About the House’ performance in London, as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
This month, he’s back in Sydney with a very special new project.
‘I had met the owner of the 1958 Kalowski House by Harry Seidler through a mutual friend, and we chatted about how she could make the house work for her current lifestyle’ Tim explains (he is very good at making friends). ‘The owner is one of those gems who stopped a mid century house being bowled over, and is about to embark on a renovation and restoration of the house’ he elaborates. With a small window of time before the restoration works commence, Tim managed to negotiate access to the property to stage a unique event.
Whilst he’s no stranger to mid-century homes, this is the first time Tim has had the opportunity to completely take over a house, and curate a series of experiences within in. Visitors are invited to join Tim for his ‘Man About the House’ show, as well as viewing an art installation by LA based Australian artist Paul Davies, architecture film screenings, and an inventive display of rare Featherston furniture.
‘I have blown one of Paul’s paintings up to wallpaper a room, and it has a twist to make it a bit of an insta moment for people’ Tim explains. Various film screenings include a new film documenting the Brutalist Callum Offices in Canberra by John Andrews, video installations featuring mid-century record collectors Andrea Black and Russell Hopkinson (of You Am I) playing records in the bathroom (!), and a Featherston film that has a twist Tim says he would prefer not to give away!
Of course, the appeal of having a sticky-beak in the house itself is not to be overlooked. The Kalowski House was designed by Seidler & Associates in 1957 and upgraded by architect Colin Griffiths in 2008.
‘The best thing about this is that it will never happen again’ Tim surmises. ‘It’s a truly unique experience’.
‘The Mid Century Project‘ – a ‘Man About the House‘ series by Tim Ross
Multiple sessions, Thursday, August 2nd to Sunday, August 5th
The Kalowski House, Dover Heights, Sydney
There are still a few places available for several sessions. Click here for more details.
