Mid-Century Modern

This Modernist House Has The Best Lounge We’ve EVER Seen, And It’s On The Market

With the sad farewell of our Modernist Australia column, we’re starting a new one in its place, to keep track of all those for-sale treasures that pop up around the country! In this new ‘Mid-Century Modern’ column, where we will continue to bring you modernist gems that have recently hit the market. And we’re kicking it off with a bang!

Thirroul is a beachside suburb of Wollongong, 69 kilometres south of Sydney. In this heavenly coastal location sits this five-bedroom brick home, best described as a late modernist homestead, replete with a wine cellar, courtyard pond and a razzle dazzle pink Italian marble bathroom. With ocean views like these, it does not get better!

Written
by
Sasha Gattermayr

This modernist homestead was designed in 1975 by H. Ruskin Rowe & Elmes. Photo – ABC Photosigns.

LEFT: The formal dining room sits just adjacent to the formal living room, and makes a theatrical display of the outdoor pond! Photo – ABC Photosigns.

The informal family room contains a dining space and a serious psychedelic lounge. Photo – ABC Photosigns.

This corner window nook in the second-storey ‘turret’ is fitted with gingham-upholstered banquette seating. Look at those ocean views! Photo – ABC Photosigns.

Give ’em the old razzle dazzle with this very showbiz bathroom mirror! Photo – ABC Photosigns.

The wrap-around patio is perfect for indoor-outdoor dining for those balmy beachy evenings. Photo – ABC Photosigns.

Writer
Sasha Gattermayr
3rd of August 2020

Designed in 1975 by modernist architecture partnership H. Ruskin Rowe & Elmes, the incredible double brick late modernist home is the ultimate party house, with a panoramic entertaining wing and a covered patio which wraps around almost the whole house! The kitchen sits at the centre of the home, in order to service both formal and informal dining spaces, and tucked away via a spiral staircase, the turret-like second floor contains just one room: a bedroom slash office space, whose in-built gingham (!) lounge looks out over the treetops.

Though the refined modernist details throughout the rest of the house deserve attention (we’re looking at you, pink Italian marble lining the diva-esque master bathroom), who could draw their eyes away from the spectacular lounge?! The psychedelic fitted sofa suite is built into the wall, forming a semi-circular arrangement around the statement gas fireplace. A suspended copper hood is the centrepiece of this space – we can just imagine the retro fondue parties this place may once have hosted…  ’70s living at its best!

5 Fords Road is for sale through McGrath Thirroul. See the full listing here.