Modern Heritage

Cherishing Australia’s interwar homes: Old English, Spanish Mission & Art Deco

An explosion of classical details and charm that is both style guide and practical resource for devotees of historical homes.

Heritage homes hum with inherent charm and character, filling the void for those seeking more than a modern white box. Australian houses built from the 1920s to the 1940s offer a triumphant meeting of styles, embracing stylistic elements of Old English, Spanish Mission, Art Deco and everything in between. But as delightful as they are, their quirky details and layouts are not always suited to a contemporary lifestyle.

Modern Heritage surveys twenty homes that embody the period’s vibrant architectural eclecticism. Weaving cultural context with new insights, this carefully curated volume highlights the privilege that comes with owning a heritage house and the value of research in understanding the architecture’s stories and setting. Homeowners and architects share the process of protecting this legacy while giving new life to these cherished homes.

About the author

Cameron Bruhn is an Honorary Professor and former Dean and Head of School at The University of Queensland's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Prior to this, he was the editorial director of Architecture Media, where his role included the custodianship of the centenarian magazine Architecture Australia. He is a respected leader and communicator in Australia's architecture community and an advocate for the value of the built environment in shaping communities, cities and regions. Bruhn holds a Bachelor of Architecture from The University of Queensland and a practice-based PhD from RMIT University. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia.

Cameron Bruhn
Published April 2024
Hardback
272 pages
230 mm x 290 mm
ISBN 9781760763886