Multiple houses designed by award-winning architect Ken Woolley up for sale
Design junkies know his work, and fans of retro real estate love his trademark style. Award-winning architect Ken Woolley put his stamp on suburbia, and buyers are still reaping the rewards.
Design junkies know his work, and fans of retro real estate love his trademark style. It’s safe to say that award-winning architect Ken Woolley put his stamp on Sydney suburbia and buyers are still reaping the rewards today.
Just the other week the late architect’s Sydney home popped up on for sale, giving Woolley enthusiasts a sneak peak into the way he liked to live.
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The home, which won the Australian Institute of Architects’ highest honour for premier residential design in 1983, is a three-storey modernist home located in the city fringe suburb of Paddington. Listed with agents Phillips Pantzer Donnelley, it is expected to fetch about $3.6 million when it goes under the hammer on August 31.
While the Paddington listing is a rare chance to buy a house the great architect called home, there are other opportunities to live in a property that was given the Woolley touch.
In the exclusive bush island setting of Scotland Island, north of Sydney, one Woolley-designed residence has been on the market since April with price expectations of about $3.2 million through LJ Hooker Mona Vale.
The stunning three-bedroom three-bathroom waterfront, which comes complete with its own boat shed and private jetty, sits on Pitt Point — and thanks to Woolley’s trademark grand timber windows the picturesque natural setting. is on show from almost every room.
Forefather of the influential Sydney School of architecture, Woolley (who died in 2015 at the age of 82) was considered a modern maestro in his field, designing everything from office towers and churches to apartment blocks and, of course, landmark family homes.
For 15 years during the 1960s and 1970s Woolley worked as an architect with Pettit and Sevitt, which at the time was considered one of the most innovative home building firms of middle class homes on Sydney’s North Shore.
Known for their avant-guard split level floor plans, white bagged brick and exposed timber interiors, these houses put a new face on suburbia for swathes of Sydney’s northern neighbourhoods.
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According to architectural lore, Woolley would have been involved with approximately 3500 homes during his time with Pettit and Sevitt, and although many have been renovated, or lost to the history pages, some of these historically-significant homes still stand today and are in near original condition.
Right now there are three Pettit and Sevitt creations on the market.
St Ives
Price guide: $1.4 million
This four-bedroom Ken Woolley-designed residence was opened to the public in a 2014 tour by Ken Woolley and Sydney Living Museums and was originally part of Pettit and Sevitt’s 1966 exhibition village.
The floor plan wraps around a courtyard, there are Woolley’s raked high ceilings and many other original finishes.
See more inside the stunning home here.
Hornsby
Price guide: $1.175 million
With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this typical Pettit and Sevitt split-level design is on a large 1985sq m block.
There is an original 1960s fireplace, timber panelled vaulted ceilings and is surrounded by bushland. Some elements have been updated but the Sydney School sentiment remains.
Fishing Point
Price guide: $750,000 to $790,000
A traditional Pettit and Sevitt design, this family home has been in the same family for two decades, but still has many of Woolley’s hallmark features.
It has three-bedrooms, two bathrooms and typical high cathedral ceilings in the main living area as well as a big veranda overlooking Lake Macquarie.
Originally published as Multiple houses designed by award-winning architect Ken Woolley up for sale